Norway

Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It includes the western and northern parts of the Scandinavian Peninsula, the remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen, and the archipelago of Svalbard. Bouvet Island in the Subantarctic is a dependency, and Norway also claims territories in Antarctica. With a population of about 5.6 million and an area of 385,207 square kilometers, Norway's capital and largest city is Oslo. The country shares borders with Sweden, Finland, and Russia.

The unified kingdom of Norway was established in 872 and has existed continuously for over 1,153 years. From 1537 to 1814, Norway was part of Denmark–Norway, and from 1814 to 1905, it was in a personal union with Sweden. Norway was neutral during the First World War and was invaded and occupied by Nazi Germany from April 1940 until the end of the Second World War.

Today, Norway is a unitary state with a constitutional monarchy. Harald V is the current King of Norway, and Jonas Gahr Støre has been the Prime Minister since 2021. The country is divided into counties and municipalities, and the Sámi people have self-determination through their own parliament and the Finnmark Act. Norway maintains close ties with the European Union and the United States and is a member of many international organizations, including the United Nations, NATO, and the European Economic Area.

Norway follows the Nordic model, offering universal health care and a strong social security system. The country has large reserves of petroleum, natural gas, minerals, lumber, seafood, and fresh water. The petroleum industry plays a major role in the economy, contributing around a quarter of the country's gross domestic product. Norway has the world's largest sovereign wealth fund, valued at US$2.1 trillion, and ranks very highly in terms of per-capita income and quality of life.

Etymology

Main article: Etymology of Norway

Opening of Ohthere's Old English account, translated: "Ohthere told his lord Ælfrede king that he lived northmost of all Norwegians…"

Norway has two official names: Norge in Bokmål and Noreg in Nynorsk. The name "Norway" comes from an old word meaning "northern way," describing the coastline of the country. Long ago, people from Britain used this name when talking about Norway.

There is some debate about where the native name of Norway comes from. One common idea is that it meant "the way northwards," referring to the path along Norway's coast. This idea connects to older words for directions in other languages.

History

Main articles: History of Norway and History of Scandinavia

Prehistory

Main article: Scandinavian prehistory

The earliest signs of people living in Norway are found along the coast, where a large ice sheet melted between 11,000 and 8000 BC during the last ice age. The oldest tools, made of stone and dating from 9500 to 6000 BC, were discovered in Finnmark in the north and Rogaland in the southwest. Theories about these two groups being separate are no longer supported.

Between 3000 and 2500 BC, new people arrived in eastern Norway. These were farmers who grew crops and raised animals, gradually replacing the hunter-fisher populations on the west coast.

Metal Ages

Main articles: Nordic Bronze Age and Iron Age Scandinavia

From about 1500 BC, bronze was introduced. Burial mounds near the sea and inland, with carvings of ships and large stone ships, are typical of this time. There is little evidence from the early Iron Age, lasting the last 500 years BC. People were cremated, and graves held few items. During the first four centuries AD, Norway had contact with Roman Gaul; many Roman bronze bowls, used as burial containers, have been found. This contact brought knowledge of runes, with the oldest Norwegian rune inscription dating from the third century.

Viking Age

Main articles: Petty kingdoms of Norway and Viking Age

The Oseberg ship at the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo

Viking swords found in Norway, preserved at the Bergen Museum

The dragon head of the Myklebust Ship on display at Sagastad in Nordfjordeid

By the 8th century, several small kingdoms existed in Norway. It is estimated there were nine in Western Norway alone during the early Viking Age, with at least 20 in the whole country.

Nordic Bronze Age rock carvings at Steinkjer, Central Norway

During the Viking period, Norwegian explorers accidentally discovered Iceland while heading for the Faroe Islands and later reached Vinland, today known as Newfoundland in Canada. Norwegian Vikings were active in the northern and western British Isles and eastern North America.

Tradition holds that Harald Fairhair unified Norway in 872 after the Battle of Hafrsfjord in Stavanger, becoming the first king of a united Norway. Harald's rule was strong, and many Norwegians left to live in Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, Britain, and Ireland.

Haakon I the Good was Norway's first Christian king in the mid-10th century, but his efforts to introduce Christianity were rejected. Norse traditions slowly gave way to Christian practices in the late 10th and early 11th centuries, largely due to missionary kings Olaf I Tryggvasson and Olaf II Haraldsson (St. Olaf). Olaf Tryggvasson built the first Christian church in Norway at Moster and later became king in Trondheim.

Feudalism never fully developed in Norway or Sweden as it did in the rest of Europe. However, government administration took on a feudal character. The Hanseatic League gained increasing control over Norway's trade and economy through loans and debt, impacting all classes, especially peasants.

High Middle Ages

Main article: Kingdom of Norway (872–1397)

From the 1040s to 1130, Norway was peaceful. In 1130, a civil war began due to unclear succession laws allowing the king's sons to rule together. The Archdiocese of Nidaros was created in 1152 and tried to influence the appointment of kings. The wars ended in 1217 with the appointment of Håkon IV Håkonsson, who established clear succession laws.

From 1000 to 1300, Norway's population grew from 150,000 to 400,000, leading to more land being cleared and farms divided. By 1300, seventy percent of land was owned by the king, church, or aristocracy, with twenty percent of yields going to these landowners.

The 13th century was Norway's golden age, with peace, increased trade with the British Islands, and growing German influence. The king established Norway as a sovereign state with central administration and local representatives.

In 1349, the Black Death reached Norway and killed a third of the population. Later plagues reduced the population to half by 1400. Many communities disappeared, leaving more land for farmers to shift to animal husbandry. Reduced taxes weakened the king's position, and many aristocrats lost their wealth. High payments to the church increased its power, and the archbishop became a member of the Council of State.

The Hanseatic League controlled Norwegian trade in the 14th century and set up a trading center in Bergen. In 1380, Olaf Haakonsson inherited both the Norwegian and Danish thrones, creating a union. In 1397, under Margaret I, the Kalmar Union united the three Scandinavian countries. Margaret faced a trade blockade and higher taxes, leading to rebellion. However, the Norwegian Council of State was too weak to leave the union.

Margaret favored Denmark due to its larger population and granted trade privileges to Hanseatic merchants in Bergen, harming the Norwegian economy. The Hanseatic merchants effectively controlled parts of Bergen for generations. The Victual Brothers raided the port three times, with the last attack in 1427.

Norway became less important under the Oldenburg dynasty starting in 1448. There was one revolt in 1502 under Knut Alvsson. Norway did not participate in Sweden's separation from the Kalmar Union in the 1520s.

The Gjermundbu helmet found in Buskerud is the only known reconstructable Viking Age helmet.

Kalmar Union

Main articles: Kalmar Union and First Swedish–Norwegian union

Upon the death of King Haakon V in 1319, Magnus Eriksson, just three years old, became king of Norway. He was also elected king of Sweden, uniting the two countries under him.

In 1349, the Black Death killed between 50% and 60% of Norway's population, causing social and economic decline. Recovery was slow due to the small, scattered population. Even before the plague, the population was about 500,000. After the plague, many farms were empty while the remaining tenants gained more power in dealings with landlords.

King Magnus VII ruled until 1350, when his son Haakon became king. In 1363, Haakon married Margaret, daughter of King Valdemar IV of Denmark. Upon Haakon's death in 1379, his 10-year-old son Olaf became king. Olaf had already been elected king of Denmark, creating a personal union. Olaf's mother, Queen Margaret, managed foreign affairs during his minority.

Margaret nearly united Sweden with Denmark and Norway when Olaf died. Denmark temporarily made her ruler after Olaf's death. In 1388, Norway also crowned her. Margaret sought a king to rule for her and chose Eric of Pomerania, her sister's grandson. At a meeting of all Scandinavians in Kalmar, Eric was crowned king of all three countries, placing them under Margaret's control as part of the Kalmar Union.

Early modern period

Main article: Denmark–Norway

After Sweden left the Kalmar Union in 1521, Norway tried to follow but failed, remaining in union with Denmark until 1814. This period was called the "400-Year Night" because all intellectual and administrative power was centered in Copenhagen.

With the introduction of Protestantism in 1536, the archbishopric in Trondheim was dissolved, and Norway effectively became a colony of Denmark. Church income and property were redirected to the court in Copenhagen. Norway lost pilgrims to St. Olav's relics at the Nidaros shrine and much cultural and economic contact with the rest of Europe.

Norway's land area decreased in the 17th century with the loss of Båhuslen, Jemtland, and Herjedalen to Sweden after several wars. However, it gained Troms and Finnmark from Sweden and Russia in the north.

The famine of 1695–1696 killed roughly 10% of Norway's population. Crop failures occurred at least nine times between 1740 and 1800, causing many deaths.

Later modern period

Main article: United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway

The Norwegian Kingdom at its greatest extent during the 13th century, including the Open Border with the Novgorod Republic

After Denmark–Norway was attacked by the United Kingdom at the 1807 Battle of Copenhagen, it allied with Napoleon, leading to hardship and starvation in 1812. In 1814, Denmark was forced to give Norway to Sweden under the Treaty of Kiel. Norway declared independence, adopted a constitution influenced by American and French models, and elected Crown Prince Christian Frederick as king on 17 May 1814, now celebrated as the Syttende mai holiday.

Norwegian resistance to joining Sweden led to the Norwegian–Swedish War as Sweden tried to conquer Norway by force. Since Sweden was not strong enough to defeat Norway and Norway's treasury was too small to support a long war, and with British and Russian navies blockading the coast, the sides negotiated the Convention of Moss. Christian Frederik stepped down and allowed the Norwegian Parliament to amend the constitution for a personal union with Sweden. On 4 November 1814, the Parliament elected Charles XIII of Sweden as king of Norway, creating the union with Sweden. Under this union, Norway kept its constitution and independent institutions but shared a monarch and foreign policy with Sweden. Following the Napoleonic Wars, economic development in Norway remained slow until 1830.

This period also saw the rise of Norwegian romantic nationalism, as Norwegians expressed a distinct national identity through literature, painting, music, and language policy, leading to today's two official written forms of Norwegian: Bokmål and Nynorsk.

King Charles III John ruled Norway and Sweden from 1818 to 1844. He protected their constitutions and liberties but used informers, secret police, and press restrictions to suppress reform movements, especially Norway's independence efforts.

The Romantic Era brought social and political reforms. In 1854, women gained the right to inherit property. In 1863, unmarried women were no longer treated as minors. Women could also enter certain professions, such as teaching. By mid-century, Norway's democracy was limited, with voting restricted to officials, property owners, leaseholders, and town burghers.

Norway remained conservative. Economic life was controlled by professional men in government. There was no strong middle class to challenge this control. Thus, Norway was largely unaffected when revolutions swept through Europe in 1848.

Marcus Thrane, a utopian socialist, organized a labor society in Drammen in 1848. Within months, it had 500 members and its own newspaper. Within two years, 300 societies formed across Norway with 20,000 members from lower classes in cities and rural areas. Eventually, the movement was crushed, and Thrane was jailed.

In 1898, all men gained universal suffrage, followed by all women in 1913.

Dissolution of the union and the First World War

Main articles: Union dissolution referendum and Dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden

Christian Michelsen, Norway's Prime Minister from 1905 to 1907, led the peaceful separation from Sweden on 7 June 1905. A national referendum supported a monarchy over a republic. Since no Norwegian could claim the throne, the government offered it to Prince Carl of Denmark, a distant relative of Norway's medieval kings. After the plebiscite, he was elected king by the Norwegian Parliament and took the name Haakon VII.

Norway stayed neutral during the First World War but leaned toward the Allies due to British pressure. Norway exported fish to both Germany and Britain until British demands and anti-German feelings after German submarines attacked Norwegian ships ended trade with Germany. 436 Norwegian merchant ships were sunk by German forces, and 1,150 sailors died.

Second World War

Bryggen in Bergen, once the centre of trade in Norway under the Hanseatic League trade network, now preserved as a World Heritage Site

Norway declared neutrality during the Second World War but was invaded by German forces on 9 April 1940. Despite being unprepared, Norwegian forces resisted for two months. Norwegian troops in the north fought German forces at Narvik but surrendered on 10 June after British support shifted to France.

King Haakon and the government fled to London. They sent messages and supported resistance actions against Germany. On the invasion day, the leader of a small nationalist party tried to take power but was overruled by German occupiers. Real power was held by the German occupation leader. A collaborationist government later formed under German control. Some Norwegians joined German military units.

Many Norwegians and people of Norwegian descent served in the Allied forces and Free Norwegian Forces. A small group left Norway for Britain in 1940, including 13 ships, five aircraft, and 500 navy men. By the war's end, this grew to 58 ships and 7,500 navy men, five aircraft squadrons, and land forces including Norwegian Independent Company 1 and No. 10 Commandos.

During the German occupation, Norwegians formed a resistance movement with civil disobedience and armed actions, including destroying a heavy water plant that hurt Germany’s nuclear program. The Norwegian Merchant Marine, the world's fourth-largest, led by Nortraship, supported the Allies in every operation from Dunkirk to Normandy. Norway gives the United Kingdom a Christmas tree each December to thank for British help during the war.

Svalbard was not occupied but Germany secretly set up a weather station there in 1944.

Post–World War II history

From 1945 to 1962, the Labour Party led the government, implementing policies inspired by Keynesian economics, focusing on state-led industrialization and cooperation between unions and employers. Many wartime economic controls continued, though dairy product rationing ended in 1949, and housing and car price controls and rationing lasted until 1960.

Norway's alliance with the United Kingdom and the United States continued after the war. The Labour Party, while aiming for a socialist economy, distanced itself from Communists after their takeover in Czechoslovakia in 1948 and strengthened ties with the US. Norway received Marshall Plan aid starting in 1947, joined the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in 1948, and became a founding NATO member in 1949.

Oil was discovered in 1967 but only began production in 1999. In 1969, petroleum was found at the Ekofisk field. In 1973, the government created the state oil company Statoil, now Equinor. Oil production did not bring profit until the early 1980s due to high costs. Around 1975, industry employment peaked and has since declined as labor-intensive industries and services like manufacturing and shipping moved elsewhere.

Norway was a founding member of the European Free Trade Association. It was invited to join the European Union twice but declined after narrow referendums in 1972 and 1994.

In 1981, a Conservative Party government under Kåre Willoch replaced the Labour Party, focusing on tax cuts, economic liberalization, deregulation, and controlling inflation, which reached 13.6% in 1981.

Norway's first female prime minister, Gro Harlem Brundtland of the Labour Party, continued many reforms while supporting social security, high taxes, industrial development, and women's rights. By the late 1990s, Norway had paid off its foreign debt and started building a sovereign wealth fund. Since then, a major political debate has been how much oil income to spend versus save.

In 2011, Norway experienced terrorist attacks by Anders Behring Breivik at the government district in Oslo and a Labour Party youth camp on Utøya island, resulting in 77 deaths and 319 injuries.

Jens Stoltenberg served as prime minister for eight years from 2005 to 2013. The 2013 election brought a more conservative government with the Conservative Party and Progress Party winning 43% of votes. The 2017 election re-elected the centre-right government of Prime Minister Erna Solberg. The 2021 election saw a victory for the left-wing opposition on issues like climate change and inequality; Labour leader Jonas Gahr Støre became prime minister.

Geography

Main articles: Geography of Norway and Geology of Norway

Norway's main land is in the western and northern parts of the Scandinavian Peninsula. It also includes the faraway island of Jan Mayen and the group of islands called Svalbard. Two faraway lands, Peter I Island and Bouvet Island, belong to Norway but are not part of its kingdom. Norway also says a part of Antarctica called Queen Maud Land is its land too.

Norway lies between 57° and 81° N latitude and 4° and 32° E longitude. It is the northernmost of the Nordic countries. Norway has many islands and deep, narrow valleys called fjords along its rugged coast. The country shares land borders with Sweden, Finland, and Russia. The sea surrounds Norway to the north, west, and south.

Norway is big, covering 385,207 square kilometres (148,729 sq mi), including Svalbard and Jan Mayen. Much of it has tall mountains or high land, shaped long ago by glaciers and different heights. The most famous of these shapes are the fjords. Sognefjorden is the world’s second deepest fjord. Norway has about 400,000 lakes and 239,057 islands. In the high mountains and some inland areas, the ground stays frozen all year. Many glaciers can be found here. The land is mostly made of hard rock like granite and gneiss, but there are also slate, sandstone, and limestone. Lower areas have deposits left by the sea.

Climate

Because of a warm ocean current called the Gulf Stream, Norway has warmer temperatures and more rain than you might expect for its far north location, especially along the coast. The mainland has four seasons, with colder winters and less rain inland. The northern part has a climate influenced mainly by the sea, while Svalbard has a cold, dry climate. The south and west get more rain and have milder winters than the east and far north. Areas east of the coast mountains get less rain and snow. The valleys around Oslo have warm summers but cold, snowy winters. The sunniest places are along the south coast, but even far north coasts can be very sunny — the sunniest month ever recorded was in Tromsø with 430 hours of sunshine.

Because Norway is far north, the amount of daylight changes a lot through the year. From late May to late July, the sun never sets completely north of the Arctic Circle, and most of the country has up to 20 hours of daylight each day. From late November to late January, the sun does not rise above the horizon in the north, and daylight is very short everywhere else.

Biodiversity

Main article: Wildlife of Norway

Norway has more kinds of homes for plants and animals than almost any other country in Europe. Scientists know about 60,000 different living things in Norway, not counting tiny germs. The sea around Norway is very full of life. There are about 16,000 kinds of insects (with many more still being studied), 20,000 kinds of tiny plants called algae, 1,800 kinds of lichen, 1,050 kinds of tiny plants called mosses, 2,800 kinds of plants with roots and stems, up to 7,000 kinds of fungi, 450 kinds of birds (with 250 that lay eggs in Norway), 90 kinds of mammals, 45 kinds of fish in fresh water, 150 kinds of fish in salt water, 1,000 kinds of tiny animals in fresh water, and 3,500 kinds in salt water. About 40,000 of these living things have been studied by science. Some are at risk, like the European beaver, the grey wolf, the Arctic fox, and the pool frog.

The biggest hunter in Norway’s seas is the sperm whale, and the biggest fish is the basking shark. On land, the biggest hunter is the polar bear, and the biggest hunter on the mainland is the brown bear. The biggest land animal on the mainland is the elk, also called a moose.

Environment

Norway’s scenery is beautiful and dramatic all over. The west coast of southern Norway and the north coast have some of the most amazing coastlines in the world. The country is home to the midnight sun in summer and the aurora borealis, also called the northern lights.

In 2024, Norway was placed seventh in the world for taking care of its environment, according to a study by Yale University, Columbia University and the World Economic Forum. The study looks at how well a country protects people’s health, its natural homes, and its air and weather. It points out that Norway sometimes takes too many fish, but does not mention Norway's whaling or oil exports. Norway earned a score of 6.98 out of 10 in 2019 for how healthy its forests are, putting it 60th among 172 countries.

Politics and government

Main articles: Politics of Norway and Law of Norway

Norway is one of the world's most democratic countries. It has a strong system of elected leaders and focuses on fairness for everyone. The country is led by a king and a prime minister. The king’s role is mostly symbolic, while the prime minister and the government make decisions.

Norway’s government is divided into three parts: the group that makes laws, the group that carries out laws, and the group that judges laws. The people elect leaders to make laws in a group called the Storting. The prime minister is chosen from these leaders and leads the government. Norway is divided into regions and towns, each with its own local leaders. The country also has special areas like Svalbard and Jan Mayen.

Largest cities or towns in Norway According to Statistics Jan. 2024
Rank	Name	County	Pop.	Rank	Name	County	Pop.
1	Oslo	Oslo	1,098,061	11	Moss	Østfold	50,214
2	Bergen	Vestland	272,125	12	Haugesund	Rogaland	47,020
3	Stavanger/Sandnes	Rogaland	239,055	13	Sandefjord	Vestfold	46,926
4	Trondheim	Trøndelag	198,777	14	Arendal	Agder	45,332
5	Drammen	Buskerud	124,540	15	Bodø	Nordland	43,322
6	Fredrikstad/Sarpsborg	Østfold	121,679	16	Tromsø	Troms	42,782
7	Porsgrunn/Skien	Telemark	96,695	17	Hamar	Innlandet	30,030
8	Kristiansand	Agder	67,372	18	Gjøvik	Innlandet	28,801
9	Tønsberg	Vestfold	55,939	19	Larvik	Vestfold	27,487
10	Ålesund	Møre og Romsdal	55,684	20	Halden	Østfold	26,255

Economy

Main articles: Economy of Norway, Energy in Norway, European Economic Area, and Exclusive economic zone § Norway

Norwegians have one of the highest incomes in Europe and around the world. The country is very wealthy and stable. Norway’s economy mixes free markets with strong government roles, especially in healthcare and natural resources. Public healthcare is free for everyone after a small yearly payment, and parents get paid time off to care for new babies. The government gets a lot of money from oil and other natural resources.

Norway values fairness, so the gap between high and low wages is smaller than in many other countries. The government owns big companies in areas like oil, energy, banking, and telecommunications. Norway is also a major shipping country with many ships at sea. Norwegians voted not to join the European Union, but they work closely with EU countries on trade and rules. The country is rich in resources like oil, hydroelectric power, fish, forests, and minerals. Norway was the first country to promise to protect its rainforests.

Resources

Norway gets a lot of money from its oil and gas, which makes up a big part of its exports and economy. Norway is one of the world’s top exporters of oil and gas. The government started a big fund called the Government Pension Fund – Global to save oil money for the future. This fund invests in safe places outside Norway and follows rules to make sure it helps the country without harming others.

Norway is also a top exporter of fish, especially salmon. Hydroelectric power plants provide almost all of Norway’s electricity. The country has valuable minerals too. In 2017, the Government Pension Fund was worth over a trillion US dollars, making it the largest such fund in the world.

Transport

Main articles: Transport in Norway, Rail transport in Norway, and List of airports in Norway

Norway’s public transport isn’t as developed as in some other European countries because of its sparse population and long coastlines. The country has a network of railways, roads, and airports. Norway’s railway system has both regular and high-speed tracks and carries many passengers and goods each year.

Norway has many roads, with some being highways. The country has many airports, with Oslo Airport being the main gateway for international travelers. Norway also has many electric cars on the road, more than any other country in the world.

Research

Norway has a long history of important contributions to science and technology. Norwegian mathematicians like Niels Henrik Abel and Sophus Lie made big discoveries in their fields. In physics, Kristian Birkeland studied the northern lights, and Ivar Giaever won a Nobel Prize. Chemists like Lars Onsager and Odd Hassel also made big impacts.

Norwegian inventors and scientists have helped shape modern technology, from the internet to web design. Norwegian researchers have also made important advances in social sciences, peace studies, and more. As of 2025, Norway ranks 20th in the Global Innovation Index and has produced fourteen Nobel laureates.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Norway

Norway's population was 5,618,354 people in the third quarter of 2025. Norwegians are an ethnic North Germanic people. The median age of the Norwegian population in 2024 was 40 years.

The Sámi people are indigenous to the Far North and have traditionally lived in central and northern parts of Norway and Sweden, as well as areas in northern Finland and Russia. Another group is the Kven people, descendants of Finnish-speaking people who moved to northern Norway from the 18th to the 20th century. In the past, the Norwegian government encouraged both groups to adopt the majority language and culture. Because of this, many families of Sámi or Kven ancestry now identify as ethnic Norwegian.

Norway's population ranked first on the World Happiness Report in 2017 and seventh in 2025.

Migration

Main articles: Norwegian diaspora and Immigration to Norway

In the 19th century, many Norwegians moved to the United States and Canada for better opportunities. In 2006, almost 4.7 million people in the United States identified as having Norwegian ancestry. In 2021, over 466,000 Canadians reported Norwegian ancestry.

In 2024, about 931,081 people in Norway, or 16.8% of the population, were immigrants. Most came from Poland, Lithuania, Sweden, Syria, and Ukraine. Immigrants live in all areas of Norway, with Oslo and Drammen having the highest percentages.

Religion

Main article: Religion in Norway

Norway was once a country where the Lutheran Church of Norway was closely tied to the government. This changed in 2017 when the church became independent, though it remains important in Norwegian life. Most Norwegians are members of the Church of Norway, with many participating in traditions like baptism and confirmation.

Other religions in Norway include Catholicism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and secular humanism. The country also has small communities practicing Judaism, Sikhism, and other faiths. Over time, Norway has seen growth in Eastern Orthodox Christianity, Roman Catholicism, Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism.

Health

Main article: Health in Norway

Norway has made great progress in public health. Improvements in living conditions, healthcare, vaccinations, and better nutrition have led to healthier lives. Today, Norway faces challenges related to chronic diseases. In 2024, the infant mortality rate was very low, at 2.1 per 1,000 live births.

Education

Main article: Education in Norway

Norway offers higher education through universities, university colleges, and private institutions. Education follows the Bologna Process, with degrees available at the Bachelor, Master, and PhD levels. Public education is free for citizens from the EU/EEA and Switzerland, while others pay tuition fees. The academic year has two semesters, and the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research oversees education.

Languages

Main articles: Languages of Norway and Norwegian dialects

See also: Norwegian language and Sámi languages

Norwegian has two official forms: Bokmål and Nynorsk. Most people speak Norwegian as their first language, though many also speak dialects. Norwegian is very similar to Danish and Swedish, making it easy for Scandinavians to understand each other.

The Sámi people have their own languages, which are recognized as minority languages in Norway. The Kven language is also recognized, though few people still speak it today. English is widely taught and spoken in Norway, with about 90% of people being fluent. Other foreign languages like German, French, and Spanish are also taught in schools.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Norway

Norwegian farm life still influences the country's culture today. In the 1800s, this inspired a movement that celebrated Norwegian identity, which we can still see in the language and media. Norwegian culture grew through efforts to create a unique identity in areas like writing, art, and music. This continues in performing arts today, supported by the government.

Cinema

Main article: Cinema of Norway

Norwegian movies have gained attention around the world. The documentary Kon-Tiki (1950) won an award, and another popular film is The Pinchcliffe Grand Prix, an animated movie from 1975. Pathfinder (1987), a story about the Sámi people, was also nominated for a top award. Since the 1990s, Norway has made about 20 new movies each year. Some successful films include Kristin Lavransdatter, The Telegraphist, and Gurin with the Foxtail. Famous directors like Joachim Rønning and Morten Tyldum have worked on big international movies and TV shows.

Norway's forests have led to a tradition of building with wood. Many interesting new buildings today are made from wood. Early churches were built from stone, but wooden churches called stave churches are unique to Norway. Some of these old wooden churches still exist. Norway's cities grew during the time when it was united with Denmark, and many old wooden buildings remain.

Art

Main article: Norwegian art

For a long time, Norwegian art was influenced by artists from other countries. In the 1800s, Norwegian artists began to focus on their own country, especially painting landscapes. Famous artists include Edvard Munch, known for his famous painting.

Cuisine

Main article: Norwegian cuisine

Norwegian food comes from a long history of fishing and farming. Common foods include salmon, herring, trout, and cod, along with cheeses and breads. Traditional dishes include flatbread, fermented trout, and special holiday foods.

Sports

Sports are very important in Norway. Popular sports include skiing, ski jumping, mountaineering, hiking, football, handball, biathlon, speed skating, and ice hockey. Norway is famous for its success in winter sports, especially skiing. The country has hosted the Winter Olympics twice and has won many medals. Norway is also known for its strong teams in handball and football, and many of its athletes have achieved great success in events around the world. Chess has become very popular, with Norwegian players winning world championships. Norway has many talented athletes in track and field events as well.