2010 Edition

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.

Area

land

304,282 sq km

total

323,802 sq km

water

19,520 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than New Mexico

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)

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

519 cu m/yr (1996)

total

2.4 cu km/yr (23%/67%/10%)

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 the most rugged and longest coastlines in the world

Irrigated land

1,270 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries

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

total

2,542 km

Land use

arable land

2.7%

other

97.3% (2005)

permanent crops

0%

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

12 nm

Natural hazards

rockslides, avalanches

volcanism

Beerenberg (elev. 2,227 m, 7,306 ft) on Jan Mayen Island in the Norwegian Sea is the country's only active volcano

Natural resources

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

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 renewable water resources

381.4 cu km (2005)

Age structure

0-14 years: 18.5% (male 441,508/female 422,050) 15-64 years: 66.2% (male 1,564,482/female 1,522,519) 65 years and over: 15.2% (male 305,120/female 404,860) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

10.9 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

9.26 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

6.7% of GDP (2007)

Ethnic groups

Norwegian 94.4% (includes Sami, about 60,000), other European 3.6%, other 2% (2007 estimate)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 100 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

3,000 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

3.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

3.88 deaths/1,000 live births

total

3.55 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Bokmal Norwegian (official), Nynorsk Norwegian (official), small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities; note - Sami is official in six municipalities

Life expectancy at birth

female

82.89 years (2010 est.)

male

77.42 years

total population

80.08 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

100%

male

100%

total population

100%

Median age

female

40.5 years (2010 est.)

male

38.8 years

total

39.7 years

Nationality

adjective

Norwegian

noun

Norwegian(s)

Net migration rate

1.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

4,676,305 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

0.334% (2010 est.)

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

18 years (2008)

male

17 years

total

17 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.054 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.77 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

77% of total population (2008)

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

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

59 55 N, 10 45 E

name

Oslo

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

Dependent areas

Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Barry B. WHITE

embassy

Henrik Ibsens gate 48, 0244 Oslo; note - the embassy will move to Huseby in the near future

FAX

[47] 22 44 33 63, 22 56 27 51

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 Wegger C. STROMMEN

consulate(s) general

Houston, New York, San Francisco

FAX

[1] (202) 337-0870

telephone

[1] (202) 333-6000

Executive branch

cabinet

State Council appointed by the monarch with the approval of parliament (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

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

the monarchy is hereditary; following parliamentary elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the monarch with the approval of the parliament

head of government

Prime Minister Jens STOLTENBERG (since 17 October 2005)

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); the colors recall Norway's past political unions with Denmark (red and white) and Sweden (blue)

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Independence

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

International organization participation

ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, ESA, FAO, FATF, 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, MONUSCO, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Hoyesterett (justices appointed by the monarch)

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 elected by popular vote by proportional representation to serve four-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - DNA 35.4%, FrP 22.9%, H 17.2%, SV 6.2%, Sp 6.2%, KrF 5.5%, V 3.9%, other 2.7%; seats by party - DNA 64, FrP 41, H 30, SV 11, Sp 11, KrF 10, V 2 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

elections

last held on 14 September 2009 (next to be held in September 2013)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Bjornstjerne BJORNSON/Rikard NORDRAAK note: adopted 1864; in addition to the national anthem, "Kongesangen" (Song of the King), which uses the tune of "God Save the Queen," serves as the royal anthem

name

"Ja, vi elsker dette landet" (Yes, We Love This Country)

National holiday

Constitution Day, 17 May (1814)

Political parties and leaders

Center Party (Senterpartiet or Sp) [Liv Signe NAVARSETE]; Christian People's Party (Kristelig Folkeparti or KrF) [Dagfinn HOYBRATEN]; Conservative Party (Hoyre or H) [Erna SOLBERG]; Labor Party (Det norske Arbeiderpartiet or DNA) [Jens STOLTENBERG]; Liberal Party (Venstre or V) [Trine SKEI-GRANDE]; Progress Party (Framstegspartiet or FrP) [Siv JENSEN]; Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti or SV) [Kristin HALVORSEN]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Norwegian Aid Committee or NORWAC; Norwegian Association of the Disabled; Pure Salmon Campaign; The Consumer Council (consumer advocacy group)

other

environmental groups; media; reform movements

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Central bank discount rate

4% (31 December 2008) 6.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

4.28% (31 December 2009 est.) 7.28% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

$60.23 billion (2010 est.) $53.53 billion (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$2.232 trillion (30 June 2010) $475.9 billion (31 December 2008) note: Norway is a net external creditor

Distribution of family income - Gini index

25 (2008) 25.8 (1995)

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-majority-owned enterprises. The country is richly endowed with natural resources - petroleum, hydropower, fish, forests, and minerals - and is highly dependent on the petroleum sector, which accounts for nearly half of exports and over 30% of state revenue. Norway is the world's second-largest gas exporter; its position as an oil exporter has slipped to ninth-largest as production has begun to decline. 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. In anticipation of eventual declines in oil and gas production, Norway saves almost all state revenue from the petroleum sector in the world's second largest sovereign wealth fund, valued at over $500 billion in 2010. After lackluster growth of less than 1.5% in 2002-03, GDP growth picked up to 2.5-6.2% in 2004-07, partly due to higher oil prices. Growth fell to 1.8% in 2008, and the economy contracted by 1.4% in 2009 as a result of the slowing world economy and the drop in oil prices.

Electricity - consumption

128.8 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - exports

17.29 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

3.414 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

142.7 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Exchange rates

Norwegian kroner (NOK) per US dollar - 6.1533 (2010), 6.2883 (2009), 5.6361 (2008), 5.86 (2007), 6.418 (2006)

Exports

$137 billion (2010 est.) $122 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

UK 24.28%, Germany 13.4%, Netherlands 10.87%, France 8.55%, Sweden 5.76%, US 4.82% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

2.1%

industry

40.1%

services

57.8% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$59,100 (2010 est.) $58,400 (2009 est.) $59,500 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

1.5% (2010 est.) -1.4% (2009 est.) 1.8% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$413.5 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$276.4 billion (2010 est.) $272.3 billion (2009 est.) $276.2 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.9% highest 10%: 23.4% (2000)

Imports

$74.02 billion (2010 est.) $66.68 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

Sweden 13.86%, Germany 12.89%, China 7.8%, Denmark 6.78%, US 6.16%, UK 6.01% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

0.3% (2010 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.4% (2010 est.) 2.1% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

18.6% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

2.59 million (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

2.9%

industry

21.1%

services

76% (2008)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$227.2 billion (31 December 2009) $125.9 billion (31 December 2008) $357.4 billion (31 December 2007)

Natural gas - consumption

4.62 billion cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - exports

98.85 billion cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

103.5 billion cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

2.313 trillion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

204,100 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

2.061 million bbl/day (2008 est.)

Oil - imports

107,500 bbl/day (2008 est.)

Oil - production

2.35 million bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

6.68 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

47.7% of GDP (2010 est.) 49.8% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$NA (31 December 2010 est.) $48.86 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$256.3 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $243.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$226.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $206 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$132.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $128.4 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$414.5 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $379.6 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$122.2 billion (31 December 2010 est) $118.3 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

3.7% (2010 est.) 3.2% (2009 est.)

Broadcast media

state-owned public radio-TV broadcaster operates 3 nationwide television stations, 3 nationwide radio stations, and 16 regional radio stations; roughly a dozen privately-owned television stations broadcast nationally and roughly another 25 local TV stations are available; nearly 75% of households have access to multi-channel cable or satellite TV systems; 2 privately-owned radio stations broadcast nationwide and another 240 stations operate locally (2008)

Internet country code

.no

Internet hosts

3.352 million (2010)

Internet users

4.431 million (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

Norway has a domestic satellite system; the prevalence of rural areas encourages the wide use of mobile-cellular 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; 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)

Telephones - main lines in use

1.9 million (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

5.336 million (2009)

Airports

98 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

67 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 25 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

31 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 25 (2010)

Heliports

1 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 43, cargo 133, carrier 5, chemical tanker 139, combination ore/oil 12, container 1, liquefied gas 53, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 116, petroleum tanker 58, refrigerated cargo 14, roll on/roll off 9, vehicle carrier 46

foreign-owned

104 (Bermuda 5, Canada 1, China 25, Cyprus 1, Denmark 11, Estonia 1, Finland 1, France 4, Iceland 3, Italy 3, Lithuania 1, Monaco 1, Poland 2, Saudi Arabia 3, Sweden 33, US 9)

registered in other countries

940 (Antigua and Barbuda 9, Australia 1, Bahamas 198, Barbados 41, Belize 3, Bermuda 5, Brazil 3, Canada 4, Chile 1, Comoros 2, Cook Islands 6, Croatia 2, Cyprus 12, Denmark 2, Dominica 1, Equatorial Guinea 1, Estonia 2, Faroe Islands 6, Finland 2, France 1, Gibraltar 42, Hong Kong 49, Indonesia 4, Ireland 3, Isle of Man 26, Italy 6, Japan 1, Liberia 42, Libya 1, Malta 84, Marshall Islands 57, Netherlands 18, former Netherlands Antilles 2, Panama 89, Portugal 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 12, Singapore 132, Spain 10, Sweden 3, UK 39, US 10, Vanuatu 1, Venezuela 1, unknown 4) (2010)

total

632

Pipelines

condensate 31 km; gas 64 km (2009)

Ports and terminals

Bergen, Haugesund, Maaloy, Mongstad, Narvik, Sture

Railways

standard gauge

4,114 km 1.435-m gauge (2,552 km electrified) (2009)

total

4,114 km

Roadways

paved

72,033 km (includes 664 km of expressways)

total

92,946 km

unpaved

20,913 km (2007)

Waterways

1,577 km (2008)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,078,562 females age 16-49: 1,049,529 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 888,310 females age 16-49: 864,344 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

30,610 (2010 est.)

male

32,045

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) (2010)

Military expenditures

1.9% of GDP (2005 est.)

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 (2009)

Disputes - international

Norway asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Queen Maud Land and its continental shelf); Russia and Norway reached an agreement on how to align Barents Sea and Arctic Ocean boundaries over EEZ and continental shelf in an agreement signed on 15 September 2010; this agreement is pending ratification by the respective national assemblies page last updated on January 20, 2011 ======================================================================