Norway

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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.

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

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62 00 N, 10 00 E

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Europe

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

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25,148 km

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<strong>note:</strong> includes the mainland at 2,650 km, as well as long fjords, numerous small islands, and minor indentations at 22,498 km; length of island coastlines is 58,133 km

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

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

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337 sq km (2016)

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most people live in the south; population clusters are found along the North Sea coast in the southwest and Skaggerak in the southeast; the interior areas of the north remain sparsely populated

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rockslides, avalanches <br><br><strong>volcanism:</strong> Beerenberg (2,227 m) on Jan Mayen Island in the Norwegian Sea is the country's only active volcano

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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

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

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<strong>note:</strong> 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

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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.)

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<strong>note:</strong> data include Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands

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0.57% (2025 est.)

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10.35 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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8.6 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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3.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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most people live in the south; population clusters are found along the North Sea coast in the southwest and Skaggerak in the southeast; the interior areas of the north remain sparsely populated

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<strong>note:</strong> data include Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands

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1.086 million OSLO (capital) (2023)

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29.8 years (2020 est.)

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<strong>note:</strong> data is calculated based on actual age at first births

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1 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

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1.58 children born/woman (2025 est.)

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0.77 (2025 est.)

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4.98 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

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3.4 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

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23.1% (2016)

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57.4% (2021 est.)

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

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

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<strong>note:</strong> data include Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands

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7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

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393 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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parliamentary constitutional monarchy

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

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Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard (3)

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

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accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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18 years of age; universal

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<strong>note:</strong> in addition to professionally trained judges, elected lay judges sit on the bench with professional judges in the Courts of Appeal and district courts

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

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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

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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 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)

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Constitution Day, 17 May (1814)

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<strong>description:</strong> red with a blue cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of the flag; the the cross is shifted to the left side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> the colors represent Norway's past political unions with Denmark (red and white) and Sweden (blue)

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lion

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red, white, blue

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<strong>note:</strong> since 2011, the patriotic song “Mitt lille land” has been called a new national anthem and is sometimes performed at patriotic events, but it is not used as often as “Ja, vi elsker dette landet”

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<p>high-income, non-EU economy with trade links via European Economic Area (EEA); key role in European energy security as leader in oil, gas, and electricity exports; major fishing, forestry, and oil(?) extraction industries; oil sovereign fund supports generous welfare system; low unemployment; inflation moderating but remains above target level</p>

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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$483.727 billion (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

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<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

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

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

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

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<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

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2.4% (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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3.042 million (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

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12.2% (2021 est.)

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<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

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

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<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

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

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<b>note:</b> central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

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<strong>note:</strong> 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

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27.1% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

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<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

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

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

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

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<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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

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<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

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

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<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

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cars, refined petroleum, ships, nickel, garments (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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

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state-owned public radio and 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 another 25 locally; nearly 75% of households have access to multi-channel cable or satellite TV; 2 privately owned radio stations broadcast nationwide, with another 240 local stations; Norway was the first country to phase out FM radio in favor of Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) (2019)

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.no

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LN

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146 (2025)

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113 (2025)

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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), Home Guard (Heimevernet, HV) (2025)

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<strong>note:</strong> the Norwegian Police Service is under the Ministry of Justice and Public Security

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approximately 27,000 active military personnel; approximately 40,000 Home Guard (2025)

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the military has an inventory of modern, domestically produced and imported Western European and US armaments; Norway's defense industry participates in joint development and production of weapons systems with other European countries (2025)

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17 (men) or 18 (women) for voluntary military service; all Norwegian citizens 19-44 are subject to selective compulsory military service; 19-month service obligation for those selected (12 months plus 4-5 refresher training periods) (2025)

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<strong>note 1: </strong>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<br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> 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

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around 100 Lithuania (NATO); Norway also deploys air and naval assets in support of other NATO operations (2025)

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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<br><br>Norway is one of the original members of NATO, and the Alliance is a key component of Norway’s defense policy; the Forsvaret participates 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<br><br>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; 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 in 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<br><br>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 (2025)

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the Norwegian Space Agency (NOSA, aka Norsk Romsenter; established 1987) (2025)

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And&oslash;ya Space Center (And&oslash;ya Island; note - first operational spaceport in continental Europe) (2025)

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jointly designs and builds satellites with foreign partners, including communications, remote sensing (RS), scientific, and navigational/positional 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; member of the ESA; participates in international programs such as the International Space Station; hosts training on the island of Svalbard for Mars landing missions; 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 private-sector space industry that works with domestic and foreign space programs&nbsp; (2025)

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1962 - launched first research rocket<br><br>1992 - began operating first communications satellite (THOR-1)<br><br>2010 - built first satellite (AISSat-1) to monitor from polar orbit Automatic Identification Signals from ships (launched by India)<br><br>2017 - launched two microsatellites (NorSat-1 and -2) to track commercial sea vessels<br><br>2025 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration