PROFILE

OFFICIAL NAME:
Kingdom of Norway

Geography
Area* (including the island territories of Svalbard and Jan Mayen): 385,155 sq. km. (approx 150,000 sq. mi.); slightly larger than New Mexico.
Cities* (2004): Capital--Oslo (pop. 521,886). Other cities--Bergen (237,430), Trondheim (154,351), Stavanger (112,405).
Terrain: Rugged with high plateaus, steep fjords, mountains, and fertile valleys.
Climate: Temperate along the coast, colder inland.
*(Source: Central Bureau of Statistics Norway 2004).

People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Norwegian(s).
Population (2005 est.): 4,593,041.
Annual growth rate (2005): 0.41%.
Density: Approx. 15 per sq. km.
Ethnic groups: Norwegian (Nordic, Alpine, Baltic), Sami, a racial-cultural minority of 20,000; foreign nationals (315,147) from Nordic and other countries.
Religion (2004): Church of Norway (Lutheran), 85.7%; Pentecostal Christian, 1%; Roman Catholic, 1%; Other Christian, 2.4%; Muslim, 1.8%; other, none, or unknown, 8.1%.
Languages: Bokmaal Norwegian (official), Nynorsk Norwegian (official), small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities, English is widely spoken.
Education: Years compulsory--10. Literacy--100%.
Health: Infant mortality rate (2004)--3.73/1,000. Life expectancy (2004 est.)--men 76.78 yrs; women 82.17 yrs.
Work force (2004, 2.38 million): Government, social, personal services--37.6%; wholesale and retail trade, hotels, restaurants--17.5%; manufacturing and mining--12.7%; transport and communications--7.4%; financing, insurance, real estate, business services--12%; agriculture, forestry, fishing--3.9%; construction--6.7%; oil extraction--1.4%.

Government
Type: Hereditary constitutional monarchy.
Independence: 1905.
Constitution: May 17, 1814.
Branches: Executive--king (chief of state), prime minister (head of government), Council of Ministers (cabinet). Legislative--modified unicameral parliament (Storting). Judicial--Supreme Court, appellate courts, city and county courts.
Political parties: Labor, Progress, Conservative, Socialist Left, Christian Democratic, Center, Liberal.
Suffrage: Universal over 18.
Administrative subdivisions: 19 fylker (counties), and Svalbard.
National holiday: May 17.

Economy (Source: CIA World Factbook 2005)
GDP (2004 est.): $183 billion.
Annual growth rate (2004 est.): 0.4%.
Per capita GDP (2004 est.): Purchasing power parity $40,000.
Natural resources: Oil, gas, fish, timber, hydroelectric power, mineral ores.
Arable land: 3%.
Agriculture: Products--dairy, livestock, grain (barley, oats, wheat), potatoes and other vegetables, fruits and berries, furs, wool.
Industry: Types--food processing, pulp and paper, ships, aluminum, ferroalloys, iron and steel, nickel, zinc, nitrogen, fertilizers, transport equipment, hydroelectric power, refinery products, petrochemicals, electronics.
Trade (2004): Exports (f.o.b.)--$76.64 billion. Major markets: U.K., Germany, France, Netherlands, U.S. (2004, 8.4%), Sweden. Imports (f.o.b.)--$45.96 billion. Major suppliers: Sweden, Germany, Denmark, U.K., U.S. (2004, 4.9%), France, Netherlands.
GDP by activity (2003): Agriculture, hunting, forestry, fishing, and fish farming--1.9%; Oil and gas extraction incl. services and mining and quarrying--12.3%; Manufacturing--18.2%; Electricity, gas, and water supply--2.0%; Construction--6.4%; Wholesale and retail trade, motor vehicle repair, hotels and restaurants--10.7%; Transport industries--9.7%; Post and telecommunications, financial intermediation, dwellings, business services--20.6%; Public administration and defense--4.8%; Education, health and social work, and other social and personal services--13.4%

PEOPLE
Ethnically, Norwegians are predominantly Germanic, although in the far north there are communities of Sami who came to the area more than 10,000 years ago, probably from central Asia. In recent years, Norway has become home to increasing numbers of immigrants, foreign workers, and asylum-seekers from various parts of the world. Immigrants now total over 300,000; some have obtained Norwegian citizenship.

Although the Evangelical Lutheran Church is the state church, Norway has complete religious freedom. Education is free through the university level and is compulsory from ages 6 to 16. At least 12 months of military service and training are required of every eligible male. Norway's health system includes free hospital care, physician's compensation, cash benefits during illness and pregnancy, and other medical and dental plans. There is a public pension system.