Norway

Kingdom of NorwayKongeriket Norge

constitutional monarchy

Norway as the 2000 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 110 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

Position62 00 N, 10 00 E

Area324,220 sq km

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

Populationas each edition published it

4.48 million July 2000 est. · 4.25m in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.5% 2000 est. · 0.41% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 37.7 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

78.65 years 2000 est. · 77.16 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.81 children per woman 2000 est. · 1.8 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

3.98 deaths per 1,000 live births 2000 est. · 7 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$25,100 1999 est. · $17,700 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

0.8% 1999 est. · 2.9% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

Despite its neutrality, Norway was not able to avoid occupation by Germany in World War II. 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

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

18 fields

Land useshare of 324,220 sq km

arable land 3%permanent pastures 0%forests and woodland 27%other 70% (1993 est.)permanent crops 0% in all · irrigated 970 sq km (1993 est.)

Area

324,220sq km

land: 307,860 sq kmwater: 16,360 sq kmslightly 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

Highest point

2,469m

Galdhopiggehlowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m

Land boundaries

2,515km

border countries: 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

Geographic coordinates

62 00 N, 10 00 E

Map references

Europe

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

Natural hazards

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 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

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;
Norway is the only NATO member having a land boundary with Russia

People

15 fields

Population

4,481,162

(July 2000 est.)growth rate: 0.5% (2000 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2000 est.)

Birth

12.79Death

9.89Net migration

2.13

Religions(1997)

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

Literacy

100%

definition: age 15 and over can read and writemale: NA%female: NA%

Age structure

0-14 years:: 20% (male 459,608; female 434,809)
15-64 years:: 65% (male 1,472,974; female 1,430,526)
65 years and over:: 15% (male 283,741; female 399,504) (2000 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.06 male(s)/female
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
total population:: 0.98 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Infant mortality rate

3.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 78.65 years
male:: 75.73 years
female:: 81.77 years (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.81 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Norwegian(s)
adjective:: Norwegian

Ethnic groups

Norwegian (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 Jens STOLTENBERG (since 17 March 2000)

19 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

35%

Labor Party 35%Center Party 7.9%Conservative Party 14.3%Christian People's Party 13.7%Socialist Left Party 6%Progress Party 15.3%Liberal Party 4.4%other parties 1.6%last held 15 September 1997 (next to be held NA September 2001)

Legislature, 165 seats, elected 15 September 1997one dot, one seat

Labor Party 65Center Party 11Conservative Party 23Christian People's Party 25Socialist Left Party 9Progress Party 25Liberal Party 6other parties 1

Percent of vote

Labor Party 35%Center Party 7.9%Conservative Party 14.3%Christian People's Party 13.7%Socialist Left Party 6%Progress Party 15.3%Liberal Party 4.4%other parties 1.6%

Country name

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

Data code

Government 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

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, 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, son of the monarch (born 20 July 1973)
head of government:: Prime Minister Jens STOLTENBERG (since 17 March 2000)
cabinet:: State Council appointed by the monarch with the approval of the Parliament
elections:: none;
the monarch is hereditary;
following parliamentary elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch with the approval of the Parliament

Legislative branch

modified unicameral Parliament or Storting which, for certain purposes, divides itself into two chambers (165 seats; members are elected by popular vote by proportional representation to serve four-year terms)

elections:: last held 15 September 1997 (next to be held NA September 2001)
election results:: percent of vote by party - Labor Party 35%, Center Party 7.9%, Conservative Party 14.3%, Christian People's Party 13.7%, Socialist Left Party 6%, Progress Party 15.3%, Liberal Party 4.4%, other parties 1.6%;
seats by party - Labor Party 65, Center Party 11, Conservative Party 23, Christian People's Party 25, Socialist Left Party 9, Progress Party 25, Liberal Party 6, other parties 1

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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Hoyesterett, justices appointed by the monarch

Political parties and leaders

Center Party [Johan J. JAKOBSEN];
Christian People's Party [Valgerd HAUGLAND];
Conservative Party [Jan PETERSEN];
Labor Party [Thorbjorn JAGLAND];
Liberal Party [Lars SPONHEIM];
Norwegian Communist Party [Kare Andre NILSEN];
Progress Party [Carl I. HAGEN];
Red Electoral Alliance [Erling FOLKVORD];
Socialist Left Party [Kristin HALVORSEN]

International organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Tom Erik VRAALSEN
chancery:: 2720 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:: [1] (202) 333-6000
FAX:: [1] (202) 337-0870
consulate(s) general:: Houston, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, and San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador David B. HERMELIN
embassy:: Drammensveien 18, 0244 Oslo
mailing address:: PSC 69, Box 1000, APO AE 09707
telephone:: [47] (22) 44 85 50
FAX:: [47] (22) 43 07 77

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

The Norwegian economy is a prosperous bastion of welfare capitalism, featuring a combination of free market activity and government intervention.

31 fields

Real growth rate

0.8%

(1999 est.)industrial production growth: 0.7% (1999 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

2.8%

(1999 est.)

Unemployment rate

2.9%

(1999 est.)

Labor force

2.7million

(1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(1998)

agriculture 2.2%industry 26.3%services 71.5% (1998)

Budget

Revenues

$69.7 billionExpenditures

$60.1 billion (2000 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Electricity

fossil fuel 0.58%hydro 99.16%other 0.26% (1998)nuclear 0%

Electricity production

115.485 billion (1998)Electricity consumption

111.001 billion (1998)Electricity exports

4.4 billion (1998)Electricity imports

8 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), and extensively subsidizes agriculture, fishing, and areas with sparse resources.

The extensive welfare system helps propel public sector expenditures to more than 50% of GDP. A major shipping nation, with a high dependence on international trade, Norway is basically an exporter of raw materials and semiprocessed goods. 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.

Only Saudi Arabia exports more oil than Norway. Norway imports more than half its food needs. Oslo opted to stay out of the EU during a referendum in November 1994. Growth was a meager 0.8% in 1999 because of weak private consumption and anemic investment activity in the oil and other sectors.

Growth should pick up in 2000, perhaps to 2.7%. Despite their high per capita income and generous welfare benefits, Norwegians worry about that time in the next two decades when the oil and gas begin to run out.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $111.3 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $25,100 (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Labor force - by occupation

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

Industries

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

Agriculture - products

barley, other grains, potatoes;
beef, milk;
fish

Exports

$47.3 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

EU 77% (UK 17%, Germany 12%, Netherlands 10%, Sweden 10%, France 8%), US 7% (1998)

Imports

$38.6 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

EU 69% (Sweden 15%, Germany 14%, UK 10%, Denmark 7%), US 7%, Japan 4% (1998)

Debt - external

$0 (Norway is a net external creditor)

Economic aid - donor

ODA, $1.4 billion (1998)

Currency

1 Norwegian krone (NKr) = 100 oere

Exchange rates

Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1 - 8.0129 (January 2000), 7.7992 (1999), 7.5451 (1998), 7.0734 (1997), 6.4498 (1996), 6.3352 (1995)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

1,676,763

(1997)

Internet users

(1999)

Fixed lines

2,325,010

(1997)

Telephone system

high-quality domestic and international telephone, telegraph, and telex services

domestic:: domestic satellite system
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)

Radio broadcast stations

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

Radios

4.03 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations

209 (1997)

Televisions

2.03 million (1997)

Transportation

10 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

over 3,047 m

2,438 to 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

914 to 1,523 m

under 914 m

Paved 67Unpaved 36

Networkskm

Highways

90,741Railways

4,012Waterways

1,577

Highways: paved: 67,602 km (including 128 km of expressways) · unpaved: 23,139 km (1998 est.) · Railways: standard gauge: 4,012 km 1.435-m gauge (2,530 km electrified; 96 km double track) (1998) · Waterways: ; navigable by 2.4 m draft vessels maximum

Railways

total:: 4,012 km
standard gauge:: 4,012 km 1.435-m gauge (2,530 km electrified; 96 km double track) (1998)

Highways

total:: 90,741 km
paved:: 67,602 km (including 128 km of expressways)
unpaved:: 23,139 km (1998 est.)

Waterways

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

Pipelines

refined petroleum products 53 km

Ports and harbors

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

Merchant marine

total:: 788 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 21,460,260 GRT/34,178,125 DWT
ships by type:: bulk 100, cargo 142, chemical tanker 111, combination bulk 9, combination ore/oil 35, container 18, liquified gas 86, multi-functional large load carrier 1, passenger 11, petroleum tanker 157, refrigerated cargo 11, roll-on/roll-off 48, short-sea passenger 22, vehicle carrier 37 (1999 est.)

note: the government has created an internal 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 (1998 est.)