Svalbard

territory of Norway administered by the Ministry of Industry, Oslo, through a governor (sysselmann) residing in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen

Svalbard as the 1990 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 39 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.

CapitalLongyearbyen Chief of State--King OLAV V (since 21 September 1957)
Area62,049 km2
1990

Every edition of Svalbard

Populationas each edition published it
3,942 people July 1990 · 2,556 in 2025
Population growth% a year
Not in this edition -2.84% in 1993

Geography

15 fields

Land useshare of 62,049 km2

forest and woodland 0%other 100%arable land 0% in all · permanent crops 0% in all · meadows and pastures 0% in allthere are no trees and the only bushes are crowberry and cloudberry
Total area
62,049km2
land area: 62,049 km2; includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island)Comparative area: slightly smaller than West Virginia
Coastline
3,587km
land boundaries: noneTerritorial sea: 4 nm

Continental shelf

200 meters or to depth of exploitation;

Extended economic zone

200 nm unilaterally claimed by Norway, not recognized by USSR;

Disputes

focus of maritime boundary dispute between Norway and USSR

Climate

  • arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current;
  • cool summers, cold winters;
  • North Atlantic Current flows along west and north coasts of Spitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most of the year

Terrain

  • wild, rugged mountains;
  • much of high land ice covered;
  • west coast clear of ice about half the year;
  • fjords along west and north coasts

Natural resources

coal, copper, iron ore, phosphate, zinc, wildlife, fish

Environment

great calving glaciers descend to the sea

Note

located 445 km north of Norway where the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea meet

People

12 fields

Population

  • 3,942 (July 1990), growth rate NA% (1990);
  • about one-third of the population resides in the Norwegian areas (Longyearbyen and Svea on Vestspitsbergen) and two-thirds in the Soviet areas (Barentsburg and Pyramiden on Vestspitsbergen);
  • about 9 persons live at the Polish research station

Birth rate

NA births/1,000 population (1990)

Death rate

NA deaths/1,000 population (1990)

Net migration rate

NA migrants/1,000 population (1990)

Infant mortality rate

NA deaths/1,000 live births (1990)

Life expectancy at birth

NA years male, NA years female (1990)

Total fertility rate

NA children born/woman (1990)

Ethnic divisions

64% Russian, 35% Norwegian, 1% other (1981)

Language

Russian, Norwegian

Government

Territory of Norway administered by the Ministry of Industry, Oslo, through a governor (sysselmann) residing in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen

4 fields

Type

  • territory of Norway administered by the Ministry of Industry, Oslo, through a governor (sysselmann) residing in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen;
  • by treaty (9 February 1920) sovereignty was given to Norway

Capital

Longyearbyen Chief of State--King OLAV V (since 21 September 1957); Head of Government Governor Leif ELDRING (since NA)

Flag

the flag of Norway is used

Economy

Coal mining is the major economic activity on Svalbard.

4 fields

Overview

Coal mining is the major economic activity on Svalbard. By treaty (9 February 1920), the nationals of the treaty powers have equal rights to exploit mineral deposits, subject to Norwegian regulation. Although US, UK, Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have mined in the past, the only companies still mining are Norwegian and Soviet.

Each company mines about half a million tons of coal annually. The settlements on Svalbard are essentially company towns. The Norwegian state-owned coal company employs nearly 60% of the Norwegian population on the island, runs many of the local services, and provides most of the local infrastructure. There is also some trapping of seal, polar bear, fox, and walrus.

Electricity

21,000 kW capacity; 45 million kWh produced, 11,420 kWh per capita (1989)

Currency

Norwegian krone (plural--kroner); 1 Norwegian krone (NKr) = 100 ore

Exchange rates

Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1--6.5405 (January 1990), 6.9045 (1989), 6.5170 (1988), 6.7375 (1987), 7.3947 (1986), 8.5972 (1985)

Communications

3 fields

Airports, 4 total, 4 usable

permanent-surface runways
1runways over 2,439 m
nonerunways 1,220-2,439 m
1

Ports

limited facilities--Ny-Alesund, Advent Bay

Telecommunications

5 meteorological/radio stations; stations--1 AM, 1 (2 relays) FM, 1 TV

Defense Forces

1 field

Note

demilitarized by treaty (9 February 1920)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Svalbard.” The World Factbook 1990. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/svalbard/1990.

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