Svalbard

territory of Norway administered by the Ministry of Industry, Oslo,Independence none (territory of Norway)

Svalbard as the 1994 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 70 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

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CapitalLongyearbyen
LocationNordic State, Northern Europe in the Arctic Ocean where the Arctic
1994

Every edition of Svalbard

Populationas each edition published it
3,018 people July 1994 est. · 3,942 in 1990
Population growth% a year
-3.5% 1994 est. · -2.84% in 1993

Geography

Nordic State, Northern Europe in the Arctic Ocean where the Arctic | Ocean, Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea meet, 445 km | north of Norway

24 fields
Coastline
3,587km
land boundaries: 0 km

Location

Nordic State, Northern Europe in the Arctic Ocean where the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea meet, 445 km north of Norway

Map references

Arctic Region, Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World

total area

62,049 sq km

land area

62,049 sq km

comparative area

slightly smaller than West Virginia

note

includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island)

exclusive fishing zone

200 nm unilaterally claimed by Norway but not recognized by Russia

territorial sea

4 nm

International disputes

focus of maritime boundary dispute in the Barents Sea between Norway and Russia

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

arable land

0%

permanent crops

0%

meadows and pastures

0%

forest and woodland

0%

other

100% (no trees and the only bushes are crowberry and cloudberry)

current issues

NA

natural hazards

ice floes often block up the entrance to Bellsund (a transit point for coal export) on the west coast and occasionally make parts of the northeastern coast inaccessible

international agreements

NA

Note

  • northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway;
  • consists of nine main islands;
  • glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of the total area

People

14 fields
Population
3,018
(July 1994 est.)growth rate: -3.5% (1994 est.)

Ethnic divisions(1981)

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

Languages

Russian, Norwegian

total population

NA%

male

NA%

female

NA%

Government

Territory of Norway administered by the Ministry of Industry, Oslo,

12 fields

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Svalbard

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

Independence

none (territory of Norway)

Chief of State

King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991)

Head of Government

Governor Odd BLOMDAL (since NA); Assistant Governor Jan-Atle HANSEN (since NA September 1993)

Flag

the flag of Norway is used

Economy

Coal mining is the major economic activity on Svalbard.

8 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 Russian.

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.

revenues

$13.3 million

expenditures

$13.3 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)

capacity

21,000 kW

production

45 million kWh

consumption per capita

13,860 kWh (1992)

Currency

1 Norwegian krone (NKr) = 100 oere

Exchange rates

Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1 - 7.4840 (January 1994), 7.0941 (1993), 6.2145 (1992), 6.4829 (1991), 6.2597 (1990), 6.9045 (1989)

Communications

11 fields

total

NA

paved

NA

unpaved

NA

Ports

limited facilities - Ny-Alesund, Advent Bay

total

4

usable

4

with permanent-surface runways

1

with runways over 3,659 m

0

with runways 2,440-3,659 m

0

with runways 1,220-2,439 m

1

Telecommunications

  • 5 meteorological/radio stations;
  • local telephone service;
  • broadcast stations - 1 AM, 1 (2 repeaters) FM, 1 TV;
  • satellite communication with Norwegian mainland

Defense Forces

1 field

Note

demilitarized by treaty (9 February 1920)

Central Intelligence Agency. “Svalbard.” The World Factbook 1994. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/svalbard/1994.

How to cite ← 1993 edition 1995 edition →