Norway
Country Guide

Explore Norway

Norway with its capital Oslo is located in Europe (Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean). It covers some 323,803 square kilometers (slightly larger than twice the size of Georgia) with a population of 5,320,040. Norwegian, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, Northern Sami and Finnish are the languages spoken by people in Norway (consider regional differences). Finland, Russia and Sweden are bordering countries.

Norway s the westernmost, northernmost — and in fact the easternmost — of the three Scandinavian countries. Best known for the complex and deep fjords along its west coast, it stretches from the North Sea near Denmark and Scotland into the Arctic Ocean where it borders northern Finland and the northwestern tip of Russia. Norway is well known for its amazing and varied scenery. The fjords in the west of the country are long narrow inlets, flanked on either side by tall mountains where the sea penetrates far inland. The vast majority of the land is a rocky wilderness, and thus Norway has large, completely unpopulated areas, many of which have been converted to national parks. Even outside the national parks, much of the land is unspoiled nature.

Popular Destinations in Norway

Administrative regions of Norway

• Akershus
• Aust-Agder
• Buskerud
• Finnmark Fylke
• Hedmark
• Hordaland Fylke
• More og Romsdal fylke
• Nord-Trondelag Fylke
• Nordland Fylke
• Oppland
• Oslo County
• Ostfold fylke
• Rogaland Fylke
• Sogn og Fjordane Fylke
• Sor-Trondelag Fylke
• Telemark
• Troms Fylke
• Vest-Agder Fylke
• Vestfold

About the country

The terrain is glaciated with mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains broken by fertile valleys, small, scattered plains, coastline deeply indented by fjords as well as arctic tundra in north. The average density of population is about 16 per km². The climate in Norway can be described as temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Currentcolder interior with increased precipitation and colder summers, rainy year-round on west coast. Possible natural disasters include Beerenberg (2,227 m) on Jan Mayen Island in the Norwegian Sea is the country's only active volcano rockslides, avalanches

To reach someone Norway dial +47 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 3G, 4G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".no". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 230 V - 50 Hz (plugs: C, F). The sign for the locally used currency Krone is NOK.

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).

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, 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.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 69)	323,802	sq km
Land (World Rank: 68)	304,282	sq km
Water (World Rank: 30)	19,520	sq km
Forest (World Rank: 194)	0.50	%
Comparative	slightly larger than twice the size of Georgia; slightly larger than New Mexico
Coastline
25148
Landborder
2566
Elevation
Highest point (World Rank: 104)	2,469	m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 214)	2.70	%
Arable (World Rank: 177)	2.20	%
Permanent pastures (World Rank: 194)	0.50	%
Irrigated land (World Rank: 103)	900	sq km
Map reference
Europe
Environment
Issues	- acid rain damaging forests and adversely affecting lakes - air pollution from vehicle emissions - threatening fish stocks - water pollution
Agreement party	- 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 Seals - Antarctic Treaty - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol - Antarctic-Marine Living Resources - 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
Hazzards	- Beerenberg (2,227 m) on Jan Mayen Island in the Norwegian Sea is the country's only active volcano - rockslides, avalanches
Location
Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden
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

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People

Population
Total (World Rank: 120)	5,320,040
Deathrate (World Rank: 87)	0.81	%
Birthrate (World Rank: 161)	1.22	%
Growthrate (World Rank: 112)	1.01	%
Migration rate (World Rank: 16)	0.59	%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 142)	1.85	%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 51)	38.40
Female (World Rank: 55)	40.00
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 123)	490,915
0 14 female (World Rank: 123)	466,515
15 24 male (World Rank: 122)	343,103
15 24 female (World Rank: 121)	326,053
25 54 male (World Rank: 115)	1,125,330
25 54 female (World Rank: 117)	1,056,330
55 64 male (World Rank: 88)	315,223
55 64 female (World Rank: 93)	307,639
65 x male (World Rank: 72)	409,057
65 x female (World Rank: 73)	479,876
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 215)	0.25	%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 20)	82	years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 28)	84	years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 14)	80	years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 9)	4.42
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 54)	3.85
Sanitation access total (World Rank: 42)	98.10	%
Obesity adult (World Rank: 69)	23.10	%
Drinking water access (World Rank: 27)	100.00	%

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Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 27)	149,500,000,000	kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 27)	133,100,000,000	kWh
Export (World Rank: 12)	15,530,000,000	kWh
Import (World Rank: 35)	5,700,000,000	kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 206)	4.10	%
Source nuclear (World Rank: 11)	88.40	%
Source renew (World Rank: 105)	3.30	%
Crude oil
Production (World Rank: 15)	1,648,000	bbl / day
Exports (World Rank: 11)	1,395,000	bbl / day
Imports (World Rank: 75)	10,630	bbl / day
Proved reserves (World Rank: 21)	6,611,000,000	bbl
Refined products
Production (World Rank: 41)	282,400	bbl / day
Consumption (World Rank: 52)	227,700	bbl / day
Export (World Rank: 21)	353,100	bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 50)	124,500	bbl / day
Natural gas
Production (World Rank: 7)	117,200,000,000	m³
Consumption (World Rank: 54)	9,428,000,000	m³
Export (World Rank: 3)	112,000,000,000	m³
Carbon footprint
53900000

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Nation

Budget
Education (World Rank: 14)	7	% of GDP
Military (World Rank: 66)	2	% of GDP
Health (World Rank: 27)	10	% of GDP
Surplus (World Rank: 11)	3	% of GDP
National symbol
lion
National colours
white
Adjective
Norwegian
Noun
Norwegian(s)
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, 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.
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)

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Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 48)	364,500,000,000	USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 167)	1.10	%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 12)	69,400	USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 159)	2.50	%
Source industry (World Rank: 68)	31.70	%
Source service (World Rank: 85)	65.80	%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 107)	2,780,000
Products
Industries	- aquaculture - chemicals - fishing - food processing - gas - metals - mining - paper products - petroleum - pulp - shipbuilding - shipping - textiles - timber
Agriculture	- barley - beef - fish - milk - pork - potatoes - veal - wheat
Exports	- chemicals - equipment - fish - machinery - metals - petroleum - petroleum products - ships
Imports	- chemicals - equipment - foodstuffs - machinery - metals

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Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 80)	863,855
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 111)	16.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 114)	109.00
Assessment	0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 75)	5,122,900
Population (World Rank: 10)	97.30	%

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Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 36)	67.00
Airports unpaved (World Rank: 87)	28.00
Heliports (World Rank: 104)	1.00
Rail
Total length (World Rank: 43)	4,250
Road
Total length (World Rank: 53)	93,870
Paved length (World Rank: 33)	75,754
Unpaved length (World Rank: 65)	18,116
Water
Total length (World Rank: 53)	1,577

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