Norway : Country overview

Geography

• Full country name: Kingdom of Norway
• Population: 4.8 million
• Border countries: Sweden to the east, and Finland and Russia to the north east. To the west, Norway has an extensive coastline on the North Atlantic Ocean.
• Climate: the climate varies according to location and season, ranging from -20°C in winter to 25°C in summer. Coastal areas enjoy a more moderate climate, whereas the lowlands experience colder winters but warmer summers.
• Terrain: Norway is a mountainous country featuring inland mountains, rolling hills, forests, fjords, and arctic tundra in the north.

Living in Norway

• Cost of living: Norway is among the most expensive countries in the world but salaries are also typically higher. The Student Life - University of Oslo  website gives a guide to living expenses.
• Utilities: all mains services readily available.
• Internet domain: .no
• Health: the standard of health and healthcare is extremely high. The health service is mainly public with some private hospitals and practitioners.
• Laws and customs: individual lifestyle choices are respected. For example, no stigma is attached to unmarried couples having children, or to homosexuality. There is a policy of zero tolerance with regard to drug possession and penalties are high.

Economy and finance

• Currency: Norwegian Kroner (NOK)
• Type of economy: Norway has a mixed economy with extensive private enterprise combined with a substantial public sector. It features a combination of free market activity and government intervention.
• Health of economy: Norway has the third highest GDP per capital in Europe and its oil and gas resources should ensure prosperity for the foreseeable future.
• Unemployment rate: 3.2%
• Main exports: oil and gas, fish, machinery and equipment, ships.

Culture

• People: 94% of the population are Norwegian (figures include Sami). Other Europeans make up almost 4% of the population.
• Major religion: Christianity. The state church is the Church of Norway, which follows the Lutheran tradition. About 4.5% of the population belong to other Christian denominations and there are very small Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and Buddhist communities.
• History: for an overview of Norwegian history, see BBC Timeline: Norway.

Politics

• Type of government: Norway is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system based on democratic governance and proportional representation. It is a member of the European Economic Area (EEA), and power is also distributed geographically at state, county and municipal levels.
• Main political parties: Labour Party, Socialist Left Party, Centre Party, Conservative Party, Liberal Party, Christian People’s Party.

Travel advice

Find the latest travel advice and a traveller’s checklist on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website.