Norway
Kingdom of NorwayKongeriket Norge
constitutional monarchy
Norway as the 2012 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 159 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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.
In referenda held in 1972 and 1994, Norway rejected joining the EU. Key domestic issues include immigration and integration of ethnic minorities, maintaining the country's extensive social safety net with an aging population, and preserving economic competitiveness.
Geography
Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden
20 fieldsLand useshare of 323,802 sq km
Climate
- temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current;
- colder interior with increased precipitation and colder summers;
- 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, natural gas, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, titanium, pyrites, nickel, fish, timber, hydropower
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
- total:
- 2.4 cu km/yr (23%/67%/10%)
- per capita:
- 519 cu m/yr (1996)
Natural hazards
rockslides, avalanches; volcanism: Beerenberg (elev. 2,227 m) on Jan Mayen Island in the Norwegian Sea is the country's only active volcano
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
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
People and Society
30 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2012 est.)
Per 1,000 population
Male · female
Religions(2004)
Languages
Bokmal Norwegian (official), Nynorsk Norwegian (official), small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities note: Sami is official in six municipalities
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.04 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 1.02 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.78 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.98 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Government
Constitutional monarchy; King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991); Prime Minister Jens STOLTENBERG (since 17 October 2005)
22 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Parliament or Storting, 169 seats, elected 14 September 2009one dot, one seat
Percent of vote
Country name
- conventional long form:
- Kingdom of Norway
- conventional short form:
- Norway
- local long form:
- Kongeriket Norge
- local short form:
- Norge
Capital
- name:
- Oslo
- geographic coordinates:
- 59 55 N, 10 45 E
- time difference:
- UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
- daylight saving time:
- +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
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
Independence
7 June 1905 (Norway declared the union with Sweden dissolved); 26 October 1905 (Sweden agreed to the repeal of the union)
Legal system
mixed legal system of civil, common, and customary law; Supreme Court can advise on legislative acts
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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 October 2005)
- cabinet:
- State Council appointed by the monarch with the approval of parliament; (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website)
- 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
Legislative branch
modified unicameral Parliament or Storting (169 seats; members elected by popular vote by proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
- elections:
- last held on 14 September 2009 (next to be held in September 2013)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party - Labor Party 35.4%, Progress Party 22.9%, Conservative Party 17.2%, Socialist Left Party 6.2%, Center Party 6.2%, Christian Democratic Party 5.5%, Liberal Party 3.9%, other 2.7%;
- seats by party - Labor Party 64, Progress Party 41, Conservative Party 30, Socialist Left Party 11, Center Party 11, Christian Demoncratic Party 10, Liberal Party 2
Political parties and leaders
- Center Party (Senterpartiet) or SP [Liv Signe NAVARSETE];
- Christian Democratic Party (Kristelig Folkeparti) or KrF [Knut Arild HAREIDE];
- Conservative Party (Hoyre) or H [Erna SOLBERG];
- Labor Party (Arbeiderpartiet) or Ap [Jens STOLTENBERG];
- Liberal Party (Venstre) or V [Trine SKEI-GRANDE];
- Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) or FrP [Siv JENSEN];
- Socialist Left Party (Sosialistisk Venstreparti) or SV [Audun LYSBAKKEN]
Political pressure groups and leaders
- Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (Naeringslivets Hovedorganisasjon) or NHO [President Kristin SKOGEN LUND; CEO John Gordon BERNANDER];
- Norwegian Association of the Disabled;
- Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (Landsorganisasjonen i Norge) or LO [Roar FLATHEN]
- other:
- environmental groups;
- media;
- digital privacy movements
International organization participation
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, EITI (implementing country), ESA, FAO, FATF, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMISS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Wegger C. STROMMEN
- chancery:
- 2720 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 333-6000
- FAX:
- [1] (202) 337-0870
- consulate(s) general:
- Houston, New York, San Francisco
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
- mailing address:
- PSC 69, Box 1000, APO AE 09707
- telephone:
- [47] 22-44-85-50
- FAX:
- [47] 22-44-33-63, 22-56-27-51
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)
National anthem
- name:
- "Ja, vi elsker dette landet" (Yes, We Love This Country)
- 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
Economy
The Norwegian economy is a prosperous mixed economy, with a vibrant private sector, a large state sector, and an extensive social safety net.
39 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2012 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
Economy - overview
The Norwegian economy is a prosperous mixed economy, with a vibrant private sector, a large state sector, and an extensive social safety net. The government controls key areas, such as the vital petroleum sector, through extensive regulation and 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 the largest portion of export revenue and about 20% of government revenue. Norway is the world's second-largest natural gas exporter;
and seventh largest oil exporter, making one of its largest offshore oil finds in 2011. 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 state revenue from the petroleum sector in the world's second largest sovereign wealth fund, valued at over $700 billion in January 2013 and uses the fund's return to help finance public expenses.
After solid GDP growth in 2004-07, the economy slowed in 2008, and contracted in 2009, before returning to positive growth in 2010-12, however, the government budget is set to remain in surplus.
Distribution of family income - Gini index
25 (2008) · 25.8 (1995) country comparison to the world: 132
Public debt
30.3% of GDP (2012 est.) · 33.8% of GDP (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 111 note: data cover general government debt, and includes debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data exclude treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data exclude debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions
Central bank discount rate
6.25% (31 December 2010 est.) · 1.75% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 126
Commercial bank prime lending rate
3.7% (31 December 2012 est.) · 4.4% (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 164
Stock of narrow money
$149.4 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $137.3 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 25
Stock of broad money
$309.2 billion (31 December 2011 est.) · $280.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 31
Stock of domestic credit
$694.2 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $611.6 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 21
Current account balance
$76.1 billion (2012 est.) · $70.3 billion (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 7
Exports - commodities
petroleum and petroleum products, machinery and equipment, metals, chemicals, ships, fish
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$49.4 billion (31 December 2011 est.) · $52.8 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 37
Debt - external
$644.5 billion (30 June 2011); $NA (30 June 2010) country comparison to the world: 20 note: Norway is a net external creditor
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$192.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $182.5 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 24
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$197.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $182 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 22
Exchange rates
Norwegian kroner (NOK) per US dollar - 5.882 (2012 est.) · 5.6065 (2011 est.) · 6.0442 (2010 est.) · 6.288 (2009) · 5.6361 (2008)
Energy
23 fieldsInstalled generating capacity, 30.95 million kW(2009 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves
5.32 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 24
Natural gas - proved reserves
2.007 trillion cu m (1 January 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 18
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy
41.8 million Mt (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 69
Communications
7 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- modern in all respects; one of the most advanced telecommunications networks in Europe
- domestic:
- Norway has a domestic satellite system; the prevalence of rural areas encourages the wide use of mobile-cellular systems
- 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)
Broadcast media
- state-owned public radio-TV broadcaster operates 3 nationwide TV 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 broadcasting;
- nearly 75% of households have access to multi-channel cable or satellite TV;
- 2 privately-owned radio stations broadcast nationwide and another 240 stations operate locally (2008)
Transportation
10 fieldsMerchant marine, 585 ships by type
Airports by runway lengthpaved only
Airports by runway lengthunpaved only
Networkskm
Military
6 fieldsMilitary 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) (2011)
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)
Manpower available for military service
- males age 16-49:
- 1,079,043
- females age 16-49:
- 1,051,210 (2010 est.)
Transnational Issues
1 fieldDisputes - international
- Norway asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Queen Maud Land and its continental shelf);
- Denmark (Greenland) and Norway have made submissions to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental shelf (CLCS) and Russia is collecting additional data to augment its 2001 CLCS submission;
- Norway and Russia signed a comprehensive maritime boundary agreement in 2010
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Norway.” The World Factbook 2012. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/norway/2012.