Pathways into Family Life among Immigrant and Majority Populations in Scandinavia

Jennifer A. Holland, University of Southampton and Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute (NIDI)
Kenneth Aarskaug Wiik, Statistics Norway

Using high-quality administrative register data, we investigate differential pathways into family life among all immigrant- and majority-background individuals born between 1972 and 1989, living in Sweden and Norway at age 18. Beginning a family via marriage or via a non-marital first birth, and the timing of this transition may provide evidence of differences (or similarities) in the meaning attached to family formation across majority and immigrant-background sub-populations. Using multiple decrement life tables, differentiating the competing risk of first marriage and first birth, we compare the propensity, timing, and mode of entry into family life by immigrant generation and region of (parental) origin. We find evidence of similar timing of family formation among those pursuing the modal Scandinavian family formation route (i.e. a non-marital first birth) regardless of migration background and region of origin. Results also highlight the unique position of the second generation with respect to family formation behaviors.