Svalbard

NAIndependence none (territory of Norway)

Svalbard as the 1999 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 75 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

Position78 00 N, 20 00 E

Area62,049 sq km

LocationNorthern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean,

Populationas each edition published it

2,503 people July 1999 est. · 3,942 in 1990

Population growth% a year

-3.55% 1999 est. · -2.84% in 1993

Geography

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

18 fields

Land useshare of 62,049 sq km

forests 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 · permanent pastures 0% in all

Area

62,049sq km

land: 62,049 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmnote: includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island)slightly smaller than West Virginia

Coastline

3,587km

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

Highest point

1,717m

Newtontoppenlowest point: Arctic Ocean 0 m

Location

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

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 one-half of the year;
fjords along west and north coasts

Natural resources

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

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

Environment--international agreements

party to:: NA
signed, but not ratified:: NA

Geography--note

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

People

11 fields

Population

2,503

(July 1999 est.)growth rate: -3.55% (1999 est.)

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

Ethnic groups

Russian and Ukrainian 62%, Norwegian 38%, other NEGL% (1994)

Government

NA; King HARALD V of Norway (since 17 January 1991); Governor Ann-Kristin OLSEN (since NA) and Assistant Governor Jan-Atle HANSEN (since NA September 1993)

11 fields

Country name

conventional long form:: none
conventional short form:: Svalbard (sometimes referred to as Spitzbergen)

Dependency status

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

Executive branch

chief of state:: King HARALD V of Norway (since 17 January 1991)
head of government:: Governor Ann-Kristin OLSEN (since NA) and Assistant Governor Jan-Atle HANSEN (since NA September 1993)
elections:: none;
the monarch is hereditary;
governor and assistant governor responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice

International organization participation

none

Economy

Coal mining is the major economic activity on | Svalbard.

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Budget

Revenues

$11.7 millionExpenditures

$11.7 million (1997 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Coal mining is the major economic activity on Svalbard. The treaty of 9 February 1920 gives the 41 signatories 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.