Norge

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.

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

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

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

Galdhopiggen 2 469 m 8 100 ft Norwegian Sea 0 m 0 ft Galdhopiggen Mount Everest

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

Rockslides, avalanches Beerenberg (elev. 2,227 m) on Jan Mayen Island in the Norwegian Sea is the country's only active volcano

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

2566 km 1594 mi Finland 709 km/441 mi Sweden 1666 km/1035 mi Russia 191 km/119 mi

25 148 km/15 626 mi 33.10 % 2.21 % 2.70 %

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

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

5 136 475	+1.11%	49.7 %	50.3 %
	0-14 18.1 %	15-64 65.9 %	65+ 16 %
	15.86 / km2 41.09 / mi2	80.21% 4 119 864	20% 1 016 611
	79.50 yrs	83.50 år	81.49 år

0.46 % 0.12 % 0.69 % 0.97 % 1.33 % 13.62 % 0.07 %

Bokmal Norwegian (official) Nynorsk Norwegian (official) Small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities

Church of Norway (Evangelical Lutheran - official) 82.1% Other Christian 3.9% Muslim 2.3% Roman Catholic 1.8% Other 2.4% Unspecified 7.5%

Norwegian 94.4% (includes Sami About 60,000) Other European 3.6% Other 2%

Norge Norway Norvège Noruega Norvegia ノルウェー Constitutional monarchy Unicameral Parliament or Storting (169 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) 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) "Ja, vi elsker dette landet" (Yes, We Love This Country) Lion National colors: red, white, blue King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991) Heir Apparent Crown Prince HAAKON MAGNUS, son of the monarch (born 20 July 1973) 7 June 1905 (Norway declared the union with Sweden dissolved) 26 October 1905 (Sweden agreed to the repeal of the union) Constitution Day, 17 May (1814) 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, MINUSMA, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMISS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC Oslo 59 55 N, 10 45 E UTC+1 OSLO 986,000 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

95 (2013)

Bergen, Haugesund, Maaloy, Mongstad, Narvik, Sture

3.3 beds/1,000 population (2011)

4.28 physicians/1,000 population (2012)

Supreme Court or Hoyesterett (consists of the chief justice and 18 associate justices)

18 years of age universal

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) (2013)

The Norwegian economy is a prosperous mixed economy, with a vibrant private sector, a large state sector, and an extensive social safety net. The government controls key areas, such as the vital petroleum sector, through extensive regulation and large-scale state-majority-owned 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 the largest portion of export revenue and about 30% of government revenue. Norway is the world's third-largest natural gas exporter; and seventh largest oil exporter, making one of its largest offshore oil finds in 2011. 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 state revenue from the petroleum sector in the world's largest sovereign wealth fund, valued at over $870 billion in December 2014 and annually uses up to 4% of the fund, it's projected long term return, to help finance public expenses. After solid GDP growth in 2004-07, the economy slowed in 2008, and contracted in 2009, before returning to positive growth in 2010-14. Nevertheless, the government budget remains in surplus. Lower oil prices in 2015 may cause the economy to contract as higher costs production costs in the North Sea deter investment. 333 130 966 622.9 $USD 64 856.0 $USD +2.21 % machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, foodstuffs Sweden 12.3% Germany 11.9% China 9.4% UK 6.5% US 6.2% Denmark 6.1% petroleum and petroleum products, machinery and equipment, metals, chemicals, ships, fish UK 22.9% Germany 16.9% Netherlands 12.9% France 6% Sweden 5.7% Belgium 4.8% Norwegian kroner (NOK) per US dollar 6.3021 (2014 est.) 2% (2014 est.)

93 870 km 58 328 mi	4 250 km 2 641 mi	1 577 km 980 mi (2010)
22 per 100 people country code - 47 2 buried coaxial cable systems	116.51 / 100	96.30 / 100 .no

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 television 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 (2008)

AM 5 FM 160 shortwave 1 (2008)

45 533.14 kt 9.19 kt per innbygger

6.04 μg/m3

3 299.20 kt CO2 equivalent

17 148.00 kt CO2 equivalent

7

14

23

157

100 %	100 %

6 487 kg of oil equivalent per capita	62 %	34 %