from
CIA World Factbook 2006
Norway
Introduction
Background: Two centuries of Viking raids into Europe tapered off
following the adoption of Christianity by King Olav
TRYGGVASON in 994. Conversion of the Norwegian kingdom
occurred over the next several decades. In 1397, Norway
was absorbed into a union with Denmark that lasted more
than four centuries. In 1814, Norwegians resisted the
cession of their country to Sweden and adopted a new
constitution. Sweden then invaded Norway but agreed to
let Norway keep its constitution in return for
accepting the union under a Swedish king. Rising
nationalism throughout the 19th century led to a 1905
referendum granting Norway independence. Although
Norway remained neutral in World War I, it suffered
heavy losses to its shipping. Norway proclaimed its
neutrality at the outset of World War II, but was
nonetheless occupied for five years by Nazi Germany
(1940-45). In 1949, neutrality was abandoned and Norway
became a member of NATO. Discovery of oil and gas in
adjacent waters in the late 1960s boosted Norway's
economic fortunes. The current focus is on containing
spending on the extensive welfare system and planning
for the time when petroleum reserves are depleted. In
referenda held in 1972 and 1994, Norway rejected
joining the EU.
Geography
Location: Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden
Geographic 62 00 N, 10 00 E
coordinates:
Map Europe
references:
Area: total: 323,802 sq km
land: 307,442 sq km
water: 16,360 sq km
Area - slightly larger than New Mexico
comparative:
Land total: 2,542 km
boundaries: border countries: Finland 727 km, Sweden 1,619 km,
Russia 196 km
Coastline: 25,148 km (includes mainland 2,650 km, as well as long
fjords, numerous small islands, and minor indentations
22,498 km; length of island coastlines 58,133 km)
Maritime territorial sea: 12 nm
claims: contiguous zone: 10 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate: temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic
Current; colder interior with increased precipitation
and colder summers; rainy year-round on west coast
Terrain: glaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains
broken by fertile valleys; small, scattered plains;
coastline deeply indented by fjords; arctic tundra in
north
Elevation lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m
extremes: highest point: Galdhopiggen 2,469 m
Natural petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc,
resources: titanium, pyrites, nickel, fish, timber, hydropower
Land use: arable land: 2.7%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 97.3% (2005)
Irrigated 1,270 sq km (2003)
land:
Natural rockslides, avalanches
hazards:
Environment - water pollution; acid rain damaging forests and
current adversely affecting lakes, threatening fish stocks; air
issues: pollution from vehicle emissions
Environment - party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides,
international Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air
agreements: Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air
Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds,
Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine
Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of
the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements
Geography - about two-thirds mountains; some 50,000 islands off its
note: much indented coastline; strategic location adjacent to
sea lanes and air routes in North Atlantic; one of most
rugged and longest coastlines in the world
People
Population: 4,610,820 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 19.3% (male 455,122/female 434,009)
15-64 years: 65.9% (male 1,542,439/female 1,496,745)
65 years and over: 14.8% (male 288,509/female 393,996)
(2006 est.)
Median age: total: 38.4 years
male: 37.6 years
female: 39.3 years (2006 est.)
Population 0.38% (2006 est.)
growth rate:
Birth rate: 11.46 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: 9.4 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration 1.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
rate:
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant total: 3.67 deaths/1,000 live births
mortality male: 4.03 deaths/1,000 live births
rate: female: 3.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life total population: 79.54 years
expectancy at male: 76.91 years
birth: female: 82.31 years (2006 est.)
Total 1.78 children born/woman (2006 est.)
fertility
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 0.1% (2001 est.)
adult
prevalence
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 2,100 (2001 est.)
people living
with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - less than 100 (2003 est.)
deaths:
Nationality: noun: Norwegian(s)
adjective: Norwegian
Ethnic groups: Norwegian, Sami 20,000
Religions: Church of Norway 85.7%, Pentecostal 1%, Roman Catholic
1%, other Christian 2.4%, Muslim 1.8%, other 8.1%
(2004)
Languages: Bokmal Norwegian (official), Nynorsk Norwegian
(official), small Sami- and Finnish-speaking
minorities; note - Sami is official in six
municipalities
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Norway
conventional short form: Norway
local long form: Kongeriket Norge
local short form: Norge
Government constitutional monarchy
type:
Capital: name: Oslo
geographic coordinates: 59 55 N, 10 45 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC
during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in
March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative 19 counties (fylker, singular - fylke); Akershus,
divisions: Aust-Agder, Buskerud, Finnmark, Hedmark, Hordaland,
More og Romsdal, Nordland, Nord-Trondelag, Oppland,
Oslo, Ostfold, Rogaland, Sogn og Fjordane,
Sor-Trondelag, Telemark, Troms, Vest-Agder, Vestfold
Dependent Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard
areas:
Independence: 7 June 1905 (Norway declared the union with Sweden
dissolved); 26 October 1905 (Sweden agreed to the
repeal of the union)
National Constitution Day, 17 May (1814)
holiday:
Constitution: 17 May 1814; amended many times
Legal system: mixture of customary law, civil law system, and common
law traditions; Supreme Court renders advisory opinions
to legislature when asked; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive chief of state: King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991);
branch: Heir Apparent Crown Prince HAAKON MAGNUS, son of the
monarch (born 20 July 1973)
head of government: Prime Minister Jens STOLTENBERG
(since 17 October 2005)
cabinet: State Council appointed by the monarch with
the approval of parliament
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following
parliamentary elections, the leader of the majority
party or the leader of the majority coalition is
usually appointed prime minister by the monarch with
the approval of the parliament
Legislative modified unicameral Parliament or Storting (169 seats;
branch: members are elected by popular vote by proportional
representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 12 September 2005 (next to be held
September 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - Labor
Party 32.7%, Progress Party 22.1%, Conservative Party
14.1%, Socialist Left Party 8.8%, Christian People's
Party 6.8%, Center Party 6.5%, Liberal Party 5.9%, Red
Electoral Alliance 1.2%, other 1.9%; seats by party -
Labor Party 61, Progress Party 38, Conservative Party
23, Socialist Left Party 15, Christian People's Party
11, Center Party 11, Liberal Party 10
note: for certain purposes, the parliament divides
itself into two chambers and elects one-fourth of its
membership to an upper house or Lagting
Judicial Supreme Court or Hoyesterett (justices appointed by the
branch: monarch)
Political Center Party [Aslaug Marie HAGA]; Christian People's
parties and Party [Dagfinn HOYBRATEN]; Coastal Party [Roy WAAGE];
leaders: Conservative Party [Erna SOLBERG]; Labor Party [Jens
STOLTENBERG]; Liberal Party [Lars SPONHEIM]; Progress
Party [Siv JENSEN]; Red Electoral Alliance [Torstein
DAHLE]; Socialist Left Party [Kristin HALVORSEN]
Political NA
pressure
groups and
leaders:
International AfDB, Arctic Council, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS,
organization CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, ESA, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
participation: ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG,
OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMEE, UNMIS,
UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Knut VOLLEBAEK
representation chancery: 2720 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
in the US: telephone: [1] (202) 333-6000
FAX: [1] (202) 337-0870
consulate(s) general: Houston, Minneapolis, New York,
San Francisco
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Benson K. WHITNEY
representation embassy: Henrik Ibsens gate 48, 0244 Oslo; note - the
from the US: embassy will move to Huseby in the near future
mailing address: PSC 69, Box 1000, APO AE 09707
telephone: [47] (22) 44 85 50
FAX: [47] (22) 44 33 63, 56 27 51
Flag red with a blue cross outlined in white that extends to
description: the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross
is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the
Dannebrog (Danish flag)
Economy
Economy - The Norwegian economy is a prosperous bastion of
overview: welfare capitalism, featuring a combination of free
market activity and government intervention. The
government controls key areas such as the vital
petroleum sector (through large-scale state
enterprises). The country is richly endowed with
natural resources - petroleum, hydropower, fish,
forests, and minerals - and is highly dependent on its
oil production and international oil prices, with oil
and gas accounting for one-third of exports. Only Saudi
Arabia and Russia export more oil than Norway. Norway
opted to stay out of the EU during a referendum in
November 1994; nonetheless, it contributes sizably to
the EU budget. The government has moved ahead with
privatization. Although Norwegian oil production peaked
in 2000, natural gas production is still rising.
Norwegians realize that once their gas production peaks
they will eventually face declining oil and gas
revenues; accordingly, Norway has been saving its
oil-and-gas-boosted budget surpluses in a Government
Petroleum Fund, which is invested abroad and now is
valued at more than $250 billion. After lackluster
growth of 1% in 2002 and 0.5% in 2003, GDP growth
picked up to 3.3% in 2004 and to 3.7% in 2005.
GDP $196.4 billion (2005 est.)
(purchasing
power parity):
GDP (official $246.9 billion (2005 est.)
exchange
rate):
GDP - real 4% (2005 est.)
growth rate:
GDP - per $42,800 (2005 est.)
capita (PPP):
GDP - agriculture: 2.1%
composition by industry: 41.5%
sector: services: 56.4% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 2.4 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - agriculture: 4%
by occupation: industry: 22%
services: 74% (1995)
Unemployment 4.6% (2005 est.)
rate:
Population NA%
below poverty
line:
Household lowest 10%: 4.1%
income or highest 10%: 21.8% (1995)
consumption by
percentage
share:
Distribution 25.8 (2000)
of family
income - Gini
index:
Inflation rate 1.6% (2005 est.)
(consumer
prices):
Investment 18.7% of GDP (2005 est.)
(gross fixed):
Budget: revenues: $176.1 billion
expenditures: $131.3 billion; including capital
expenditures of $NA (2005 est.)
Public debt: 50.1% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - barley, wheat, potatoes; pork, beef, veal, milk; fish
products:
Industries: petroleum and gas, food processing, shipbuilding, pulp
and paper products, metals, chemicals, timber, mining,
textiles, fishing
Industrial -0.5% (2005 est.)
production
growth rate:
Electricity - 105.6 billion kWh (2003)
production:
Electricity - fossil fuel: 0.4%
production by hydro: 99.3%
source: nuclear: 0%
other: 0.4% (2001)
Electricity - 106.1 billion kWh (2003)
consumption:
Electricity - 5.6 billion kWh (2003)
exports:
Electricity - 13.5 billion kWh (2003)
imports:
Oil - 3.22 million bbl/day (2005 est.)
production:
Oil - 257,200 bbl/day (2003 est.)
consumption:
Oil - exports: 3.466 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports: 88,870 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved 9.859 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
reserves:
Natural gas - 73.4 billion cu m (2003 est.)
production:
Natural gas - 4.14 billion cu m (2003 est.)
consumption:
Natural gas - 50.5 billion cu m (2001 est.)
exports:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2001 est.)
imports:
Natural gas - 2.118 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)
proved
reserves:
Current $49.49 billion (2005 est.)
account
balance:
Exports: $111.2 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - petroleum and petroleum products, machinery and
commodities: equipment, metals, chemicals, ships, fish
Exports - UK 25.5%, Germany 12.6%, Netherlands 9.9%, France 9.1%,
partners: US 6.7%, Sweden 6.5% (2005)
Imports: $58.12 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, foodstuffs
commodities:
Imports - Sweden 14.6%, Germany 13.6%, Denmark 7.3%, UK 6.8%,
partners: China 5.5%, US 5%, France 4% (2005)
Reserves of $46.99 billion (2005 est.)
foreign
exchange and
gold:
Debt - $281 billion; note - Norway is a net external creditor
external: (30 June 2005)
Economic aid - ODA, $1.4 billion (1998)
donor:
Currency Norwegian krone (NOK)
(code):
Currency code: NOK
Exchange Norwegian kroner per US dollar - 6.4425 (2005), 6.7408
rates: (2004), 7.0802 (2003), 7.9838 (2002), 8.9917 (2001)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones - 2.129 million (2005)
main lines in
use:
Telephones - 4.755 million (2005)
mobile
cellular:
Telephone general assessment: modern in all respects; one of the
system: most advanced telecommunications networks in Europe
domestic: Norway has a domestic satellite system;
moreover, the prevalence of rural areas encourages the
wide use of cellular mobile systems instead of
fixed-wire systems
international: country code - 47; 2 buried coaxial
cable systems; 4 coaxial submarine cables; satellite
earth stations - NA Eutelsat, NA Intelsat (Atlantic
Ocean), and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean
regions); note - Norway shares the Inmarsat earth
station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark,
Finland, Iceland, and Sweden) (1999)
Radio AM 5, FM at least 650, shortwave 1 (1998)
broadcast
stations:
Radios: 4.03 million (1997)
Television 360 (plus 2,729 repeaters) (1995)
broadcast
stations:
Televisions: 2.03 million (1997)
Internet .no
country code:
Internet 1,364,448 (2006)
hosts:
Internet 13 (2000)
Service
Providers
(ISPs):
Internet 3.14 million (2005)
users:
Transportation
Airports: 99 (2006)
Airports - total: 67
with paved over 3,047 m: 1
runways: 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 29 (2006)
Airports - total: 32
with unpaved 914 to 1,523 m: 6
runways: under 914 m: 26 (2006)
Heliports: 1 (2006)
Pipelines: condensate 508 km; gas 5,910 km; oil 2,557 km; oil/gas/
water 746 km (2006)
Railways: total: 4,077 km
standard gauge: 4,077 km 1.435-m gauge (2,680 km
electrified) (2005)
Roadways: total: 92,513 km
paved: 71,832 km (including 664 km of expressways)
unpaved: 20,681 km (2005)
Waterways: 1,577 km (2002)
Merchant total: 724 ships (1000 GRT or over) 14,472,103 GRT/
marine: 20,245,353 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 67, cargo 153, chemical tanker
150, container 2, liquefied gas 79, passenger/cargo
121, petroleum tanker 75, refrigerated cargo 9, roll on
/roll off 19, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 47
foreign-owned: 168 (China 3, Cyprus 2, Denmark 32,
Estonia 1, Finland 4, Greece 1, Hong Kong 55, Iceland
4, Italy 4, Japan 1, Lithuania 1, Monaco 4, Netherlands
3, Poland 2, Saudi Arabia 3, Sweden 28, UAE 1, UK 6, US
13)
registered in other countries: 861 (Antigua and Barbuda
11, Australia 1, Bahamas 259, Barbados 29, Belize 2,
Bermuda 5, Brazil 2, Cambodia 1, Canada 1, Cayman
Islands 2, China 1, Comoros 1, Cook Islands 1, Cyprus
16, Denmark 3, Dominica 1, Ecuador 1, Estonia 2, Faroe
Islands 4, Finland 1, France 1, French Southern and
Antarctic Lands 12, Gibraltar 18, Hong Kong 26,
Indonesia 1, Isle of Man 27, Liberia 38, Libya 1, Malta
49, Marshall Islands 65, Mexico 1, Netherlands 7,
Netherlands Antilles 5, Nigeria 1, Panama 66,
Philippines 3, Portugal 4, Russia 1, Saint Vincent and
the Grenadines 16, Singapore 90, Spain 7, Sweden 7,
Thailand 30, Tonga 1, UK 36, US 2, unknown 2) (2006)
Ports and Borg Havn, Bergen, Mo i Rana, Molde, Mongstad, Narvik,
terminals: Oslo, Sture
Military
Military Norwegian Army (Haeren), Royal Norwegian Navy
branches: (Kongelige Norske Sjoeforsvaret, RNoN; includes Coastal
Rangers and Coast Guard (Kystvakt)), Royal Norwegian
Air Force (Kongelige Norske Luftforsvaret, RNoAF), Home
Guard (Heimevernet, HV) (2006)
Military 18 years of age for compulsory military service; 16
service age years of age in wartime; 17 years of age for male
and volunteers; 18 years of age for women; 16 years of age
obligation: for volunteers to the Home Guard; conscript service
obligation - 12 months (2004)
Manpower males age 18-49: 1,014,592
available for females age 18-49: 982,734 (2005 est.)
military
service:
Manpower fit males age 18-49: 827,016
for military females age 18-49: 801,358 (2005 est.)
service:
Manpower males age 18-49: 29,179
reaching females age 18-49: 28,023 (2005 est.)
military
service age
annually:
Military $4,033.5 million (2003)
expenditures -
dollar figure:
Military 1.9% (2003)
expenditures -
percent of
GDP:
Transnational
Issues
Disputes - Norway asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Queen
international: Maud Land and its continental shelf); despite recent
discussions, Russia and Norway continue to dispute
their maritime limits in the Barents Sea and Russia's
fishing rights beyond Svalbard's territorial limits
within the Svalbard Treaty zone