Norway - NO - NOR - NOR - Europe

Last updated: April 17, 2024
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  • Tromsø, a city situated at 70° north in Norway, is in the middle of the auroral oval, the area with the highest probability of seeing the Northern Lights. The best period to experience the Northern Lights is from early September to early April. During large solar explosions and flares, large quantities of charged particles are thrown from the sun and into deep space. When the particles meet the Earth’s magnetic shield, they are pulled in an oval around the magnetic North Pole where they interact with upper parts of the atmosphere. The Northern Lights are at least 80 km above the Earth’s surface, much higher than clouds. Consequently, a clear sky creates the best backdrop for viewing them.

    Tromsø, a city situated at 70° north in Norway, is in the middle of the auroral oval, the area with the highest probability of seeing the Northern Lights. The best period to experience the Northern Lights is from early September to early April. During large solar explosions and flares, large quantities of charged particles are thrown from the sun and into deep space. When the particles meet the Earth’s magnetic shield, they are pulled in an oval around the magnetic North Pole where they interact with upper parts of the atmosphere. The Northern Lights are at least 80 km above the Earth’s surface, much higher than clouds. Consequently, a clear sky creates the best backdrop for viewing them.

  • Brilliant shades of blue and green explode across the Barents Sea in this natural-color satellite image taken on 14 August 2011. The color was created by a massive bloom of phytoplankton that is common in the area each August. The clear view is a rare treat since the Barents Sea is cloud-covered roughly 80 percent of the time in summer. Plankton blooms spanning hundreds or even thousands of kilometers occur across the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans every year. Many species thrive in the cooler ocean waters, which tend to be richer in nutrients and plant life than tropical waters. The area in this image is located immediately north of the Scandinavian peninsula. The region is a junction where several ocean current systems - including the Norwegian Atlantic, the Persey, and east Spitsbergen currents - merge and form a front known as the North Cape Current. The intersecting waters, plus stiff winds, promote mixing of waters and of nutrients from the deep. Image courtesy of NASA.

    Brilliant shades of blue and green explode across the Barents Sea in this natural-color satellite image taken on 14 August 2011. The color was created by a massive bloom of phytoplankton that is common in the area each August. The clear view is a rare treat since the Barents Sea is cloud-covered roughly 80 percent of the time in summer. Plankton blooms spanning hundreds or even thousands of kilometers occur across the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans every year. Many species thrive in the cooler ocean waters, which tend to be richer in nutrients and plant life than tropical waters. The area in this image is located immediately north of the Scandinavian peninsula. The region is a junction where several ocean current systems - including the Norwegian Atlantic, the Persey, and east Spitsbergen currents - merge and form a front known as the North Cape Current. The intersecting waters, plus stiff winds, promote mixing of waters and of nutrients from the deep. Image courtesy of NASA.

  • A view of the city of Oslo at dusk.

    A view of the city of Oslo at dusk.

  • The Gogstad Ship, excavated in 1880, dates to the late 9th century; it is housed in the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo. Constructed largely of oak, the vessel is the largest preserved Viking ship in Norway (24 m long and 5 m wide) and was built to carry 32 oarsmen. The Vikings were able to terrorize much of Europe because of their state-of-the-art ships, which had a shallow draft hull and were able to navigate rivers only one meter deep. Additionally, they were relatively light and could be portaged (carried by the crew) between rivers.

    The Gogstad Ship, excavated in 1880, dates to the late 9th century; it is housed in the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo. Constructed largely of oak, the vessel is the largest preserved Viking ship in Norway (24 m long and 5 m wide) and was built to carry 32 oarsmen. The Vikings were able to terrorize much of Europe because of their state-of-the-art ships, which had a shallow draft hull and were able to navigate rivers only one meter deep. Additionally, they were relatively light and could be portaged (carried by the crew) between rivers.

  • The National Theater in Oslo, opened in 1899.

    The National Theater in Oslo, opened in 1899.

  • Constructed between 1839 and 1854, what was the former National University in Oslo is today the Law School.

    Constructed between 1839 and 1854, what was the former National University in Oslo is today the Law School.

  • The Royal Palace (Slottet) in Oslo, constructed between 1825 and 1849.

    The Royal Palace (Slottet) in Oslo, constructed between 1825 and 1849.

  • The Parliament Building (Stortinget) in Oslo, constructed between 1861 and 1866.

    The Parliament Building (Stortinget) in Oslo, constructed between 1861 and 1866.

  • The City Hall (Radhus) in Oslo. Although construction began in 1931, completion was delayed because of World War II. The building was finally inaugurated in 1950. The Nobel Peace Prize ceremony formerly took place at the City Hall annually between 1990 and 2019.

    The City Hall (Radhus) in Oslo. Although construction began in 1931, completion was delayed because of World War II. The building was finally inaugurated in 1950. The Nobel Peace Prize ceremony formerly took place at the City Hall annually between 1990 and 2019.

  • Akershus Fortress is a medieval castle built to protect the city of Oslo; construction dates back to the late 1290s. Today the grounds house several museums and are popular visitor destination.

    Akershus Fortress is a medieval castle built to protect the city of Oslo; construction dates back to the late 1290s. Today the grounds house several museums and are popular visitor destination.

  • Majestic Naeroy Fjord.

    Majestic Naeroy Fjord.

  • The wharf at Bergen, Norway's second largest city. Bergen served as Norway's capital during the 13th century.

    The wharf at Bergen, Norway's second largest city. Bergen served as Norway's capital during the 13th century.

  • The Berghus Fortress at the Bergen harbor entrance dates from A.D. 1240; it is one of the oldest and best-preserved stone buildings in Norway.

    The Berghus Fortress at the Bergen harbor entrance dates from A.D. 1240; it is one of the oldest and best-preserved stone buildings in Norway.

  • Reconstructed warehouses on the Bergen Hanseatic Wharf. Bergen was one of the major foreign trading posts in the Hanseatic League.

    Reconstructed warehouses on the Bergen Hanseatic Wharf. Bergen was one of the major foreign trading posts in the Hanseatic League.

  • Reconstructed warehouses on the Bergen Hanseatic Wharf. Bergen was one of the major foreign trading posts in the Hanseatic League.

    Reconstructed warehouses on the Bergen Hanseatic Wharf. Bergen was one of the major foreign trading posts in the Hanseatic League.

  • Larger warehouses were built along the Hanseatic Wharf in Bergen after periodic fires destroyed the original buildings.

    Larger warehouses were built along the Hanseatic Wharf in Bergen after periodic fires destroyed the original buildings.

  • Larger warehouses were built along the Hanseatic Wharf in Bergen after periodic fires destroyed the original buildings.

    Larger warehouses were built along the Hanseatic Wharf in Bergen after periodic fires destroyed the original buildings.

  • Brightly painted warehouses along the Hanseatic Wharf in Bryggen, the dock area of historic Bergen. The yellow and orange building is the Hanseatic Museum. The Bryggen has been a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site since 1979.

    Brightly painted warehouses along the Hanseatic Wharf in Bryggen, the dock area of historic Bergen. The yellow and orange building is the Hanseatic Museum. The Bryggen has been a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site since 1979.

  • Countryside outside Bergen.

    Countryside outside Bergen.

  • Tromsø, a city situated at 70° north in Norway, is in the middle of the auroral oval, the area with the highest probability of seeing the Northern Lights. The best period to experience the Northern Lights is from early September to early April. During large solar explosions and flares, large quantities of charged particles are thrown from the sun and into deep space. When the particles meet the Earth’s magnetic shield, they are pulled in an oval around the magnetic North Pole where they interact with upper parts of the atmosphere. The Northern Lights are at least 80 km above the Earth’s surface, much higher than clouds. Consequently, a clear sky creates the best backdrop for viewing them.

    Tromsø, a city situated at 70° north in Norway, is in the middle of the auroral oval, the area with the highest probability of seeing the Northern Lights. The best period to experience the Northern Lights is from early September to early April. During large solar explosions and flares, large quantities of charged particles are thrown from the sun and into deep space. When the particles meet the Earth’s magnetic shield, they are pulled in an oval around the magnetic North Pole where they interact with upper parts of the atmosphere. The Northern Lights are at least 80 km above the Earth’s surface, much higher than clouds. Consequently, a clear sky creates the best backdrop for viewing them.

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  • Grayish white over the deep blue Norwegian Sea, a thick cloud of smoke drifts north off the western coast of Norway in this image, taken on 7 May 2006, by NASA's Aqua satellite. The smoke is coming from hundreds of fires burning in western Russia, most of which are probably agricultural fires. By the time this image was taken, smoke had lingered over the Norwegian Sea for more than a week as the fires continued to burn. In this image, hazy skies extend from Denmark, lower right, west to Iceland, upper left. The densest of the smoke hangs over the Shetland Islands (lower center) and the Faroe Islands (left center). The northern shores of Great Britain are in the lower left corner of the image. Red dots mark the locations of scattered burning fires in Norway. Photo courtesy of NASA.
  • Brilliant shades of blue and green explode across the Barents Sea in this natural-color satellite image taken on 14 August 2011. The color was created by a massive bloom of phytoplankton that is common in the area each August. The clear view is a rare treat since the Barents Sea is cloud-covered roughly 80 percent of the time in summer. Plankton blooms spanning hundreds or even thousands of kilometers occur across the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans every year. Many species thrive in the cooler ocean waters, which tend to be richer in nutrients and plant life than tropical waters. The area in this image is located immediately north of the Scandinavian peninsula. The region is a junction where several ocean current systems - including the Norwegian Atlantic, the Persey, and east Spitsbergen currents - merge and form a front known as the North Cape Current. The intersecting waters, plus stiff winds, promote mixing of waters and of nutrients from the deep. Image courtesy of NASA.
  • A view of the city of Oslo at dusk.
  • The Gogstad Ship, excavated in 1880, dates to the late 9th century; it is housed in the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo. Constructed largely of oak, the vessel is the largest preserved Viking ship in Norway (24 m long and 5 m wide) and was built to carry 32 oarsmen. The Vikings were able to terrorize much of Europe because of their state-of-the-art ships, which had a shallow draft hull and were able to navigate rivers only one meter deep. Additionally, they were relatively light and could be portaged (carried by the crew) between rivers.
  • The National Theater in Oslo, opened in 1899.
  • Constructed between 1839 and 1854, what was the former National University in Oslo is today the Law School.
  • The Royal Palace (Slottet) in Oslo, constructed between 1825 and 1849.
  • The Parliament Building (Stortinget) in Oslo, constructed between 1861 and 1866.
  • The City Hall (Radhus) in Oslo. Although construction began in 1931, completion was delayed because of World War II. The building was finally inaugurated in 1950. The Nobel Peace Prize ceremony formerly took place at the City Hall annually between 1990 and 2019.
  • Akershus Fortress is a medieval castle built to protect the city of Oslo; construction dates back to the late 1290s. Today the grounds house several museums and are popular visitor destination.
  • Majestic Naeroy Fjord.
  • The wharf at Bergen, Norway's second largest city. Bergen served as Norway's capital during the 13th century.
  • The Berghus Fortress at the Bergen harbor entrance dates from A.D. 1240; it is one of the oldest and best-preserved stone buildings in Norway.
  • Reconstructed warehouses on the Bergen Hanseatic Wharf. Bergen was one of the major foreign trading posts in the Hanseatic League.
  • Reconstructed warehouses on the Bergen Hanseatic Wharf. Bergen was one of the major foreign trading posts in the Hanseatic League.
  • Larger warehouses were built along the Hanseatic Wharf in Bergen after periodic fires destroyed the original buildings.
  • Larger warehouses were built along the Hanseatic Wharf in Bergen after periodic fires destroyed the original buildings.
  • Brightly painted warehouses along the Hanseatic Wharf in Bryggen, the dock area of historic Bergen. The yellow and orange building is the Hanseatic Museum. The Bryggen has been a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site since 1979.
  • Countryside outside Bergen.
  • Tromsø, a city situated at 70° north in Norway, is in the middle of the auroral oval, the area with the highest probability of seeing the Northern Lights. The best period to experience the Northern Lights is from early September to early April. During large solar explosions and flares, large quantities of charged particles are thrown from the sun and into deep space. When the particles meet the Earth’s magnetic shield, they are pulled in an oval around the magnetic North Pole where they interact with upper parts of the atmosphere. The Northern Lights are at least 80 km above the Earth’s surface, much higher than clouds. Consequently, a clear sky creates the best backdrop for viewing them.

Norway Factbook Data

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Marc NATHANSON (since 16 June 2022)

embassy: Morgedalsvegen 36, 0378 Oslo

mailing address: 5460 Oslo Place, Washington DC  20521-5460

telephone: [47] 21-30-85-40

FAX: [47] 22-56-27-51

email address and website:
OsloACS@state.gov
https://no.usembassy.gov/

Age structure

0-14 years: 17.83% (male 510,835/female 487,126)

15-64 years: 64% (male 1,842,794/female 1,739,688)

65 years and over: 18.18% (2023 est.) (male 474,878/female 542,603)
2023 population pyramid
This is the population pyramid for Norway. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.

For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page.

Geographic coordinates

62 00 N, 10 00 E

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female

total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

Heliports

77 (2024)

Natural hazards

rockslides, avalanches

volcanism: Beerenberg (2,227 m) on Jan Mayen Island in the Norwegian Sea is the country's only active volcano

Area - comparative

slightly larger than twice the size of Georgia; slightly larger than New Mexico
Area comparison map

slightly larger than twice the size of Georgia; slightly larger than New Mexico

Military service age and obligation

19-35 years of age for selective compulsory military service for men and women; 17 years of age for male volunteers; 18 years of age for women volunteers; 12-19 month service obligation; conscripts first serve 12 months between the ages of 19 and 28, and then up to 4-5 refresher training periods until age 35, 44, 55, or 60 depending on rank and function (2024)

note 1: individuals conscripted each year are selected from a larger cohort who are evaluated through online assessments and physical tests; for the 2023 conscription cohort, over 24,000 men and women were selected for the physical tests, and from among them about 9,800 were selected for military service—36 percent were women; Norway has had compulsory military service since 1907

note 2: Norway was the first NATO country to allow women to serve in all combat arms branches of the military (1985); it also has an all-female special operations unit known as Jegertroppen (The Hunter Troop), which was established in 2014; as of 2023, women comprised about 20% of the military's full-time personnel

note 3: beginning in 1995, the military began offering Icelandic citizens the opportunity to apply for admission to officer schools in Norway with an associated education and service contract under special reasons and based on recommendations from Icelandic authorities; as early as 1996, Norway and Iceland entered into a cooperation agreement on the voluntary participation of Icelandic personnel in Norwegian force contributions in foreign operations

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. Norway remained neutral in World War I and proclaimed its neutrality at the outset of World War II but was nonetheless occupied for five years by Nazi Germany (1940-45) and suffered heavy losses to its shipping fleet. In 1949, Norway abandoned neutrality and became a member of NATO. Discovery of oil and gas in adjacent waters in the late 1960s boosted Norway's economic fortunes. In referenda held in 1972 and 1994, Norway rejected joining the EU. Key domestic issues include immigration and integration of ethnic minorities, maintaining the country's extensive social safety net with an aging population, and preserving economic competitiveness.

Environment - current issues

water pollution; acid rain damaging forests and adversely affecting lakes, threatening fish stocks; air pollution from vehicle emissions

Environment - international agreements

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Population below poverty line

12.7% (2019 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.4%

highest 10%: 22.4% (2019 est.)

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Exports - commodities

natural gas, crude petroleum, salmon, refined petroleum, aluminum (2021)

Exports - partners

United Kingdom 21%, Germany 19%, Sweden 8%, Netherlands 7%, China 6% (2021)

Administrative divisions

11 counties (fylker, singular - fylke); Agder, Innlandet, More og Romsdal, Nordland, Oslo, Rogaland, Troms og Finnmark, Trondelag, Vestfold og Telemark, Vestland, Viken

Agricultural products

milk, barley, wheat, potatoes, oats, pork, poultry, beef, eggs, rye

Military and security forces

Norwegian Armed Forces (Forsvaret or "the Defense"): Norwegian Army (Haeren), Royal Norwegian Navy (Kongelige Norske Sjoeforsvaret; includes Coastal Rangers and Coast Guard (Kystvakt)), Royal Norwegian Air Force (Kongelige Norske Luftforsvaret), Norwegian Special Forces, Norwegian Cyber Defense Force, Home Guard (Heimevernet, HV) (2024)

note: the national police have primary responsibility for internal security; the National Police Directorate, an entity under the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, oversees the police force

Budget

revenues: $185.338 billion (2020 est.)

expenditures: $210.522 billion (2020 est.)

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

etymology: the medieval name was spelt "Aslo"; the as component refered either to the Ekeberg ridge southeast of the town ("as" in modern Norwegian), or to the Aesir (Norse gods); lo refered to "meadow," so the most likely interpretations would have been either "the meadow beneath the ridge" or "the meadow of the gods"; both explanations are considered equally plausible

Imports - commodities

cars, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, computers, ships, nickel (2021)

Climate

temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current; colder interior with increased precipitation and colder summers; rainy year-round on west coast

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)

Constitution

history: drafted spring 1814, adopted 16 May 1814, signed by Constituent Assembly 17 May 1814

amendments: proposals submitted by members of Parliament or by the government within the first three years of Parliament's four-year term; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of a two-thirds quorum in the next elected Parliament; amended over 400 times, last in 2020

Dependent areas

Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard (3)

Exchange rates

Norwegian kroner (NOK) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
9.614 (2022 est.)
8.59 (2021 est.)
9.416 (2020 est.)
8.8 (2019 est.)
8.133 (2018 est.)

Executive branch

chief of state: King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991); Heir Apparent Crown Prince HAAKON MAGNUS (son of the monarch, born 20 July 1973)

head of government: Prime Minister Jonas Gahr STORE (since 14 October 2021)

cabinet: Council of State appointed by the monarch, approved by Parliament

elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; following parliamentary elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the monarch with the approval of the parliament

Fiscal year

calendar year

Flag description

red with a blue cross outlined in white that extends to 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); the colors recall Norway's past political unions with Denmark (red and white) and Sweden (blue)

Independence

7 June 1905 (union with Sweden declared dissolved); 26 October 1905 (Sweden agreed to the repeal of the union); notable earlier dates: ca. 872 (traditional unification of petty Norwegian kingdoms by HARALD Fairhair); 1397 (Kalmar Union of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden); 1524 (Denmark-Norway); 17 May 1814 (Norwegian constitution adopted); 4 November 1814 (Sweden-Norway union confirmed)

Industries

petroleum and gas, shipping, fishing, aquaculture, food processing, shipbuilding, pulp and paper products, metals, chemicals, timber, mining, textiles

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court or Hoyesterett (consists of the chief justice and 18 associate justices)

judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the monarch (King in Council) upon the recommendation of the Judicial Appointments Board; justices can serve until mandatory retirement at age 70

subordinate courts: Courts of Appeal or Lagmennsrett; regional and district courts; Conciliation Boards; ordinary and special courts; note - in addition to professionally trained judges, elected lay judges sit on the bench with professional judges in the Courts of Appeal and district courts

Land boundaries

total: 2,566 km

border countries (3): Finland 709 km; Sweden 1,666 km; Russia 191 km

Land use

agricultural land: 2.7% (2018 est.)

arable land: 2.2% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 0.5% (2018 est.)

forest: 27.8% (2018 est.)

other: 69.5% (2018 est.)

Legal system

mixed legal system of civil, common, and customary law; Supreme Court can advise on legislative acts

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm

contiguous zone: 10 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm

International organization participation

ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, EITI (implementing country), ESA, FAO, FATF, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

National holiday

Constitution Day, 17 May (1814)

Nationality

noun: Norwegian(s)

adjective: Norwegian

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, titanium, pyrites, nickel, fish, timber, hydropower

Geography - note

about two-thirds mountains; some 50,000 islands off its much-indented coastline; strategic location adjacent to sea lanes and air routes in North Atlantic; one of the most rugged and longest coastlines in the world

Economic overview

high-income non-EU European economy; aging labor force; large state-owned energy company constrains budget and spending; largest oil sovereign wealth fund; major fishing, forestry, and extraction industries; large welfare system

Pipelines

8,520 km gas, 1,304 km oil/condensate (2017)

Political parties and leaders

Center Party or Sp [Trygve Slagsvold VEDUM]
Christian Democratic Party or KrF [Olaug Vervik BOLLESTAD]
Conservative Party or H [Erna SOLBERG]
Green Party or MDG [Arild HERMSTAD] 
Labor Party or Ap [Jonas Gahr STORE]
Liberal Party or V [Guri MELBY]
Patient Focus or PF [Irene OJALA]
Progress Party or FrP [Sylvi LISTHAUG]
Red Party or R [Bjonar MOXNES]
Socialist Left Party or SV [Kristi BERGSTO]

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Bergen, Haugesund, Maaloy, Mongstad, Narvik, Sture

LNG terminal(s) (export): Kamoy, Kollsnes, Melkoya Island, Tjeldbergodden

LNG terminal(s) (import): Fredrikstad, Mosjoen

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telecommunication systems

general assessment: Norway has a sophisticated telecom market with high broadband and mobile penetration rates and a highly developed digital media sector. Although not a member of the European Union, the country’s telecoms sector is synchronized with relevant EC legislation; Norway enjoys near comprehensive LTE coverage with upgrades to 5G technologies in the future (2023)

domestic: fixed-line is 7 per 100 and mobile-cellular nearly 110 per 100 (2021)

international: country code - 47; landing points for the Svalbard Undersea Cable System, Polar Circle Cable, Bodo-Rost Cable, NOR5KE Viking, Celtic Norse, Tempnet Offshore FOC Network, England Cable, Denmark-Norwary6, Havfrue/AEC-2, Skagerrak 4, and the Skagenfiber West & East submarine cables providing links to other Nordic countries, Europe and the US; satellite earth stations - Eutelsat, 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) (2019)

Terrain

glaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains broken by fertile valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeply indented by fjords; arctic tundra in north

Government type

parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Country name

conventional long form: Kingdom of Norway

conventional short form: Norway

local long form: Kongeriket Norge

local short form: Norge

etymology: derives from the Old Norse words "nordr" and "vegr" meaning "northern way" and refers to the long coastline of western Norway

Location

Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden

Map references

Europe

Irrigated land

337 sq km (2016)

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Anniken Ramberg KRUTNES (since 17 September 2020)

chancery: 2720 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 333-6000

FAX: [1] (202) 469-3990

email address and website:
emb.washington@mfa.no

https://www.norway.no/en/usa/

consulate(s) general: Houston, New York, San Francisco

Internet country code

.no

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 15,901 (Syria), 10,883 (Eritrea) (mid-year 2022); 70,085 (Ukraine) (as of 8 March 2024)

stateless persons: 3,901 (2022)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$579.422 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Credit ratings

Fitch rating: AAA (1995)

Moody's rating: Aaa (1997)

Standard & Poors rating: AAA (1975)

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Total renewable water resources

393 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 18 years

male: 18 years

female: 19 years (2020)

Urbanization

urban population: 84% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 1.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

note: data include Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands
total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030

Broadcast media

state-owned public radio-TV broadcaster operates 3 nationwide TV stations, 3 nationwide radio stations, and 16 regional radio stations; roughly a dozen privately owned TV stations broadcast nationally and roughly another 25 local TV stations broadcasting; nearly 75% of households have access to multi-channel cable or satellite TV; 2 privately owned radio stations broadcast nationwide and another 240 stations operate locally; Norway is the first country in the world to phase out FM radio in favor of Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB), a process scheduled for completion in late 2017 (2019)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

unimproved: urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

National anthem

name: "Ja, vi elsker dette landet" (Yes, We Love This Country)

lyrics/music: lyrics/music: Bjornstjerne BJORNSON/Rikard NORDRAAK

note: adopted 1864; in addition to the national anthem, "Kongesangen" (Song of the King), which uses the tune of "God Save the King," serves as the royal anthem
This is an audio of the National Anthem for Norway. The national anthem is generally a patriotic musical composition - usually in the form of a song or hymn of praise - that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions, or struggles of a nation or its people. National anthems can be officially recognized as a national song by a country's constitution or by an enacted law, or simply by tradition. Although most anthems contain lyrics, some do not.

Major urban areas - population

1.086 million OSLO (capital) (2023)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Physicians density

5.04 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Hospital bed density

3.5 beds/1,000 population (2018)

National symbol(s)

lion; national colors: red, white, blue

Mother's mean age at first birth

29.8 years (2020 est.)

note: data is calculated based on actual age at first births

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 44.8% (2017 est.)

government consumption: 24% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 24.1% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories: 4.8% (2017 est.)

exports of goods and services: 35.5% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services: -33.2% (2017 est.)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 54

youth dependency ratio: 26.1

elderly dependency ratio: 27.9

potential support ratio: 3.6 (2021 est.)

note: data include Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Norway

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years

Population distribution

most Norwegians live in the south where the climate is milder and there is better connectivity to mainland Europe; population clusters are found all along the North Sea coast in the southwest, and Skaggerak in the southeast; the interior areas of the north remain sparsely populated

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2021)

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 8 (2020)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 125

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

LN

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

unimproved: urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

Ethnic groups

Norwegian 81.5% (includes about 60,000 Sami), other European 8.9%, other 9.6% (2021 est.)

Religions

Church of Norway (Evangelical Lutheran - official) 67.5%, Muslim 3.1%, Roman Catholic 3.1%, other Christian 3.8%, other 2.6%, unspecified 19.9% (2021 est.)

Languages

Bokmal Norwegian (official), Nynorsk Norwegian (official), small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities; note - Sami has three dialects: Lule, North Sami, and South Sami; Sami is an official language in nine municipalities in Norway's three northernmost counties: Finnmark, Nordland, and Troms

major-language sample(s):
Verdens Faktabok, den essensielle kilden for grunnleggende informasjon. (Norwegian)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Norwegian audio sample

Imports - partners

Sweden 18%, Germany 12%, China 10%, Denmark 6%, United States 5% (2021)

Disputes - international

Norway-Antarctica: Norway asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Queen Maud Land and its continental shelf)

Norway-Russia: Russia amended its 2001 CLCS submission in 2015 and 2021, each time delineating the outer limits of its continental shelf further into the Arctic Ocean; Norway and Russia signed a comprehensive maritime boundary agreement in 2010, ending a dispute over an area of the Barents Sea by dividing the territory equally

Norway-Sweden: none identified

 

 

Elevation

highest point: Galdhopiggen 2,469 m

lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m

mean elevation: 460 m

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current health expenditure

11.4% of GDP (2020)

Military - note

the Norwegian Armed Forces (Forsvaret) are responsible for protecting Norway and its allies, including monitoring Norway’s airspace, digital, land, and maritime areas, maintaining the country’s borders and sovereignty, contributing to NATO and UN missions, and providing support to civil society, such as assisting the police, search and rescue, and maritime counterterrorism efforts; the military’s territorial and sovereignty defense missions are complicated by Norway’s vast sea areas, numerous islands, long and winding fjords, and difficult and mountainous terrain; a key area of focus is its far northern border with Russia

Norway is one of the original members of NATO, and the Alliance is a key component of Norway’s defense policy; the Forsvaret participates regularly in NATO exercises, missions, and operations, including air policing of NATO territory, NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence mission in the Baltic States and Eastern Europe, and standing naval missions, as well as operations in non-NATO areas, such as the Middle East; the Forsvaret also cooperates closely with the militaries of other Nordic countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation (NORDEFCO; established 2009), which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden; areas of cooperation include armaments, education, human resources, training and exercises, and operations; Norway contributes to the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, a pool of high-readiness military forces from 10 Baltic and Scandinavian countries designed to respond to a wide range of contingencies both in peacetime and in times of crisis or conflict with a focus on the High North, North Atlantic, and Baltic Sea regions; the Forsvaret participates in UN missions in such areas as Africa and the Middle East; Norway has close military ties with the US, including rotational US military deployments and an agreement allowing for mutual defense activities and US military forces to access some Norwegian facilities 

the Forsvaret is a compact and mixed force of conscripts and professionals that trains regularly and is equipped with modern weapons systems; its origins go back to the leidangen, defense forces which were established along the coastline in the 10th century to protect the Norwegian coast; the Army was created in 1628; its principal combat forces are a mechanized infantry brigade, plus a special operations commando (group); the Finnmark Land Command safeguards Norway's northernmost land territories and the land border with Russia; the Army is supplemented by the Home Guard (Heimevernet or HV), a reserve mobilization and national emergency force consisting of some 40,000 part-time soldiers spread over 11 districts where they have territorial responsibility for protecting key civilian and military installations and may assist civil authorities during natural disasters and search and rescue operations; the HV includes several rapid-reaction intervention task forces

the Navy is comprised of the fleet, the Coast Guard, and several bases; the fleet has a small mix of frigates, corvettes, and attack submarines, as well as mine warfare vessels; it also has a special operations group and the Coastal Hunter Command (Kystjegerkommandoen), which monitors coastal seas and land; the Air Force has about 60 US-made combat aircraft and is slated to have a new fully operational fleet of US F-35 stealth multirole fighters by 2025 (2024)

Literacy

total population: NA

male: NA

female: NA

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 27,000 active personnel (9,000 Army; 4,300 Navy; 4,700 Air Force; 9,000 other, including special operations, cyber, joint staff, intelligence, logistics support, active Home Guard, etc.); approximately 40,000 Home Guard (2024)

note: active personnel include about 10,000 conscripts

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military's inventory includes a mix of modern, imported European, US, and domestically produced weapons systems and equipment; in recent years, the US has been the leading supplier of weapons systems to Norway (2023)

Military deployments

up to 200 Lithuania (NATO) (2023)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 780 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial: 1.07 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural: 840 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 2.187 million tons (2015 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually: 572,119 tons (2015 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 26.2% (2015 est.)

Average household expenditures

on food: 11.7% of household expenditures (2018 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco: 4.1% of household expenditures (2018 est.)

Air pollutants

particulate matter emissions: 6.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

carbon dioxide emissions: 41.02 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions: 4.81 megatons (2020 est.)

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 8 (7 cultural, 1 natural)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Bryggen (c); Urnes Stave Church (c); Røros Mining Town and the Circumference (c); Rock Art of Alta (c); Vegaøyan – The Vega Archipelago (c); Struve Geodetic Arc (c); West Norwegian Fjords – Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord (n); Rjukan-Notodden Industrial Heritage Site (c)

Coal

production: 69,000 metric tons (2020 est.)

consumption: 1.13 million metric tons (2020 est.)

exports: 46,000 metric tons (2020 est.)

imports: 1.172 million metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves: 2 million metric tons (2019 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 1.2% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

solar: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

wind: 6.4% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

hydroelectricity: 92.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

biomass and waste: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Natural gas

production: 112,052,523,000 cubic meters (2020 est.)

consumption: 3,980,351,000 cubic meters (2020 est.)

exports: 107,337,690,000 cubic meters (2020 est.)

imports: 32.196 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

proven reserves: 1,544,455,000,000 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 2.026 million bbl/day (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 215,900 bbl/day (2019 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate exports: 1,242,500 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate imports: 66,300 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves: 8,122,200,000 barrels (2021 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.76 (2023 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

50.2% (2023 est.)

Remittances

0.11% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.13% of GDP (2021 est.)
0.16% of GDP (2020 est.)

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Demographic profile

Norway is a trendsetter country in gender equality, especially in workforce participation.  Of particular value to families are the child and parental leave benefits.  This supplement is a monthly allowance paid to families from a month after birth until the child reaches 18 to defray some of the costs of raising children.  This is helpful to families with young children where the mother works limited hours.  The parental leave benefit is available to qualified mothers in a child’s first year, enabling parents to share at-home childcare for up to 49 weeks at full salary (or 59 weeks with 80% of their salary).  Afterward, parents can put their child in high-quality subsidized daycare or receive funding toward private child care or as compensation for one parent staying home to care for their child.

Norway was originally a country of emigration with almost 850,000 Norwegians going abroad between 1825 and 1945.  At the turn of the 20th century, most Norwegians emigrated temporarily to work in the US.  Immigrants to Norway in the 1960s were mostly from neighboring Nordic countries, with whom they shared a common labor market.  By the end of the 1960s, with a strong economy and population shortage, Norway admitted guest workers from Pakistan, Morocco, then Yugoslavia, and Turkey.  The labor migrants were expected to be temporary, but many settled in Norway.  Eventually, Norway imposed immigration restrictions and the majority of migrants came in as refugees or for family reunification.  Beginning in the 1990s, Norway’s migration policy aimed at achieving integration – including language instruction and integration into the job market – as well as combatting racism and xenophobia.

Space program overview

has a broad and active space program coordinated with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the EU; jointly designs and builds satellites with foreign partners, including communications, remote sensing (RS), scientific, and navigational/positional; operates satellites; develops and launches sounding rockets; researches and produces a range of other space-related technologies, including satellite/space launch vehicle (SLV) and space station components, telescopes, and robotics; conducts solar and telecommunications research; participates in international space programs, such as the International Space Station; hosts training for Mars landing missions on the island of Svalbard; active member of the ESA and cooperates with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Canada, ESA/EU member states, Japan, Russia, and the US; has an active and advanced space industry that cooperates with both the NOSA and foreign space programs and produces a variety of space-related products, from terminals for satellite communications and technologies for RS satellites to sensors for gamma radiation in deep space (2023)

note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S

Space agency/agencies

the Norwegian Space Agency (NOSA, aka Norsk Romsenter; established 1987) (2023)

Space launch site(s)

Andøya Space Center (Andøya Island; note - first operational spaceport in continental Europe) (2023)

Geoparks

total global geoparks and regional networks: 4

global geoparks and regional networks: Gea Norvegica; Magma; Sunnhordland; Trollfjell (2023)

Labor force

2.981 million (2022 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 13% (2021 est.)

male: 13.5%

female: 12.5%

Net migration rate

3.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Median age

total: 40.6 years (2023 est.)

male: 39.9 years

female: 41.4 years

Debt - external

$651.04 billion (2019 est.)
$648.878 billion (2018 est.)

note: Norway is a net external creditor

Maternal mortality ratio

2 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$72.077 billion (2022 est.)
$84.271 billion (2021 est.)
$75.259 billion (2020 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Waterways

1,577 km (2010)

Refined petroleum products - imports

135,300 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Public debt

36.5% of GDP (2017 est.)
36.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data exclude treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data exclude debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions

Total fertility rate

1.57 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Military expenditures

1.8% of GDP (2024 est.)
1.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
1.5% of GDP (2022)
1.7% of GDP (2021)
2% of GDP (2020)

Unemployment rate

3.23% (2022 est.)
4.37% (2021 est.)
4.42% (2020 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Population

5,597,924 (2023 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

4.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Internet users

total: 5.346 million (2021 est.)

percent of population: 99% (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

36.731 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 3.182 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 25.256 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas: 8.294 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Area

total: 323,802 sq km

land: 304,282 sq km

water: 19,520 sq km

Taxes and other revenues

25.08% (of GDP) (2021 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$368.139 billion (2022 est.)
$356.457 billion (2021 est.)
$343.082 billion (2020 est.)

note: data in 2017 dollars

Roadways

total: 95,120 km (2022)

Airports

145 (2024)

Infant mortality rate

total: 1.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)

male: 2.1 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 1.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 5.8 million (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 110 (2021 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

27.7 (2019 est.)

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.76% (2022 est.)
3.48% (2021 est.)
1.29% (2020 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Refined petroleum products - exports

432,800 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Current account balance

$174.555 billion (2022 est.)
$66.254 billion (2021 est.)
$4.212 billion (2020 est.)

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Real GDP per capita

$67,500 (2022 est.)
$65,900 (2021 est.)
$63,800 (2020 est.)

note: data in 2017 dollars

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 2,387,661 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 44 (2020 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 16.2% (2020 est.)

male: 17% (2020 est.)

female: 15.4% (2020 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

23.1% (2016)

Energy consumption per capita

333.833 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Death rate

8.2 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Birth rate

10.4 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 38.36 million kW (2020 est.)

consumption: 124.288 billion kWh (2020 est.)

exports: 24.968 billion kWh (2020 est.)

imports: 4.496 billion kWh (2020 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 8.909 billion kWh (2020 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 1,720 (2022)

by type: bulk carrier 109, container ship 1, general cargo 274, oil tanker 95, other 1,241

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Imports

$156.892 billion (2022 est.)
$140.331 billion (2021 est.)
$121.662 billion (2020 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports

$321.093 billion (2022 est.)
$203.228 billion (2021 est.)
$118.314 billion (2020 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 140,033 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

371,600 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 6.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer: 2.63 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine: 2.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits: 1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols: 0.19 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 83 years (2023 est.)

male: 81.4 years

female: 84.7 years

Real GDP growth rate

3.28% (2022 est.)
3.9% (2021 est.)
-1.28% (2020 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Industrial production growth rate

0.61% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Railways

total: 3,848 km (2020) 2,482 km electrified

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 2.3% (2017 est.)

industry: 33.7% (2017 est.)

services: 64% (2017 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

0.05% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from coal

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Education expenditures

5.9% of GDP (2020 est.)

Population growth rate

0.6% (2023 est.)

Legislative branch

description: unicameral Parliament or Storting (169 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by list proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)

elections:
last held on 13 September 2021 (next to be held on 30 September 2025)

election results:
percent of vote by party - Ap 26.3%, H 20.5%, SP 13.6%, FrP 11.7%, SV 7.6%, R 4.7%, V 4.6%, MDG 3.9%, KrF 3.8%, PF 0.2%, other 3.1%; seats by party - Ap 48, H 36, SP 28, FrP 21, SV 13, R 8, V 8, , KrF 3, MDG 3, PF 1; composition as of October 2021 - men 94, women 75, percentage women 44.4%
Sources: