NAVIGATION
|
HOME
• FLAG FINDER
• MAP FINDER
• SOURCES
• ADD YOURSELF TO THE ATLAS! COUNTRIES A-D • COUNTRIES E-K • COUNTRIES L-R • COUNTRIES S-Z |
NAVIGATION
Kingdom of Norway
Kongeriket Norge
INTRODUCTION
|
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 was to last for 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. Nevertheless, it was not able to avoid a five-year occupation by Nazi Germany (1940-1945). 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 Norway's 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. |
GEOGRAPHY
|
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: 324,220 sq km
land: 307,860 sq km water: 16,360 sq km |
|
Area - comparative:
|
slightly larger than New Mexico |
|
Land boundaries:
|
total: 2,544 km
border countries: Finland 729 km, Sweden 1,619 km, Russia 196 km |
|
Coastline:
|
21,925 km (includes mainland 3,419 km, large islands 2,413 km, long fjords, numerous small islands, and minor indentations 16,093 km) |
|
Maritime claims:
|
contiguous zone: 10 NM
territorial sea: 4 NM continental shelf: 200 NM exclusive economic zone: 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, copper, natural gas, pyrites, nickel, iron ore, zinc, lead, fish, timber, hydropower |
|
Land use:
|
arable land: 2.94%
permanent crops: 0% other: 97.06% (1998 est.) |
|
Irrigated land:
|
1,270 sq km (1998 est.) |
|
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-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol |
|
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 world |
PEOPLE
|
Population:
|
4,525,116 (July 2002 est.) |
|
Age structure:
|
0-14 years: 20% (male 464,789; female 439,117)
15-64 years: 65% (male 1,491,720; female 1,451,450) 65 years and over: 15% (male 281,551; female 396,489) (2002 est.) |
|
Population growth rate:
|
0.47% (2002 est.) |
|
Birth rate:
|
12.39 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
|
Death rate:
|
9.78 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
|
Net migration rate:
|
2.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
|
Sex ratio:
|
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2002 est.) |
|
Infant mortality rate:
|
3.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) |
|
Life expectancy at birth:
|
total population: 78.94 years
female: 82.07 years (2002 est.) male: 76.01 years |
|
Total fertility rate:
|
1.8 children born/woman (2002 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
|
NA% (1999 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
|
1,600 (1999 est.) |
|
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
|
8 (1999) |
|
Nationality:
|
noun: Norwegian(s)
adjective: Norwegian |
|
Ethnic groups:
|
Norwegian, Sami 20,000 |
|
Religions:
|
Evangelical Lutheran 86% (state church), other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3%, other 1%, none and unknown 10% (1997) |
|
Languages:
|
Norwegian (official)
note: small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities |
|
Literacy:
|
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100% male: NA% female: NA% |