Norway summary

Norway, officially Kingdom of Norway, Country, western Scandinavian Peninsula, northern Europe. Area (including Svalbard and Jan Mayen): 148,449 sq mi (384,483 sq km). Population: (2024 est.) 5,578,000. Capital: Oslo. Most of the people are Norwegian, though there are several ethnic minorities, including some 30,000 to 40,000 Sami (Lapps). Languages: Norwegian, Sami (official). Religion: Christianity (predominantly Evangelical Lutheran [official]). Currency: Norwegian krone. Norway is among Europe’s largest countries. It is a mountainous land with extensive plateau regions in its southwestern and central parts. Traditionally a fishing and lumbering country, it greatly increased its mining and manufacturing activities since World War II. It has a developed economy largely based on services, petroleum and natural gas production, and light and heavy industries. Literacy is virtually 100%. Norway is a constitutional monarchy with one legislative house; its head of state is the king, and the head of government is the prime minister. Several principalities were united into the kingdom of Norway in the 11th century. It had the same king as Denmark from 1380 to 1814, when it was ceded to Sweden. The union with Sweden was dissolved in 1905, and Norway’s economy grew rapidly. It remained neutral during World War I, although its shipping industry played a vital role in the conflict. It declared its neutrality in World War II but was invaded and occupied by German troops. Norway maintains a comprehensive welfare system and is a member of NATO. Its citizens rejected membership in the European Union in 1994.