Details Official Name: Kingdom of Norway Capital: Oslo Total area: 385 186 km2 GDP per capita: $53,470 Native Language: Norwegian Government: Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy Population: 5,063,709 Major Religion: Lutheranism Monetary Unit: Norwegian krone (NOK)
Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Scandinavian unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and the subantarctic Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of 385,252 square kilometres (148,747 sq mi) and a population of about 5 million. It is the second least densely populated country in Europe. The country shares a long border with Sweden (1,619 km, or 1,006 mi, long), which is the longest uninterrupted border within both Europe and the Schengen Area. Norway is also bordered by Finland and Russia to the north-east, and the Skagerrak Strait across from Denmark to the south. It shares maritime borders with Russia by the Barents Sea; Greenland, the Faroe Islands and Iceland by the Norwegian Sea; and Sweden, Denmark and the United Kingdom by the North Sea. Norway's extensive coastline, facing the North Atlantic Ocean and the Barents Sea, is home to its famous fjords. The capital city and the largest with the highest population at almost 1 million is Oslo.
Health & Welfare Norway has one the worlds most advanced health care systems including old-age, disability, rehabilitation, widow, widower, one-year paid maternity leave, and universal child support. Health insurance is mandatory for all Norwegian citizens. The average pension equals approximately 66% of the citizens earnings during his or her highest paying years and begins at age 67. All employees are given 4 weeks paid vacation per annum. Education is free. Norway is ranked as the #1 country to live in on UN's Human Development Index, 2005. This is the fifth year in row Norway achieves this ranking as #1 by the UN.
Economy & Jobs Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, service sector, manufacturing, tourism, and foreign trade.
Main Attractions Oslo, Northern light, Vigelandsparken, Hardanger Fjord, Munch Museum, Akershus Castle and Fortress, Jotunheimen National Park, Norwegian Folk Museum, Urnes Stave Church.
Economy Norwegians enjoy the second highest GDP per-capita (after Luxembourg) and fourth highest GDP (PPP) per-capita in the world. Today, Norway ranks as the second wealthiest country in the world in monetary value, with the largest capital reserve per capita of any nation. According to the CIA World Factbook, Norway is a net external creditor of debt. Norway maintained first place in the world in the UNDP Human Development Index (HDI) for six consecutive years (2001–2006), and then reclaimed this position in 2009 and 2010. The standard of living in Norway is among the highest in the world. Foreign Policy Magazine ranks Norway last in its Failed States Index for 2009, judging Norway to be the world's most well-functioning and stable country. Continued oil and gas exports coupled with a healthy economy and substantial accumulated wealth lead to a conclusion that Norway will remain among the richest countries in the world in the foreseeable future.
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Sun Jul 07, 2024 12:05 am (Last edited: Sun Jul 07, 2024 12:05 am)
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