Background:
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| 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, neutrality was abandoned and Norway became a member of NATO. Discovery of oil and gas in adjacent waters in the late 1960s boosted Norway's economic fortunes. The current focus is on containing spending on the extensive welfare system and planning for the time when petroleum reserves are depleted. In referenda held in 1972 and 1994, Norway rejected joining the EU. |
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Location:
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| Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden
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Geographic coordinates:
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62 00 N, 10 00 E
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Map references:
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Area:
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total: 323,802 sq km
country comparison to the world: 74
land:
304,282 sq km
water:
19,520 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly larger than New Mexico
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Land boundaries:
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total: 2,542 km
border countries:
Finland 727 km, Sweden 1,619 km, Russia 196 km
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Coastline:
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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)
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone:
10 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
continental shelf:
200 nm
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Climate:
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temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current; colder interior with increased precipitation and colder summers; rainy year-round on west coast
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Terrain:
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glaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains broken by fertile valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeply indented by fjords; arctic tundra in north
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m
highest point:
Galdhopiggen 2,469 m
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Natural resources:
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petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, titanium, pyrites, nickel, fish, timber, hydropower
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Land use:
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arable land: 2.7%
permanent crops:
0%
other:
97.3% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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1,270 sq km (2003)
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Total renewable water resources:
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381.4 cu km (2005)
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Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
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total: 2.4 cu km/yr (23%/67%/10%)
per capita:
519 cu m/yr (1996)
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Natural hazards:
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rockslides, avalanches
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Environment - current issues:
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water pollution; acid rain damaging forests and adversely affecting lakes, threatening fish stocks; air pollution from vehicle emissions
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Environment - international agreements:
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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
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Geography - note:
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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 |
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Population:
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| 4,660,539 (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 18.5% (male 441,508/female 422,050)
15-64 years:
66.2% (male 1,564,482/female 1,522,519)
65 years and over:
15.2% (male 305,120/female 404,860) (2009 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 39.4 years
male:
38.5 years
female:
40.2 years (2009 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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0.341% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
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Birth rate:
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10.99 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
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Death rate:
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9.29 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
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Net migration rate:
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1.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
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Urbanization:
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urban population: 77% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization:
0.7% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.75 male(s)/female
total population:
0.98 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 3.58 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 214
male:
3.92 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
3.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 79.95 years
country comparison to the world: 24
male:
77.29 years
female:
82.74 years (2009 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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1.78 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.1% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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3,000 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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fewer than 100 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
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Nationality:
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noun: Norwegian(s)
adjective:
Norwegian
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Ethnic groups:
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Norwegian 94.4% (includes Sami, about 60,000), other European 3.6%, other 2% (2007 estimate)
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Religions:
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Church of Norway 85.7%, Pentecostal 1%, Roman Catholic 1%, other Christian 2.4%, Muslim 1.8%, other 8.1% (2004)
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Languages:
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Bokmal Norwegian (official), Nynorsk Norwegian (official), small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities; note - Sami is official in six municipalities
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
100%
male:
100%
female:
100%
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School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
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total: 17 years
male:
17 years
female:
18 years (2006)
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Education expenditures:
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7.2% of GDP (2005)
country comparison to the world: 20
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