Svalbard
NAIndependence none (territory of Norway)
Svalbard as the 2002 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 83 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
First discovered by the Norwegians in the 12th century, the islands served as an international whaling base during the 17th and 18th centuries. Norway's sovereignty was recognized in 1920; five years later it officially took over the territory.
Geography
Northern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway
17 fieldsLand useshare of 62,049 sq km
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 hazards
ice floes often block 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
Geography - note
- northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway;
- consists of nine main islands;
- glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of the total area
People
16 fieldsGovernment
NA; King HARALD V of Norway (since 17 January 1991); Governor Morten RUUD (since NA November 1998) and Assistant Governor Odd Redar HUMLEGAARD (since NA)
10 fieldsCountry name
- conventional long form:
- none
- conventional short form:
- Svalbard (sometimes referred to as Spitzbergen)
Dependency status
- territory of Norway;
- administered by the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice, through a governor (sysselmann) residing in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen;
- by treaty (9 February 1920) sovereignty was awarded to Norway
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- King HARALD V of Norway (since 17 January 1991)
- head of government:
- Governor Morten RUUD (since NA November 1998) and Assistant Governor Odd Redar HUMLEGAARD (since NA)
- elections:
- none;
- the monarch is hereditary;
- governor and assistant governor responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice
Economy
Coal mining is the major economic activity on Svalbard.
19 fieldsEconomy - overview
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.
Exchange rates
Norwegian kroner per US dollar - 8.9684 (January 2002), 8.9917 (2001), 8.8018 (2000), 7.7992 (1999), 7.5451 (1998), 7.0734 (1997)
Communications
10 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- probably adequate
- domestic:
- local telephone service
- international:
- satellite earth station - 1 of unknown type (for communication with Norwegian mainland only)
Transportation
8 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved only
Airports by runway lengthunpaved only
Military
1 fieldTransnational Issues
1 fieldDisputes - international
despite recent discussions, Russia and Norway dispute their maritime limits in the Barents Sea and Russia's fishing rights beyond Svalbard's territorial limits within the Svalbard Treaty zone
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Svalbard.” The World Factbook 2002. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/svalbard/2002.