2015 Edition

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 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. Although Norway remained neutral in World War I, it suffered heavy losses to its shipping. Norway proclaimed its neutrality at the outset of World War II, but was nonetheless occupied for five years by Nazi Germany (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.

Area

land

304,282 sq km

total

323,802 sq km

water

19,520 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than twice the size of Georgia; 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

Coastline

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)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Galdhopiggen 2,469 m

lowest point

Norwegian Sea 0 m

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

622.4 cu m/yr (2006)

total

2.94 cu km/yr (28%/43%/29%)

Geographic coordinates

62 00 N, 10 00 E

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 the most rugged and longest coastlines in the world

Irrigated land

1,149 sq km (2007)

Land boundaries

border countries (3)

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

total

2,566 km

Land use

arable land 2.2%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 0.5%

agricultural land

2.7%

forest

27.8%

other

69.5% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

10 nm

continental shelf

200 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

rockslides, avalanches

volcanism

Beerenberg (elev. 2,227 m) on Jan Mayen Island in the Norwegian Sea is the country's only active volcano

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

382 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

18.08% (male 482,945/female 458,735)

15-24 years

12.99% (male 347,535/female 329,113)

25-54 years

40.91% (male 1,096,539/female 1,033,879)

55-64 years

11.69% (male 308,142/female 300,895)

65 years and over

16.32% (male 387,333/female 462,573) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

12.14 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

88.4%

note

percent of women aged 20-44 (2005)

Death rate

8.12 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

24.9%

potential support ratio

4% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

52.2%

youth dependency ratio

27.3%

Drinking water source

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

6.6% of GDP (2011)

Ethnic groups

Norwegian 94.4% (includes Sami, about 60,000), other European 3.6%, other 2% (2007 est.)

Health expenditures

9.6% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.15% (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 100 (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Hospital bed density

3.3 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

female

2.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

2.79 deaths/1,000 live births

total

2.48 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

note

Sami is an official language in nine municipalities

Life expectancy at birth

female

83.81 years (2015 est.)

male

79.7 years

total population

81.7 years

Major urban areas - population

OSLO (capital) 986,000 (2015)

Median age

female

39.9 years (2015 est.)

male

38.3 years

total

39.1 years

Nationality

adjective

Norwegian

noun

Norwegian(s)

Net migration rate

7.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

24.8% (2014)

Physicians density

4.28 physicians/1,000 population (2012)

Population

5,207,689 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

1.13% (2015 est.)

Religions

Church of Norway (Evangelical Lutheran - official) 82.1%, other Christian 3.9%, Muslim 2.3%, Roman Catholic 1.8%, other 2.4%, unspecified 7.5% (2011 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 98% of population

rural: 98.3% of population

total: 98.1% of population

urban: 2% of population

rural: 1.7% of population

total: 1.9% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

18 years (2012)

male

17 years

total

17 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.06 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.06 male(s)/female

55-64 years

1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.84 male(s)/female

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.86 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

7.2% (2012 est.)

male

10%

total

8.6%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.35% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

80.5% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

19 counties (fylker, singular - fylke); Akershus, Aust-Agder, Buskerud, Finnmark, Hedmark, Hordaland, More og Romsdal, Nordland, Nord-Trondelag, Oppland, Oslo, Ostfold, Rogaland, Sogn og Fjordane, Sor-Trondelag, Telemark, Troms, Vest-Agder, Vestfold

Capital

daylight saving time

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

geographic coordinates

59 55 N, 10 45 E

name

Oslo

time difference

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

Constitution

drafted spring 1814, adopted 16 May 1814, signed by Constituent Assembly 17 May 1814; amended many times, last in 2014 (2015)

Country name

conventional long form

Kingdom of Norway

conventional short form

Norway

local long form

Kongeriket Norge

local short form

Norge

Dependent areas

Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Julie FURUTA-TOY (since 27 September 2013)

embassy

Henrik Ibsens gate 48, 0244 Oslo; note - the embassy will move to Huseby in the near future

FAX

[47] 22-44-33-63, 22-56-27-51

mailing address

PSC 69, Box 1000, APO AE 09707

telephone

[47] 21-30-85-40

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2720 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Kare Reidar AAS (since 22 August 2013)

consulate(s) general

Houston, New York, San Francisco

FAX

[1] (202) 459-3990

telephone

[1] (202) 333-6000

Executive branch

cabinet

State Council appointed by the monarch, approved by Parliament

chief of state

King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991); Heir Apparent Crown Prince HAAKON MAGNUS, son of the monarch (born 20 July 1973)

elections/appointments

the monarchy is hereditary; following parliamentary elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the monarch with the approval of the parliament

head of government

Prime Minister Erna SOLBERG (since 16 October 2013)

Flag description

red with a blue cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag); the colors recall Norway's past political unions with Denmark (red and white) and Sweden (blue)

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Independence

7 June 1905 (Norway declared the union with Sweden dissolved); 26 October 1905 (Sweden agreed to the repeal of the union)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

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, MINUSMA, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMISS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Judicial branch

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) upon the recommendation of the Judicial Appointments Board; justice retirement mandatory at age 70

subordinate courts

Courts of Appeal or Lagmensrett; regional and district courts; Conciliation Boards; ordinary and special courts; note - in addition to professionally trained judges, elected lay judges sit on the bench with professional judges in the Courts of Appeal and district courts

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

description

unicameral Parliament or Storting (169 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - Ap 30.8%, H 26.3%, FrP 16.3%, KrF 5.6%, Sp 5.5%, V 5.2%, SV 4.1%, MDG 2.8, other 2.7%; seats by party - Ap 55, H 48, FrP 29, Sp 10, KrF 10, V 9, SV 7, MDG 1

elections

last held on 9 September 2013 (next to be held in September 2017)

National anthem

lyrics/music

lyrics/music: Bjornstjerne BJORNSON/Rikard NORDRAAK

name

"Ja, vi elsker dette landet" (Yes, We Love This Country)

note

adopted 1864; in addition to the national anthem, "Kongesangen" (Song of the King), which uses the tune of "God Save the Queen," serves as the royal anthem

National holiday

Constitution Day, 17 May (1814)

National symbol(s)

lion; national colors: red, white, blue

Political parties and leaders

Center Party or Sp [Trygve Slagsvold VEDUM]

Christian Democratic Party or KrF [Knut Arild HAREIDE]

Conservative Party or H [Erna SOLBERG]

Green Party or MDG [Rasmus NANSSON]

Labor Party or Ap [Jonas Gahr STOHRE]

Liberal Party or V [Trine SKEI-GRANDE]

Progress Party or FrP [Siv JENSEN]

Socialist Left Party or SV [Audun LYSBAKKEN]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (Naeringslivets Hovedorganisasjon) or NHO [President Tore ULSTEIN; CEO Kristin SKOGEN LUND]

Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (Landsorganisasjonen i Norge) or LO [Gerd KRISTIANSEN]

other

environmental groups; media; digital privacy movements

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

barley, wheat, potatoes; pork, beef, veal, milk; fish

Budget

expenditures

$230.5 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$294.3 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

12.5% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

6.25% (31 December 2010)

1.75% (31 December 2009)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

2.5% (31 December 2014 est.)

2.5% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

$42.33 billion (2014 est.)

$57.39 billion (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$720.6 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$595.7 billion (31 December 2011)

note

Norway is a net external creditor

Distribution of family income - Gini index

26.8 (2010)

25.8 (1995)

Economy - overview

The Norwegian economy is a prosperous mixed economy, with a vibrant private sector, a large state sector, and an extensive social safety net. The government controls key areas, such as the vital petroleum sector, through extensive regulation and large-scale state-majority-owned enterprises. The country is richly endowed with natural resources - petroleum, hydropower, fish, forests, and minerals - and is highly dependent on the petroleum sector, which accounts for the largest portion of export revenue and about 30% of government revenue. Norway is the world's third-largest natural gas exporter; and seventh largest oil exporter, making one of its largest offshore oil finds in 2011. Norway opted to stay out of the EU during a referendum in November 1994; nonetheless, as a member of the European Economic Area, it contributes sizably to the EU budget. In anticipation of eventual declines in oil and gas production, Norway saves state revenue from the petroleum sector in the world's largest sovereign wealth fund, valued at over $870 billion in December 2014 and annually uses up to 4% of the fund, it’s projected long term return, to help finance public expenses. After solid GDP growth in 2004-07, the economy slowed in 2008, and contracted in 2009, before returning to positive growth in 2010-14. Nevertheless, the government budget remains in surplus. Lower oil prices in 2015 may cause the economy to contract as higher costs production costs in the North Sea deter investment.

Exchange rates

Norwegian kroner (NOK) per US dollar -

6.163 (2014 est.)

5.876 (2013 est.)

5.82 (2012 est.)

5.6065 (2011 est.)

6.0442 (2010 est.)

Exports

$150.2 billion (2014 est.)

$158.3 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum and petroleum products, machinery and equipment, metals, chemicals, ships, fish

Exports - partners

UK 22.9%, Germany 16.9%, Netherlands 12.9%, France 6%, Sweden 5.7%, Belgium 4.8% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

39%

government consumption

21.3%

household consumption

41.1%

imports of goods and services

-27.6%

investment in fixed capital

22.3%

investment in inventories

3.8%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

1.7%

industry

41.8%

services

56.5% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$66,900 (2014 est.)

$65,500 (2013 est.)

$65,000 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

2.2% (2014 est.)

0.7% (2013 est.)

2.7% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$500.2 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$345.2 billion (2014 est.)

$337.6 billion (2013 est.)

$335.1 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

37.2% of GDP (2014 est.)

38.3% of GDP (2013 est.)

39% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

21% (2008)

lowest 10%

3.9%

Imports

$91.03 billion (2014 est.)

$92.83 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

Sweden 12.3%, Germany 11.9%, China 9.4%, UK 6.5%, US 6.2%, Denmark 6.1% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

0.8% (2014 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2% (2014 est.)

2.1% (2013 est.)

Labor force

2.724 million (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

2.2%

industry

20.2%

services

77.6% (2012)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$252.9 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$219.2 billion (31 December 2011)

$250.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

29.6% of GDP (2014 est.)

29.7% of GDP (2013 est.)

note

data cover general government debt, and includes 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 intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental 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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$58.28 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$323.9 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$310 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$279.6 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$271.6 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$294.2 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$282.5 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$731.1 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$689.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$146.1 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$144.2 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

57.5% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

3.5% (2014 est.)

3.5% (2013 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

41.06 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

1.303 million bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - imports

28,090 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - production

1.817 million bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

5.825 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Electricity - consumption

119.5 billion kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - exports

15.14 billion kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

4.6% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

93.2% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

2.2% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - imports

10.21 billion kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

31.76 million kW (2011 est.)

Electricity - production

134 billion kWh (2013 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

5.94 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

102.8 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

2 million cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

108.7 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

2.09 trillion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

222,600 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

349,600 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

91,980 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

328,700 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Broadcast media

state-owned public radio-TV broadcaster operates 3 nationwide TV stations, 3 nationwide radio stations, and 16 regional radio stations; roughly a dozen privately owned television stations broadcast nationally and roughly another 25 local TV stations broadcasting; nearly 75% of households have access to multi-channel cable or satellite TV; 2 privately owned radio stations broadcast nationwide and another 240 stations operate locally (2008)

Internet country code

.no

Internet users

percent of population

96.2% (2014 est.)

total

4.9 million

Radio broadcast stations

AM 5, FM 160, shortwave 1 (2008)

Telephone system

domestic

Norway has a domestic satellite system; the prevalence of rural areas encourages the wide use of mobile-cellular systems

general assessment

modern in all respects; one of the most advanced telecommunications networks in Europe

international

country code - 47; 2 buried coaxial cable systems; submarine cables provide links to other Nordic countries and Europe; satellite earth stations - NA Eutelsat, NA Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Norway shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden) (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

22 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

1.16 million

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

115 (2014 est.)

total

5.9 million

Television broadcast stations

69 (2008)

Airports

95 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

10

2,438 to 3,047 m

14

914 to 1,523 m

22

total

67

under 914 m

21 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

22 (2013)

914 to 1,523 m

6

total

28

Heliports

1 (2013)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 55, cargo 105, carrier 5, chemical tanker 121, combination ore/oil 12, liquefied gas 47, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 121, petroleum tanker 54, refrigerated cargo 9, roll on/roll off 4, vehicle carrier 49

foreign-owned

81 (Bermuda 24, Canada 1, Cyprus 1, Denmark 7, France 5, Iceland 2, Lithuania 1, Saudi Arabia 3, Sweden 27, US 10)

registered in other countries

974 (Antigua and Barbuda 9, Bahamas 186, Barbados 38, Belize 2, Bermuda 5, Brazil 3, Canada 4, Chile 1, Comoros 1, Cook Islands 8, Croatia 2, Curacao 2, Cyprus 14, Denmark 2, Dominica 1, Equatorial Guinea 1, Estonia 2, Faroe Islands 13, Gibraltar 46, Hong Kong 48, Indonesia 3, Isle of Man 30, Italy 6, Liberia 38, Libya 1, Malta 96, Marshall Islands 75, Netherlands 19, Panama 81, Portugal 2, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 13, Singapore 153, Spain 10, Sweden 3, UK 32, US 17, Vanuatu 1, unknown 3) (2010)

total

585

Pipelines

condensate 578 km; condensate/gas 220 km; gas 8,044 km; oil 3,794 km; oil/gas/water 457 km; water 96 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

LNG terminal(s) (export)

Kamoy, Kollsnes, Melkoya Island

LNG terminal(s) (import)

Fredrikstad, Mosjoen

major seaport(s)

Bergen, Haugesund, Maaloy, Mongstad, Narvik, Sture

Railways

standard gauge

4,250 km 1.435-m gauge (2,518 km electrified) (2014)

total

4,250 km

Roadways

paved

75,754 km

total

93,870 km (includes 393 km of expressways)

unpaved

18,116 km (2013)

Waterways

1,577 km (2010)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

1,051,210 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

1,079,043

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

865,697 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

888,761

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

30,777 (2010 est.)

male

32,290

Military branches

Norwegian Army (Haeren), Royal Norwegian Navy (Kongelige Norske Sjoeforsvaret, RNoN; includes Coastal Rangers and Coast Guard (Kystvakt)), Royal Norwegian Air Force (Kongelige Norske Luftforsvaret, RNoAF), Home Guard (Heimevernet, HV) (2013)

Military expenditures

1.4% of GDP (2012)

1.47% of GDP (2011)

1.4% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

19-35 years of age for male compulsory military service; 16 years of age in wartime; 17 years of age for male volunteers; 18 years of age for women; 1-year service obligation followed by 4-5 refresher training periods through ages 35-60, totalling 18 months (2012)

Disputes - international

Norway asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Queen Maud Land and its continental shelf); Denmark (Greenland) and Norway have made submissions to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental shelf (CLCS) and Russia is collecting additional data to augment its 2001 CLCS submission; Norway and Russia signed a comprehensive maritime boundary agreement in 2010

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

8,901 (Somalia); 11,202 (Eritrea); 5,190 (Iraq); 5,454 (Afghanistan) (2014)

stateless persons

1,997 (2014)