Norway

Kingdom of NorwayKongeriket Norge

constitutional monarchyIndependence 26 October 1905 (from Sweden)

Norway as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 83 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalOslo

Area324,220 sq km

LocationNorthern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North

Populationas each edition published it

4.33 million July 1995 est. · 4.25m in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.37% 1995 est. · 0.41% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 37.7 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

77.61 years 1995 est. · 77.16 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.76 children per woman 1995 est. · 1.8 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

6.1 deaths per 1,000 live births 1995 est. · 7 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$22,170 1994 est. · $17,700 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

5.5% 1994 est. · 2.9% in 1993

Geography

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

14 fields

Land useshare of 324,220 sq km

arable land 3%meadows and pastures 0%forest and woodland 27%other 70%permanent crops 0% in all · irrigated 950 sq km (1989)

Area

324,220sq km

land area: 307,860 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than New Mexico

Coastline

21,925km

(includes mainland 3,419 km, large islands 2,413 km, long fjords, numerous small islands, and minor indentations 16,093 km)contiguous zone: 10 nmcontinental shelf: 200 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 4 nm

Land boundaries

2,515km

total · Finland 729 km, Sweden 1,619 km, Russia 167 km

Location

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

Map references

Europe

International disputes

territorial claim in Antarctica (Queen Maud Land); maritime boundary dispute with Russia over portion of Barents Sea

Climate

temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current;
colder interior;
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

Natural resources

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

Environment

current issues:: water pollution;
acid rain damaging forests and adversely affecting lakes, threatening fish stocks;
air pollution from vehicle emissions
natural hazards:: NA
international agreements:: party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling;
signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Tropical Timber 94

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;
Norway and Turkey only NATO members having a land boundary with Russia

People

15 fields

Population

4,330,951

(July 1995 est.)growth rate: 0.37% (1995 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1995 est.)

Birth

12.86Death

10.35Net migration

1.15

Religions(1980)

Evangelical Lutheran 87.8% (state church)other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3.8%none 3.2%unknown 5.2% (1980)

Labor force

2.13million

by occupation: services 71%, industry 23%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 6% (1992)

Literacy

15and over can read and write

age · (1976 est.)total population: 99%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 19% (female 390,344; male 444,570)
15-64 years:: 65% (female 1,375,493; male 1,424,027)
65 years and over:: 16% (female 408,675; male 287,842) (July 1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate

6.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 77.61 years
male:: 74.26 years
female:: 81.15 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.76 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Norwegian(s)
adjective:: Norwegian

Ethnic divisions

Germanic (Nordic, Alpine, Baltic), Lapps (Sami) 20,000

Languages

Norwegian (official) note: small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking minorities

Government

Constitutional monarchy; King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991); Prime Minister Gro Harlem BRUNDTLAND (since 3 November 1990)

22 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

37.1%

Labor 37.1%Center Party 18.5%Conservatives 15.6%Christian People's 8.4%Socialist Left 7.9%Progress 6%Left Party 3.6%Red Electoral Alliance 1.2%

Legislature, 165 seatsone dot, one seat

Labor 67Center Party 32Consevatives 18Christian People's 13Socialist Left 13Progress 10Left Party 1Red Electoral Alliance 1unawarded 10

Names

conventional long form:: Kingdom of Norway
conventional short form:: Norway
local long form:: Kongeriket Norge
local short form:: Norge

Digraph

Type

constitutional monarchy

Capital

Oslo

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

Dependent areas

Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard

Independence

26 October 1905 (from Sweden)

National holiday

Constitution Day, 17 May (1814)

Constitution

17 May 1814, modified in 1884

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 (born 20 July 1973)
head of government:: Prime Minister Gro Harlem BRUNDTLAND (since 3 November 1990)
cabinet:: State Council; appointed by the king in accordance with the will of the Storting

Legislative branch

modified unicameral Parliament (Storting) which, for certain purposes, divides itself into two chambers

Storting

elections last held 13 September 1993 (next to be held September 1997);
results - Labor 37.1%, Center Party 18.5%, Conservatives 15.6%, Christian People's 8.4%, Socialist Left 7.9%, Progress 6%, Left Party 3.6%, Red Electoral Alliance 1.2%;
seats - (165 total) Labor 67, Center Party 32, Consevatives 18, Christian People's 13, Socialist Left 13, Progress 10, Left Party 1, Red Electoral Alliance 1, unawarded 10

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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Hoyesterett)

Political parties and leaders

Labor Party, Thorbjorn JAGLUND;
Conservative Party, Jan PETERSEN;
Center Party, Anne ENGER LAHNSTEIN;
Christian People's Party, Kjell Magne BONDEVIK;
Socialist Left, Kjellbjorg LUNDE;
Norwegian Communist, Kare Andre NILSEN;
Progress Party, Carl I. HAGEN;
Liberal, Odd Einar DORUM;
Left Party;
Red Electoral Alliance, Erling FOLKVORD

Member of

AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMOGIP, UNOMOZ, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Kjeld VIBE
chancery:: 2720 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:: [1] (202) 333-6000

FAX

[1] (202) 337-0870

consulate(s) general:: Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, and San Francisco
consulate(s):: Miami

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador Thomas A. LOFTUS
embassy:: Drammensveien 18, 0244 Oslo
mailing address:: PSC 69, Box 1000, APO AE 09707
telephone:: [47] 22 44 85 50

FAX

[47] 22 44 33 63

Flag

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 has a mixed economy involving a combination of free | market activity and government intervention.

19 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$22,170

(1994 est.)

Real growth rate

5.5%

(1994 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate 4.6% (1994); accounts for 14% of GDP

Inflation, consumer prices

1.3%

(1994 est.)

Unemployment rate

8.4%

(including people in job-training programs; 1994 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$50.9 billionExpenditures

$55.5 billion (1994 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Installed generating capacity, 27,280,000 kW

Electricity production

118 billionElectricity consumption per capita

23,735 (1993)

Overview

Norway has a mixed economy involving 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) and extensively subsidizes agriculture, fishing, and areas with sparse resources.

Norway also maintains an extensive welfare system that helps propel public sector expenditures to slightly more than 50% of the GDP and results in one of the highest average tax burdens in the world (54%). A small country with a high dependence on international trade, Norway is basically an exporter of raw materials and semiprocessed goods, with an abundance of small- and medium-sized firms, and is ranked among the major shipping nations.

The country is richly endowed with natural resources - petroleum, hydropower, fish, forests, and minerals - and is highly dependent on its oil sector to keep its economy afloat. Norway imports more than half its food needs. Although one of the government's main priorities is to reduce this dependency, this situation is not likely to improve for years to come.

The government also hopes to reduce unemployment and strengthen and diversify the economy through tax reform and a series of expansionary budgets. The budget deficit is expected to hit a record 8% of GDP because of welfare spending and bail-outs of the banking system. Unemployment is currently running at 8.4% - including those in job programs - because of the weakness of the economy outside the oil sector. Economic growth, only 1.6% in 1993, moved up to 5.5% in 1994. Oslo opted to stay out of the EU during a referendum in November 1994.

National product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $95.7 billion (1994 est.)

Exports

$36.6 billion (f.o.b., 1994)

commodities:: petroleum and petroleum products 40%, metals and products 10.6%, fish and fish products 6.9%, chemicals 6.4%, natural gas 6.0%, ships 5.4%
partners:: EC 66.3%, Nordic countries 16.3%, developing countries 8.4%, US 6.0%, Japan 1.8% (1993)

Imports

$29.3 billion (c.i.f., 1994)

commodities:: machinery and equipment 38.9%, chemicals and other industrial inputs 26.6%, manufactured consumer goods 17.8%, foodstuffs 6.4%
partners:: EC 48.6%, Nordic countries 25.1%, developing countries 9.6%, US 8.1%, Japan 8.0% (1993)

External debt

$NA

Industries

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

Agriculture

accounts for 3% of GDP and about 6% of labor force;
among world's top 10 fishing nations;
livestock output exceeds value of crops;
fish catch of 1.76 million metric tons in 1989

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for drugs shipped via the CIS and Baltic states for the European market

Economic aid

donor: ODA and OOF commitments (1970-89), $4.4 billion

Currency

1 Norwegian krone (NKr) = 100 oere

Exchange rates

Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1 - 6.7014 (January 1995), 7.0469 (1994), 7.0941 (1993), 6.2145 (1992), 6.4829 (1991), 6.2597 (1990)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Transportation

7 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 104 in all

over 3,047 m

2,438 to 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

914 to 1,523 m

under 914 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

88,922Railroads

4,026Inland waterways

1,577

Highways: paved: 61,356 km (75 km of expressway) · unpaved: gravel, crushed stone, earth 27,566 km (1990) · Railroads: standard gauge: 4,026 km 1.435-m gauge (2,422 km electrified; 96 km double track) (1994) · Inland waterways: ; 2.4 m draft vessels maximum

Railroads

total:: 4,026 km
standard gauge:: 4,026 km 1.435-m gauge (2,422 km electrified; 96 km double track) (1994)

Highways

total:: 88,922 km
paved:: 61,356 km (75 km of expressway)
unpaved:: gravel, crushed stone, earth 27,566 km (1990)

Inland waterways

1,577 km along west coast; 2.4 m draft vessels maximum

Pipelines

refined products 53 km

Ports

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

Merchant marine

total:: 764 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 20,793,968 GRT/35,409,472 DWT
ships by type:: bulk 159, cargo 92, chemical tanker 85, combination bulk 8, combination ore/oil 28, container 17, liquefied gas tanker 81, oil tanker 162, passenger 13, passenger-cargo 2, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 13, roll-on/roll-off cargo 54, short-sea passenger 21, vehicle carrier 28

note: the government has created a captive register, the Norwegian International Ship Register (NIS), as a subset of the Norwegian register; ships on the NIS enjoy many benefits of flags of convenience and do not have to be crewed by Norwegians

Communications

3 fields

Telephone system

3,102,000 telephones; high-quality domestic and international telephone, telegraph, and telex services

local:: NA
intercity:: domestic earth stations
international:: 2 buried coaxial cable systems;
4 coaxial submarine cables;
EUTELSAT, INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean), and MARISAT earth stations