Norway - NO - NOR - NOR - Europe

Last updated: March 18, 2025
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  • Polar bears are the largest bears and the largest terrestrial carnivores in the world, but they are also classified as marine mammals. Polar bears live in Arctic environments, including Canada, the United States (Alaska), Russia, Greenland, and Norway. The pictured polar bear is jumping sea ice in Norway.

    Polar bears are the largest bears and the largest terrestrial carnivores in the world, but they are also classified as marine mammals. Polar bears live in Arctic environments, including Canada, the United States (Alaska), Russia, Greenland, and Norway. The pictured polar bear is jumping sea ice in Norway.

  • The Gogstad Ship, excavated in 1880, dates to the late 9th century and 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).

    The Gogstad Ship, excavated in 1880, dates to the late 9th century and 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).

  • The National Theater in Oslo, Norway, which opened in 1899.

    The National Theater in Oslo, Norway, which opened in 1899.

  • The Royal Palace (Slottet) in Oslo, Norway, which was built between 1825 and 1849.

    The Royal Palace (Slottet) in Oslo, Norway, which was built between 1825 and 1849.

  • The Parliament Building (Stortinget) in Oslo, Norway, which was built between 1861 and 1866.

    The Parliament Building (Stortinget) in Oslo, Norway, which was built between 1861 and 1866.

  • The City Hall (Radhus) in Oslo, Norway. Although construction began in 1931, World War II delayed completion, and the building was finally finished in 1950. Between 1990 and 2019, the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony was held at the City Hall.

    The City Hall (Radhus) in Oslo, Norway. Although construction began in 1931, World War II delayed completion, and the building was finally finished in 1950. Between 1990 and 2019, the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony was held at the City Hall.

  • Akershus Fortress is a medieval castle built to protect the city of Oslo, Norway. Today the grounds house several museums.

    Akershus Fortress is a medieval castle built to protect the city of Oslo, Norway. Today the grounds house several museums.

  • Naeroy Fjord in Norway.

    Naeroy Fjord in Norway.

  • The wharf at Bergen, Norway's second-largest city and former capital during the 13th century.

    The wharf at Bergen, Norway's second-largest city and former 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.

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

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

  • Brightly painted warehouses along the Hanseatic Wharf in Bryggen, the dock area of historic Bergen in Norway. The yellow-and-orange building is the Hanseatic Museum.

    Brightly painted warehouses along the Hanseatic Wharf in Bryggen, the dock area of historic Bergen in Norway. The yellow-and-orange building is the Hanseatic Museum.

  • Tromsø, a city situated at 70° north latitude in Norway, is in the middle of the auroral oval, the area with the highest probability of seeing the Northern Lights.

    Tromsø, a city situated at 70° north latitude in Norway, is in the middle of the auroral oval, the area with the highest probability of seeing the Northern Lights.

  • Polar bears are the largest bears and the largest terrestrial carnivores in the world, but they are also classified as marine mammals. Polar bears live in Arctic environments, including Canada, the United States (Alaska), Russia, Greenland, and Norway. The pictured polar bear is jumping sea ice in Norway.

    Polar bears are the largest bears and the largest terrestrial carnivores in the world, but they are also classified as marine mammals. Polar bears live in Arctic environments, including Canada, the United States (Alaska), Russia, Greenland, and Norway. The pictured polar bear is jumping sea ice in Norway.

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  • A view of Norway's capital city of Oslo at dusk.
  • The Gogstad Ship, excavated in 1880, dates to the late 9th century and 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).
  • The National Theater in Oslo, Norway, which opened in 1899.
  • The Royal Palace (Slottet) in Oslo, Norway, which was built between 1825 and 1849.
  • The Parliament Building (Stortinget) in Oslo, Norway, which was built between 1861 and 1866.
  • The City Hall (Radhus) in Oslo, Norway. Although construction began in 1931, World War II delayed completion, and the building was finally finished in 1950. Between 1990 and 2019, the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony was held at the City Hall.
  • Akershus Fortress is a medieval castle built to protect the city of Oslo, Norway. Today the grounds house several museums.
  • Naeroy Fjord in Norway.
  • The wharf at Bergen, Norway's second-largest city and former 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.
  • Larger warehouses were built along the Hanseatic Wharf in Bergen, Norway, after fires destroyed the original buildings.
  • Brightly painted warehouses along the Hanseatic Wharf in Bryggen, the dock area of historic Bergen in Norway. The yellow-and-orange building is the Hanseatic Museum.
  • Tromsø, a city situated at 70° north latitude in Norway, is in the middle of the auroral oval, the area with the highest probability of seeing the Northern Lights.
  • Polar bears are the largest bears and the largest terrestrial carnivores in the world, but they are also classified as marine mammals. Polar bears live in Arctic environments, including Canada, the United States (Alaska), Russia, Greenland, and Norway. The pictured polar bear is jumping sea ice in Norway.

Norway Factbook Data

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Eric MEYER (since August 2024)

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: 16.3% (male 461,979/female 438,243)

15-64 years: 64.5% (male 1,820,692/female 1,734,818)

65 years and over: 19.1% (2024 est.) (male 498,301/female 555,700)
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: 1.05 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female

total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2024 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: Norway has had compulsory military service since 1907; individuals conscripted each year are selected from a larger cohort who are evaluated through online assessments and physical tests

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 after King Olav TRYGGVASON adopted Christianity 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 Nazi Germany nonetheless occupied the country for five years (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.

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

12.2% (2021 est.)

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.4% (2019 est.)

highest 10%: 22.4% (2019 est.)

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

Exports - commodities

natural gas, crude petroleum, fish, refined petroleum, aluminum (2023)

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

Germany 18%, UK 17%, Sweden 9%, Denmark 7%, Netherlands 6% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Administrative divisions

12 counties (fylker, singular - fylke); Agder, Innlandet, More og Romsdal, Nordland, Oslo, Rogaland, Romsdal, Troms og Finnmark, Trondelag, Vestfold og Telemark, Vestland, Viken (2024)

Agricultural products

milk, barley, potatoes, oats, wheat, pork, chicken, beef, eggs, carrots/turnips (2023)

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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: $334.543 billion (2022 est.)

expenditures: $174.546 billion (2022 est.)

note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

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, ships, nickel, garments (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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

amendment process: 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

Dependent areas

Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard (3)

Exchange rates

Norwegian kroner (NOK) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
10.563 (2023 est.)
9.614 (2022 est.)
8.59 (2021 est.)
9.416 (2020 est.)
8.8 (2019 est.)

Executive branch

chief of state: King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991)

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

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) on 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% (2022 est.)

agricultural land: arable land: 2.2% (2022 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture: 0.5% (2022 est.)

forest: 33.5% (2022 est.)

other: 63.8% (2022 est.)

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

legislature name: Parliament (Stortinget)

legislative structure: unicameral

number of seats: 169 (all directly elected)

electoral system: proportional representation

scope of elections: full renewal

term in office: 4 years

most recent election date: 9/13/2021

parties elected and seats per party: Labour Party (48); Conservative Party (36); Center Party (28); Progress Party (21); Socialist Left Party (13); Other (23)

percentage of women in chamber: 44.4%

expected date of next election: September 2025

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 economy with trade links via European Economic Area (EEA); key European energy security role as leader in oil, gas, and electricity exports; major fishing, forestry, and extraction industries; oil sovereign fund supports generous welfare system; low unemployment; inflation and response hampering growth in non-energy sectors

Pipelines

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

Political parties

Center Party or Sp 
Christian Democratic Party or KrF 
Conservative Party or H 
Green Party or MDG 
Labor Party or Ap 
Liberal Party or V
Patient Focus or PF 
Progress Party or FrP 
Red Party or R 
Socialist Left Party or SV 

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 Scharning HUITFELDT (since 18 September 2024)

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: New York, San Francisco

Internet users

percent of population: 99% (2023 est.)

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)

$485.311 billion (2023 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

Physician 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: 37.5% (2023 est.)

government consumption: 21.9% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital: 23.3% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories: 2.5% (2023 est.)

exports of goods and services: 47.2% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services: -32.5% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

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: yes

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% (2022 est.)

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

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

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

note: Sami has three dialects (Lule, North Sami, and South Sami) and is an official language in nine municipalities in the northernmost counties of Finnmark, Nordland, and Troms
Norwegian audio sample

Imports - partners

Sweden 11%, Germany 11%, China 11%, USA 7%, Netherlands 5% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Elevation

highest point: Galdhopiggen 2,469 m

lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m

mean elevation: 460 m

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current health expenditure

8.1% of GDP (2022)

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 emphasis 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; 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's origins go back to the leidangen, defense forces which were established along the coastline in the 10th century to protect the Norwegian coast (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 Western European and US, as well as domestically produced weapons systems and equipment; in 2024, the Norwegian Government announced a new defense plan which would double defense spending over the following 12 years with priorities placed in such areas as the acquisition of air defenses and naval capabilities; Norway has a defense industry with a focus in niche capabilities and participates in joint development and production of weapons systems with other European countries (2024)

Military deployments

up to 200 Lithuania (NATO); Norway also has deployed air and naval assets in support of other NATO operations such as the Iceland Air Policing and the Mine Counter Measures Group missions  (2024)

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 (2023 est.)

on alcohol and tobacco: 3.9% of household expenditures (2023 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: 117,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

consumption: 1.201 million metric tons (2022 est.)

exports: 84,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

imports: 1.204 million metric tons (2022 est.)

proven reserves: 2 million metric tons (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

wind: 10.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

hydroelectricity: 88.7% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

biomass and waste: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Natural gas

production: 123.727 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

consumption: 4.548 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

exports: 121.285 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

imports: 67.96 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

proven reserves: 1.544 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 2.02 million bbl/day (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 229,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves: 8.122 billion barrels (2021 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.77 (2024 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

50.2% (2023 est.)

Remittances

0.12% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.11% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.13% of GDP (2021 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 (2024)

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 the Space Programs reference guide

Space agency/agencies

the Norwegian Space Agency (NOSA, aka Norsk Romsenter; established 1987) (2024)

Space launch site(s)

Andøya Space Center (Andøya Island; note - first operational spaceport in continental Europe) (2024)

Geoparks

total global geoparks and regional networks: 4

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

Ports

total ports: 141 (2024)

large: 1

medium: 10

small: 34

very small: 90

size unknown: 6

ports with oil terminals: 54

key ports: Bergen, Drammen, Hammerfest, Harstad, Horten, Karsto, Mongstad, Oslo, Stavanger, Tromso, Trondheim

Labor force

3.007 million (2023 est.)

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

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 11% (2023 est.)

male: 11.3% (2023 est.)

female: 10.6% (2023 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Net migration rate

3.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Median age

total: 40.8 years (2024 est.)

male: 40.1 years

female: 41.5 years

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$80.459 billion (2023 est.)
$72.077 billion (2022 est.)
$84.271 billion (2021 est.)

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

Waterways

1,577 km (2010)

Public debt

36.5% of GDP (2017 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 (2024 est.)

Military expenditures

2.2% of GDP (2024 est.)
1.8% of GDP (2023)
1.5% of GDP (2022)
1.7% of GDP (2021)
2% of GDP (2020)

Unemployment rate

3.58% (2023 est.)
3.23% (2022 est.)
4.37% (2021 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Population

total: 5,509,733

male: 2,780,972

female: 2,728,761 (2024 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

38.928 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke: 3.231 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids: 26.72 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from consumed natural gas: 8.977 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Area

total : 323,802 sq km

land: 304,282 sq km

water: 19,520 sq km

Taxes and other revenues

31.27% (of GDP) (2022 est.)

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$499.357 billion (2023 est.)
$496.973 billion (2022 est.)
$482.472 billion (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

Roadways

total: 95,120 km (2022)

Airports

145 (2024)

Infant mortality rate

total: 1.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

male: 2.1 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 1.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 6.09 million (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 111 (2022 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)

5.52% (2023 est.)
5.76% (2022 est.)
3.48% (2021 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Current account balance

$84.686 billion (2023 est.)
$177.149 billion (2022 est.)
$66.254 billion (2021 est.)

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

Real GDP per capita

$90,500 (2023 est.)
$91,100 (2022 est.)
$89,200 (2021 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 2.49 million (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 46 (2022 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

201.034 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

Death rate

8.4 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Birth rate

10.4 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 40.54 million kW (2022 est.)

consumption: 121.899 billion kWh (2022 est.)

exports: 25.792 billion kWh (2022 est.)

imports: 13.259 billion kWh (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses: 8.951 billion kWh (2022 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

$155.081 billion (2023 est.)
$161.645 billion (2022 est.)
$140.331 billion (2021 est.)

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

Exports

$224.336 billion (2023 est.)
$327.706 billion (2022 est.)
$203.228 billion (2021 est.)

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

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 145,000 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2022 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: 82.9 years (2024 est.)

male: 81.3 years

female: 84.6 years

Real GDP growth rate

0.48% (2023 est.)
3.01% (2022 est.)
3.91% (2021 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Industrial production growth rate

0.23% (2023 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: 2.1% (2023 est.)

industry: 39% (2023 est.)

services: 50% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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

0.59% (2024 est.)
Sources: