2003 Edition

Administrative divisions

19 provinces (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

Age structure

0-14 years: 19.9% (male 465,320; female 439,095) 15-64 years: 65.2% (male 1,501,608; female 1,462,590) 65 years and over: 14.9% (male 281,554; female 395,956) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

barley, wheat, potatoes; pork, beef, veal, milk; fish

Airports

102 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

total

66 2,438 to 3,047 m: 13 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 14

under 914 m

26 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

36 914 to 1,523 m: 7

under 914 m

29 (2002) Military Norway

Area

land

307,860 sq km

total

324,220 sq km

water

16,360 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than New Mexico

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 was to last for 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. Norway remained neutral in World War I and proclaimed its neutrality at the outset of World War II. Nevertheless, it was not able to avoid a five-year occupation by Nazi Germany (1940-1945). 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

Birth rate

12.17 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$57.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)

revenues

$71.7 billion

Capital

Oslo

Climate

temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current; colder interior with increased precipitation and colder summers; rainy year-round on west coast

Coastline

21,925 km (includes mainland 3,419 km, large islands 2,413 km, long fjords, numerous small islands, and minor indentations 16,093 km)

Constitution

17 May 1814, modified in 1884

Country name

conventional long form

Kingdom of Norway

conventional short form

Norway

local long form

Kongeriket Norge

local short form

Norge

Currency

Norwegian krone (NOK)

Currency code

NOK

Death rate

9.72 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$0 (Norway is a net external creditor)

Dependent areas

Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador John D. ONG

embassy

Drammensveien 18, 0244 Oslo

mailing address

PSC 69, Box 1000, APO AE 09707

telephone

[47] (22) 44 85 50

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2720 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Knut VOLLEBAEK

consulate(s) general

Houston, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, and San Francisco

Disputes - international

Norway asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Queen Maud Land and its continental shelf); despite recent discussions, 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 18 December, 2003

Distribution of family income - Gini index

25.8 (1995)

Economic aid - donor

ODA, $1.4 billion (1998)

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; in 1999, oil and gas accounted for 35% 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. The government has moved ahead with privatization. With arguably the highest quality of life worldwide, Norwegians still worry about that time in the next two decades when the oil and gas begin to run out. Accordingly, Norway has been saving its oil-boosted budget surpluses in a Government Petroleum Fund, which is invested abroad and now is valued at more than $43 billion. GDP growth was a lackluster 1% in 2002 and 2003 against the background of a faltering European economy.

Electricity - consumption

115.3 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

7.162 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

10.76 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

120.1 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

0.4%

hydro

99.3%

nuclear

0%

other

0.4% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Galdhopiggen 2,469 m

lowest point

Norwegian Sea 0 m

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-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Ethnic groups

Norwegian, Sami 20,000

Exchange rates

Norwegian kroner per US dollar - 7.98 (2002), 8.99 (2001), 8.8 (2000), 7.8 (1999), 7.55 (1998)

Executive branch

cabinet

State Council appointed by the monarch with the approval of Parliament

chief of state

King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991); Heir Apparent Crown Prince HAAKON MAGNUS, son of the monarch (born 20 July 1973)

elections

none; 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

head of government

Prime Minister Kjell Magne BONDEVIK (since 19 October 2001)

Exports

$68.2 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum and petroleum products, machinery and equipment, metals, chemicals, ships, fish

Exports - partners

UK 18.1%, Germany 13.8%, France 11%, US 9.2%, Netherlands 8.2%, Sweden 8% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 337-0870

[47] (22) 44 33 63

telephone

[1] (202) 333-6000

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Norway

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

GDP

purchasing power parity - $149.1 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

1.9%

industry

30.8%

services

67.3% (2000)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $33,000 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1% (2002 est.)

Geographic coordinates

62 00 N, 10 00 E

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 world People Norway

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Highways

paved

69,505 km (including 143 km of expressways)

total

91,454 km

unpaved

21,949 km (2000)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1,800 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

21.8% (1995)

lowest 10%

4.1%

Imports

$37.3 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

Sweden 17.7%, Germany 13.4%, UK 7.8%, Denmark 7.7%, US 5.7%, Netherlands 5.3%, France 4.2%, Italy 4% (2002)

Independence

7 June 1905 Norway declared the union with Sweden dissolved; 26 October 1905 Sweden agreed to the repeal of the union

Industrial production growth rate

1.2% (2002 est.)

Industries

petroleum and gas, food processing, shipbuilding, pulp and paper products, metals, chemicals, timber, mining, textiles, fishing

Infant mortality rate

female

3.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

4.32 deaths/1,000 live births

total

3.87 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.3% (2001 est.)

International organization participation

AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMISET, UNMOP, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

Internet country code

.no

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

13 (2000)

Internet users

2.68 million (2002) Transportation Norway

Irrigated land

1,270 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Hoyesterett (justices appointed by the monarch)

Labor force

2.4 million (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

services 74%, industry 22%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 4% (1995)

Land boundaries

border countries

Finland 729 km, Sweden 1,619 km, Russia 196 km

total

2,544 km

Land use

arable land

2.94%

other

97.06% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

0%

Languages

Norwegian (official)

note

small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities

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

Legislative branch

modified unicameral Parliament or Storting (165 seats; members are elected by popular vote by proportional representation to serve four-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - Labor Party 24.3%, Conservative Party 21.2%, Progress Party 14.6%, Socialist Left Party 12.5%, Christian People's Party 12.4%, Center Party 5.6%, Liberal Party 3.9%, Coastal Party 1.7%, other 3.8%; seats by party - Labor Party 43, Conservative Party 38, Progress Party 26, Socialist Left Party 23, Christian People's Party 22, Center Party 10, Liberal Party 2, Coastal Party 1

elections

last held 10 September 2001 (next to be held NA September 2005)

note

for certain purposes, the Parliament divides itself into two chambers and elects one-fourth of its membership to an upper house or Lagting

Life expectancy at birth

female

82.22 years (2003 est.)

male

76.15 years

total population

79.09 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

NA% Government Norway

male

NA%

total population

100%

Location

Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

10 NM

continental shelf

200 NM

exclusive economic zone

200 NM

territorial sea

4 NM

Median age

female

38.7 years (2002)

male

36.7 years

total

37.7 years

Merchant marine

convenience

Australia 1, Denmark 14, Germany 11, Greece 10, Hong Kong 7, Iceland 2, Japan 11, Lithuania 1, Monaco 42, Poland 1, Saudi Arabia 3, Singapore 10, Sweden 42, Switzerland 2, UK 4, US 5 (2002 est.)

note

includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of

ships by type

bulk 68, cargo 136, chemical tanker 125, combination bulk 5, combination ore/oil 32, container 19, liquefied gas 86, multi-function large load carrier 1, passenger 6, petroleum tanker 127, refrigerated cargo 6, roll on/roll off 44, short-sea passenger 20, specialized tanker 5, vehicle carrier 34

total

714 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 20,247,207 GRT/30,860,236 DWT

Military branches

Norwegian Army, Royal Norwegian Navy (including Coast Artillery and Coast Guard), Royal Norwegian Air Force, Home Guard

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$3.113 billion (FY98/99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

2.13% (2002) Transnational Issues Norway

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

1,099,314 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

910,628 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

20 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

27,249 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Constitution Day, 17 May (1814); note - on 14 January 1814 Denmark ceded Norway to Sweden; resisting Swedish domination, Norwegians adopted a new constitution four months later; on 14 August 1814 Norway was proclaimed independent but in union with Sweden; on 7 June 1905 Norway declared the union with Sweden dissolved

Nationality

adjective

Norwegian

noun

Norwegian(s)

Natural gas - consumption

4.1 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

50.5 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

54.6 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

1.716 trillion cu m (37257)

Natural hazards

rockslides, avalanches

Natural resources

petroleum, copper, natural gas, pyrites, nickel, iron ore, zinc, lead, fish, timber, hydropower

Net migration rate

2.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

171,100 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

3.466 million bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports

88,870 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

3.408 million bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

9.859 billion bbl (37257)

Pipelines

condensate 411 km; gas 6,199 km; oil 2,213 km; oil/gas/water 746 km; unknown (oil/water) 38 km; water 96 km (2003)

Political parties and leaders

Center Party [Aslaug Marie HAGA]; Christian People's Party [Valgerd Svarstad HAUGLAND]; Coastal Party [Steinar BASTESEN]; Conservative Party [Jan PETERSEN]; Labor Party [Jens STOLTENBERG]; Liberal Party [Lars SPONHEIM]; Progress Party [Carl I. HAGEN]; Socialist Left Party [Kristin HALVORSEN]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

4,546,123 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

0.46% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Bergen, Drammen, Floro, Hammerfest, Harstad, Haugesund, Kristiansand, Larvik, Narvik, Oslo, Porsgrunn, Stavanger, Tromso, Trondheim

Radio broadcast stations

AM 5, FM at least 650, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

4.03 million (1997)

Railways

standard gauge

4,178 km 1.435-m gauge (2,518 km electrified) (2002)

total

4,178 km

Religions

Evangelical Lutheran 86% (state church), other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3%, other 1%, none and unknown 10% (1997)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.07 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

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

general assessment

modern in all respects; one of the most advanced telecommunications networks in Europe

international

2 buried coaxial cable systems; 4 coaxial submarine cables; 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)

Telephones - main lines in use

2.735 million (1998)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2,080,408 (1998)

Television broadcast stations

360 (plus 2,729 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions

2.03 million (1997)

Terrain

glaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains broken by fertile valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeply indented by fjords; arctic tundra in north

Total fertility rate

1.8 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

3.9% (2002 est.)

Waterways

1,577 km (along west coast)

note

navigable by 2.4 m maximum draft vessels