Norway is a country located in Northern Europe. It has a population of approximately 5.4 million people and covers an area of 385,178 square kilometers. The official language is Norwegian and the currency is the Norwegian krone.

Norway is known for its stunning natural beauty, including fjords, mountains, glaciers, and forests. The country is also known for its social welfare system and high standard of living. Norway has a strong economy and is a major exporter of oil and gas.

The government of Norway is a constitutional monarchy, with King Harald V serving as the current monarch. The country is divided into 18 counties and 422 municipalities. The capital city is Oslo, which is also the largest city in Norway.

Norway is a member of the United Nations, NATO, and the Council of Europe. It is also a founding member of the Nordic Council and a member of the European Economic Area. The country has a strong commitment to human rights and is known for its progressive policies on issues such as gender equality, LGBT rights, and environmental protection.

Norway has a rich cultural heritage, including traditional music, literature, and art. The country is also known for its winter sports, such as skiing and ice hockey. Other popular activities in Norway include hiking, fishing, and cycling.

Norway has a strong education system, with free education for all at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. The country also has a strong healthcare system, with universal access to healthcare services.

Norway is ranked highly in various international indices, including the Human Development Index, the World Happiness Report, and the Environmental Performance Index.

Telephone Code
47

Local Emergency Phone
112, 110

Vaccinations
See WHO recommendations

Climate
Temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current; colder interior with increased precipitation and colder summers; rainy year-round on west coast

Currency (Code)
Norwegian kroner (NOK)

Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s)
230 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C, F

Major Languages
Bokmal Norwegian, Nynorsk Norwegian, small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities

Major Religions
Church of Norway (Evangelical Lutheran - official) 68.1%, Muslim 3.4%, Roman Catholic 3.1%, other Christian 3.8%

Potable Water
Yes

International Driving Permit
Suggested

Road Driving Side
Right

Tourist Destinations
Sognefjord; Pulpit Rock; Oslo (includes National Theater, Bygdoy, Viking Ships Museum, Akershus Fortress), Tromsø; Lofoten Islands; Bergen Hanseatic Warf

Major Sports
Soccer, winter sports (biatholon, cross-country skiing, ski jumping, speed skating), ice hockey, handball

Cultural Practices
Modesty is looked on favorably in Norway, while boastfulness is considered quite rude. This disposition stems from a cultural tradition known as Janet Law, which outlines a series of traditional Norwegian values.

Tipping Guidelines
Tipping is not required. It is, however, customary to leave a tip in restaurants and bars if you are happy with the service. A 10-20% tip is the norm. It is uncommon to tip taxi drivers or cleaning staff at hotels.

Souvenirs
Wool-knit sweaters and socks, jewelry and watches; wood-carved ornaments, toys, and decorative items; ceramics, moose- and troll-themed items

Traditional Cuisine
Farikal — mutton-pieces-with-bone, cabbage, salt, and whole black pepper cooked together for several hours in a big pot, until the mutton becomes very soft

Geography
Area
total: 323,802 sq km
land: 304,282 sq km
water: 19,520 sq km

Climate
temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current; colder interior with increased precipitation and colder summers; rainy year-round on west coast

Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, titanium, pyrites, nickel, fish, timber, hydropower

People and Society
Population
5,597,924 (2023 est.)

Ethnic groups
Norwegian 81.5% (includes about 60,000 Sami), other European 8.9%, other 9.6% (2021 est.)

Languages
Bokmal Norwegian (official), Nynorsk Norwegian (official), small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities; note - Sami has three dialects: Lule, North Sami, and South Sami; Sami is an official language in nine municipalities in Norway's three northernmost counties: Finnmark, Nordland, and Troms

Religions
Church of Norway (Evangelical Lutheran - official) 67.5%, Muslim 3.1%, Roman Catholic 3.1%, other Christian 3.8%, other 2.6%, unspecified 19.9% (2021 est.)

Population growth rate
0.79% (2023 est.)

Government
Government type
parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Capital
name: Oslo

Economy
Economic overview
high-income non-EU European economy; aging labor force; large state-owned energy company constrains budget and spending; largest oil sovereign wealth fund; major fishing, forestry, and extraction industries; large welfare system

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$355.122 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$65,700 (2021 est.)

Agricultural products
milk, barley, wheat, potatoes, oats, pork, poultry, beef, eggs, rye

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

Exports
$199.074 billion (2021 est.)

Exports - partners
United Kingdom 18%, Germany 14%, Netherlands 10%, Sweden 9%, France 6%, United States 5% (2019)

Exports - commodities
crude petroleum, natural gas, fish, refined petroleum, aluminum (2019)

Imports
$140.444 billion (2021 est.)

Imports - partners
Sweden 17%, Germany 12%, China 8%, Denmark 7%, United States 6%, United Kingdom 5%, Netherlands 5% (2019)

Imports - commodities
cars, refined petroleum, broadcasting equipment, natural gas, crude petroleum (2019)