For many, Norway is synonymous with oil and mountains. Its dramatic, beautiful scenery stretches from the beaches and cliffs in the south through the mountainous areas in the middle to the midnight sun at the North Cape.
Norway’s abundance of mountains, forests and plains mean that only about 3% of the land is arable. The country has approximately 4.7 million inhabitants, of which about a million live in and around the capital city, Oslo.
Norway is a constitutional monarchy. King Harald V has no real political power, and the parliament, Stortinget, is the country’s highest authority. Norway is not a member of the EU, but takes part in European economic co-operation through the EEA Agreement. Norway is a member of NATO.
The largest revenue sources for Norway are the extraction and export of oil and natural gas from the ocean floor. However, the metal industry, shipping and tourism are also important for the country’s economy.
Per capita GDP is € 43,900 (2006).
Total area | 323,787 km2 |
Lakes and streams | 18,312 km2 |
Land area | 305,470 km2 |
Arable land and gardens | 8,155 km2 |
Forests | 123,840 km2 |
Largest lake | Mjøsa 365 km2 |
Highest point | Galdhøpiggen 2,469 m |
Coast line, mainland | 28,953 km |
National borders | 2,562 km (border to Sweden): 1,630 km, Finland: 736 km, Russia: 196) |
Icecap and glaciers | 3,133 km2 |
Population 1 January 2013 | 5,051,275 inh. |
Population density1 01.01.13 | 16.5 pop./km2 |
Population, capital city 1 January 2013 | 1,190,365 inh. (Oslo municipality) |
National day | 17. May (Constitution Day 17 May 1814) |
Form of government | Constitutional monarchy |
Parliament | Stortinget (169 seats) |
Membership of the EU | No |
Membership of EEA | From 1. January 1994 |
Head of State (as at September 2013) | King Harald V |
Head of government (as at September 2013) | Prime Minister Erna Solberg (Høyre) |
Currency: | Norwegian crown (NOK) |
Official website | www.norge.no |
Official language | Norwegian |
Source : norden
Photo Credit : Johannes Jansson
Afroscandic – Celebrating and Connecting Africa and Scandinavia.
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