{ "Introduction": { "Background": { "text": "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." } }, "Geography": { "Location": { "text": "Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden" }, "Geographic coordinates": { "text": "62 00 N, 10 00 E" }, "Map references": { "text": "Europe" }, "Area": { "total ": { "text": "323,802 sq km" }, "land": { "text": "304,282 sq km" }, "water": { "text": "19,520 sq km" } }, "Area - comparative": { "text": "slightly larger than twice the size of Georgia; slightly larger than New Mexico" }, "Land boundaries": { "total": { "text": "2,566 km" }, "border countries": { "text": "Finland 709 km; Sweden 1,666 km; Russia 191 km" } }, "Coastline": { "text": "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": { "text": "12 nm" }, "contiguous zone": { "text": "10 nm" }, "exclusive economic zone": { "text": "200 nm" }, "continental shelf": { "text": "200 nm" } }, "Climate": { "text": "temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current; colder interior with increased precipitation and colder summers; rainy year-round on west coast" }, "Terrain": { "text": "glaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains broken by fertile valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeply indented by fjords; arctic tundra in north" }, "Elevation": { "highest point": { "text": "Galdhopiggen 2,469 m" }, "lowest point": { "text": "Norwegian Sea 0 m" }, "mean elevation": { "text": "460 m" } }, "Natural resources": { "text": "petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, titanium, pyrites, nickel, fish, timber, hydropower" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "2.7% (2022 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 2.2% (2022 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 0.5% (2022 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "33.5% (2022 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "63.8% (2022 est.)" } }, "Irrigated land": { "text": "337 sq km (2016)" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "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" }, "Natural hazards": { "text": "
rockslides, avalanches
volcanism: Beerenberg (2,227 m) on Jan Mayen Island in the Norwegian Sea is the country's only active volcano
" }, "Geography - note": { "text": "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" } }, "People and Society": { "Population": { "total": { "text": "5,509,733 (2024 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "2,780,972" }, "female": { "text": "2,728,761" } }, "Nationality": { "noun": { "text": "Norwegian(s)" }, "adjective": { "text": "Norwegian" } }, "Ethnic groups": { "text": "Norwegian 81.5% (includes about 60,000 Sami), other European 8.9%, other 9.6% (2021 est.)" }, "Languages": { "Languages": { "text": "Bokmal Norwegian (official), Nynorsk Norwegian (official), small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities" }, "major-language sample(s)": { "text": "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
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
" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023": { "text": "$499.357 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022": { "text": "$496.973 billion (2022 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021": { "text": "$482.472 billion (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: data in 2021 dollars" }, "Real GDP growth rate": { "Real GDP growth rate 2023": { "text": "0.48% (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2022": { "text": "3.01% (2022 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2021": { "text": "3.91% (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency" }, "Real GDP per capita": { "Real GDP per capita 2023": { "text": "$90,500 (2023 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2022": { "text": "$91,100 (2022 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2021": { "text": "$89,200 (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: data in 2021 dollars" }, "GDP (official exchange rate)": { "text": "$485.311 billion (2023 est.)", "note": "note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": { "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024": { "text": "3.1% (2024 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023": { "text": "5.5% (2023 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022": { "text": "5.8% (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: annual % change based on consumer prices" }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "2.1% (2023 est.)" }, "industry": { "text": "39% (2023 est.)" }, "services": { "text": "50% (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data" }, "GDP - composition, by end use": { "household consumption": { "text": "37.5% (2023 est.)" }, "government consumption": { "text": "21.9% (2023 est.)" }, "investment in fixed capital": { "text": "23.3% (2023 est.)" }, "investment in inventories": { "text": "2.5% (2023 est.)" }, "exports of goods and services": { "text": "47.2% (2023 est.)" }, "imports of goods and services": { "text": "-32.5% (2023 est.)" }, "note": "note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection" }, "Agricultural products": { "text": "milk, barley, potatoes, oats, wheat, pork, chicken, beef, eggs, carrots/turnips (2023)", "note": "note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage" }, "Industries": { "text": "petroleum and gas, shipping, fishing, aquaculture, food processing, shipbuilding, pulp and paper products, metals, chemicals, timber, mining, textiles" }, "Industrial production growth rate": { "text": "0.23% (2023 est.)", "note": "note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency" }, "Labor force": { "text": "3.042 million (2024 est.)", "note": "note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work" }, "Unemployment rate": { "Unemployment rate 2024": { "text": "4% (2024 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2023": { "text": "3.6% (2023 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2022": { "text": "3.2% (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: % of labor force seeking employment" }, "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": { "total": { "text": "11.6% (2024 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "12.3% (2024 est.)" }, "female": { "text": "10.8% (2024 est.)" }, "note": "note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "12.2% (2021 est.)", "note": "note: % of population with income below national poverty line" }, "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": { "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019": { "text": "27.7 (2019 est.)" }, "note": "note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality" }, "Average household expenditures": { "on food": { "text": "11.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)" }, "on alcohol and tobacco": { "text": "3.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)" } }, "Household income or consumption by percentage share": { "lowest 10%": { "text": "3.4% (2019 est.)" }, "highest 10%": { "text": "22.4% (2019 est.)" }, "note": "note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population" }, "Remittances": { "Remittances 2023": { "text": "0.12% of GDP (2023 est.)" }, "Remittances 2022": { "text": "0.11% of GDP (2022 est.)" }, "Remittances 2021": { "text": "0.13% of GDP (2021 est.)" }, "note": "note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities" }, "Budget": { "revenues": { "text": "$334.543 billion (2022 est.)" }, "expenditures": { "text": "$174.546 billion (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated" }, "Public debt": { "Public debt 2017": { "text": "36.5% of GDP (2017 est.)" }, "note": "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" }, "Taxes and other revenues": { "text": "26.9% (of GDP) (2023 est.)", "note": "note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP" }, "Current account balance": { "Current account balance 2024": { "text": "$82.511 billion (2024 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2023": { "text": "$84.104 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2022": { "text": "$170.714 billion (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars" }, "Exports": { "Exports 2024": { "text": "$229.205 billion (2024 est.)" }, "Exports 2023": { "text": "$230.882 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Exports 2022": { "text": "$323.875 billion (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars" }, "Exports - partners": { "text": "Germany 18%, UK 17%, Sweden 9%, Denmark 7%, Netherlands 6% (2023)", "note": "note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports" }, "Exports - commodities": { "text": "natural gas, crude petroleum, fish, refined petroleum, aluminum (2023)", "note": "note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars" }, "Imports": { "Imports 2024": { "text": "$162.467 billion (2024 est.)" }, "Imports 2023": { "text": "$156.11 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Imports 2022": { "text": "$160.649 billion (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars" }, "Imports - partners": { "text": "Sweden 11%, Germany 11%, China 11%, USA 7%, Netherlands 5% (2023)", "note": "note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports" }, "Imports - commodities": { "text": "cars, refined petroleum, ships, nickel, garments (2023)", "note": "note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": { "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024": { "text": "$81.242 billion (2024 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023": { "text": "$80.459 billion (2023 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022": { "text": "$72.077 billion (2022 est.)" }, "note": "note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars" }, "Exchange rates": { "Currency": { "text": "Norwegian kroner (NOK) per US dollar -" }, "Exchange rates 2024": { "text": "10.746 (2024 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2023": { "text": "10.563 (2023 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2022": { "text": "9.614 (2022 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2021": { "text": "8.59 (2021 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2020": { "text": "9.416 (2020 est.)" } } }, "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { "text": "100% (2022 est.)" } }, "Electricity": { "installed generating capacity": { "text": "41.1 million kW (2023 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "127.335 billion kWh (2023 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "30.978 billion kWh (2023 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "13.232 billion kWh (2023 est.)" }, "transmission/distribution losses": { "text": "7.025 billion kWh (2023 est.)" } }, "Electricity generation sources": { "fossil fuels": { "text": "1.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)" }, "solar": { "text": "0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)" }, "wind": { "text": "9.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)" }, "hydroelectricity": { "text": "89.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)" }, "biomass and waste": { "text": "0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)" } }, "Coal": { "production": { "text": "120,000 metric tons (2023 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "1.096 million metric tons (2023 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "60,000 metric tons (2023 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "1.042 million metric tons (2023 est.)" }, "proven reserves": { "text": "2 million metric tons (2023 est.)" } }, "Petroleum": { "total petroleum production": { "text": "2.02 million bbl/day (2023 est.)" }, "refined petroleum consumption": { "text": "229,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)" }, "crude oil estimated reserves": { "text": "8.122 billion barrels (2021 est.)" } }, "Natural gas": { "production": { "text": "121.637 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "5.082 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "117.597 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "104.744 million cubic meters (2023 est.)" }, "proven reserves": { "text": "1.544 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)" } }, "Carbon dioxide emissions": { "total emissions": { "text": "38.535 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)" }, "from coal and metallurgical coke": { "text": "2.929 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)" }, "from petroleum and other liquids": { "text": "25.576 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)" }, "from consumed natural gas": { "text": "10.029 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)" } }, "Energy consumption per capita": { "Total energy consumption per capita 2023": { "text": "206.961 million Btu/person (2023 est.)" } } }, "Communications": { "Telephones - fixed lines": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "145,000 (2022 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "3 (2022 est.)" } }, "Telephones - mobile cellular": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "6.09 million (2022 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "111 (2022 est.)" } }, "Broadcast media": { "text": "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)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".no" }, "Internet users": { "percent of population": { "text": "99% (2023 est.)" } }, "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": { "total": { "text": "2.49 million (2022 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "46 (2022 est.)" } } }, "Transportation": { "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": { "text": "LN" }, "Airports": { "text": "146 (2025)" }, "Heliports": { "text": "113 (2025)" }, "Railways": { "total": { "text": "3,848 km (2020) 2,482 km electrified" } }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { "text": "1,720 (2022)" }, "by type": { "text": "bulk carrier 109, container ship 1, general cargo 274, oil tanker 95, other 1,241" } }, "Ports": { "total ports": { "text": "141 (2024)" }, "large": { "text": "1" }, "medium": { "text": "10" }, "small": { "text": "34" }, "very small": { "text": "90" }, "size unknown": { "text": "6" }, "ports with oil terminals": { "text": "54" }, "key ports": { "text": "Bergen, Drammen, Hammerfest, Harstad, Horten, Karsto, Mongstad, Oslo, Stavanger, Tromso, Trondheim" } } }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { "text": "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)", "note": "note: the Norwegian Police Service is under the Ministry of Justice and Public Security" }, "Military expenditures": { "Military Expenditures 2024": { "text": "2.2% of GDP (2024 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2023": { "text": "1.8% of GDP (2023)" }, "Military Expenditures 2022": { "text": "1.5% of GDP (2022)" }, "Military Expenditures 2021": { "text": "1.7% of GDP (2021)" }, "Military Expenditures 2020": { "text": "2% of GDP (2020)" } }, "Military and security service personnel strengths": { "text": "approximately 27,000 active Armed Forces (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": "note: active personnel include about 10,000 conscripts" }, "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": { "text": "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 service age and obligation": { "text": "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": "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