2005 Edition

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 19.5% (male 459,418/female 437,734) 15-64 years: 65.7% (male 1,531,249/female 1,484,656) 65 years and over: 14.8% (male 286,343/female 393,641) (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

101 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

65 2,438 to 3,047 m: 13 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 26 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

36 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 29 (2004 est.)

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. 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

Birth rate

11.67 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$116.8 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

revenues

$134 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

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)

Constitution

17 May 1814; amended many times

Country name

conventional long form

Kingdom of Norway

conventional short form

Norway

local long form

Kongeriket Norge

local short form

Norge

Currency (code)

Norwegian krone (NOK)

Currency code

NOK

Current account balance

$30.52 billion (2004 est.)

Death rate

9.45 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Debt - external

$0 (Norway is a net external creditor) (2003 est.)

Dependent areas

Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador John D. ONG

embassy

Drammensveien 18, 0244 Oslo

FAX

[47] (22) 44 33 63

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, Minneapolis, New York, and San Francisco

FAX

[1] (202) 337-0870

telephone

[1] (202) 333-6000

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 20 October, 2005 ======================================================================

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, 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, it contributes sizably to the EU budget. 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 will 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 $150 billion. After lackluster growth of 1% in 2002 and 0.5% in 2003, GDP growth picked up to 3.3% in 2004.

Electricity - consumption

107.4 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

15 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

5.3 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

125.9 billion kWh (2002)

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-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

Ethnic groups

Norwegian, Sami 20,000

Exchange rates

Norwegian kroner per US dollar - 6.7408 (2004), 7.0802 (2003), 7.9838 (2002), 8.9917 (2001), 8.8018 (2000)

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 Jens STOLTENBERG (since 17 October 2005)

Exports

$76.64 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

UK 22.4%, Germany 12.9%, Netherlands 9.9%, France 9.6%, US 8.4%, Sweden 6.7% (2004)

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 - composition by sector

agriculture

2.2%

industry

36.3%

services

61.6% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $40,000 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.3% (2004 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$183 billion (2004 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

Heliports

1 (2004 est.) Military Norway

Highways

paved

71,185 km (including 178 km of expressways)

total

91,852 km

unpaved

20,667 km (2002)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

2,100 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 4.1% highest 10%: 21.8% (1995)

Imports

$45.96 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

Sweden 15.7%, Germany 13.6%, Denmark 7.3%, UK 6.5%, China 5%, US 4.9%, Netherlands 4.4%, France 4.3%, Finland 4.1% (2004)

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

5.2% (2004 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

3.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

male

4.07 deaths/1,000 live births

total

3.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1% (2004 est.)

International organization participation

AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, 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, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Internet country code

.no

Internet hosts

593,850 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

13 (2000)

Internet users

2.288 million (2002) Transportation Norway

Investment (gross fixed)

17.5% of GDP (2004 est.)

Irrigated land

1,270 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Hoyesterett (justices appointed by the monarch)

Labor force

2.38 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Land boundaries

border countries

Finland 727 km, Sweden 1,619 km, Russia 196 km

total

2,542 km

Land use

arable land

2.87%

other

97.13% (2001)

permanent crops

0%

Languages

Bokmal Norwegian (official), Nynorsk Norwegian (official), 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 (169 seats; members are elected by popular vote by proportional representation to serve four-year terms)

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%, Red Electoral Alliance 1.2%, other 1.9%; 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 to an upper house or Lagting

elections

last held 12 September 2005 (next to be held September 2009)

Life expectancy at birth

female

82.17 years (2005 est.)

male

76.78 years

total population

79.4 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

100% Government Norway

male

100%

total population

100%

Location

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

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 1,014,592 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 827,016 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males

29,179 (2005 est.)

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

10 nm

continental shelf

200 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

39.07 years (2005 est.)

male

37.29 years

total

38.17 years

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 51, cargo 168, chemical tanker 142, combination ore/oil 20, container 3, liquefied gas 81, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 113, petroleum tanker 79, refrigerated cargo 6, roll on/roll off 30, vehicle carrier 42

foreign-owned

174 (Belgium 1, China 3, Cyprus 5, Denmark 28, Estonia 2, Finland 5, Germany 4, Hong Kong 52, Iceland 3, Italy 3, Japan 3, Lithuania 1, Monaco 1, Netherlands 4, Poland 2, Saudi Arabia 7, Singapore 10, Sweden 24, United States 16)

registered in other countries

1,117 (2005)

total

740 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 18,820,495 GRT/27,449,456 DWT

Military branches

Norwegian Army, Royal Norwegian Navy (includes Coastal Rangers and Coast Guard (Kystvakt)), Royal Norwegian Air Force (Kongelige Norske Luftforsvaret, RNoAF), Home Guard

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$4,033.5 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.9% (2003) Transnational Issues Norway

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of age in wartime; 17 years of age for male volunteers; 18 years of age for women; 16 years of age for volunteers to the Home Guard; conscript service obligation - 12 months (2004)

National holiday

Constitution Day, 17 May (1814)

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 (1 January 2002)

Natural hazards

rockslides, avalanches

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

1.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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

3.31 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

9.859 billion bbl (1 January 2002)

Pipelines

condensate 411 km; gas 6,199 km; oil 2,213 km; oil/gas/water 746 km; unknown (oil/water) 38 km (2004)

Political parties and leaders

Center Party [Aslaug Marie HAGA]; Christian People's Party [Dagfinn HOYBRATEN]; Coastal Party [Roy WAAGE]; Conservative Party [Erna SOLBERG]; 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

4,593,041 (July 2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA

Population growth rate

0.4% (2005 est.)

Ports and harbors

Borg Havn, Bergen, Mo i Rana, Molde, Mongstad, Narvik, Oslo, Sture

Public debt

33.1% of GDP (2004 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

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

Radios

4.03 million (1997)

Railways

standard gauge

4,077 km 1.435-m gauge (2,518 km electrified) (2004)

total

4,077 km

Religions

Church of Norway 85.7%, Pentecostal 1%, Roman Catholic 1%, other Christian 2.4%, Muslim 1.8%, other 8.1% (2004)

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: 0.73 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

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

country code - 47; 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

3.343 million (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

4,163,400 (2003)

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

1.78 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

4.3% (2004 est.)