Location: Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of SwedenPopulation: 4,593,041 (July 2005 est.)
Total Area: 324,220 sq km - slightly larger than New Mexico
Climate: temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current; colder interior with increased precipitation and colder summers; rainy year-round on west coast
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, titanium, pyrites, nickel, fish, timber, hydropower
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 .
National holiday: Constitution Day, 17 May
Economy - brief 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.
Budget: revenues: $176.1 billion. expenditures: $131.3 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2005 est.)
Labor force: 2.4 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture, forestry, and fishing 4%, industry 22%, services 74%
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
Oil - production: 3.22 million bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - imports: 88,870 bbl/day (2001)
Oil - exports: 3.466 million bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves: 9.859 billion bbl (1 January 2002)
Exports: $111.2 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - partners: UK 22.4%, Germany 12.9%, Netherlands 9.9%, France 9.6%, US 8.4%, Sweden 6.7% (2004)
Imports: $58.12 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - partners: Sweden 15.7%, Germany 13.6%, Denmark 7.3%, UK 6.5%, China 5%, US 4.9%, Netherlands 4.4%, France 4.3%, Finland 4.1% (2004)
Government departments:
Norway in English: Information from the Government and Ministries
Media:
The Norway Post : Front page
Aftenposten.no Norway, Norwegian news in English
Travel Information:
Travel to Norway - Official Travel Guide to Norway - visitnorway.com
Other useful links:
Norway - the official site in the United States
Norway - the official site in the UK
Norway - the official site in Australia
The National Library of Norway
Little Norway: A Charming and Unique Outdoor Norwegian Museum
Royal House of Norway
Passenger lists and Emigrant ships from Norway Heritage
News headlines
Thousands call for cutting ties with Denmark, Norway Jordan Times 22:17
INTERVIEW - Norway PM blames Syria for embassy attack The Star Online 21:05
Iraqi transport ministry freezes deals with Denmark Khaleej Times 18:09
AL, Denmark, Norway hold consultations to overcome issue of mocking Islam Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) 15:02
Problems for Norwegian businesses abroad The Norway Post 06:45
