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Last update: January, 22 2021

Norway

flag of Norway
Government
NameKingdom of Norway
BokmalKongeriket Norge
NynorskKongeriket Noreg
Northern SamiNorgga gonagasriika
Lule SamiVuona gånågisrijkka
Southern SamiNöörjen gånkarijhke
Government typeparliamentary constitutional monarchy
CapitalOslo (1,000,467)
CurrencyNorwegian krone (NOK)
People
Population (2020)5,421,242 (120th)
Density of population13.9 P/km2 (213th)
NationalityNorwegian
Official languages
Bokmal Norwegian
Nynorsk Norwegian
Sami (dialects: Lule, North Sami, and South Sami) – official language in 9 municipalities in Norway’s three northernmost counties: Finnmark, Nordland, and Troms
Ethnic groups (2017)
Norwegian (includes about 60,000 Sami)83.2%
other European8.3%
other8.5%
Religions (2016)
Church of Norway (Evangelical Lutheran – official) 70.6%
Muslim3.2%
Roman Catholic3%
other Christian3.7%
other2.5%
unspecified17%
Life expectancy (2020)
Male80 years
Female84.4 years
Total population82.1 years (23rd)
Homicides
Total (2018)0.5 per 100,000 people (165th)
Geography
Land area304,282 km2
water area19,520 km2
total area323,802 km2 (69th)
Mean elevation460 m
Lowest point
Norwegian Sea0 m
Highest point
Galdhopiggen2,469 m
Land use (2011)
Agricultural land2.7%
Arable land2.2%
Permanent crops0%
Permanent pasture0.5%
Forest27.8%
Other69.5%
Urbanization
Urban population (2020)83%
Rate of urbanization1.4% annual rate of change (2015 – 2020)
Economy
Labor force (2017)2.797 million  (108th)
Labor force by occupation (2016)
Agriculture2.1%
Industry19.3%
Services 78.6%
Unemployment rate (2017)4.2% (56th)
GDP (PPP) (estimate 2020)
Total$397 billion (46th)
Per capita$79,638 (6th)
GDP (nominal) (estimate 2018)
Total$443 billion (22nd)
Per capita$82,711 (3rd)
GDP by sector (estimate 2017)
Agriculture2.3%
Industry33.7%
Services64%
Exports (2017)$102.8 billion (36th)
Exports partners (2017)
UK21.1%
Germany15.5%
Netherlands9.9%
Sweden6.6%
France6.4%
Belgium4.8%
Denmark4.7%
US4.6%
Imports (2017)$95.06 billion (36th)
Imports partners (2017)
Sweden11.4%
Germany11%
China9.8%
US6.8%
South Korea6.7%
Denmark5.4%
UK4.7%

Norway on the world map

Norway on the world map

Norway is located in the north of Europe and the mainland is part of the region of Scandinavia.

Norway top 10 largest cities

  1. Oslo (1,000,467)
  2. Bergen (255,464)
  3. Stavanger / Sandnes (222,697)
  4. Trondheim (183,378)
  5. Drammen (117,510)
  6. Fredrikstad / Sarpsborg (112,464)
  7. Skien / Porsgrunn (93,065)
  8. Kristiansand (63,441)
  9. Ålesund (52,625)
  10. Tønsberg (51,887)

Demography

Population pyramid

population pyramid of Norway (2020)

Age structure data

Estimate for 2020:

  • 0-14 years: 17.96% (male 503,013/female 478,901)
  • 15-24 years: 12.02% (male 336,597/female 320,720)
  • 25-54 years: 40.75% (male 1,150,762/female 1,077,357)
  • 55-64 years: 11.84% (male 328,865/female 318,398)
  • 65 years and over: 17.43% (male 442,232/female 510,594)

Remark: the age structure of a population affects a nation’s key socioeconomic issues. Countries with young populations (high percentage under age 15) need to invest more in schools, while countries with older populations (high percentage ages 65 and over) need to invest more in the health sector. The age structure can also be used to help predict potential political issues. For example, the rapid growth of a young adult population unable to find employment can lead to unrest.

Population from 1950 to 2020

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Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2019). World Population Prospects 2019, Online Edition. Rev. 1.


Evolution of the life expectancy from 1960 to 2018

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Source: World Development Indicators, The World Bank

Economy

Agriculture:

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

Industries:

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

Exports – commodities:

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

Imports – commodities:

machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, foodstuffs

Time zone and current time in Norway

Go to our interactive map to get the current time in Norway

History

Sources: