Norway{{otheruses}} The '''Kingdom of Norway''' is a Nordic countries|Nordic country on the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, bordering Sweden, Finland and Russia, with territorial waters bordering Denmark|Danish and United Kingdom|British waters. It has a very elongated form and has an extensive coastline along the Atlantic Ocean|North Atlantic Ocean, where Norway's famous fjords are found. The nearby island territories of Svalbard and Jan Mayen are under Norwegian sovereignty and are considered as part of Norway as a kingdom, while Bouvet Island in the South Atlantic Ocean and Peter I Island in the South Pacific Ocean are Norwegian Dependent area|dependencies, which are not considered part of the kingdom. Additionally, Norway has a claim for Dronning Maud Land in Antarctica. {{Infobox_Country| native_name = <big>Kongeriket Norge Kongeriket Noreg</big> | common_name = Norway | image_flag = Norway_flag_large.png | image_coat = Norway_coa.png | image_map = LocationNorway.png | national_motto = Alt for Norge (All for Norway) (Harald V of Norway|King Harald's motto) 1814 Constitution of Norway|Eidsvoll oath: Enig og tro til Dovre faller (United and loyal till the Dovre mountains fall) | national_anthem = Ja, vi elsker dette landet | official_languages = Norwegian language|Norwegian (''Bokmål'' and ''Nynorsk''), plus Sami languages|Sami in six municipalities | capital = Oslo | latd=59|latm=56|latNS=N|longd=10|longm=41|longEW=E| largest_city = Oslo | government_type = Constitutional monarchy | leader_titles = List of Norwegian monarchs|King List of Norwegian Prime Ministers|Prime Minister | leader_names = Harald V of Norway|Harald V Kjell Magne Bondevik | area_rank = 61st | area_magnitude = 1 E11 | area = 385,1991 | percent_water = 6.0% | population_estimate_year = July 2005 | population_estimate = 4,593,041 | population_estimate_rank = 115th | population_census = 4,520,947 | population_census_year = 2001 | population_density = 14 | population_density_rank = 201st | GDP_PPP_year = 2003 | GDP_PPP = $169 billion | GDP_PPP_rank = 42nd | GDP_PPP_per_capita = $40,784 | GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 2nd | sovereignty_type = Constitution Independence | established_events =  - Declared  - Recognised | established_dates = 17 May 1814 From union with Sweden 7 June 1905 26 October 1905 | currency = Norwegian krone | currency_code = NOK | time_zone = Central European Time|CET | utc_offset = +1 | time_zone_DST = Central European Summer Time|CEST | utc_offset_DST = +2 | cctld= .no, .sj2, .bv2 | calling_code = 47 | footnotes = 1 Including Svalbard and Jan Mayen 2 Two more TLDs assigned, but not used: .sj for Svalbard and Jan Mayen; .bv for Bouvet Island }} == History == ''Main article: History of Norway'' In the 9th century Norway consisted of a number of petty kingdoms. Harald Fairhair gathered the small kingdoms into one and in 872 with the battle of Hafrsfjord, he had established the country as one unit. The Viking age (8th century|8th to 11th century|11th centuries) was one of national unification and expansion. The List of Norwegian monarchs|Norwegian royal line died out in 1387, and the country entered a long period as the weaker part of a union with Denmark. With the forced introduction of Protestantism in 1537, Norway lost the steady stream of pilgrims to the relics of Olav II of Norway|Saint Olav at the Nidaros shrine. With them, ironically, went much of the contact with the cultural and economical life of the rest of Europe. In light of national romanticism during the 19th century, this period was by some called the "400-year night". After Denmark-Norway sided with Napoleon in the Napoleonic Wars, Norway was ceded to the king of Sweden in 1814. However, Norway declared her independence, adopted her own constitution and elected the Danish prince Christian Fredrik as king on 17 May 1814. Norway was forced into a personal union with Sweden, but kept its liberal constitution and independent institutions, except for the foreign service. Growing Norwegian dissatisfaction with the union during the late 19th century spawned its dissolution 7 June 1905. The Norwegian government offered the throne of Norway to Danish Prince Carl. After a plebiscite confirming the monarchy, the Parliament unanimously elected him king. He took the name of Haakon VII, after the medieval kings of independent Norway. Norway was a neutral country during World War I. Norway also attempted to claim neutrality during World War II, but was invaded by German forces on the 9th of April 1940 (Operation Weserübung). The Allies also had plans to operate from Norway, in order to take advantage of her strategically important Atlantic coast. Armed resistance in Norway went on for two months, but the King and government continued the fight from exile in Britain. On the day of the invasion, the collaborative leader of the small National-Socialist party Nasjonal Samling – Vidkun Quisling – tried to seize power, but was forced by the German occupiers to step aside. Real power was wielded by the leader of the German occupation authority, ''Reichskommissar'' Josef Terboven. Quisling, as ''minister president'', later formed a government under German control. In 1944, the Germans evacuated the provinces of Finnmark and northern Troms, using a scorched earth tactic. The Red Army moved in shortly after, and peacefully returned the area to Norwegian control after the war, despite Franklin Delano Roosevelt|President Roosevelt having offered them parts of northern Norway. The Germans in Norway surrendered on 8 May 1945. The occupation during World War II made Norwegians generally more skeptical of the concept of neutrality. They turned instead to collective security. Norway was one of the signatories of the North Atlantic Treaty in 1949 and was a founding member of the United Nations, providing its first secretary general – Trygve Lie. Norway has twice voted against joining the European Union (in 1972 and 1994), but is associated with the EU via the European Economic Area. The EU-debate rages on to this day with a majority currently in favour of membership. == Politics == {{Politics of Norway}}''Main article: Politics of Norway'' Norway is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government. The Royal House is a branch of the princely family of Glücksburg, originally from Schleswig-Holstein in Germany. [http://www.kongehuset.no/dt_kongehuset_allAtOnce.asp?ogid=21&mgid=21&gid=54&aid=] The functions of the King, Harald V of Norway|Harald V, are mainly ceremonial, but he has influence as the symbol of national unity. Although the Constitution of Norway|constitution of 1814 grants important executive powers to the king, these are almost always exercised by the Council of State in the name of the King (King's Council). The Government of Norway|Council of State or cabinet consists of a Prime Minister of Norway|Prime Minister and his council, formally appointed by the King. Since 1884, parliamentarism has ensured that the cabinet must have the support of the parliament, so the appointment by the King is a formality. The 165 members of the unicameral Norwegian parliament, the Storting (Norwegian: ''Stortinget''), are elected from the 19 counties for 4-year terms according to a system of proportional representation. After Elections in Norway|elections, the Storting divides into two chambers, the ''Odelsting'' and the ''Lagting'', which meet separately or jointly depending on the legislative issue under consideration. The regular courts include the Supreme Court of Norway|Supreme Court or ''Høyesterett'' (17 permanent judges and a president), courts of appeal, district courts and conciliation councils. Judges attached to regular courts are appointed by the Privy Council of Norway|King in council after nomination by the Ministry of Justice. The special High Court of the Realm hears impeachment cases. == Counties == ''Main article: Counties of Norway'' Image:No-map.png|thumb|Map of Norway Norway is divided into 19 administrative regions, called ''fylker'' (singular ''fylke'') and 433 ''kommuner'' (singular ''kommune''). ''Fylke'' and ''kommune'' are officially translated to English language|English as ''county'' and ''municipality''. The ''fylke'' is the intermediate administration between state and municipality. *Akershus *Aust-Agder *Buskerud *Finnmark *Hedmark *Hordaland *Møre og Romsdal *Nordland *Nord-Trøndelag *Oppland *Oslo *Østfold *Rogaland *Sogn og Fjordane *Sør-Trøndelag *Telemark *Troms *Vest-Agder *Vestfold == Geography == ''Main article: Geography of Norway'' The landscape is generally rugged and mountainous, topped by glacier|glaciers, and its coastline of over 83,000 km [http://odin.dep.no/odin/engelsk/norway/environment/032091-991558/dok-bn.html] is punctuated by steep-sloped inlets known as fjords, as well as a multitude of islands and islets. The Northern part of the country is also known as the ''Land of the Midnight Sun'' because of its northern location, north of the Arctic Circle, where in summer the sun does not set, and in winter much of its land remains dark for long periods. Norway straddles the North Atlantic Ocean for its entire length, bound by three different seas: the North Sea to the southwest and its large inlet the Skagerrak to the south, the Norwegian Sea to the west and the Barents Sea to the northeast. Norway's highest point is the Galdhøpiggen at 2,469 m. The Norwegian climate is fairly temperate climate|temperate, especially along the coast under the influence of the Gulf Stream. The inland climate can be more severe and to the north more subarctic climate|subarctic conditions are found. == Economy == ''Main article: Economy of Norway'' The Norwegian economy is a prosperous bastion of social capitalism, featuring a combination of free market activity and government intervention. The government controls key areas, such as the vital petroleum sector (through large-scale state enterprises). The country is richly endowed with natural resources - petroleum, hydropower, fish, forestry|forests, and minerals - and is highly dependent on its oil production and international oil prices; in 1999, oil and gas accounted for 35% of exports. Only Saudi Arabia and Russia export more oil than Norway, which is outside OPEC. Norway opted to stay out of the European Union during a referendum in 1972, and again in November Norwegian EU referendum, 1994|1994. However, Norway, together with Iceland and Liechtenstein, participate in the EU's single market via the European Economic Area (EEA) agreement. Economic growth picked up in 2000 to 2.7%, compared with the meager 0.8% of 1999, but fell back to 1.3% in 2001. After meagre growth in 2002 and 2003, the economy expanded more rapidly in 2004. The government moved ahead with privatisation in 2000, selling one-third of the then 100% state-owned oil company Statoil. With arguably the highest quality of life worldwide, Norwegians still worry about that time in the next two decades when the oil and gas begin to run out. Accordingly, Norway has been saving its oil-boosted budget surpluses in a The Petroleum Fund of Norway | Government Petroleum Fund, which is invested abroad and at the end of the first quarter of 2005 was valued at 170 billion US dollars. == Demographics == ''Main article: Demographics of Norway'' The Norwegian population is 4.6 million and increases by 0.4% per year (estimate July 2004). Ethnicity|Ethnically most Norwegians are Nordic / North Germanic peoples|Germanic, while small minorities in the north are Finnish (see also Cwen). The Sami are instead considered an indigenous people, and live in the Northern parts of Norway, Sweden and Finland. In recent years immigration has accounted for more than half the population growth, and 7.3% of the population are immigrants as of 1 January 2003. But the country only takes in a very limited number of asylum seekers and is willing to repatriate these people to other countries as soon as possible. The largest immigrant groups are Swedes, Danes, Vietnamese and Pakistanis ([http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/00/minifakta_en/en/minifakta.pdf]). Approximately 86% of the inhabitants are members of the Church of Norway|Evangelic Lutheran Church of Norway (state church).  Other Christianity|Christian societies total about 4.5% (The Evangelical Lutheran Free Church of Norway |Evangelical Lutheran Free Church, The Catholic Church, Pentecostalism|Pentecostal congregations, The Methodism|Methodist Church etc.) Among the non-Christian religions Islam is the largest in Norway with only about 1.5%, and other religions less than 1%. About 1.5% belong to the secular Humanism|Human Ethical Union. As of 1 January 2003 approximately 5% of the population are unaffiliated ([http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/07/02/10/trosamf_en/]). The Norwegian language has two ''official'' written forms, called ''Bokmål'' and ''Nynorsk'', which do not differ greatly, as well as the unofficial ''Riksmål'', which is an intermediate form between Bokmål and Danish language|Danish. Bokmål and Riksmål are ''written'' by almost 90 % of the population, although many speak dialects that differ significantly from the written language. Nevertheless, most or all of the Norwegian dialects are interintelligible. Several Sami languages are spoken and written in the northern regions by the Sami people|Sami people. The Germanic languages|Germanic Norwegian language and the Finno-Ugric Sami languages are entirely unrelated. == Culture == ''Main article: Culture of Norway'' Famous Norwegians include playwright Henrik Ibsen, explorers Roald Amundsen, Fridtjof Nansen, and Thor Heyerdahl, Expressionism|expressionist painter Edvard Munch, romanticism|romanticist composer Edvard Grieg and playwright/novelists Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, Knut Hamsun and Sigrid Undset, winners of the 1903, 1920 and 1928 Nobel Prize in Literature. Norwegians celebrate their national day on May 17, Constitution Day. Many people wear bunad (traditional costumes) and most participate in or watch the 17 May Parade through the towns. Henrik Wergeland was the founder of the 17 May parade. *Music of Norway *Norse mythology *[http://www.nfi.no/english/norwegianfilms/ Norwegian films] *Norwegian Theatres ==Miscellaneous topics== *Infrastructure in Norway :*Communications in Norway|Communications :*Transportation in Norway|Transportation :*Power supply in Norway|Power supply *Regions of Norway *Military of Norway *Foreign relations of Norway *Norwegian literature *Tourism in Norway *List of cities in Norway *List of Norwegians *List of Norwegian companies *Norwegian national football team *Norwegian Premier League *List of Norwegian newspapers *Holidays in Norway *Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund *List of Norwegian television channels *List of Norwegian language radio stations == International rankings == * Human Development Index - 1st of 177 countries 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001 *[http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/rankorder/2004rank.html GDP per capita] - 2nd of 231 countries *[http://www.weforum.org/site/homepublic.nsf/Content/Global+Competitiveness+Programme%5CGlobal+Competitiveness+Report World Economic Forum: Global Competitiveness Report 2004-2005] - 6th of 104 countries * Reporters Without Borders Worldwide press freedom index - 1st of 166 countries 2003, 2002 * [http://www.transparency.org/pressreleases_archive/2004/2004.10.20.cpi.en.html Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index 2004] - 8th of 145 countries *[http://www.savethechildren.org/mothers/report_2004/images/pdf/SOWM_2004_final.pdf Save the Children: State of the World's Mothers 2004] Children's Index: Rank 1, Women's Index: Rank 6, Mother's Index: Rank 6 (119 countries) *Index of Economic Freedom - 29th of 155 countries == External links == *[http://www.norway.info Norway.info] - Official site *[http://www.norway.no Norway.no] - Official portal *[http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/00/minifakta_en/en/index.html Minifacts about Norway from Statistics Norway] *[http://ngis2.statkart.no/norgesglasset/default.html Searchable map of Norway] *[http://www.stortinget.no/english Official site of the Parliament (Stortinget)] *[http://www.kongehuset.no/default.asp?lang=eng Official site of the Royal House] *[http://www.norges-bank.no/english/notes_and_coins/ Norwegian notes and coins] *[http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp237_e.htm WTO: Trade Policy Review: Norway] *[http://www.norges-bank.no/english/ The Central Bank of Norway] *[http://www.ub.uio.no/ujur/publikasjoner/skriftserie/18/ Sources to Legal Information in Norway] *[http://www.domstol.no/Domstolene/index.asp The court system of Norway] *[http://www.odin.dep.no/odin/engelsk/norway/system/032005-990424/ The Norwegian Constitution in English] *[http://www.lovdata.no/info/lawdata.html Norwegian law in English] *[http://www.world-newspapers.com/norway.html Norwegian news in English] *[http://odin.dep.no/ud/html/2000/minifakta/e/eng-02.html Public holidays in Norway] *[http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/00/minifakta_en/en/07.html Norwegian climate] *[http://www.norway.org Official website for the Norwegian Embassy in Washington, DC] {{NATO}} {{Europe}} {{EFTA}} {{Nordic_Council}} Category:Monarchies Category:Norway|  ang:Norþweg zh-min-nan:Norge bs:Norve?ka bg:Норвегия ca:Noruega cs:Norsko cy:Norwy da:Norge de:Norwegen et:Norra el:Νορβηγία es:Noruega eo:Norvegio fo:Noreg fr:Norvège fy:Noarwegen ga:An Iorua gl:Noruega - Noreg got:𐌽𐌰𐌿𐍂𐍅𐌹𐌲𐍃 ko:노르웨이 hr:Norveška io:Norvegia id:Norwegia ia:Norvegia is:Noregur it:Norvegia he:נורווגיה ks:नार्वे la:Norvegia lv:Norvēģija lt:Norvegija li:Noorwege hu:Norvégia ms:Norway nah:Norwegatlan na:Norway nl:Noorwegen ja:ノルウェー no:Norge nn:Noreg nds:Norwegen pl:Norwegia pt:Noruega ro:Norvegia rm:Norvegia ru:Норвегия se:Norga sa:नार्वे sq:Norvegjia scn:Norvegia simple:Norway sk:Nórsko sl:Norveška sr:Норвешка fi:Norja sv:Norge tl:Norway uk:Норвегія yi:%D7%A0%D7%90%D6%B8%D7%A8%D7%B0%D7%A2%D7%92%D7%99%D7%A2 zh:挪威 First page | Prev | Next | Last page |

This article on Norway is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Norway".

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