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Introduction | Norway

Background: | Two centuries of Viking raids into Europe tapered off following the adoption of Christianity by King Olav TRYGGVASON in 994. Conversion of the Norwegian kingdom occurred over the next several decades. In 1397, Norway was absorbed into a union with Denmark that lasted more than four centuries. In 1814, Norwegians resisted the cession of their country to Sweden and adopted a new constitution. Sweden then invaded Norway but agreed to let Norway keep its constitution in return for accepting the union under a Swedish king. Rising nationalism throughout the 19th century led to a 1905 referendum granting Norway independence. Although Norway remained neutral in World War I, it suffered heavy losses to its shipping. Norway proclaimed its neutrality at the outset of World War II, but was nonetheless occupied for five years by Nazi Germany (1940-45). In 1949, neutrality was abandoned and Norway became a member of NATO. Discovery of oil and gas in adjacent waters in the late 1960s boosted Norway's economic fortunes. The current focus is on containing spending on the extensive welfare system and planning for the time when petroleum reserves are depleted. In referenda held in 1972 and 1994, Norway rejected joining the EU.

Geography | Norway

Location: | Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden
Geographic coordinates: | 62 00 N, 10 00 E
Map references: | Europe
Area: | total: 323,802 sq km land: 307,442 sq km water: 16,360 sq km
Area - comparative: | slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries: | total: 2,542 km border countries: Finland 727 km, Sweden 1,619 km, Russia 196 km
Coastline: | 25,148 km (includes mainland 2,650 km, as well as long fjords, numerous small islands, and minor indentations 22,498 km; length of island coastlines 58,133 km)
Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 10 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate: | temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current; colder interior with increased precipitation and colder summers; rainy year-round on west coast
Terrain: | glaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains broken by fertile valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeply indented by fjords; arctic tundra in north
Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m highest point: Galdhopiggen 2,469 m
Natural resources: | petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, titanium, pyrites, nickel, fish, timber, hydropower
Land use: | arable land: 2.7% permanent crops: 0% other: 97.3% (2005)
Irrigated land: | 1,270 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources: | 381.4 cu km (2005)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): | total: 2.4 cu km/yr (23%/67%/10%) per capita: 519 cu m/yr (1996)
Natural hazards: | rockslides, avalanches
Environment - current issues: | water pollution; acid rain damaging forests and adversely affecting lakes, threatening fish stocks; air pollution from vehicle emissions
Environment - international agreements: | party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: | about two-thirds mountains; some 50,000 islands off its much indented coastline; strategic location adjacent to sea lanes and air routes in North Atlantic; one of most rugged and longest coastlines in the world

People | Norway

Population: | 4,644,457 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure: | 0-14 years: 18.8% (male 446,146/female 426,166) 15-64 years: 66.2% (male 1,559,750/female 1,516,217) 65 years and over: 15% (male 297,175/female 399,003) (2008 est.)
Median age: | total: 39 years male: 38.2 years female: 39.9 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate: | 0.35% (2008 est.)
Birth rate: | 11.12 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate: | 9.33 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate: | 1.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate: | total: 3.61 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3.96 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 79.81 years male: 77.16 years female: 82.6 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate: | 1.78 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.1% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 2,100 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: | fewer than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality: | noun: Norwegian(s) adjective: Norwegian
Ethnic groups: | Norwegian, Sami 20,000
Religions: | Church of Norway 85.7%, Pentecostal 1%, Roman Catholic 1%, other Christian 2.4%, Muslim 1.8%, other 8.1% (2004)
Languages: | Bokmal Norwegian (official), Nynorsk Norwegian (official), small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities; note - Sami is official in six municipalities
Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100%

Government | Norway

Country name: | conventional long form: Kingdom of Norway conventional short form: Norway local long form: Kongeriket Norge local short form: Norge
Government type: | constitutional monarchy
Capital: | name: Oslo geographic coordinates: 59 55 N, 10 45 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions: | 19 counties (fylker, singular - fylke); Akershus, Aust-Agder, Buskerud, Finnmark, Hedmark, Hordaland, More og Romsdal, Nordland, Nord-Trondelag, Oppland, Oslo, Ostfold, Rogaland, Sogn og Fjordane, Sor-Trondelag, Telemark, Troms, Vest-Agder, Vestfold
Dependent areas: | Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard
Independence: | 7 June 1905 (Norway declared the union with Sweden dissolved); 26 October 1905 (Sweden agreed to the repeal of the union)
National holiday: | Constitution Day, 17 May (1814)
Constitution: | 17 May 1814; amended many times
Legal system: | mixture of customary law, civil law system, and common law traditions; Supreme Court renders advisory opinions to legislature when asked; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch: | chief of state: King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991); Heir Apparent Crown Prince HAAKON MAGNUS, son of the monarch (born 20 July 1973) head of government: Prime Minister Jens STOLTENBERG (since 17 October 2005) cabinet: State Council appointed by the monarch with the approval of parliament elections: the monarch is hereditary; following parliamentary elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch with the approval of the parliament
Legislative branch: | modified unicameral Parliament or Storting (169 seats; members are elected by popular vote by proportional representation to serve four-year terms); note - in 2009 the number of seats will change to 165 elections: last held 12 September 2005 (next to be held in September 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - Labor Party 32.7%, Progress Party 22.1%, Conservative Party 14.1%, Socialist Left Party 8.8%, Christian People's Party 6.8%, Center Party 6.5%, Liberal Party 5.9%, other 3.1%; seats by party - Labor Party 61, Progress Party 38, Conservative Party 23, Socialist Left Party 15, Christian People's Party 11, Center Party 11, Liberal Party 10 note: for certain purposes, the parliament divides itself into two chambers and elects one-fourth of its membership in the Lagting and three-fourths of its membership in the Odelsting
Judicial branch: | Supreme Court or Hoyesterett (justices appointed by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders: | Center Party [Aslaug Marie HAGA]; Christian People's Party [Dagfinn HOYBRATEN]; Conservative Party [Erna SOLBERG]; Labor Party [Jens STOLTENBERG]; Liberal Party [Lars SPONHEIM]; Progress Party [Siv JENSEN]; Socialist Left Party [Kristin HALVORSEN]
Political pressure groups and leaders: | NA
International organization participation: | ADB (nonregional members), AfDB (nonregional members), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, ESA, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Wegger C. STROMMEN chancery: 2720 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 333-6000 FAX: [1] (202) 337-0870 consulate(s) general: Houston, Minneapolis, New York, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Benson K. WHITNEY embassy: Henrik Ibsens gate 48, 0244 Oslo; note - the embassy will move to Huseby in the near future mailing address: PSC 69, Box 1000, APO AE 09707 telephone: [47] (22) 44 85 50 FAX: [47] (22) 44 33 63, 56 27 51
Flag description: | red with a blue cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Economy | Norway

Economy - overview: | The Norwegian economy is a prosperous bastion of welfare capitalism, featuring a combination of free market activity and government intervention. The government controls key areas, such as the vital petroleum sector, through large-scale state enterprises. The country is richly endowed with natural resources - petroleum, hydropower, fish, forests, and minerals - and is highly dependent on its oil production and international oil prices, with oil and gas accounting for one-third of exports. Only Saudi Arabia and Russia export more oil than Norway. Norway opted to stay out of the EU during a referendum in November 1994; nonetheless, as a member of the European Economic Area, it contributes sizably to the EU budget. The government has moved ahead with privatization. Although Norwegian oil production peaked in 2000, natural gas production is still rising. Norwegians realize that once their gas production peaks they will eventually face declining oil and gas revenues; accordingly, Norway has been saving its oil-and-gas-boosted budget surpluses in a Government Petroleum Fund, which is invested abroad and now is valued at more than $250 billion. After lackluster growth of less than 1% in 2002-03, GDP growth picked up to 3-5% in 2004-07, partly due to higher oil prices. Norway's economy remains buoyant. Domestic economic activity is, and will continue to be, the main driver of growth, supported by high consumer confidence and strong investment spending in the offshore oil and gas sector. Norway's record high budget surplus and upswing in the labor market in 2007 highlight the strength of its economic position going into 2008.
GDP (purchasing power parity): | $247.4 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): | $391.5 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: | 3.5% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP): | $53,000 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 2.4% industry: 42.9% services: 54.7% (2007 est.)
Labor force: | 2.507 million (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 4% industry: 22% services: 74% (1995)
Unemployment rate: | 2.5% (2007 est.)
Population below poverty line: | NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 3.9% highest 10%: 23.4% (2000)
Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 28 (2005)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 0.8% (2007 est.)
Investment (gross fixed): | 20.7% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget: | revenues: $224.2 billion expenditures: $158 billion (2007 est.)
Public debt: | 75.1% of GDP (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products: | barley, wheat, potatoes; pork, beef, veal, milk; fish
Industries: | petroleum and gas, food processing, shipbuilding, pulp and paper products, metals, chemicals, timber, mining, textiles, fishing
Industrial production growth rate: | 1% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production: | 135.8 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - production by source: | fossil fuel: 0.4% hydro: 99.3% nuclear: 0% other: 0.4% (2001)
Electricity - consumption: | 113.9 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports: | 15.7 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports: | 3.652 billion kWh (2005)
Oil - production: | 2.978 million bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption: | 228,400 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports: | 3.018 million bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports: | 91,930 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves: | 7.705 billion bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production: | 83.44 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption: | 5.342 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports: | 78.1 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports: | 0 cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves: | 2.288 trillion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance: | $63.66 billion (2007 est.)
Exports: | $139.4 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities: | petroleum and petroleum products, machinery and equipment, metals, chemicals, ships, fish
Exports - partners: | UK 26.8%, Germany 12.3%, Netherlands 10.3%, France 8.2%, Sweden 6.4%, US 5.7% (2006)
Imports: | $78.11 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities: | machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, foodstuffs
Imports - partners: | Sweden 15%, Germany 13.5%, Denmark 6.9%, UK 6.4%, China 5.7%, US 5.3%, Netherlands 4.1% (2006)
Economic aid - donor: | ODA, $2.954 billion (2006)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $60.84 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external: | $469.1 billion; note - Norway is a net external creditor (30 June 2007)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $62.56 billion (2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $124.7 billion (2007 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares: | $191 billion (2005)
Currency (code): | Norwegian krone (NOK)
Currency code: | NOK
Exchange rates: | Norwegian kroner per US dollar - 5.8396 (2007), 6.4117 (2006), 6.4425 (2005), 6.7408 (2004), 7.0802 (2003)
Fiscal year: | calendar year

Communications | Norway

Telephones - main lines in use: | 2.055 million (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular: | 5.041 million (2006)
Telephone system: | general assessment: modern in all respects; one of the most advanced telecommunications networks in Europe domestic: Norway has a domestic satellite system; moreover, the prevalence of rural areas encourages the wide use of cellular-mobile systems instead of fixed-wire systems international: country code - 47; 2 buried coaxial cable systems; submarine cables provide links to other Nordic countries and Europe; satellite earth stations - NA Eutelsat, NA Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Norway shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden) (1999)
Radio broadcast stations: | AM 5, FM at least 650, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: | 4.03 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations: | 360 (plus 2,729 repeaters) (1995)
Televisions: | 2.03 million (1997)
Internet country code: | .no
Internet hosts: | 2.084 million (2007)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 13 (2000)
Internet users: | 4.074 million (2006)

Transportation | Norway

Airports: | 98 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways: | total: 67 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 29 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 31 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 25 (2007)
Heliports: | 1 (2007)
Pipelines: | condensate 508 km; gas 6,529 km; oil 2,444 km; oil/gas/water 457 km (2007)
Railways: | total: 4,114 km standard gauge: 4,114 km 1.435-m gauge (2,552 km electrified) (2008)
Roadways: | total: 92,946 km paved: 72,033 km (includes 664 km of expressways) unpaved: 20,913 km (2007)
Waterways: | 1,577 km (2007)
Merchant marine: | total: 715 ships (1000 GRT or over) 16,511,659 GRT/22,299,832 DWT by type: bulk carrier 49, cargo 151, carrier 1, chemical tanker 146, combination ore/oil 12, container 5, liquefied gas 72, passenger/cargo 122, petroleum tanker 79, refrigerated cargo 12, roll on/roll off 16, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 49 foreign-owned: 174 (China 47, Cyprus 2, Denmark 26, Estonia 1, Finland 1, France 3, Germany 2, Greece 6, Hong Kong 5, Iceland 3, Italy 4, Japan 1, Lithuania 1, Monaco 5, Netherlands 1, Poland 3, Saudi Arabia 3, Singapore 1, Sweden 31, UAE 1, UK 9, US 18) registered in other countries: 872 (Antigua and Barbuda 7, Australia 1, Bahamas 232, Barbados 35, Belize 3, Bermuda 5, Brazil 1, Canada 1, Cayman Islands 2, China 1, Comoros 1, Cook Islands 1, Cyprus 17, Denmark 1, Dominica 1, Estonia 2, Faroe Islands 4, Finland 1, France 17, Gibraltar 27, Hong Kong 30, Isle of Man 33, Liberia 42, Libya 1, Malta 71, Marshall Islands 62, Mexico 1, Netherlands 9, Netherlands Antilles 5, Nigeria 1, Panama 60, Philippines 2, Portugal 3, Singapore 125, Spain 6, St Vincent and The Grenadines 19, Sweden 5, UK 33, US 4, unknown 2) (2007)
Ports and terminals: | Bergen, Borg Havn, Haugesund, Maaloy, Mongstad, Narvik, Oslo, Sture

Military | Norway

Military branches: | Norwegian Army (Haeren), Royal Norwegian Navy (Kongelige Norske Sjoeforsvaret, RNoN; includes Coastal Rangers and Coast Guard (Kystvakt)), Royal Norwegian Air Force (Kongelige Norske Luftforsvaret, RNoAF), Home Guard (Heimevernet, HV) (2007)
Military service age and obligation: | 18-44 years of age for male compulsory military service; 16 years of age in wartime; 17 years of age for male volunteers; 18 years of age for women; 12-month service obligation, in practice shortened to 8 to 9 months; although all males between ages of 18 and 44 are liable for service, in practice they are seldom called to duty after age 30; reserve obligation to age 35-60; 16 years of age for volunteers to the Home Guard, who serve 6-month duty tours (2006)
Manpower available for military service: | males age 16-49: 1,078,181 females age 16-49: 1,046,550 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service: | males age 16-49: 888,101 females age 16-49: 862,159 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: | males age 16-49: 32,185 females age 16-49: 30,683 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 1.9% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues | Norway

Disputes - international: | Norway asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Queen Maud Land and its continental shelf); despite dialogue, Russia and Norway continue to dispute their maritime limits in the Barents Sea and Russia's fishing rights beyond Svalbard's territorial limits within the Svalbard Treaty zone

This page was last updated on 19 June, 2008