Norway

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.

Land

304,282 sq km

Total

323,802 sq km

Water

19,520 sq km

slightly larger than twice the size of Georgia; slightly larger than New Mexico

temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current; colder interior with increased precipitation and colder summers; rainy year-round on west coast

25,148 km

note

<strong>note:</strong> includes the mainland at 2,650 km, as well as long fjords, numerous small islands, and minor indentations at 22,498 km; length of island coastlines is 58,133 km

Europe

Highest point

Galdhopiggen 2,469 m

Lowest point

Norwegian Sea 0 m

Mean elevation

460 m

62 00 N, 10 00 E

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

337 sq km (2016)

Border countries

Finland 709 km; Sweden 1,666 km; Russia 191 km

number of neighbors

3

Total

2,566 km

Agricultural land

2.7% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 2.2% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0.5% (2023 est.)

arable land

2.2%

Forest

33.3% (2023 est.)

Other

64% (2023 est.)

permanent crops

0.01%

No

Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/htWRrphA7vNgQNdSA

OpenStreetMap

https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/2978650

Europe

Contiguous zone

10 nm

Continental shelf

200 nm

Exclusive economic zone

200 nm

Territorial sea

12 nm

rockslides, avalanches <br><br><strong>volcanism:</strong> Beerenberg (2,227 m) on Jan Mayen Island in the Norwegian Sea is the country's only active volcano

petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, titanium, pyrites, nickel, fish, timber, hydropower

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

Northern Europe

glaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains broken by fertile valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeply indented by fjords; arctic tundra in north

UTC+01:00

number of time zones

1

0-14 years

16.3% (male 461,979/female 438,243)

15-64 years

64.5% (male 1,820,692/female 1,734,818)

65 years and over

19.1% (2024 est.) (male 498,301/female 555,700)

Beer

2.63 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols

0.19 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits

1 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total

6.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine

2.23 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

10.35 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Women married by age 15

0% (2022)

Women married by age 18

0% (2022)

57.4% (2021 est.)

8.6 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

adult female

39 per 1,000

adult male

61 per 1,000

Elderly dependency ratio

29.6 (2024 est.)

Note

<strong>note:</strong> data include Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands

Potential support ratio

3.4 (2024 est.)

Total dependency ratio

55 (2024 est.)

Youth dependency ratio

25.3 (2024 est.)

improved total

99.06%

Improved: rural

rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% GDP)

5.5% of GDP (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

14.5% national budget (2022 est.)

5 % of GDP

Norwegian 81.5% (includes about 60,000 Sami), other European 8.9%, other 9.6% (2021 est.)

0.77 (2025 est.)

9 % of GDP

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

8.1% of GDP (2022)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

17.8% of national budget (2022 est.)

3.4 beds/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Female

1.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

2.1 deaths/1,000 live births

neonatal

1 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

1.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Bokmal Norwegian (official), Nynorsk Norwegian (official), small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities

Major-language sample(s)

<br>Verdens Faktabok, den essensielle kilden for grunnleggende informasjon. (Norwegian)<br><br>The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Note

<strong>note:</strong> Sami has three dialects (Lule, North Sami, and South Sami) and is an official language in nine municipalities in the northernmost counties of Finnmark, Nordland, and Troms

number of languages

3

Female

84.6 years

Male

81.3 years

Total population

82.9 years (2024 est.)

1.086 million OSLO (capital) (2023)

1 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Female

41.5 years

Male

40.1 years

Total

41 years (2025 est.)

29.8 years (2020 est.)

note

<strong>note:</strong> data is calculated based on actual age at first births

Adjective

Norwegian

Noun

Norwegian(s)

3.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

23.1% (2016)

4.98 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Female

2,728,761

Male

2,780,972

Total

5,509,733 (2024 est.)

0.57% (2025 est.)

Church of Norway (Evangelical Lutheran - official) 67.5%, Muslim 3.1%, Roman Catholic 3.1%, other Christian 3.8%, other 2.6%, unspecified 19.9% (2021 est.)

improved total

77.93%

Improved: rural

rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Female

20 years (2023 est.)

Male

18 years (2023 est.)

Total

19 years (2023 est.)

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.05 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.9 male(s)/female

At birth

1.05 male(s)/female

Total population

1.02 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Female

11.3% (2025 est.)

Male

12.6% (2025 est.)

Total

12% (2025 est.)

1.58 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Note

<strong>note:</strong> data include Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands

Rate of urbanization

1.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Urban population

84% of total population (2023)

measles

96%

12 counties (<em>fylker</em>, singular - <em>fylke</em>); Agder, Innlandet, More og Romsdal, Nordland, Oslo, Rogaland, Romsdal, Troms og Finnmark, Trondelag, Vestfold og Telemark, Vestland, Viken (2024)

Daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Etymology

the name may derive from the Old Norwegian word <em>os</em>, meaning "estuary" and referring to the city's location on a fjord; alternatively, the name may come from As, a Scandinavian god, and Lo, a nearby river

Geographic coordinates

59 55 N, 10 45 E

Name

Oslo

Time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship by birth

no

Citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Norway

Dual citizenship recognized

yes

Residency requirement for naturalization

7 years

svg

https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/no.svg

Amendment process

proposals submitted by members of Parliament or by the government within the first three years of Parliament's four-year term; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of a two-thirds quorum in the next elected Parliament

History

drafted spring 1814, adopted 16 May 1814, signed by Constituent Assembly 17 May 1814

alternative spellings

NO, Norge, Noreg, Kingdom of Norway, Kongeriket Norge, Kongeriket Noreg

Conventional long form

Kingdom of Norway

Conventional short form

Norway

Etymology

derives from the Old Norse words <em>norre </em>and <em>vegr</em>, meaning "northern way," and refers to the long coastline of western Norway

FIFA code

NOR

Local long form

Kongeriket Norge

local long form (nno)

Kongeriket Noreg

Local short form

Norge

Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard (3)

Chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Eric MEYER (since August 2024)

Email address and website

<br>OsloACS@state.gov<br><br>https://no.usembassy.gov/

Embassy

Morgedalsvegen 36, 0378 Oslo

FAX

[47] 22-56-27-51

Mailing address

5460 Oslo Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 20521-5460

Telephone

[47] 21-30-85-40

Chancery

2720 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

Chief of mission

Ambassador Anniken Scharning HUITFELDT (since 18 September 2024)

Consulate(s) general

New York, San Francisco

Email address and website

<br>emb.washington@mfa.no<br><br>https://www.norway.no/en/usa/

FAX

[1] (202) 469-3990

Telephone

[1] (202) 333-6000

Cabinet

Council of State appointed by the monarch, approved by Parliament

Chief of state

King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991)

Election/appointment process

the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the monarch usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister, with the approval of Parliament

Head of government

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr STORE (since 14 October 2021)

<strong>description:</strong> red with a blue cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of the flag; the the cross is shifted to the left side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> the colors represent Norway's past political unions with Denmark (red and white) and Sweden (blue)

The flag of Norway has a red field with a large white-edged navy blue cross that extends to the edges of the field. The vertical part of this cross is offset towards the hoist side.

svg

https://flagcdn.com/no.svg

parliamentary constitutional monarchy

7 June 1905 (union with Sweden declared dissolved); 26 October 1905 (Sweden agreed to the repeal of the union); notable earlier dates: ca. 872 (traditional unification of Norwegian kingdoms by HARALD Fairhair); 1397 (Kalmar Union of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden); 1524 (Denmark-Norway); 17 May 1814 (Norwegian constitution adopted); 4 November 1814 (Sweden-Norway union confirmed)

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, EITI (implementing country), ESA, FAO, FATF, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Highest court(s)

Supreme Court or Hoyesterett (consists of the chief justice and 18 associate justices)

Judge selection and term of office

justices appointed by the monarch (King in Council) on the recommendation of the Judicial Appointments Board; justices can serve until mandatory retirement at age 70

Note

<strong>note:</strong> in addition to professionally trained judges, elected lay judges sit on the bench with professional judges in the Courts of Appeal and district courts

Subordinate courts

Courts of Appeal or Lagmennsrett; regional and district courts; Conciliation Boards; ordinary and special courts

mixed system of civil, common, and customary law; Supreme Court can advise on legislative acts

Electoral system

proportional representation

Expected date of next election

September 2029

Legislative structure

unicameral

Legislature name

Parliament (Stortinget)

Most recent election date

9/8/2025

Number of seats

169 (all directly elected)

Parties elected and seats per party

Labour Party (53); Progress Party (47); Conservative Party (24); Socialist Left Party (9); Center Party (9); Red Party (9); Other (18)

Percentage of women in chamber

40.2%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

4 years

red, white, blue

Selected World Heritage Site locales

Bryggen (c); Urnes Stave Church (c); Røros Mining Town and the Circumference (c); Rock Art of Alta (c); Vegaøyan – The Vega Archipelago (c); Struve Geodetic Arc (c); West Norwegian Fjords – Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord (n); Rjukan-Notodden Industrial Heritage Site (c)

Total World Heritage Sites

8 (7 cultural, 1 natural)

Constitution Day, 17 May (1814)

lion

Center Party or Sp <br>Christian Democratic Party or KrF <br>Conservative Party or H <br>Green Party or MDG <br>Labor Party or Ap <br>Liberal Party or V<br>Patient Focus or PF <br>Progress Party or FrP <br>Red Party or R <br>Socialist Left Party or SV

Monday

18 years of age; universal

Yes

milk, barley, potatoes, oats, wheat, pork, chicken, beef, eggs, carrots/turnips (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

On alcohol and tobacco

3.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

On food

11.7% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Expenditures

$178.156 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Revenues

$261.945 billion (2023 est.)

code

NOK

name

Norwegian krone (NOK) [kr]

$71.65 billion

Current account balance 2022

$170.714 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$84.104 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2024

$82.511 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

<p>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</p>

Currency

Norwegian kroner (NOK) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

9.416 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

8.59 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

9.614 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

10.563 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

10.746 (2024 est.)

$229.67 billion

Exports 2022

$323.875 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$230.882 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$229.205 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

natural gas, crude petroleum, fish, refined petroleum, aluminum (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Germany 18%, UK 17%, Sweden 9%, Denmark 7%, Netherlands 6% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

net inflows

$12.04 billion

Exports of goods and services

47.9% (2023 est.)

Government consumption

22% (2023 est.)

Household consumption

37.7% (2023 est.)

Imports of goods and services

-32.5% (2023 est.)

Investment in fixed capital

21.7% (2023 est.)

Investment in inventories

2.6% (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Agriculture

2% (2024 est.)

Industry

37% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Services

51.8% (2024 est.)

$483.727 billion (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

$86,785

27.6 (2018)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022

26.9 (2022 est.)

Note

<strong>note:</strong> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

$505.79 billion

$98,170

24 % of GDP

Highest 10%

22% (2022 est.)

Lowest 10%

3.5% (2022 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

$163.8 billion

Imports 2022

$160.649 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$156.11 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$162.467 billion (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

cars, refined petroleum, ships, nickel, garments (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Sweden 11%, Germany 11%, China 11%, USA 7%, Netherlands 5% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

2.4% (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

petroleum and gas, shipping, fishing, aquaculture, food processing, shipbuilding, pulp and paper products, metals, chemicals, timber, mining, textiles

3.15%

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

5.8% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

5.5% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

3.1% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

3.042 million (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total

3.09 million persons

agriculture

2.5%

industry

17.84%

services

79.66%

12.2% (2021 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

Note

<strong>note:</strong> 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

Public debt 2017

36.5% of GDP (2017 est.)

$568.58 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$496.877 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$497.236 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$507.68 billion (2024 est.)

2.1%

Note

<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2022

3.2% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

0.1% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

2.1% (2024 est.)

$102,038

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2022

$91,100 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$90,100 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$91,100 (2024 est.)

$947.02 million

Note

<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2022

0.1% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.1% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances 2024

0.1% of GDP (2024 est.)

$81.24 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$72.077 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$80.459 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$81.242 billion (2024 est.)

54 % of GDP

27 % of GDP

27.1% (of GDP) (2023 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

4.64%

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2022

3.3% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

3.6% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

4% (2024 est.)

Female

10.8% (2024 est.)

Male

12.3% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Total

11.6% (2024 est.)

Consumption

1.096 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Exports

60,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Imports

1.042 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Production

120,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Proven reserves

2 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Consumption

127.335 billion kWh (2023 est.)

consumption per capita

23,520 kWh

Exports

30.978 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Imports

13.232 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity

41.1 million kW (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses

7.025 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Biomass and waste

0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Fossil fuels

1.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectric

89.08%

Hydroelectricity

89.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

nuclear

0%

renewable

99.1%

Solar

0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Wind

9.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

4,885 kg of oil equivalent

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

206.961 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Consumption

5.082 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Exports

117.597 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Imports

104.744 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Production

121.637 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Proven reserves

1.544 trillion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Crude oil estimated reserves

8.122 billion barrels (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption

229,000 bbl/day (2024 est.)

Total petroleum production

2.02 million bbl/day (2023 est.)

61.4%

per 100 inhabitants

45 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

46 (2022 est.)

Total

2.49 million (2022 est.)

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)

.no

Percent of population

99% (2023 est.)

####

+47

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

3 (2022 est.)

Total subscriptions

145,000 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100

112 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

111 (2022 est.)

Total subscriptions

6.09 million (2022 est.)

146 (2025)

LN

Right

113 (2025)

By type

bulk carrier 109, container ship 1, general cargo 274, oil tanker 95, other 1,241

Total

1,720 (2022)

Key ports

Bergen, Drammen, Hammerfest, Harstad, Horten, Karsto, Mongstad, Oslo, Stavanger, Tromso, Trondheim

Large

1

Medium

10

Ports with oil terminals

54

Size unknown

6

Small

34

Total ports

141 (2024)

Very small

90

Total

3,848 km (2020) 2,482 km electrified

N

armored vehicles

tanks

the Norwegian Armed Forces (Forsvaret) are responsible for protecting Norway and its allies, including monitoring Norway’s airspace, digital, land, and maritime areas, maintaining the country’s borders and sovereignty, contributing to NATO and UN missions, and providing support to civil society, such as assisting the police, search and rescue, and maritime counterterrorism efforts; the military’s territorial and sovereignty defense missions are complicated by Norway’s vast sea areas, numerous islands, long and winding fjords, and difficult and mountainous terrain; a key area of emphasis is its far northern border with Russia<br><br>Norway is one of the original members of NATO, and the Alliance is a key component of Norway’s defense policy; the Forsvaret participates in NATO exercises, missions, and operations, including air policing of NATO territory, NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence mission in the Baltic States and Eastern Europe, and standing naval missions, as well as operations in non-NATO areas, such as the Middle East<br><br>the Forsvaret also cooperates closely with the militaries of other Nordic countries through the Nordic Defense Cooperation (NORDEFCO; established 2009), which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden; Norway contributes to the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, a pool of high-readiness military forces from 10 Baltic and Scandinavian countries designed to respond to a wide range of contingencies in the High North, North Atlantic, and Baltic Sea regions; Norway has close military ties with the US, including rotational US military deployments and an agreement allowing for mutual defense activities and US military forces to access some Norwegian facilities<br><br>the Forsvaret's origins go back to the leidangen, defense forces which were established along the coastline in the 10th century to protect the Norwegian coast (2025)

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)

active duty personnel

25,000

note

<strong>note:</strong> the Norwegian Police Service is under the Ministry of Justice and Public Security

percent of total labor force

0.85 %

approximately 27,000 active military personnel; approximately 40,000 Home Guard (2025)

around 100 Lithuania (NATO); Norway also deploys air and naval assets in support of other NATO operations (2025)

the military has an inventory of modern, domestically produced and imported Western European and US armaments; Norway's defense industry participates in joint development and production of weapons systems with other European countries (2025)

2 % of GDP

current USD

$10,435,320,376

Military Expenditures 2021

1.7% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.5% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.8% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

2.3% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military Expenditures 2025

3.4% of GDP (2025 est.)

percent of central government expenditure

4.53 %

percent of GDP

2.09 % of GDP

17 (men) or 18 (women) for voluntary military service; all Norwegian citizens 19-44 are subject to selective compulsory military service; 19-month service obligation for those selected (12 months plus 4-5 refresher training periods) (2025)

note

<strong>note 1: </strong>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<br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> Norway was the first NATO country to allow women to serve in all combat arms branches of the military (1985); it also has an all-female special operations unit known as Jegertroppen (The Hunter Troop), which was established in 2014

PowerIndex score

0.6679

Refugees

129,894 (2024 est.)

Stateless persons

1,621 (2024 est.)

1962 - launched first research rocket<br><br>1992 - began operating first communications satellite (THOR-1)<br><br>2010 - built first satellite (AISSat-1) to monitor from polar orbit Automatic Identification Signals from ships (launched by India)<br><br>2017 - launched two microsatellites (NorSat-1 and -2) to track commercial sea vessels<br><br>2025 - signed US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration

the Norwegian Space Agency (NOSA, aka Norsk Romsenter; established 1987) (2025)

And&oslash;ya Space Center (And&oslash;ya Island; note - first operational spaceport in continental Europe) (2025)

jointly designs and builds satellites with foreign partners, including communications, remote sensing (RS), scientific, and navigational/positional satellites; develops and launches sounding rockets; researches and produces a range of other space-related technologies, including satellite/space launch vehicle (SLV) and space station components, telescopes, and robotics; conducts solar and telecommunications research; member of the ESA; participates in international programs such as the International Space Station; hosts training on the island of Svalbard for Mars landing missions; cooperates with a variety of foreign space agencies and industries, including those of Canada, ESA/EU member states, Japan, Russia, and the US; has an active and advanced private-sector space industry that works with domestic and foreign space programs&nbsp; (2025)

From coal and metallurgical coke

2.929 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From consumed natural gas

10.029 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids

25.576 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Total emissions

38.535 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

water pollution; acid rain damaging forests and affecting lakes and fish stocks; air pollution from vehicle emissions

Global geoparks and regional networks

Gea Norvegica; Fjord Coast; Magma; Sunnhordland; Trollfjell (2025)

Total global geoparks and regional networks

5 (2025)

Party to

Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

Signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Agriculture

99.8 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Energy

31 kt (2022-2024 est.)

Other

6.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste

33 kt (2019-2021 est.)

7 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

5 % of total land area

8 % of total

393 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

1 % of internal resources

Agricultural

844.9 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Industrial

1.071 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal

773.41 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually

4.15 million tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled

35.3% (2022 est.)