ARCHIVE // NO // 1996
Norway
1996 Edition — sovereign
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Communications
Military and security forces
(Branches)
[time series]
Norwegian Army, Royal Norwegian Navy (includes Coast Artillery and Coast Guard), Royal Norwegian Air Force, Home Guard
Military expenditures
(Defense expenditures)
[time series]
exchange rate conversion - $3.7 billion, 2.9% of GDP (1995)
Manpower availability
[time series]
males age 15-49: 1,125,302 males fit for military service: 937,309 males reach military age (20) annually: 28,328 (1996 est.)
Broadcast media
(Radio broadcast stations)
[time series]
AM 46, FM 493 (350 private and 143 government), shortwave 0
Radios
[time series]
3.3 million (1993 est.)
Telecommunication systems
(Telephone system)
[time series]
high-quality domestic and international telephone, telegraph, and telex services domestic: NA domestic satellite earth stations international: 2 buried coaxial cable systems; 4 coaxial submarine cables; 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)
Telephones - fixed lines
(Telephones)
[time series]
2.39 million (1986 est.)
Broadcast media
(Television broadcast stations)
[time series]
54 (repeaters 2,100)
Televisions
[time series]
1.5 million (1993 est.) Defense
Economy
Agricultural products
(Agriculture)
[time series]
oats, other grains; beef, milk; livestock output exceeds value of crops; among world's top 10 fishing nations; fish catch of 1.76 million metric tons in 1989
Budget
[time series]
revenues: $48.6 billion expenditures: $53 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994 est.)
Exchange rates
(Currency)
[time series]
1 Norwegian krone (NKr) = 100 oere
Economic aid
[time series]
donor: ODA, $1.014 billion (1993)
Economic overview
[time series]
Norway has a mixed economy involving 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), and extensively subsidizes agriculture, fishing, and areas with sparse resources. Norway also maintains an extensive welfare system that helps propel public sector expenditures to more than 50% of GDP and results in one of the highest average tax burdens in the world (46%). A small country with a high dependence on international trade, Norway is basically an exporter of raw materials and semiprocessed goods, with an abundance of small- and medium-sized firms, and is ranked among the major shipping nations. The country is richly endowed with natural resources - petroleum, hydropower, fish, forests, and minerals - and is highly dependent on its oil sector. Norway imports more than half its food needs. Economic growth, only 1.6% in 1993, moved up to 5.5% in 1994 and remained strong in 1995. Oslo opted to stay out of the EU during a referendum in November 1994.
Electricity
[time series]
capacity: 27,280,000 kW production: 118 billion kWh consumption per capita: 23,735 kWh (1993)
Exchange rates
[time series]
Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1 - 6.4160 (January 1996), 6.3352 (1995), 7.0576 (1994), 7.0941 (1993), 6.2145 (1992), 6.4829 (1991)
Exports
[time series]
$34.7 billion (f.o.b., 1994) commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 43%, metals and products 11%, foodstuffs (mostly fish) 9%, chemicals and raw materials 25%, natural gas 6.0%, ships 5.4% partners: EU 77.8% (UK 20.8%, Germany 12.4%, France 8.12%), Sweden 9.4%, US 6.7%, Japan 1.9% (1994)
Debt - external
(External debt)
[time series]
$NA
Fiscal year
[time series]
calendar year
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
(GDP)
[time series]
purchasing power parity - $106.2 billion (1995 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
(GDP composition by sector)
[time series]
agriculture: 2.9% industry: 34.7% services: 62.4% (1991)
Real GDP per capita
(GDP per capita)
[time series]
$24,500 (1995 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
(GDP real growth rate)
[time series]
4.5% (1995 est.)
Illicit drugs
[time series]
transshipment point for drugs shipped via the CIS and Baltic states for the European market
Imports
[time series]
$27.3 billion (c.i.f., 1994) commodities: machinery and equipment and manufactured consumer goods 54%, chemicals and other industrial inputs 39%, foodstuffs 6% partners: EU 68.9% (Germany 13.9%, UK 10.4%, Denmark 7.4%), Sweden 15%, US 7.4%, Japan 6.0% (1994)
Industrial production growth rate
[time series]
7.4% (1994)
Industries
[time series]
petroleum and gas, food processing, shipbuilding, pulp and paper products, metals, chemicals, timber, mining, textiles, fishing
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
[time series]
2.5% (1995 est.)
Labor force
[time series]
2.13 million by occupation: services 71%, industry 23%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 6% (1993)
Unemployment rate
[time series]
8% (including people in job-training programs; November 1995)
Geography
Area
[time series]
total area: 324,220 sq km land area: 307,860 sq km comparative area: slightly larger than New Mexico
Climate
[time series]
temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current; colder interior; rainy year-round on west coast
Coastline
[time series]
21,925 km (includes mainland 3,419 km, large islands 2,413 km, long fjords, numerous small islands, and minor indentations 16,093 km)
Environment - current issues
(Environment)
[time series]
current issues: water pollution; acid rain damaging forests and adversely affecting lakes, threatening fish stocks; air pollution from vehicle emissions natural hazards: NA international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Desertification, Law of the Sea
Geographic coordinates
[time series]
62 00 N, 10 00 E
Geography - note
(Geographic note)
[time series]
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; Norway and Turkey only NATO members having a land boundary with Russia
Disputes - international
(International disputes)
[time series]
territorial claim in Antarctica (Queen Maud Land); maritime boundary dispute with Russia over portion of Barents Sea
Irrigated land
[time series]
950 sq km (1989)
Land boundaries
[time series]
total: 2,515 km border countries: Finland 729 km, Sweden 1,619 km, Russia 167 km
Land use
[time series]
arable land: 3% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 27% other: 70%
Location
[time series]
Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden
Map references
[time series]
Europe
Maritime claims
[time series]
contiguous zone: 10 nm continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 4 nm
Natural resources
[time series]
petroleum, copper, natural gas, pyrites, nickel, iron ore, zinc, lead, fish, timber, hydropower
Terrain
[time series]
glaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains broken by fertile valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeply indented by fjords; arctic tundra in north lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m highest point: Glittertinden 2,472 m
Government
Administrative divisions
[time series]
19 provinces (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
[time series]
Oslo
Constitution
[time series]
17 May 1814, modified in 1884
Data code
[time series]
NO
Dependent areas
[time series]
Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard
Diplomatic representation in the US
(Diplomatic representation in US)
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Kjeld VIBE chancery: 2720 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 333-6000
Executive branch
[time series]
chief of state: King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991) is a hereditary monarch; Heir Apparent Crown Prince HAAKON MAGNUS (born 20 July 1973) head of government: Prime Minister Gro Harlem BRUNDTLAND (since 3 November 1990) was appointed by the king with the approval of the Storting cabinet: State Council was appointed by the king with the approval of the Storting
Diplomatic representation in the US
(FAX)
[time series]
[1] (202) 337-0870 consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, and San Francisco consulate(s): Miami
Diplomatic representation in the US
(FAX)
[time series]
[47] 22 44 33 63
Flag
[time series]
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)
Independence
[time series]
26 October 1905 (from Sweden)
International organization participation
[time series]
AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, ESA, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MINURSO, MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNAVEM III, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNITAR, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNTSO, UPU, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC
Judicial branch
[time series]
Supreme Court (Hoyesterett), justices appointed by the king
Legal system
[time series]
mixture of customary law, civil law system, and common law traditions; Supreme Court renders advisory opinions to legislature when asked; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Legislative branch
[time series]
modified unicameral Parliament (Storting) which, for certain purposes, divides itself into two chambers
Country name
(Name of country)
[time series]
conventional long form: Kingdom of Norway conventional short form: Norway local long form: Kongeriket Norge local short form: Norge
National holiday
[time series]
Constitution Day, 17 May (1814)
Political parties
(Political parties and leaders)
[time series]
Labor Party, Thorbjorn JAGLAND; Conservative Party, Jan PETERSEN; Center Party, Anne ENGER LAHNSTEIN; Christian People's Party, Valgerd HAUGLAND; Socialist Left, Erik SOLHEIM; Norwegian Communist, Kare Andre NILSEN; Progress Party, Carl I. HAGEN; Liberal, Odd Einar DORUM; Left Party; Red Electoral Alliance, Erling FOLKVORD
Legislative branch
(Storting)
[time series]
elections last held 13 September 1993 (next to be held NA September 1997); results - Labor 37.1%, Center Party 18.5%, Conservatives 15.6%, Christian People's 8.4%, Socialist Left 7.9%, Progress 6%, Left Party 3.6%, Red Electoral Alliance 1.2%; seats - (165 total) Labor 67, Center Party 32, Conservatives 18, Christian People's 13, Socialist Left 13, Progress 10, Left Party 1, Red Electoral Alliance 1, unawarded 10 note: for certain purposes, the Storting divides itself into two chambers and elects one-fourth of its membership to an upper house or Lagting
Suffrage
[time series]
18 years of age; universal
Government type
(Type of government)
[time series]
constitutional monarchy
Diplomatic representation from the US
(US diplomatic representation)
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas A. LOFTUS embassy: Drammensveien 18, 0244 Oslo mailing address: PSC 69, Box 1000, APO AE 09707 telephone: [47] 22 44 85 50
People
Age structure
[time series]
0-14 years: 19% (male 434,848; female 411,668) 15-64 years: 65% (male 1,446,746; female 1,396,150) 65 years and over: 16% (male 288,789; female 405,606) (July 1996 est.)
Birth rate
[time series]
11.96 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate
[time series]
10.68 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Ethnic groups
(Ethnic divisions)
[time series]
Germanic (Nordic, Alpine, Baltic), Lapps (Sami) 20,000
Infant mortality rate
[time series]
4.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Languages
[time series]
Norwegian (official) note: small Lapp- and Finnish-speaking minorities
Life expectancy at birth
[time series]
total population: 77.53 years male: 74.63 years female: 80.61 years (1996 est.)
Literacy
[time series]
age 15 and over can read and write (1976 est.) total population: 99% male: NA% female: NA%
Nationality
[time series]
noun: Norwegian(s) adjective: Norwegian
Net migration rate
[time series]
3.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Population
[time series]
4,383,807 (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate
[time series]
0.48% (1996 est.)
Religions
[time series]
Evangelical Lutheran 87.8% (state church), other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3.8%, none 3.2%, unknown 5.2% (1980)
Sex ratio
[time series]
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female all ages: 0.98 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate
[time series]
1.63 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Transportation
Airports
[time series]
total: 102 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 1 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 12 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 13 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 11 with paved runways under 914 m: 60 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 5 (1995 est.)
Heliports
[time series]
1 (1995 est.)
Roadways
(Highways)
[time series]
total: 88,922 km paved: 61,356 km (including 75 km of expressways) unpaved: 27,566 km (1990 est.)
Merchant marine
[time series]
total: 712 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 19,278,205 GRT/32,209,679 DWT ships by type: bulk 114, cargo 98, chemical tanker 83, combination bulk 10, combination ore/oil 31, container 15, liquefied gas tanker 87, oil tanker 148, passenger 10, passenger-cargo 2, railcar carrier 1, refrigerated cargo 13, roll-on/roll-off cargo 49, short-sea passenger 21, vehicle carrier 30 note: the government has created an internal register, the Norwegian International Ship Register (NIS), as a subset of the Norwegian register; ships on the NIS enjoy many benefits of flags of convenience and do not have to be crewed by Norwegians (1995 est.)
Pipelines
[time series]
refined products 53 km
Ports
[time series]
Bergen, Drammen, Flora, Hammerfest, Harstad, Haugesund, Kristiansand, Larvik, Narvik, Oslo, Porsgrunn, Stavanger, Tromso, Trondheim
Railways
[time series]
total: 4,027 km standard gauge: 4,027 km 1.435-m gauge (2422 km electrified; 96 km double track) (1995)
Waterways
[time series]
1,577 km along west coast; 2.4 m draft vessels maximum