Svalbard

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

Svalbard as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 52 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

Area62,049 sq km

LocationNorthern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean, Barents

Populationas each edition published it

2,914 people July 1995 est. · 3,942 in 1990

Population growth% a year

-3.5% 1995 est. · -2.84% in 1993

Geography

Northern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean, Barents | Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway

14 fields

Land useshare of 62,049 sq km

forest and woodland 0%other 100% (no trees and the only bushes are crowberry and cloudberry)arable land 0% in all · permanent crops 0% in all · meadows and pastures 0% in all

Area

62,049sq km

land area: 62,049 sq kmcomparative area: slightly smaller than West Virginianote: includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island)

Coastline

3,587km

land boundaries: 0 kmexclusive fishing zone: 200 nm unilaterally claimed by Norway but not recognized by Russiaterritorial sea: 4 nm

Location

Northern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway

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

Environment

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 to maritime traffic
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

12 fields

Population

2,914

(July 1995 est.)growth rate: -3.5% (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions(1981)

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

Age structure

0-14 years:: NA
15-64 years:: NA
65 years and over:: NA

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: NA years
male:: NA years
female:: NA years

Government

Territory of Norway administered by the Ministry of Industry,

11 fields

Names

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

Head of Government

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

Economy

Coal mining is the major economic activity on Svalbard.

5 fields

Budget

Revenues

$13.3 millionExpenditures

$13.3 million (1990 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Installed generating capacity, 21,000 kW

Electricity production

45 millionElectricity consumption per capita

13,860 (1992)

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.