Norway

Norway has been repeatedly ranked the best country in the world to live in by the United Nations Development Programme.

The lighthouse at the southern tip of Norway, Lindesnes. Photo: Olav Breen

With an area of 385,155 km2 and a population of just 4,660,000, Norway is Europe's sixth largest country in terms of land mass but only 28th in terms of population. Despite its northern location, Norway enjoys a relatively mild climate.

Although only 3% of the land is arable, Norway is rich in natural resources such as petroleum, natural gas, various ores, fish, timber and hydropower. Norway is the fourth largest shipping nation in the world.

Norway has a well-developed welfare system, and wealth is relatively equally distributed among the population. A universal public health service and national insurance scheme cover all citizens and residents.

Literacy is virtually 100% and nearly all members of the population have completed upper secondary schooling. Norwegian educational policy is rooted in the principle of equal rights to education for all members of society.

Norway is a constitutional monarchy with both a king and a prime minister, and has a state church (the Church of Norway, which is evangelical Lutheran).

Edited from Aschehoug and Gyldendal's Norwegian Encyclopedia

More about Norway, from the Norwegian government's official website

Tourism in Norway

Minifacts about Norway

Published by Clare Patricia Jortveit <clare.jortveitSPAMFILTER@hia.no> 04/08/2010