Norway

Internet country code

.no

Internet hosts

3.198 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 25

Internet users

3.935 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 52

Radio broadcast stations

AM 5, FM 160, shortwave 1 (2008)

Telephone system

general assessment: modern in all respects; one of the 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; submarine cables provide links to other Nordic countries and Europe; 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)

Telephones - main lines in use

1.928 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 57

Telephones - mobile cellular

5.287 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 85

Television broadcast stations

69 (2008)

Agriculture - products

barley, wheat, potatoes; pork, beef, veal, milk; fish

Budget

revenues: $266.2 billion expenditures: $178.1 billion (2008 est.)

Central bank discount rate

4% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 71 6.25% (31 December 2007)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

7.28% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 141 3.5% (1st quarter 2009)

Current account balance

$88.34 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 6 $60.46 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$475.9 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 22 $540.3 billion (31 December 2007) note: Norway is a net external creditor

Distribution of family income - Gini index

25 (2008) country comparison to the world: 131 25.8 (1995)

Economy - overview

The Norwegian economy is a prosperous bastion of 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 the petroleum sector, which accounts for nearly half of exports and over 30% of state revenue. Norway is the world's third-largest gas exporter; its position as an oil exporter has slipped to seventh-largest as production has begun to decline. Norway opted to stay out of the EU during a referendum in November 1994; nonetheless, as a member of the European Economic Area, it contributes sizably to the EU budget. In anticipation of eventual declines in oil and gas production, Norway saves almost all state revenue from the petroleum sector in a sovereign wealth fund. After lackluster growth of less than 1.5% in 2002-03, GDP growth picked up to 2.5-6.2% in 2004-07, partly due to higher oil prices. Growth fell to 2.6% in 2008 as a result of the slowing world economy and the drop in oil prices.

Electricity - consumption

128.8 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 26

Electricity - exports

17.29 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

3.414 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

142.7 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 25

Exchange rates

Norwegian kroner (NOK) per US dollar - 5.6361 (2008), 5.86 (2007), 6.418 (2006), 6.445 (2005), 6.7327 (2004)

Exports

$173.6 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 30 $137.3 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum and petroleum products, machinery and equipment, metals, chemicals, ships, fish

Exports - partners

UK 27%, Germany 12.8%, Netherlands 10.4%, France 9.4%, Sweden 6.5%, US 4.5% (2008)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$451.8 billion (2008 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$276.3 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 41 $269.6 billion (2007 est.) $253.8 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 2% industry: 44.2% services: 53.8% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$59,500 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 5 $58,200 (2007 est.) $55,100 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2.5% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 142 6.2% (2007 est.) 4.4% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.9% highest 10%: 23.4% (2000)

Imports

$85.95 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 39 $77.03 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

Sweden 14.4%, Germany 13.4%, Denmark 6.9%, China 6.4%, UK 5.9%, US 5.4%, Netherlands 4.2% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate

-0.2% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 135

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.8% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 57 0.8% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

20.8% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 98

Labor force

2.591 million (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 109

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 2.9% industry: 21.1% services: 76% (2008)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$142.5 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 27 $357.4 billion (31 December 2007) $281.1 billion (31 December 2006)

Natural gas - consumption

3.97 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 66

Natural gas - exports

95.23 billion cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 3

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 146

Natural gas - production

99.2 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 6

Natural gas - proved reserves

2.313 trillion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 16

Oil - consumption

220,200 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 53

Oil - exports

2.383 million bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 6

Oil - imports

104,400 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 66

Oil - production

2.466 million bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 12

Oil - proved reserves

6.68 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 20

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

55.7% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 31 33.1% of GDP (2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$50.95 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 26 $60.84 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$160.1 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 19 $133.3 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$91.49 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 37 $93.69 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$NA

Stock of money

$NA

Stock of quasi money

$NA

Unemployment rate

2.6% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 29 2.5% (2007 est.)

Area

total: 323,802 sq km country comparison to the world: 67 land: 304,282 sq km water: 19,520 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than New Mexico

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)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m highest point: Galdhopiggen 2,469 m

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-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 2.4 cu km/yr (23%/67%/10%) per capita: 519 cu m/yr (1996)

Geographic coordinates

62 00 N, 10 00 E

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

Irrigated land

1,270 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

total: 2,542 km border countries: Finland 727 km, Sweden 1,619 km, Russia 196 km

Land use

arable land: 2.7% permanent crops: 0% other: 97.3% (2005)

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 10 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm

Natural hazards

rockslides, avalanches

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

381.4 cu km (2005)

Administrative divisions

19 counties (fylker, singular - fylke); Akershus, 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

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

Constitution

17 May 1814; amended many times

Country name

conventional long form: Kingdom of Norway conventional short form: Norway local long form: Kongeriket Norge local short form: Norge

Dependent areas

Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Benson K. WHITNEY embassy: Henrik Ibsens gate 48, 0244 Oslo; note - the 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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Wegger C. STROMMEN chancery: 2720 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 333-6000 FAX: [1] (202) 337-0870 consulate(s) general: Houston, Minneapolis, New York, San Francisco

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 Jens STOLTENBERG (since 17 October 2005) cabinet: State Council appointed by the monarch with the approval of parliament elections: 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

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)

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Independence

7 June 1905 (Norway declared the union with Sweden dissolved); 26 October 1905 (Sweden agreed to the repeal of the union)

International organization participation

ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, ESA, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNITAR, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Hoyesterett (justices appointed by the monarch)

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

Legislative branch

modified unicameral Parliament or Storting (169 seats; members are elected by popular vote by proportional representation to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 14 September 2009 (next to be held in September 2013) election results: percent of vote by party - Labor Party 35.4%, Progress Party 22.9%, Conservative Party 17.2%, Socialist Left Party 6.2%, Center Party 6.2%, Christian People's Party 5.5%, Liberal Party 3.9%, other 2.7%; seats by party - Labor Party 64, Progress Party 41, Conservative Party 30, Socialist Left Party 11, Center Party 11, Christian People's Party 10, Liberal Party 2 note: for certain purposes, the parliament divides itself into two chambers and elects one-fourth of its membership in the Lagting and three-fourths of its membership in the Odelsting

National holiday

Constitution Day, 17 May (1814)

Political parties and leaders

Center Party [Liv Signe NAVARSETE]; Christian People's Party [Dagfinn HOYBRATEN]; Conservative Party [Erna SOLBERG]; Labor Party [Jens STOLTENBERG]; Liberal Party [Lars SPONHEIM]; Progress Party [Siv JENSEN]; Socialist Left Party [Kristin HALVORSEN]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Norwegian Aid Committee or NORWAC; Norwegian Association of the Disabled; Pure Salmon Campaign; The Consumer Council (consumer advocacy group) other: environmental groups; media; reform movements

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 1,078,181 females age 16-49: 1,046,550 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 888,219 females age 16-49: 863,255 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 31,980 female: 30,543 (2009 est.)

Military branches

Norwegian Army (Haeren), Royal Norwegian Navy (Kongelige Norske Sjoeforsvaret, RNoN; includes Coastal Rangers and Coast Guard (Kystvakt)), Royal Norwegian Air Force (Kongelige Norske Luftforsvaret, RNoAF), Home Guard (Heimevernet, HV) (2007)

Military expenditures

1.9% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 86

Military service age and obligation

18-44 years of age for male compulsory military service; 16 years of age in wartime; 17 years of age for male volunteers; 18 years of age for women; 12-month service obligation, in practice shortened to 8 to 9 months; although all males between ages of 18 and 44 are liable for service, in practice they are seldom called to duty after age 30; reserve obligation to age 35-60; 16 years of age for volunteers to the Home Guard, who serve 6-month duty tours (2009)

Age structure

0-14 years: 18.5% (male 441,508/female 422,050) 15-64 years: 66.2% (male 1,564,482/female 1,522,519) 65 years and over: 15.2% (male 305,120/female 404,860) (2009 est.)

Birth rate

10.99 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 178

Death rate

9.29 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 78

Education expenditures

7.2% of GDP (2005) country comparison to the world: 20

Ethnic groups

Norwegian 94.4% (includes Sami, about 60,000), other European 3.6%, other 2% (2007 estimate)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.1% (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 130

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 100 (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 135

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

3,000 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

Infant mortality rate

total: 3.58 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 214 male: 3.92 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages

Bokmal Norwegian (official), Nynorsk Norwegian (official), small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities; note - Sami is official in six municipalities

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 79.95 years country comparison to the world: 24 male: 77.29 years female: 82.74 years (2009 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100%

Median age

total: 39.4 years male: 38.5 years female: 40.2 years (2009 est.)

Nationality

noun: Norwegian(s) adjective: Norwegian

Net migration rate

1.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 47

Population

4,660,539 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

Population growth rate

0.341% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 170

Religions

Church of Norway 85.7%, Pentecostal 1%, Roman Catholic 1%, other Christian 2.4%, Muslim 1.8%, other 8.1% (2004)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 17 years male: 17 years female: 18 years (2006)

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: 0.75 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.78 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 161

Urbanization

urban population: 77% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 0.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Disputes - international

Norway asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Queen Maud Land and its continental shelf); despite dialogue, 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

Airports

98 (2009) country comparison to the world: 63

Airports - with paved runways

total: 67 2,438 to 3,047 m: 13 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 17 under 914 m: 25 (2009)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 31 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 25 (2009)

Heliports

1 (2009)

Merchant marine

total: 688 country comparison to the world: 15 by type: bulk carrier 46, cargo 141, carrier 3, chemical tanker 137, combination ore/oil 12, container 4, liquefied gas 65, passenger/cargo 117, petroleum tanker 85, refrigerated cargo 14, roll on/roll off 13, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 50 foreign-owned: 199 (Canada 10, Chile 2, China 36, Denmark 25, Estonia 1, Finland 1, France 3, Germany 1, Greece 3, Hong Kong 20, Iceland 3, Italy 4, Japan 29, Lithuania 1, Malaysia 1, Monaco 5, Poland 3, Saudi Arabia 3, Singapore 1, Sweden 34, UK 5, US 8) registered in other countries: 923 (Antigua and Barbuda 8, Australia 1, Bahamas 189, Barbados 38, Belize 3, Bermuda 5, Brazil 5, Canada 3, Cayman Islands 1, China 1, Comoros 1, Cook Islands 5, Cyprus 18, Denmark 3, Dominica 1, Estonia 2, Faroe Islands 4, Finland 3, France 5, Gibraltar 33, Hong Kong 40, Indonesia 1, Isle of Man 20, Italy 2, South Korea 2, Liberia 40, Libya 1, Malta 93, Marshall Islands 66, Netherlands 12, Netherlands Antilles 3, Panama 89, Philippines 10, Russia 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 13, Singapore 143, Spain 5, Sweden 7, Tuvalu 1, UK 31, US 9, unknown 4) (2008)

Pipelines

condensate 31 km; gas 64 km (2008)

Ports and terminals

Bergen, Borg Havn, Haugesund, Maaloy, Mongstad, Narvik, Oslo, Sture

Railways

total: 4,114 km country comparison to the world: 40 standard gauge: 4,114 km 1.435-m gauge (2,552 km electrified) (2009)

Roadways

total: 92,946 km country comparison to the world: 50 paved: 72,033 km (includes 664 km of expressways) unpaved: 20,913 km (2007)

Waterways

1,577 km (2008) country comparison to the world: 53