Norway

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Introduction - Norway:
Country	Norway
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 Norways 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.
Location - Norway:
Location	Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden
Geographic coordinates	62 00 N, 10 00 E
Map references	Europe
Area	total: 323,802 sq km land: 307,442 sq km water: 16,360 sq km
Area comparative	slightly larger than New Mexico
Land boundaries	total: 2,542 km border countries: Finland 727 km, Sweden 1,619 km, Russia 196 km
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)
Maritime claims	territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 10 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm
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
Elevation extremes	lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m highest point: Galdhopiggen 2,469 m
Natural resources	petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, titanium, pyrites, nickel, fish, timber, hydropower
Land use	arable land: 2.7% permanent crops: 0% other: 97.3% (2005)
Irrigated land	1,270 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards	rockslides, avalanches
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
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 most rugged and longest coastlines in the world
People - Norway:
Population	4,627,926 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure	0-14 years: 19% (male 450,612/female 430,126) 15-64 years: 66.1% (male 1,552,473/female 1,507,638) 65 years and over: 14.8% (male 291,659/female 395,418) (2007 est.)
Median age	total: 38.7 years male: 37.9 years female: 39.6 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate	0.363% (2007 est.)
Birth rate	11.27 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate	9.37 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate	1.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio	at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.048 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.738 male(s)/female total population: 0.984 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate	total: 3.64 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3.99 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth	total population: 79.67 years male: 77.04 years female: 82.46 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate	1.78 children born/woman (2007 est.)
Hiv aids adult prevalence rate	0.1% (2001 est.)
Hiv aids people living with hiv aids	2,100 (2001 est.)
Hiv aids deaths	less than 100 (2003 est.)
Nationality	noun: Norwegian(s) adjective: Norwegian
Ethnic groups	Norwegian, Sami 20,000
Religions	Church of Norway 85.7%, Pentecostal 1%, Roman Catholic 1%, other Christian 2.4%, Muslim 1.8%, other 8.1% (2004)
Languages	Bokmal Norwegian (official), Nynorsk Norwegian (official), small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities; note - Sami is official in six municipalities
Literacy	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 100% male: 100% female: 100%
Government - Norway:
Country name	conventional long form: Kingdom of Norway conventional short form: Norway local long form: Kongeriket Norge local short form: Norge
Government type	constitutional monarchy
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
Dependent areas	Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard
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
Independence	7 June 1905 (Norway declared the union with Sweden dissolved); 26 October 1905 (Sweden agreed to the repeal of the union)
National holiday	Constitution Day, 17 May (1814)
Constitution	17 May 1814; amended many times
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
Suffrage	18 years of age; universal
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: none; 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
Legislative branch	modified unicameral Parliament or Storting (169 seats; members are elected by popular vote by proportional representation to serve four-year terms); note - in 2009 the number of seats will change to 165 elections: last held 12 September 2005 (next to be held in September 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - Labor Party 32.7%, Progress Party 22.1%, Conservative Party 14.1%, Socialist Left Party 8.8%, Christian Peoples Party 6.8%, Center Party 6.5%, Liberal Party 5.9%, Red Electoral Alliance 1.2%, other 1.9%; seats by party - Labor Party 61, Progress Party 38, Conservative Party 23, Socialist Left Party 15, Christian Peoples Party 11, Center Party 11, Liberal Party 10 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
Judicial branch	Supreme Court or Hoyesterett (justices appointed by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders	Center Party [Aslaug Marie HAGA]; Christian Peoples Party [Dagfinn HOYBRATEN]; Coastal Party [Roy WAAGE]; Conservative Party [Erna SOLBERG]; Labor Party [Jens STOLTENBERG]; Liberal Party [Lars SPONHEIM]; Progress Party [Siv JENSEN]; Red Electoral Alliance [Torstein DAHLE]; Socialist Left Party [Kristin HALVORSEN]
Political pressure groups and leaders	NA
International organization participation	AfDB, Arctic Council, AsDB, 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, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMEE, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the us	chief of mission: Ambassador Knut VOLLEBAEK 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
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
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)
Economy - Norway:
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 its oil production and international oil prices, with oil and gas accounting for one-third of exports. Only Saudi Arabia and Russia export more oil than Norway. 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. The government has moved ahead with privatization. Although Norwegian oil production peaked in 2000, natural gas production is still rising. Norwegians realize that once their gas production peaks they will eventually face declining oil and gas revenues; accordingly, Norway has been saving its oil-and-gas-boosted budget surpluses in a Government Petroleum Fund, which is invested abroad and now is valued at more than $250 billion. After lackluster growth of less than 1% in 2002-03, GDP growth picked up to 3-4% in 2004-06. Norways economy remains buoyant. Domestic economic activity is, and will continue to be, the main driver of growth, supported by high consumer confidence and strong investment spending in the offshore oil and gas sector.
Gdp purchasing power parity	$213.6 billion (2006 est.)
Gdp official exchange rate	$264.4 billion (2006 est.)
Gdp real growth rate	4.6% (2006 est.)
Gdp per capita ppp	$46,300 (2006 est.)
Gdp composition by sector	agriculture: 2.3% industry: 41.4% services: 56.3% (2006 est.)
Labor force	2.42 million (2006 est.)
Labor force by occupation	agriculture: 4% industry: 22% services: 74% (1995)
Unemployment rate	3.5% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line	NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share	lowest 10%: 4.1% highest 10%: 21.8% (1995)
Distribution of family income gini index	25.8 (2000)
Inflation rate consumer prices	2.3% (2006 est.)
Investment gross fixed	19.1% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget	revenues: $195.8 billion expenditures: $133.1 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2006 est.)
Public debt	44.8% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture products	barley, wheat, potatoes; pork, beef, veal, milk; fish
Industries	petroleum and gas, food processing, shipbuilding, pulp and paper products, metals, chemicals, timber, mining, textiles, fishing
Industrial production growth rate	1.8% (2006 est.)
Electricity production	108.9 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity consumption	112.8 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity exports	3.8 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity imports	15.3 billion kWh (2004)
Oil production	3.22 million bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil consumption	244,300 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil exports	3.018 million bbl/day (2004)
Oil imports	91,930 bbl/day (2004)
Oil proved reserves	8.5 billion bbl (1 January 2005)
Natural gas production	83.49 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas consumption	8.09 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas exports	75.4 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas imports	0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas proved reserves	2.085 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)
Current account balance	$63.33 billion (2006 est.)
Exports	$122.6 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports commodities	petroleum and petroleum products, machinery and equipment, metals, chemicals, ships, fish
Exports partners	UK 26.6%, Germany 12.2%, Netherlands 10.4%, France 8.2%, Sweden 6.5%, US 5.9% (2006)
Imports	$59.9 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports commodities	machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, foodstuffs
Imports partners	Sweden 15%, Germany 13.5%, Denmark 6.9%, UK 6.4%, China 5.7%, US 5.3%, Netherlands 4.1% (2006)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold	$49.62 billion (August 2006 est.)
Economic aid donor	ODA, $1.4 billion (1998)
Debt external	$350.3 billion; note - Norway is a net external creditor (30 June 2006)
Currency code	Norwegian krone (NOK)
Exchange rates	Norwegian kroner per US dollar - 6.4117 (2006), 6.4425 (2005), 6.7408 (2004), 7.0802 (2003), 7.9838 (2002)
Communications - Norway:
Fiscal year	calendar year
Telephones main lines in use	2.055 million (2006)
Telephones mobile cellular	5.041 million (2006)
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; 4 coaxial submarine cables; 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)
Radio broadcast stations	AM 5, FM at least 650, shortwave 1 (1998)
Television broadcast stations	360 (plus 2,729 repeaters) (1995)
Internet country code	.no
Internet hosts	1.364 million (2006)
Internet users	4.074 million (2006)
Transportation - Norway:
Airports	99 (2006)
Airports with paved runways	total: 67 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 29 (2006)
Airports with unpaved runways	total: 32 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 26 (2006)
Heliports	1 (2006)
Pipelines	condensate 508 km; gas 5,910 km; oil 2,557 km; oil/gas/water 746 km (2006)
Railways	total: 4,043 km standard gauge: 4,043 km 1.435-m gauge (2,509 km electrified) (2006)
Roadways	total: 92,513 km paved: 71,832 km (includes 664 km of expressways) unpaved: 20,681 km (2005)
Waterways	1,577 km (2007)
Merchant marine	total: 724 ships (1000 GRT or over) 14,472,103 GRT/20,245,353 DWT by type: bulk carrier 67, cargo 153, chemical tanker 150, container 2, liquefied gas 79, passenger/cargo 121, petroleum tanker 75, refrigerated cargo 9, roll on/roll off 19, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 47 foreign-owned: 168 (China 3, Cyprus 2, Denmark 32, Estonia 1, Finland 4, Greece 1, Hong Kong 55, Iceland 4, Italy 4, Japan 1, Lithuania 1, Monaco 4, Netherlands 3, Poland 2, Saudi Arabia 3, Sweden 28, UAE 1, UK 6, US 13) registered in other countries: 861 (Antigua and Barbuda 11, Australia 1, Bahamas 259, Barbados 29, Belize 2, Bermuda 5, Brazil 2, Cambodia 1, Canada 1, Cayman Islands 2, China 1, Comoros 1, Cook Islands 1, Cyprus 16, Denmark 3, Dominica 1, Ecuador 1, Estonia 2, Faroe Islands 4, Finland 1, France 1, French Southern and Antarctic Lands 12, Gibraltar 18, Hong Kong 26, Indonesia 1, Isle of Man 27, Liberia 38, Libya 1, Malta 49, Marshall Islands 65, Mexico 1, Netherlands 7, Netherlands Antilles 5, Nigeria 1, Panama 66, Philippines 3, Portugal 4, Russia 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 16, Singapore 90, Spain 7, Sweden 7, Thailand 30, Tonga 1, UK 36, US 2, unknown 2) (2006)
Ports and terminals	Borg Havn, Bergen, Mo i Rana, Molde, Mongstad, Narvik, Oslo, Sture
Military - Norway:
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) (2006)
Military service age and obligation	18-44 years of age for 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; reserve obligation to age 35-60; 16 years of age for volunteers to the Home Guard, who serve 6-month duty tours; (2004)
Manpower available for military service	males age 18-49: 1,014,592 females age 18-49: 982,734 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service	males age 18-49: 827,016 females age 18-49: 801,358 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually	males age 18-49: 29,179 females age 18-49: 28,023 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures percent of gdp	1.9% (2005 est.)