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{{Infobox Country
|native_name = ''Kongeriket Norge''&nbsp;<small>([[Bokmål]])</small><br />''Kongeriket Noreg''&nbsp;<small>([[Nynorsk]])</small>
|conventional_long_name = '''Kingdom of Norway'''
|common_name = Norway
|image_flag = Flag of Norway.svg
|image_coat = Coat of Arms of Norway.svg
|image_map = Europe-Norway.svg
|map_caption = {{map caption|location_color=dark green|region=[[Europe]]|region_color=dark grey|legend=Europe-Norway.svg}}
|national_motto = [[Royal mottos of Norwegian monarchs|Royal]]: ''Alt for Norge''<br /><small>("All for Norway")</small><br />1814 [[Constitution of Norway|Eidsvoll oath]]: ''Enig og tro til [[Dovrefjell|Dovre]] faller''<br /><small>("United and loyal until the mountains of Dovre crumble")</small></div>
|national_song = Unofficial: ''[[Ja, vi elsker dette landet]]''<br/><small>("Yes, we love this country")</small><br />Official: ''Sønner av Norge'' <br/><small>("Sons of Norway")</small><ref name="Anthem">{{cite web|url=http://www.nrk.no/magasin/17_mai/1.6612321|title=«Ja, vi elsker» 150 år|last=Hverven|first=Marit|date=2009-05-16|work=Norsk rikskringkasting|publisher=NRK|language=Norwegian|accessdate=2009-05-22}}</ref>
|national_anthem = ''[[Ja, vi elsker dette landet]]''<br/><small>("Yes, we love this country")</small>
|royal_anthem = ''[[Kongesangen]]''<br/><small>("The King's Song")</small>
|official_languages = [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]] ([[Bokmål]] and [[Nynorsk]]){{Smallsup|1}}
|demonym = Norwegian
|ethnic_groups = 88.6% [[Norwegians|Norwegian]] and [[Saami people|Sami]] {{Smallsup|2}}<br />11.4% other (2010)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/02/befolkning_en/ |title=Statistics Norway&nbsp;— Focus on Population |publisher=Statistics Norway |date= |accessdate=2010-06-10}}</ref>
|capital = [[Oslo]]
|latd=59 |latm=56 |latNS=N |longd=10 |longm=41 |longEW=E
|cctld=no
|largest_city = capital
|government_type = [[Parliamentary system|Parliamentary democracy]] and [[Constitutional monarchy]]
|leader_title1 = [[Monarchy of Norway|King]]
|leader_name1 = [[Harald V of Norway|Harald V]]
|leader_title2 = [[Prime Minister of Norway|Prime Minister]]
|leader_name2 = [[Jens Stoltenberg]] ([[Norwegian Labour Party|AP]])
|leader_title3 = [[Parliament of Norway|President of the Storting]]
|leader_name3 = [[Dag Terje Andersen]] ([[Norwegian Labour Party|AP]])
|leader_title4 = [[Supreme Court of Norway|Chief Justice]]
|leader_name4 = [[Tore Schei]]
|leader_title5 = [[Norwegian parliamentary election, 2009|Current coalition]]
|leader_name5 = [[Red-Green Coalition]]
|legislature = The [[Parliament of Norway|Storting]]
|state_religion = [[Church of Norway]]
|established_event1 = [[History of Norway#The Viking Age (800–1066)|Unification]]
|established_date1 = [[Battle of Hafrsfjord|872]]
|established_event2 = [[Constitution of Norway|Constitution]]
|established_date2 = 17 May 1814
|established_event3 = [[Dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden in 1905|Dissolution]] of union with [[Sweden]] declared
|established_date3 = 7 June 1905
|established_event4 = Start and end of [[occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany|Nazi German occupation]]
|established_date4 = 9 April 1940<br />8 May 1945
|area_rank = 61st{{Smallsup|3}}
|area_magnitude = 1 E11
|area_km2 = 385,252
|area_sq_mi = 148,746<!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
|percent_water = 7.0
|population_estimate = {{Formatnum:{{#expr: 48582 + 1.72 * {{Age in days|2010|1|1}} round 0}}00}} <!--AUTOUPDATES DAILY at 00:00 UTC, Norway pop clock adds 172 people per day --> || {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTDAY}}, {{CURRENTYEAR}} || {{#expr: (4858200 + 172 * {{Age in days|2010|1|1}} ) / {{worldpop}} * 100 round 3}}% || style="font-size: 75%"|[http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/02/befolkning_en/ Official Norwegian Population clock]
|population_estimate_rank = 116th
|population_estimate_year = 2010
|population_census = 4,478,497
|population_census_year = 2000
|population_density_km2 = 12.5
|population_density_sq_mi = 31 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
|population_density_rank = 211th
|GDP_PPP_year = 2010
|GDP_PPP = $259.054 billion<ref name=imf2>{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2010/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2007&ey=2010&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=142&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a=&pr.x=49&pr.y=2 |title=Norway|publisher=International Monetary Fund|accessdate=2010-04-21}}</ref>
|GDP_PPP_rank =
|GDP_PPP_per_capita = $52,964.280<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank =
|GDP_nominal = $433.304 billion<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_nominal_rank =
|GDP_nominal_year = 2010
|GDP_nominal_per_capita = $88,590.167<ref name=imf2/>
|GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank =
|Gini_year = 2000
|Gini = 25.8
|Gini_rank = 5th
|Gini_category = <span style="color:#090;">low</span>
|HDI_year = 2007 <!-- Please use the year in which the HDI data refers to and not the publication year -->
|HDI = {{increase}} 0.971<ref>[http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2009_EN_Complete.pdf Human Development Report 2009]. The United Nations. Retrieved 5 October 2009.</ref>
|HDI_rank = 1st
|HDI_category = <span style="color:#090;">very&nbsp;high</span>
|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
|date_format = dd.mm.yyyy
|drives_on = right
|cctld = [[.no]]{{Smallsup|4}}
|calling_code = [[Telephone numbers in Norway|47]]
|footnote1 = [[Northern Sami language|Northern Sami]] is used in the municipal administration of [[Norwegian Sami Language Municipalities|six municipalities]], [[Lule Sami language|Lule Sami]] in [[Tysfjord|one]], [[Finnish language|Finnish]]/[[Kven language|Kven]] in [[Porsanger|one]], and [[Southern Sami language|Southern Sami]] in [[Snåsa|one]].
|footnote2 = Sami population is not clearly defined, but is believed to amount from 60,000 to 100,000 persons, or 1.2% to 2% of the population of Norway.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.norway.org.uk/aboutnorway/society/people/population/sami/ |work=Norway the official site in the UK |title=Sámi People |accessdate=23 July 2010}}</ref>
|footnote3 = Includes [[Svalbard and Jan Mayen]].
|footnote4 = Two more TLDs have been assigned, but [[Wikipedia:As of|to date]] not used: [[.sj]] for Svalbard and Jan Mayen; [[.bv]] for [[Bouvet Island]].
|footnote5 = This percentage is for the mainland and also includes glaciers<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ssb.no/areal/ |title=Areal |publisher=SSB}}</ref>
|footnote6 = Statistics Norway estimation (5 September 2006) using variant MMMM from [http://www.ssb.no/emner/02/03/nos_folkfram/nos_d319/nos_d319.pdf Table 10]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/02/befolkning_en/ |title=Befolkning |publisher=SSB}}</ref>
}}

'''Norway''' ({{IPAc-en|lang|pron|en-us-Norway.ogg|ˈ|n|ɔr|w|eɪ}}; [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]]: {{audio|Norge (country).ogg|''Norge''|help=no}} ([[Bokmål]]) or {{audio|Noreg (country).ogg|''Noreg''|help=no}} ([[Nynorsk]])), officially the '''Kingdom of Norway''', is a [[Nordic countries|Nordic country]] in [[Northern Europe]] occupying the western portion of the [[Scandinavian Peninsula]], as well as [[Jan Mayen]] and the [[Arctic]] archipelago of [[Svalbard]].{{#tag:ref|The [[Svalbard Treaty|Spitsbergen Treaty]] (also known as the [[Svalbard Treaty]]) of February 9, 1920, recognizes the full and absolute sovereignty of Norway over the arctic archipelago of Spitsbergen (now called [[Svalbard]]). [[Bouvet Island]] and [[Peter I Island]] are [[dependent territory|dependent territories]] ({{lang-no|biland}}) of Norway but are not considered part of the Kingdom. Norway also lays claim to a section of [[Antarctica]] known as [[Queen Maud Land]].<ref>"Antarctic Treaty System, An assessment. Workshop on the Antarctic Treaty System http://books.google.com/books?id=gNxjxfm4cSgC&pg=PA370&lpg=PA370&dq=territorial+claim+antarctica+recognized&source=web&ots=TD7OWwt-XV&sig=5yO1y3HG7jhFZatImGzZfk01cjs</ref>|group=note}} Norway has a total area of {{convert|385252|km2|sqmi}} and a population of about 4.8 million.<ref name="Population">{{cite web|url=http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/02/befolkning_en/|title=Population|date=2009-04-01|work=Statistics Norway|accessdate=2009-06-03}}</ref> It is one of the most [[List of countries and dependencies by population density|sparsely populated]] countries in [[Europe]]. The majority of the country shares a border to the east with [[Sweden]]; its northernmost region is bordered by [[Finland]] to the south and [[Russia]] to the east; and [[Denmark]] lies south of its southern tip across the [[Skagerrak|Skagerrak Strait]]. The [[capital city]] of Norway is [[Oslo]]. Norway's extensive coastline, facing the [[Atlantic Ocean|North Atlantic Ocean]] and the [[Barents Sea]], is home to its famous [[fjord]]s.

After [[World War II]], Norway experienced rapid economic growth, with the first two decades due to the Norwegian shipping and merchant marine and domestic industrialization, and from the early 1970s, a result of exploiting large [[oil]] and [[natural gas]] deposits that had been discovered in the [[North Sea]] and the [[Norwegian Sea]]. Today, Norway ranks as the third wealthiest country in the world in monetary value,<ref>[http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2009/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2008&ey=2008&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&pr1.x=58&pr1.y=5&c=512%2C941%2C914%2C446%2C612%2C666%2C614%2C668%2C311%2C672%2C213%2C946%2C911%2C137%2C193%2C962%2C122%2C674%2C912%2C676%2C313%2C548%2C419%2C556%2C513%2C678%2C316%2C181%2C913%2C682%2C124%2C684%2C339%2C273%2C638%2C921%2C514%2C948%2C218%2C943%2C963%2C686%2C616%2C688%2C223%2C518%2C516%2C728%2C918%2C558%2C748%2C138%2C618%2C196%2C522%2C278%2C622%2C692%2C156%2C694%2C624%2C142%2C626%2C449%2C628%2C564%2C228%2C283%2C924%2C853%2C233%2C288%2C632%2C293%2C636%2C566%2C634%2C964%2C238%2C182%2C662%2C453%2C960%2C968%2C423%2C922%2C935%2C714%2C128%2C862%2C611%2C716%2C321%2C456%2C243%2C722%2C248%2C942%2C469%2C718%2C253%2C724%2C642%2C576%2C643%2C936%2C939%2C961%2C644%2C813%2C819%2C199%2C172%2C184%2C132%2C524%2C646%2C361%2C648%2C362%2C915%2C364%2C134%2C732%2C652%2C366%2C174%2C734%2C328%2C144%2C258%2C146%2C656%2C463%2C654%2C528%2C336%2C923%2C263%2C738%2C268%2C578%2C532%2C537%2C944%2C742%2C176%2C866%2C534%2C369%2C536%2C744%2C429%2C186%2C433%2C925%2C178%2C746%2C436%2C926%2C136%2C466%2C343%2C112%2C158%2C111%2C439%2C298%2C916%2C927%2C664%2C846%2C826%2C299%2C542%2C582%2C443%2C474%2C917%2C754%2C544%2C698&s=NGDPDPC&grp=0&a= World Economic Outlook Database-April 2009], Gross domestic product per capita, current prices, [[International Monetary Fund]]. Retrieved April 22, 2009.</ref><ref>[http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2009/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=22&pr.y=6&sy=2008&ey=2008&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=512%2C941%2C914%2C446%2C612%2C666%2C614%2C668%2C311%2C672%2C213%2C946%2C911%2C137%2C193%2C962%2C122%2C674%2C912%2C676%2C313%2C548%2C419%2C556%2C513%2C678%2C316%2C181%2C913%2C682%2C124%2C684%2C339%2C273%2C638%2C921%2C514%2C948%2C218%2C943%2C963%2C686%2C616%2C688%2C223%2C518%2C516%2C728%2C918%2C558%2C748%2C138%2C618%2C196%2C522%2C278%2C622%2C692%2C156%2C694%2C624%2C142%2C626%2C449%2C628%2C564%2C228%2C283%2C924%2C853%2C233%2C288%2C632%2C293%2C636%2C566%2C634%2C964%2C238%2C182%2C662%2C453%2C960%2C968%2C423%2C922%2C935%2C714%2C128%2C862%2C611%2C716%2C321%2C456%2C243%2C722%2C248%2C942%2C469%2C718%2C253%2C724%2C642%2C576%2C643%2C936%2C939%2C961%2C644%2C813%2C819%2C199%2C172%2C184%2C132%2C524%2C646%2C361%2C648%2C362%2C915%2C364%2C134%2C732%2C652%2C366%2C174%2C734%2C328%2C144%2C258%2C146%2C656%2C463%2C654%2C528%2C336%2C923%2C263%2C738%2C268%2C578%2C532%2C537%2C944%2C742%2C176%2C866%2C534%2C369%2C536%2C744%2C429%2C186%2C433%2C925%2C178%2C746%2C436%2C926%2C136%2C466%2C343%2C112%2C158%2C111%2C439%2C298%2C916%2C927%2C664%2C846%2C826%2C299%2C542%2C582%2C443%2C474%2C917%2C754%2C544%2C698&s=PPPPC&grp=0&a= World Economic Outlook Database-April 2009], Gross domestic product based on purchasing-power-parity (PPP) per capita GDP, [[International Monetary Fund]]. Retrieved April 22, 2009.</ref><ref name="CAB">{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2008/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2006&ey=2008&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&pr1.x=64&pr1.y=7&c=512%2C446%2C914%2C666%2C612%2C668%2C614%2C672%2C311%2C946%2C213%2C137%2C911%2C962%2C193%2C674%2C122%2C676%2C912%2C548%2C313%2C556%2C419%2C678%2C513%2C181%2C316%2C682%2C913%2C684%2C124%2C273%2C339%2C921%2C638%2C948%2C514%2C943%2C218%2C686%2C963%2C688%2C616%2C518%2C223%2C728%2C516%2C558%2C918%2C138%2C748%2C196%2C618%2C278%2C522%2C692%2C622%2C694%2C156%2C142%2C624%2C449%2C626%2C564%2C628%2C283%2C228%2C853%2C924%2C288%2C233%2C293%2C632%2C566%2C636%2C964%2C634%2C182%2C238%2C453%2C662%2C968%2C960%2C922%2C423%2C714%2C935%2C862%2C128%2C716%2C611%2C456%2C321%2C722%2C243%2C942%2C248%2C718%2C469%2C724%2C253%2C576%2C642%2C936%2C643%2C961%2C939%2C813%2C644%2C199%2C819%2C184%2C172%2C524%2C132%2C361%2C646%2C362%2C648%2C364%2C915%2C732%2C134%2C366%2C652%2C734%2C174%2C144%2C328%2C146%2C258%2C463%2C656%2C528%2C654%2C923%2C336%2C738%2C263%2C578%2C268%2C537%2C532%2C742%2C944%2C866%2C176%2C369%2C534%2C744%2C536%2C186%2C429%2C925%2C178%2C746%2C436%2C926%2C136%2C466%2C343%2C112%2C158%2C111%2C439%2C298%2C916%2C927%2C664%2C846%2C826%2C299%2C542%2C582%2C443%2C474%2C917%2C754%2C544%2C698%2C941&s=BCA&grp=0&a=|title=Report for selected countries and subjects – current account balance, U.S. dollars, billions|date=October 2008|work=International Monetary Fund|publisher=www.imf.org|accessdate=2009-05-12}}</ref> with the largest capital reserve per capita of any nation. Norway is the world’s fifth largest oil exporter,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2176rank.html |title=CIA&nbsp;— The World Factbook&nbsp;— Rank Order&nbsp;— Oil&nbsp;— exports |publisher=Cia.gov |date=2009-02-10 |accessdate=2009-02-14}}</ref> and the petroleum industry accounts for around a quarter of its [[Gross domestic product]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKL0674675920070906 |title=UPDATE 1-Statistics Norway raises '07 GDP outlook, cuts '08 |publisher=Uk.reuters.com |date=2007-09-06 |accessdate=2009-03-08}}</ref>
Following the ongoing [[financial crisis of 2007–2010]], bankers have deemed the [[Norwegian krone]] to be one of the most solid currencies in the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.norway.com/2009/02/26/norway-a-diamond-in-the-rough/ |title=Norway: A Diamond in the Rough? |publisher=blog.norway.com |date=2009-02-26 |accessdate=2009-04-23}}</ref>

Norway has rich resources of [[oil]], [[natural gas]], [[hydroelectricity|hydroelectric power]], [[forest]]s, and [[mineral]]s, and was the second largest exporter of [[seafood]] (in value, after the [[People's Republic of China]]) in 2006.<ref name="GGT">{{cite web|url=http://www.globefish.org/filedownload.php?fileId=560 |title=FAO Globefish global trends 2006 |date= |accessdate=2009-03-08}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> Other major industries include [[shipping]], [[food processing]], [[shipbuilding]], the [[metalworking|metal industry]], [[chemical substance|chemicals]], [[mining]], [[fishing]], and the pulp and [[paper]] products from forests. Norway maintains a [[Nordic model|Scandinavian welfare model]] with [[universal health care|universal health-care]], subsidized [[higher education]], and a comprehensive [[social security]] system. Norway was ranked highest of all countries in [[Human Development Index|human development]] from 2001 to 2007,<ref name="HDI">{{cite web|url=http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDI_2008_EN_Tables.pdf|title=Human development indices 2008|date=2008-12-18|work=Human Development Report|publisher=hdr.undp.org|accessdate=2009-05-12}}</ref> and then again in 2009.<ref name="HDI2">{{cite web|url=http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2009_EN_Complete.pdf|title=Human Development Index 2009|date=2009-10-05|work=Human Development Report|publisher=hdr.undp.org|accessdate=2009-10-05}}</ref> It was also rated the most peaceful country in the world in a 2007 survey by [[Global Peace Index]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/6704767.stm |title=World Norway rated most peaceful nation |publisher=BBC News |date=2007-05-30 |accessdate=2009-02-14}}</ref>

Norway is a [[constitutional monarchy]] and [[parliamentary system|parliamentary democracy]], with [[Harald V of Norway|King Harald V]] as its [[head of state]] and [[Jens Stoltenberg]] as its [[prime minister]]. It is a [[unitary state]] with administrative subdivisions on two levels known as counties ([[Counties of Norway|fylke]]r) and municipalities ([[List of municipalities of Norway|kommuner]]). The Sámi people have a certain amount of self-determination and influence over traditional territories through the [[Sami Parliament of Norway|Sámi Parliament]] and the [[Finnmark Act]]. Although having rejected [[Norway – European Union relations|European Union membership]] in two referendums, Norway [[Norway – European Union relations|maintains close ties]] with the union and its member countries, as well as with the [[United States]]. Norway remains one of the biggest financial contributors to the [[United Nations]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reformtheun.org/index.php/articles/1917 |title=Revised List of Top UN Financial and Troop Contributors |publisher=reformtheun.org |date= |accessdate=2009-04-23}}</ref> and participates with UN forces in international missions, notably in [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|Afghanistan]], [[Kosovo War|Kosovo]], and [[War in Darfur|Sudan]]. Norway is a founding member of the [[United Nations]], [[NATO]], the [[Council of Europe]], and the [[Nordic Council]], and is a member of the [[European Economic Area]], the [[World Trade Organization|WTO]], and the [[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development|OECD]].

== Etymology ==
Norway is officially called ''Kongeriket Norge'' (The Kingdom of Norway) in the [[Bokmål]] written norm, and ''Kongeriket Noreg'' in the [[Nynorsk]] written norm.

The usual [[Old Norse]] form of ''Norway'' is ''Noregr'', and the usual mediæval Latin form ''Nor(th)vegia'', though the earliest known written occurrence of the name is English (in the late-ninth-century account of the travels of [[Ohthere of Hålogaland]]), in the form ''norðweg''.<ref>Thorpe, B., ''The Life of Alfred The Great Translated From The German of Dr. R. Pauli To Which Is Appended Alfred's Anglo-Saxon Version of Orosius'', Bell, 1900, p. 253.</ref><ref name="deVries1962">Jan de Vries, ''Altnordisches etymologisches Wörterbuch'', 2nd revised edn (Leiden: Brill, 1962), s.v. ''Noregr''</ref> Although some mediæval texts attribute the name to a mythical King [[Nór]]r, it is conventionally derived today from Old Norse *''norðvegr'', meaning "the northern route" (the way northwards). Norse also had the terms ''austrvegr'' "the lands in the east" (Russia), ''vestrvegr'' "the lands in the west" (the British Isles) and ''suðrvegr'' "the lands in the south" (the Mediterranean). There is, however, some possibility that mediæval forms in ''norð-'', ''north-'' are folk-etymologizations and that the name has other origins.<ref name="deVries1962"/>

== History ==
{{Main|History of Norway}}

=== Prehistory ===
{{Main|Scandinavian prehistory}}
[[File:Alta rock carvings 01.jpg|thumb|left|[[Rock carvings at Alta]]]]
Archaeological findings indicate the area currently constituting Norway has been inhabited since at least the 10th millennium BC.<ref name="Genetics">{{cite web|url=http://hpgl.stanford.edu/publications/EJHG_2002_v10_521-529.pdf|title=Different genetic components in the Norwegian population revealed by the analysis of mtDNA and Y chromosome polymorphisms|year=2002|work=European Journal of Human Genetics|publisher=Nature Publishing Group|accessdate=2009-05-06}}</ref> The indigenous people of [[Northern Norway]] and [[Trøndelag|Central Norway]] are the [[Sami people|Sámi people]], though [[Norsemen|Norse]] culture arrived very early also. The current monarch of Norway has stated that the kingdom was founded upon the territories of two peoples—the [[Norwegians]] and the Sámi.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://samediggi.no/artikkel.aspx?MId1=1&MId2=2&AId=1630&Back=1&sprak=norsk |title=Sámediggi Sametinget - PRM: Sametinget gratulerer H.M. Kong Harald V på fødselsdagen |publisher=Samediggi.no |date=2007-02-21 |accessdate=2009-07-08}}</ref>

In the first centuries AD, Norway consisted of a number of [[petty kingdom]]s.

=== Viking Age ===
[[File:Christian-krohg-leiv-eriksson.jpg|thumb|''[[Leif Ericson]] discovers [[Americas|America]]'' (1893)]]
The [[Viking Age]] was characterized by expansion and emigration by [[Viking]] seafarers. According to tradition, [[Harald I of Norway|Harald Fairhair]] (Harald Hårfagre) unified them into one in 872 AD after the [[Battle of Hafrsfjord]] in [[Stavanger]], thus becoming the first king of a united Norway. (The date of 872 may be somewhat arbitrary. In fact, the actual date may be just prior to 900 AD).<ref>Karen Larsen, ''A History of Norway'' (Princeton University Press: Princeton, 1948) p. 83.</ref> Harald's realm was mainly a [[South Norway|South Norwegian]] coastal state. Harald Fairhair ruled with a strong hand and, according to the sagas, many Norwegians left the country to live in [[Iceland]], the [[Faroe Islands]], [[Greenland]], and parts of [[Great Britain|Britain]] and [[Ireland]]. The modern-day [[Ireland|Irish]] cities of [[Dublin]], [[Limerick]], and [[Waterford]] were founded by Norwegian settlers.<ref>RF Foster: "The Oxford History of Ireland", Oxford University Press, 1989</ref>
[[File:Norway1265.png|thumb|left|The Norwegian Kingdom at its greatest extent, c. 1265]]
[[Norse mythology|Norse traditions]] were slowly replaced by [[Christianity]] in the 10th and 11th centuries. This is largely attributed to the missionary kings [[Olaf I of Norway|Olav Tryggvasson]] and [[Olaf II of Norway|St. Olav]]. [[Haakon I of Norway|Haakon the Good]] was Norway's first Christian king, in the mid tenth century, though his attempt to introduce the religion was rejected. Born sometime in between 963–969 AD, Olav Tryggvasson set off raiding in England with 390 ships. He attacked London during this raiding. Arriving back in Norway in 995, Olav landed in Moster.<ref name="Larsen, p95">Karen Larsen, ''A History of Norway'' p. 95.</ref> There he built a church which became the first Christian church ever built in Norway.<ref name="Larsen, p95" /> From Moster, Olav sailed north to Trondheim were he has acclaimed King of Norway by the Eyrathing in 995 AD.<ref name="Larsen, p95" />

[[Feudalism]] never really developed in Norway and Sweden, as it did in the rest of Europe.<ref name="Larsen, p201">Karen Larsen, ''A History of Norway'' (Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey, 1948) p. 201.</ref> However, the administration of government took on a very conservative feudal character.<ref name="Larsen, p201" /> The [[Hanseatic League]] forced the royalty to cede to them greater and greater concessions over foreign trade and the economy.<ref name="Larsen, p201" /> The League had this hold over the royalty because of the loans the Hansa had made to the royalty and the large debt the kings were carrying.<ref name="Larsen, p201" /> The League's monopolistic control over the economy of Norway put pressure on all classes, especially the peasantry, to the degree that no real burgher class existed in Norway.<ref name="Larsen, p201" />

=== Kalmar Union ===
Upon the death of Haakon V, King of Norway, in 1319, three year-old [[Magnus IV of Sweden|Magnus Erickson]] inherited the throne as King Magnus VII of Norway.<ref name=larsen>Karen Larsen, ''A History of Norway'' (Princeton University Press, 1948) p. 192.</ref> At the same time a movement to make Magnus King of Sweden proved successful.<ref name=larsen /> (At this time both the kings of Sweden and of Denmark were elected to the throne by their respective nobles.)<ref name=larsen /> Thus, with his election to the throne of Sweden, both Sweden and Norway were united under King Magnus VII.<ref name=larsen />

In 1349, the [[Black Death]] radically altered Norway, killing between 50% and 60% of its population<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=2197762&dopt=Abstract |title=The Black Death in Norway |publisher=Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov |date=2008-12-03 |accessdate=2009-03-08}}</ref> and leaving it in a period of social and economic decline.<ref name=enc>"[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/67758/Black-Death Black Death (pandemic)]". Encyclopædia Britannica.</ref> The plague left Norway very poor.<ref>Karen Larsen, ''A History of Norway'' p. 203.</ref> Although the death rate was comparable with the rest of Europe, economic recovery took much longer because of the small thinly scattered population.<ref name="enc"/> Before the plague, the population was only about 500,000 people,<ref name=end>pp. 202–203.</ref> and afterwards, many farms lay idle while the population slowly recovered.<ref name="enc"/> The few surviving farms' tenants found their bargaining positions with their landlords greatly strengthened.<ref name=enc />

King Magnus VII, noted above, ruled Norway until 1350, when his son, Haakon, was placed on the throne as Haakon VI.<ref name=end>p. 195</ref> In 1363, Haakon VI married Margaret, the daughter of Danish King Valdemar.<ref name="enc"/> Upon the death of Haakon VI, in 1379, his son, Olaf IV was only 10 years-old.<ref name="enc"/> Olaf had already been elected to the throne of Denmark on May 3, 1376.<ref name="enc"/> Thus, upon his ascension to the throne of Norway, Olaf united Denmark and Norway under a single throne.<ref name=end>p. 197</ref> Olaf's mother and Haakon's widow, Queen Margaret, managed the foreign affairs of Denmark and Norway during the minority of Olaf IV.<ref name="enc"/>

Margaret was working toward a union of Sweden with Denmark and Norway by having Olaf elected to the Swedish throne. She was on the verge of achieving this goal when Olaf IV suddenly died.<ref name="enc"/> However, Denmark made Margaret temporary ruler upon the death of Olaf. On February 2, 1388, Norway followed suit and crowned Margaret.<ref name=enc />

Queen Margaret knew that her power would be more secure if she were able to find a king to rule in her place. She settled on [[Eric of Pomerania]], grandson of her sister. Thus at an all-Scandinavian meeting held at Kalmar, Erik of Pomerania was crowned king of all three Scandinavian countries. Thus, royal politics resulted in personal unions between the [[Nordic countries]], eventually bringing the thrones of Norway, [[Denmark]], and [[Sweden]] under the control of Queen [[Margaret I of Denmark|Margrethe I of Denmark]] when the country entered into the [[Kalmar Union]].

=== Union with Denmark ===
{{Main|Denmark-Norway}}
After Sweden broke out of the [[Kalmar Union]] in 1521, Norway remained with Denmark until 1814, a total of 436 years. During the [[Romantic nationalism|national romanticism]] of the 19th century, this period was by some referred to as the "400-Year Night", since all of the kingdom's royal, intellectual, and administrative power was centred in [[Copenhagen]] in Denmark.

With the [[Reformation in Denmark-Norway and Holstein|introduction of Protestantism]] in 1536, the archbishopric in Trondheim was dissolved, and Norway effectually became a [[tributary]] to Denmark, and the church's incomes were distributed to the court in Copenhagen instead. Norway lost the steady stream of pilgrims to the relics of [[Olaf II of Norway|St. Olav]] at the [[Nidaros]] shrine, and with them, much of the contact with cultural and economic life in the rest of Europe. Additionally, Norway saw its land area decrease in the 17th century with the loss of the provinces [[Bohuslän|Båhuslen]], [[Jämtland|Jemtland]], and [[Härjedalen|Herjedalen]] to Sweden, as a result of numerous wars between [[Denmark–Norway]] and Sweden. To the north, however, its territory was increased by the acquisition of the northern provinces of [[Troms]] and [[Finnmark]], at the expense of Sweden and Russia.

The [[famine]] of 1695–96 killed roughly 10% of Norway's population.<ref>"''[http://books.google.com/books?id=6oOCfHxQDtwC&pg=PA153&dq&hl=en#v=onepage&q=&f=false Finding the family in medieval and early modern Scotland]''". Elizabeth Ewan, Janay Nugent (2008). [[Ashgate Publishing]]. p.153. ISBN 0-7546-6049-4</ref> At least nine severe harvest failures were recorded in the Scandinavian countries between 1740 and 1800, each resulting in a substantial rise of the death rate.<ref>"''[http://books.google.com/books?id=eGsCGAdH4YQC&pg=PA63&dq&hl=en#v=onepage&q=&f=false The savage wars of peace: England, Japan and the Malthusian trap]''". Alan Macfarlane (1997). p.63. ISBN 0-631-18117-2</ref>

=== Union with Sweden (19th century) ===
[[File:Eidsvoll riksraad 1814.jpeg|thumb|250px|right|The 1814 constitutional assembly, painted by [[Oscar Wergeland]]]]
After Denmark–Norway was attacked by the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom]], at the [[Battle of Copenhagen]] it entered into an alliance with [[Napoleon I|Napoleon]], with the war leading to dire conditions and mass [[starvation]] in 1812. As the Danish kingdom found itself on the losing side in 1814, it was forced, under terms of the [[Treaty of Kiel]], to cede Norway to the king of Sweden, while the old Danish-Norwegian provinces of Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands remained with the Danish crown.<ref>[[Treaty of Kiel]], January 14, 1814.</ref>

Norway took this opportunity to declare independence, adopted a constitution based on [[United States Constitution|American]] and [[Constitution of France|French]] models, and elected the crown prince of Denmark-Norway [[Christian VIII of Denmark|Christian Frederik]] as king on 17 May 1814. This is the famous [[Norwegian Constitution Day|Syttende Mai]] (Seventeenth of May) holiday celebrated by Norwegians and Norwegian-Americans alike. ''Syttende Mai'' is also called ''Norwegian Constitution Day''.

Norwegian opposition to the great powers' decision to link Norway with Sweden, caused the [[Swedish-Norwegian War (1814)|Norwegian-Swedish War]] to break out as Sweden tried to subdue Norway by military means. As Sweden's military was not strong enough to defeat the Norwegian forces outright and Norway's treasury was not large enough to support a protracted war, and as British and Russian navies blockaded the Norwegian coast,<ref>{{cite book
| last = Nicolson
| first = Harold
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title = The Congress of Vienna; a study in allied unity, 1812–1822
| publisher = Constable & co. ltd
| year = 1946
| location =
| pages =
| url =
| doi =
| id =
| isbn = }}, page 295: "The British Government sought to overcome this reluctance by assisting Russia in blockading the coast of Norway [...]"</ref> both Norway and Sweden were forced to negotiate a settlement. Accordingly, on November 4, 1814, Norway was forced into entering the [[Union between Sweden and Norway|union with Sweden]].<ref>Karen Larsen, ''A History of Norway'' p. 572.</ref> Under this arrangement, Norway did, however, keep its liberal constitution and kept control of its own independent institutions, except for the foreign service. Following the Union with Sweden economic development of Norway remained slow.<ref>Karen Larsen, ''A History of Norway'' p. 423.</ref>

This period also saw the rise of the [[Norwegian romantic nationalism]], as Norwegians sought to define and express a distinct national character. The movement covered all branches of culture, including literature ([[Henrik Wergeland]] [1808–1845], [[Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson]] [1832–1910], [[Peter Christen Asbjørnsen]] [1812–1845], [[Jørgen Moe]] [1813–1882]), painting ([[Hans Gude]] [1825–1903], [[Adolph Tidemand]] [1814–1876]), music ([[Edvard Grieg]] [1843–1907]), and even language policy, where attempts to define a native written language for Norway led to today's two official written forms for [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]]: [[Bokmål]] and [[Nynorsk]].

King Karl XIV Johan who came to the throne of Norway/Sweden in 1818 was the first king following Norway's break from Denmark and the union with Sweden. Karl Johan was a complex man whose long reign extended to 1844. King Karl Johan protected the constitution and liberties of Norway/Sweden during the age of [[Klemens Wenzel, Prince von Metternich|Metternich]]. As such he was regarded as a liberal monarch for that age. However, he was ruthless in his use of paid informers, the secret police and restrictions on the freedom of the press to put down public movements for reform—especially the Norwegian national independence movement.<ref>Franklin D. Scott, ''Sweden: the Nation's History'' (University of Minnesota Press: Minneapolis, 1977) p. 380.</ref>

The [[Romanticism|Romantic Era]] that followed the reign of King Karl Johan brought some significant social and political reforms. In 1854 women were given the right to inherit property in their own right just like men.<ref name="Larsen, p432">Karen Larsen, ''A History of Norway'' p. 432.</ref> In 1863, the last trace of keeping unmarried women in the status of minors was removed.<ref name="Larsen, p432" /> Furthermore, women were then eligible for different occupations, particularly the common school teacher.<ref name="Larsen, p432" /> However, by mid-century Norway was still far from a "democracy." Voting was limited to officials, property owners, leaseholders, and burghers of incorporated towns.<ref>Karen Larsen, ''A History of Norway'', p. 431.</ref> There was some dissatisfaction with this backwardness.

Still Norway remained a conservative society. Life in Norway (especially economic life) was "dominated by the aristocracy of professional men who filled most of the important posts in the central government."<ref>Karen Larsen, ''A History of Norway'', p. 412.</ref> There was no strong bourgeosie class in Norway to demand a breakdown of this aristocratic control of the economy.<ref name="Marx Engels">See "The Civil War in Switzerland" by Frederick Engels contained in Marx & Engels, ''Collected Works: Volume 6'' (International Publishers, New York, 1976) p. 368.</ref> Thus, even while revolution swept over most of the countries of Europe in 1848, Norway was largely unaffected by revolts that year. Most revolts broke themselves on the granite conservativism of the Norwegian society.<ref name="Marx Engels" /> Indeed the Thrane movement was the only "revolt" that broke out in Norway in 1848.

[[Marcus Thrane]] was a utopian socialist.<ref name="Larsen, p433">Karen Larsen, ''A History of Norway'' p. 433.</ref> He made his appeal to the labouring classes urging a change of social structure "from below upwards."<ref name="Larsen, p433" /> In 1848, he organized a labour society in [[Drammen]]. In just a few months this society had a membership of 500 and the society was publishing its own newspaper.<ref name="Larsen, p433" /> Within two years 300 societies had been organized all over Norway with a total membership of 20,000 persons.<ref name="Larsen, p433" /> The membership was drawn from the lower classes of both the town and country.<ref name="Larsen, p433" /> For the first time these two groups felt they had common cause with each other.<ref name="Larsen, p433" /> In the end, the revolt was easily crushed, Thrane was captured and sentenced to three years in jail for crimes against the safety of the state. Upon his release from jail, after serving his sentence, Marcus Thrane migrated to the United States of America.

=== Independence ===
[[Christian Michelsen]], a shipping magnate and statesman, Prime Minister of Norway from 1905 to 1907, played a central role in the peaceful separation of Norway from Sweden on 7 June 1905. After a national referendum confirmed the people's preference for a monarchy over a republic, the Norwegian government offered the throne of Norway to the Danish Prince Carl, and [[Parliament of Norway|Parliament]] unanimously elected him king, the first king of a fully independent Norway in 586 years. He took the name of [[Haakon VII of Norway|Haakon VII]], after the mediaeval kings of independent Norway.

In 1898, all men were granted [[universal suffrage]], followed by all [[Women's suffrage|women]] in 1913.

=== World Wars I and II ===
{{See also|Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany|Free Norwegian Forces}}
[[File:Operation Weserübung.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Scenes from the [[Norwegian Campaign]] in 1940.]]
During [[World War I]], Norway was a neutral country. In reality, however, Norway had been pressured by Great Britain to hand over increasingly large parts of its massive merchant fleet to Britain at low rates, as well as to join the trade blockade against Germany.{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}} Norwegian merchant marines ship with Norwegian sailors were then required to sail under the British flag and risk being sunk by German submarines.<ref name="Larsen, p510">Karen Larsen, ''A History of Norway'' p. 510.</ref> Thus, many Norwegian sailors and ships were lost.<ref name="Larsen, p510" /> Thereafter, the world ranking of the Norwegian merchant marine fell from fourth place in the world to sixth place in the world.<ref name="Larsen, p510" />

Norway also proclaimed its neutrality during [[World War II]], but Norway was [[Operation Weserübung|invaded by German forces]] on 9 April 1940. Norway was unprepared for the German surprise attack, so military and naval resistance only lasted for two months. The armed forces in the north launched an offensive against the German forces in the [[Battles of Narvik]], until they were forced to surrender on June 10 after losing British help following the [[Battle of France|Fall of France]].

King Haakon and the Norwegian government escaped to [[Rotherhithe]], [[London|London, England]], and they supported the fight through inspirational radio speeches from London and by supporting clandestine military actions in Norway against the Nazis. 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 [[Quisling regime|collaborationist government under German control]]. Up to 15,000 Norwegians volunteered to fight in German units, including the [[Waffen-SS]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nuav.net/volunter.html |title=Norwegian volunteers in the wehrmacht and SS |publisher=Nuav.net |date=1940-04-09 |accessdate=2010-04-05}}</ref>

There were also many Norwegians, and those of Norwegian descent, that joined the allied forces as well as the [[Free Norwegian Forces]]. From the small group that had left Norway in June 1940 consisting of 13 ships, five aircraft and 500 men from the Royal Norwegian Navy who followed the King to the United Kingdom the force had grown by the end of the war to 58 ships and 7,500 men in service in the Norwegian Navy; 5 Squadrons of aircraft (including Spitfires, Sunderland flying boats and Mosquitos) in the newly formed Norwegian Air Force; and land forces including the [[Norwegian Independent Company 1]] & 5 Troop as well as No.10 [[British Commandos|Commandos]].

During the five years of [[Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany|Nazi occupation]], Norwegians built a [[Norwegian resistance movement|resistance movement]] which fought the German occupation forces with both civil disobedience and armed resistance including the destruction of [[Norsk Hydro]]'s [[heavy water]] plant and stockpile of heavy water at [[Vemork]], which crippled the German nuclear program (see: ''[[Norwegian heavy water sabotage]]''). More important to the [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] war effort, however, was the role of the Norwegian [[Merchant Navy|Merchant Marine]]. At the time of the [[invasion]], Norway had the fourth largest merchant marine fleet in the world. It was led by the Norwegian shipping company [[Nortraship]] under the Allies throughout the war and took part in every war operation from the [[Dunkirk evacuation|evacuation of Dunkirk]] to the [[Normandy landings]]. Each December Norway gives a [[Christmas tree]] to the [[United Kingdom]] as thanks for the British assistance during World War II. A ceremony takes place to erect the tree in London's famous [[Trafalgar Square]].<ref>{{en icon}} [http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article2137248.ece PM to light London tree], ''[[Aftenposten]]''.</ref>

=== Post-war history ===
From 1945 to 1961, the [[Norwegian Labour Party|Labour Party]] held an absolute majority in the [[parliament of Norway|parliament]]. The government, led by prime minister [[Einar Gerhardsen]], embarked on a program inspired by [[Keynesian economics]], emphasizing state financed industrialization, cooperation between [[trade union]]s and [[employers' organization]]s. Many measures of state control of the economy imposed during the war were continued, although the [[rationing]] of dairy products was lifted in 1949, while price control and rationing of housing and cars continued as long as until 1960.

The wartime alliance with [[Great Britain]] and the [[United States]] was continued in the post-war years. Although pursuing the goal of a socialist economy, the Labour Party distanced itself from the communists (especially after Soviet seizure of power in [[Czechoslovak coup d'état of 1948|Czechoslovakia in 1948]]), and strengthened its foreign policy and defence policy ties with the U.S. Norway received [[Marshall Plan]] aid from the United States starting in 1947, joined the [[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development|OEEC]] one year later and became a founding member of the [[NATO|North Atlantic Treaty Organization]] (NATO) in 1949.

Around 1975, both the proportion and absolute number of workers in industry peaked. Since then labour intensive industries and services like factory mass production and shipping have largely been outsourced.

In 1969, the [[Phillips Petroleum Company]] discovered [[petroleum]] resources at the [[Ekofisk oil field|Ekofisk]] field west of Norway. In 1973, the Norwegian government founded the State oil company, [[Statoil]]. Oil production did not provide net income until the early 1980s because of the large capital investment that was required to establish the country's petroleum industry.

Norway was a founding member of the [[Free trade areas in Europe|European Free Trade Area]] (EFTA). Two [[referendum]]s on joining the [[European Union]] failed by narrow margins in 1972 and 1994. In 1981, a Conservative government led by [[Kåre Willoch]] replaced the Labour Party with a policy of stimulating the [[stagflation|stagflated economy]] with tax cuts, economic liberalization, deregulation of markets, and measures to curb the record-high inflation (13.6% in 1981).

Norway's first female prime minister, [[Gro Harlem Brundtland]] of the Labour party, continued many of the reforms of her right-wing predecessor, while backing traditional Labour concerns such as [[social security]], high taxes, the industrialization of nature, and feminism. By the late 1990s, Norway had paid off its foreign debt and had started accumulating a [[sovereign wealth fund]]. Since the 1990s, a divisive question in politics has been how much of the income from petroleum production the government should spend, and how much it should save.

== Geography, climate, and environment ==
{{Main|Geography of Norway}}
{{See also|Geology of Norway}}
[[File:Satellite image of Norway in February 2003.jpg|thumb|right|A satellite image of continental Norway in [[winter]].]]
[[File:Inderøy-Sund-Straumen.jpg||thumb|200px|Typical Norwegian lowland landscape near the [[Trondheimsfjord]].]]
[[File:Reine Lofoten 2009.JPG||thumb|200px|[[Reine]] in [[Lofoten]], [[Northern Norway]].]]

Norway comprises the western part of [[Scandinavia]] in [[Northern Europe]]. The rugged coastline, broken by huge [[fjord]]s and thousands of [[island]]s, stretches {{convert|25000|km}} and {{convert|83000|km}} including fjords and islands. Norway shares a {{convert|1619|km|adj=on}} land border with [[Sweden]], {{convert|727|km}} with [[Finland]] and {{convert|196|km}} with [[Russia]] at the east. To the north, west and south, Norway is bordered by the [[Barents Sea]], the [[Norwegian Sea]], the [[North Sea]] and [[Skagerrak]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/no.html |title=Norway: Geography |author=[[Central Intelligence Agency]] |work=[[The World Factbook]] |accessdate=25 October 2009}}</ref>

At {{convert|385252|km2}} (including [[Svalbard]] and [[Jan Mayen]]), much of the country is dominated by mountainous or high terrain, with a great variety of natural features caused by prehistoric [[glacier]]s and varied [[topography]]. The most noticeable of these are the fjords: deep grooves cut into the land flooded by the sea following the end of the [[Ice age|Ice Age]]. The longest is [[Sognefjord]]en at {{convert|204|km}}. [[Sognefjord]]en is the world's second deepest fjord, and [[Hornindalsvatnet]] is the deepest [[lake]] in [[Europe]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/00/minifakta_en/en/ |title=Minifacts about Norway 2009: 2. Geography, climate and environment |author=[[Statistics Norway]] |accessdate=25 October 2009}}</ref>
[[permafrost|Frozen ground]] all year can be found in the higher mountain areas and in the interior of [[Finnmark]] county. [[List of glaciers in Norway|Numerous glaciers]] are found in Norway.

The land is mostly made of hard [[granite]] and [[gneiss]] rock, but [[slate]], [[sandstone]] and [[limestone]] are also common, and the lowest elevations contain marine deposits. Because of the [[Gulf Stream]] and prevailing westerlies, Norway experiences higher temperatures and more precipitation than expected at such northern latitudes, especially along the coast. The mainland experiences four distinct seasons, with colder winters and less precipitation inland. The northernmost part has a mostly maritime [[Subarctic climate]], while Svalbard has an [[Arctic]] [[tundra]] climate.

The southern and western parts of Norway experience more precipitation and have milder winters than the southeastern part. The lowlands around Oslo have the warmest and sunniest summers but also cold weather and [[snow]] in wintertime (especially inland). Average temperatures have risen the last decades, decreasing the amount of days with snow cover in the lowlands.{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}

Because of the large latitudinal range of the country and the varied topography and climate, Norway has a larger number of different [[habitat]]s than almost any other European country. There are approximately 60,000 species in Norway and adjacent waters (excluding bacteria and virus). The Norwegian Shelf large marine ecosystem is considered highly productive.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eoearth.org/article/Norwegian_Shelf_large_marine_ecosystem |title=Norwegian Shelf ecosystem |publisher=Eoearth.org |date= |accessdate=2010-05-30}}</ref>

The total number of species include 16,000 species of [[insect]]s (probably 4,000 more species yet to be described), 20,000 species of [[algae]], 1,800 species of [[lichen]], 1,050 species of [[moss]]es, 2,800 species of [[vascular plant]]s, up to 7,000 species of [[fungus|fungi]], 450 species of [[bird]]s (250 species nesting in Norway), 90 species of [[mammal]]s, 45 fresh-water species of fish, 150 salt-water species of fish, 1,000 species of fresh-water [[invertebrate]]s and 3,500 species of salt-water invertebrates.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/md/dok/nou-er/2004/nou-2004-28/6.html?id=388879 |title=NOU 2004 |publisher=Regjeringen.no |date= |accessdate=2010-05-30}}</ref> About 40,000 of these species have been described by science. The [[IUCN Red List|red list]] of 2006 encompasses 3,886 species.<ref>[http://www.artsdatabanken.no/ArticleList.aspx?m=6&amid=1831 Artsdatabanken:Norwegian Red List 2006]{{Dead link|date=May 2010}}</ref>

Seventeen species are listed mainly because they are endangered on a global scale, such as the [[European Beaver]], even if the population in Norway is not seen as endangered. There are 430 species of fungi on the red list, many of these are closely associated with the small remaining areas of old-growth forests.<ref>[http://passport.panda.org/campaigns/campaign.cfm?uNC=21699454&uCampaignId=1461 Panda.org:Norway forest heritage]{{Dead link|date=May 2010}}</ref> There are also 90 species of birds on the list and 25 species of [[mammal]]s. 1,988 current species are listed as endangered or vulnerable as of 2006; of these are 939 listed as vulnerable (VU), 734 species are listed as endangered (EN), and 285 species are listed as critically endangered (CR) in Norway, among these are the [[Gray Wolf|gray wolf]], the [[arctic Fox|arctic fox]] (healthy population on Svalbard) and the [[Pool Frog|pool frog]].

The largest predator in Norwegian waters is the [[sperm whale]], and the largest fish is the [[basking shark]]. The largest predator on land is the [[polar bear]], while the [[brown Bear|brown bear]] is the largest predator on the Norwegian mainland, where the common [[moose]] (also known as the "European Elk") is the largest animal.

Because of Norway's high [[latitude]], there are large seasonal variations in daylight. From late May to late July, the sun never completely descends beneath the horizon in areas north of the [[Arctic Circle]] (hence Norway's description as the "Land of the [[Midnight sun|Midnight Sun]]"), and the rest of the country experiences up to 20 hours of daylight per day. Conversely, from late November to late January, the sun never rises above the horizon in the north, and daylight hours are very short in the rest of the country.

Throughout Norway, one will find stunning and dramatic scenery and landscape. The west coast of southern Norway and the coast of northern Norway present some of the most visually impressive coastal sceneries in the world. [[National Geographic Society|National Geographic]] has listed the Norwegian fjords as the world's top tourist attraction.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/11/061115-heritage-sites_2.html |title=Best, Worst World Heritage Sites Ranked |work=[[National Geographic Society|National Geographic News]] |first=Hope |last=Hamashige |accessdate=25 October 2009}}</ref> The 2008 [[Environmental Performance Index]] put Norway in second place, after [[Switzerland]], based on the environmental performance of the country's policies.<ref>{{cite web |title=Environmental Performance Index 2008 |url=http://epi.yale.edu/Home |accessdate=25 January 2008 |author=Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy / Center for International Earth Science Information Network at Columbia University}}</ref>

<div class="center">
<gallery perrow="5">
File:Atnsjøen og Rondane 01.JPG|[[Rondeslottet]] in [[Rondane National Park]], [[Eastern Norway]].
File:Feigefossen Norway 2009.JPG|Feigefossen, [[Sogn og Fjordane]].
File:Muskus.jpg|[[Muskox]] in the low alpine tundra at [[Dovrefjell]].
File:islands of norway.jpg|Some of the larger [[island]]s along the coastline of northern Norway.
File:Orland6.jpg|Norway is mountainous, but there are also some flat areas like [[Jæren]], [[Toten]] and [[Ørland]]et.
</gallery>
</div>

{{wideimage|LodalenPano.jpg|800px|[[Loen]], a small village on the [[Western Norway|Western coast of Norway]].}}

== Government and politics ==
{{Main|Politics of Norway}}
{{See also|Norwegian parliamentary election, 2009}}
[[File:Harald V Norge.jpg|thumb|right|[[Harald V of Norway|Harald V]], the current [[Monarchy of Norway|King of Norway]]]]
According to the [[Constitution of Norway]], which was adopted on 17 May 1814 and inspired by the [[United States Declaration of Independence]] and [[French Revolution]] of 1776 and 1798, respectively, Norway is a [[unitary state|unitary]] [[constitutional monarchy]] with a [[parliamentary system]] of [[government]], wherein the [[Monarchy of Norway|King of Norway]] is the [[head of state]] and the [[Prime Minister of Norway|Prime Minister]] is the [[head of government]]. Power is separated between the [[legislature|legislative]], [[executive (government)|executive]] and [[judiciary|judicial]] branches of government, as defined by the Constitution, which serves as the country's supreme legal document.

The [[Norwegian Royal Family|Monarch]] officially retains executive power, however, following the introduction of a parliamentary system of government, the duties of the Monarch have since become strictly representative and ceremonial,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kongehuset.no/c27300/seksjonstekst/vis.html?tid=29977|title=The King's constitutional role |publisher=The Royal Court of Norway |date= |accessdate=2009-04-24}}</ref> such as the formal appointment and dismissal of the Prime Minister and other ministers in the executive government. Accordingly, the Monarch is [[commander-in-chief]] of the [[Norwegian Armed Forces|Norwegian armed forces]], supreme authority in the [[Church of Norway]], and serves as chief diplomatic representative abroad and a symbol of unity.

In practice, it is the Prime Minister who is responsible for the exercise of executive powers. Since his accession in 1991, [[Harald V of Norway|Harald V]] of the [[House of Glücksburg|House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg]] has been King of Norway, the first since the fourteenth century who has actually been born in the country.<ref name="norway.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.norway.org/About_Norway/policy/political/monarchy/ |title=The Monarchy |publisher=Norway.org |date=2009-11-18 |accessdate=2010-01-27}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> [[Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway]] is the legal and rightful heir to the throne and the Kingdom.

[[File:Stortinget 2009.jpg|thumb|left|250px|''The Storting'' is the [[Parliament of Norway]]]]
Constitutionally, legislative power is vested with both the government and the [[Parliament of Norway]], but the latter is the supreme legislature and a [[unicameralism|unicameral]] body.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.norway.org/About_Norway/policy/political/storting/ |title=The Storting |publisher=Norway.org |date=2009-06-10 |accessdate=2010-01-27}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> A proposition can become a law or an act by simple majority amongst the 150 representatives, who are elected on the basis of [[proportional representation]] from 19 constituencies for four-year terms. An additional 19 seats ("levelling seats") are allocated on a nationwide basis to make the representation in parliament correspond better with the popular vote.

As a result, there are currently 169 [[Member of Parliament|Members of Parliament]] altogether. There is also a 4% election threshold to gain levelling seats in Parliament. As such, Norway is fundamentally structured as a [[representative democracy]]. Effectively called the ''[[Parliament of Norway|Storting]]'', meaning ''Grand Assembly'', members of Parliament ratify [[treaty|treaties]] and can [[impeachment|impeach]] members of the government if their acts are declared unconstitutional, and as such have the power to remove them from office in case of an impeachment trial.

[[File:Jens Stoltenberg.jpg|thumb|right|[[Jens Stoltenberg]], the current [[Prime Minister of Norway]]]]

The position of [[Prime Minister of Norway|Prime Minister]], Norway's head of government, is allocated to the Member of Parliament who can obtain the [[Motion of no confidence|confidence]] of a majority in Parliament, usually the current leader of the largest political party or more effectively through a [[coalition government|coalition of parties]], as a single party normally doesn't have the support to form a government on its own. However, Norway has often been ruled by [[minority government]]s.

The Prime Minister nominates the Cabinet, traditionally drawn from members of the same political party in the Storting, to which [[responsible government|they are responsible]], and as such forms the executive government and exercises power vested to them by the Constitution.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.norway.org/About_Norway/policy/political/government/ |title=The Government |publisher=Norway.org |date=2009-06-10 |accessdate=2010-01-27}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> In order to form a government, however, more than half the membership of the Cabinet is required to belong to the Church of Norway. Currently, this means at least ten out of the 19 ministries. This has sparked controversy regarding an ongoing debate of [[separation of church and state]] in Norway. The current Prime Minister is [[Jens Stoltenberg]], the leader of the [[Norwegian Labour Party]] (AP).

[[File:Slottet i Oslo.jpg|thumb|left|[[Royal Palace, Oslo|Royal Palace]] of Norway in [[Oslo]].]]
Through the [[Norwegian Council of State|Council of State]], a [[privy council]] presided over by the Monarch, the Prime Minister and the Cabinet meet at the [[Royal Palace, Oslo|Royal Palace]] and formally consult the Monarch. Besides enacting parliamentary bills, all government bills need the formal approval by the Monarch before and after introduction to Parliament. Approval is also given by the Council to all of the Monarch's actions as head of state. Although all government and parliamentary acts are decided beforehand, the privy council is an example of another symbolic gesture the King obtains.<ref name="norway.org"/>

Members of the Storting are directly elected from [[party-list proportional representation|party-list]]s [[proportional representation]] in nineteen [[plurality voting system|plural-member]] constituencies in a national [[multi-party system]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.norway.org/About_Norway/policy/political/general/ |title=Form of Government |publisher=Norway.org |date=2009-06-10 |accessdate=2010-01-27}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> Historically, both the [[Norwegian Labour Party]] and [[Conservative Party (Norway)|Conservative Party]] have played leading political roles, while the former has remained in power since the [[Norwegian parliamentary election, 2005|2005 election]], in a [[Red-Green Coalition]] with the [[Socialist Left Party (Norway)|Socialist Left Party]] and the [[Centre Party (Norway)|Centre Party]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.123independenceday.com/norway/political-system.html |title=Political System of Norway |publisher=123independenceday.com |date= |accessdate=2010-01-27}}</ref>

Since then, both the Conservative Party and the [[Progress Party (Norway)|Progress Party]] have won great amount of seats in the Parliament, however, as of the [[Norwegian parliamentary election, 2009|2009 general election]], not sufficient enough to overthrow the coalition. This has been the result of poor cooperation between the opposition parties, including the [[Liberal Party (Norway)|Liberal Party]] and the [[Christian Democratic Party (Norway)|Christian Democratic Party]]. As such, [[Jens Stoltenberg]], the leader of the Labour Party, remains Prime Minister of Norway with the necessary majority attributed to the alliance with the Socialist Left and Centre parties.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.norway.org/About_Norway/policy/political/ |title=Political System |publisher=Norway.org |date=2009-11-18 |accessdate=2010-01-27}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

== Judicial system and law enforcement ==
Norway uses a [[civil law (legal system)|civil law system]] where laws are created and amended in Parliament and the system regulated through the [[Courts of justice of Norway|Courts of Justice of Norway]]. It consists of the [[Supreme Court of Norway|Supreme Court]] of 19 permanent judges and a [[Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Norway|Chief Justice]], [[appellate court]]s, city and [[Courts of justice of Norway#District Courts|district court]]s, and conciliation councils.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web|url=http://www.norway.org/About_Norway/policy/political/judiciary/ |title=The Judiciary |publisher=Norway.org |date=2009-06-10 |accessdate=2010-01-27}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> The [[judiciary]], although traditionally a third branch of government, is independent of executive and legislative branches. While the Prime Minister nominates Supreme Court Justices for office, their nomination must be approved by Parliament and formally confirmed by the Monarch in the Council of State. Usually, judges attached to regular courts are formally appointed by the Monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister.

The Courts' strict and formal mission is to regulate [[Courts of justice of Norway|the Norwegian judicial system]], interpret the Constitution, and as such implement the legislation adopted by Parliament and monitor the legislative and executive powers to ensure that they themselves comply with the acts of legislation that have been previously adopted.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

[[Law enforcement in Norway]] is carried out by the [[Norwegian Police Service]]. The [[Norwegian Police Service]] is a Unified National Police Service made up of 27 Police Districts and several specialist agencies like [[Norwegian National Authority for the Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime|Økokrim]] and [[Kripos]], each headed by a Chief of Police. The Police Service is headed by the [[National Police Directorate]], which in turn is subordinate to the Ministry of Justice and the Police, the Police Directorate is headed by a National Police Commissioner. The only exception is the [[Norwegian Police Security Service|Norwegian Police Security Agency]] who answers directly to the Ministry of Justice and the Police.

In its 2007 Worldwide Press Freedom Index, [[Reporters Without Borders]] ranked Norway at a shared 1st place (with Iceland) out of 169 countries.<ref>{{en icon}} [http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=24025 Worldwide Press Freedom Index 2007], [[Reporters Without Borders]].</ref> The death penalty was abolished in Norway in 1902. Death penalty for high treason in war and war-crimes was also abolished in 1979. Currently, Norway has the lowest homicide rate in the world.

== Foreign relations and military ==
{{Main|Foreign relations of Norway|Norwegian Armed Forces}}
{{See also|Norway and the European Union}}
[[File:KNM Fridtjof Nansen-2006-06-01-side.jpg|thumb|left|[[Royal Norwegian Navy]] [[Fridtjof Nansen class frigate|''Fridtjof Nansen'' class frigate]]]]

Norway maintains embassies in 86 countries.<ref>[http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/ud/dok/veiledninger/2005/Norges-utenriksstasjoner.html?id=88166&epslanguage=NO List of Norwegian embassies at the website of the Norwegian ministry of foreign affairs]{{Dead link|date=March 2009}}</ref> 60 countries maintain an embassy in Norway, all of them in the capital, Oslo.<ref>[http://www.regjeringen.no/upload/UD/Vedlegg/Protokoll/adrliste%20Norge%2012%20okt.xls List of foreign embassies in Norway at the website of the Norwegian ministry of foreign affairs]{{Dead link|date=March 2009}}</ref>

Norway is a founding member of the [[United Nations]] (UN), the [[NATO|North Atlantic Treaty Organization]] (NATO), the [[Council of Europe]] and the [[European Free Trade Association]] (EFTA). Scandinavia has traditionally been considered more reluctant in relation to the process of [[European integration]] than other European countries. Norway did however follow suit when neighbouring Nordic countries issued applications for accession to the [[European Union]] (EU) in 1962, 1967 og 1992, respectively. While [[Denmark]], [[Sweden]] and [[Finland]] obtained membership, the treaties of accession which had been negotiated were rejected by the Norwegian electorate in 1972 and 1994. After the failed 1994 referendum, Norway maintained its membership in the [[European Economic Area]] (EEA), an arrangement which had been seen as a prerequisite for countries about to [[1995 enlargement of the European Union|accede to the EU in 1995]]. This continues to grant the country access to the [[Single market of the European Union|internal market]] of the Union, on the condition that Norway implements those of the Union's pieces of legislation which are relevant to the internal market (counting approximately seven thousand as of 2010)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://intportal.vaf.no/hoved.aspx?m=2761&amid=49981 |title=Refleksjoner fra Brussel - Hospitering ved Sørlandets Europakontor - Vest-Agder Fylkeskommune |publisher=Intportal.vaf.no |date= |accessdate=2010-08-29}}</ref> Successive Norwegian governments have, since 1994, requested Norway's participation in parts of the EU's cooperation which go beyond the provisions of the EEA agreement. Non-voting participation by Norway has been granted in for instance the Union's [[Common Security and Defence Policy]], the [[Schengen Agreement]], the [[European Defence Agency]] as well as 19 separate programmes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eu-norge.org/en/Norges_forhold_til_EU/deltakelse/EU_programmer/ |title=EU-programmer |publisher=Eu-norge.org |date=2009-06-30 |accessdate=2010-08-29}}</ref>

[[File:2 norwegian Leopard tanks in the snow.jpg|thumb|Norwegian [[Leopard 1|Leopard]] tanks in the snow in [[Målselv]].]]
Norway has been considered a notable participant in [[international development]], having been heavily involved diplomatically with the ill-fated [[Oslo Accords]] regarding [[Arab–Israeli conflict|the longtime conflict]] between [[Israel]] and [[Palestinian people|Palestinians]] in the [[Middle East]].

The [[Norwegian Armed Forces]] currently numbers about 23,000 personnel, including civilian employees. According to the current (as of 2009) mobilization plans, the strength during full mobilization is approximately 83,000 combatant personnel. Norway has [[conscription]] for males (6–12 months of training) and voluntary service for females.<ref name=NDFnumbers>{{cite web |url=http://www.mil.no/languages/english/start/facts/article.jhtml?articleID=32061 |title= NDF official numbers |publisher=NDF |accessdate=2009-04-22}}</ref> The Armed Forces are subordinate to the [[Norwegian Ministry of Defence]] and the Commander-in-Chief is [[Harald V of Norway|King Harald V]]. The military of Norway is divided into the following branches: the [[Norwegian Army|Army]], the [[Royal Norwegian Navy|Royal Navy]], the [[Royal Norwegian Air Force|Royal Air Force]] and the [[Home Guard (Norway)|Home Guard]].

Partly due to Norway's failure to maintain its traditional policy of neutrality in World War II (joining the Allied war effort after being invaded by [[Nazi Germany]] in April 1940), the country was one of the founding nations of the [[NATO|North Atlantic Treaty Organization]] (NATO) on 4 April 1949. At present, Norway contributes in the [[International Security Assistance Force]] (ISAF) in [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|Afghanistan]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mil.no/languages/english/start/general/ |title=Forsvarsnett: Norwegian forces abroad |accessdate=2008-09-02 |publisher=www.mil.no}}</ref> Additionally, Norway has contributed in several missions in contexts of the United Nations, NATO, and the [[Common Security and Defence Policy]] of the European Union.

== Administrative divisions ==
{{Main|Administrative divisions of Norway|Counties of Norway|Municipalities of Norway|Cities of Norway}}
Norway, a [[unitary state]], is divided into nineteen first-level administrative [[county|counties]] (''fylker''). The counties are administrated through directly elected county assemblies who elect the County Governor. Additionally, the [[Norwegian Royal Family|King]] and government are represented in every county by a [[County governor (Norway)|fylkesmann]], who effectively acts as a [[Governor]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.norway.org/About_Norway/policy/political/local/ |title=Local Government |publisher=Norway.org |date=2009-06-10 |accessdate=2010-01-27}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> As such, the Government is directly represented at a local level through the County Governors’ offices. The counties are then sub-divided into 430 second-level [[municipality|municipalities]] (''kommuner''), which in turn are administrated by directly elected municipal council, headed by a [[mayor]] and a small executive cabinet. The capital of [[Oslo]] is considered both a county and a municipality. Norway also has two integral overseas territories, [[Jan Mayen]] and [[Svalbard]]. There are three [[Antarctica|Antarctic]] and [[Subantarctic]] [[dependent territory|dependencies]]: [[Bouvet Island]], [[Peter I Island]] and [[Queen Maud Land]].

In addition, there are 96 settlements with [[List of towns and cities in Norway|city]] status in Norway. In most cases, the city borders are coterminous with the borders of their respective municipalities. Often, Norwegian city municipalities include large non-built up areas; for example, Oslo municipality contains large forests, located north and southeast of the city, and over half of Bergen municipality consists of mountainous areas.<ref>{{cite web
| last =
| first =
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title = Kvartalsvise befolkningsendringer
| work =
| publisher = [[Statistics Norway]]
| date =
| url = http://www.ssb.no/folkendrkv/
| doi =
| accessdate = 10-09-2008
|language=Norwegian}}</ref>

[[File:Map Norway political-geo.png|thumb|300px|A geopolitical map of Norway, showing the 19 [[Counties of Norway|fylker]], the [[Svalbard]] (Spitsbergen) and [[Jan Mayen]] islands, which are part of the Norwegian kingdom.]]

The counties of Norway are:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! scope="col" | ISO-code
! scope="col" | Arms
! scope="col" | County (fylke)
! scope="col" | Administrative centre
! scope="col" | Most populous municipality
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 01
| [[File:Østfold våpen.svg|18px]]
| [[Østfold]]
| [[Sarpsborg]]
| [[Fredrikstad]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 02
| [[File:Akershus våpen.svg|18px]]
| [[Akershus]]
| [[Oslo]]
| [[Bærum]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 03
| [[File:Oslo komm.svg|18px|]]
| [[Oslo]]
| [[Oslo|City of Oslo]]
| [[Oslo]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 04
| [[File:Hedmark våpen.svg|18px|]]
| [[Hedmark]]
| [[Hamar]]
| [[Ringsaker]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 05
| [[File:Oppland våpen.svg|18px|]]
| [[Oppland]]
| [[Lillehammer]]
| [[Gjøvik]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 06
| [[File:Buskerud våpen.svg|18px|]]
| [[Buskerud]]
| [[Drammen]]
| [[Drammen]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 07
| [[File:Vestfold våpen.svg|18px|]]
| [[Vestfold]]
| [[Tønsberg]]
| [[Sandefjord]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 08
| [[File:Telemark våpen.svg|18px|]]
| [[Telemark]]
| [[Skien]]
| [[Skien]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 09
| [[File:Aust-Agder vapen.svg|18px|]]
| [[Aust-Agder]]
| [[Arendal]]
| [[Arendal]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 10
| [[File:Vest-Agder våpen.svg|18px|]]
| [[Vest-Agder]]
| [[Kristiansand]]
| [[Kristiansand]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 11
| [[File:Rogaland våpen.svg|18px|]]
| [[Rogaland]]
| [[Stavanger]]
| [[Stavanger]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 12
| [[File:Hordaland vapen.svg|18px|]]
| [[Hordaland]]
| [[Bergen]]
| [[Bergen]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 13
| [[File:Sogn og Fjordane våpen.svg|18px|]]
| [[Sogn og Fjordane]]
| [[Leikanger]]
| [[Førde]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 14
| [[File:Møre og Romsdal våpen.svg|18px|]]
| [[Møre og Romsdal]]
| [[Molde]]
| [[Ålesund]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 15
| [[File:Sør-Trøndelag våpen.svg|18px|]]
| [[Sør-Trøndelag]]
| [[Trondheim]]
| [[Trondheim]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 16
| [[File:Nord-Trøndelag våpen.svg|18px|]]
| [[Nord-Trøndelag]]
| [[Steinkjer]]
| [[Stjørdal]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 17
| [[File:Nordland våpen.svg|18px|]]
| [[Nordland]]
| [[Bodø]]
| [[Bodø]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 18
| [[File:Coat of Arms of Troms.svg|18px|]]
| [[Troms]]
| [[Tromsø]]
| [[Tromsø]]
|-
! scope="row" style="text-align: left;" | 19
| [[File:Finnmark våpen.svg|18px|]]
| [[Finnmark]]
| [[Vadsø]]
| [[Alta, Norway|Alta]]
|}

===Largest cities===
{{Largest cities of Norway}}

== Economy ==
{{Main|Economy of Norway|Energy in Norway|European Economic Area}}
[[File:GDP Norway 1865 to 2004.PNG|thumb|right|GDP and GDP growth]]
Norwegians enjoy the second highest [[List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita|GDP per-capita]] (after [[Luxembourg]]) and third highest [[List of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita|GDP (PPP) per-capita]] in the world. Norway maintained first place in the world in the [[United Nations Development Programme|UNDP]] [[Human Development Index]] (HDI) for six consecutive years (2001–2006),<ref name="HDI" /> and then reclaimed this position in 2009.<ref name="HDI2" />

The Norwegian economy is an example of a [[mixed economy]], a prosperous capitalist welfare state featuring a combination of [[free market]] activity and large state ownership in certain key sectors. The state has large ownership positions in key industrial sectors, such as the strategic [[petroleum]] sector ([[Statoil]]), hydroelectric energy production ([[Statkraft]]), aluminium production ([[Norsk Hydro]]), the largest Norwegian bank ([[DnB NOR]]), and telecommunication provider ([[Telenor]]). Through these big companies, the government controls approximately 30% of the stock values at the Oslo Stock Exchange. When non-listed companies are included, the state has even higher share in ownership (mainly from direct oil license ownership).
Norway is a major [[shipping]] nation and has the world's 6th largest [[Ship transport|merchant fleet]], with 1,412 Norwegian-owned merchant vessels.

[[File:Bryggen (6-2007).jpg|thumb|left|[[Bryggen]] in Bergen is on the [[List of World Heritage Sites in Europe|list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites]].]]

Referendums in 1972 and [[Norwegian European Union membership referendum, 1994|1994]] indicated that the [[Norwegians|Norwegian people]] wished to remain outside the [[European Union]] (EU). However, Norway, together with [[Iceland]] and [[Liechtenstein]], participates in the [[European Union]]'s single market via the [[European Economic Area]] (EEA) agreement. The EEA Treaty between the [[European Union]] countries and the [[European Free Trade Association|EFTA]] countries– transposed into Norwegian law via "EØS-loven"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lovdata.no/all/nl-19921127-109.html |title=EØS-loven&nbsp;— EØSl. Lov om gjennomføring i norsk rett av hoveddelen i avtale om Det europeiske økonomiske samarbeidsområde (EØS) m.v. (EØS-loven) |publisher=Lovdata.no |date= |accessdate=2009-02-14}}</ref>– describes the procedures for implementing European Union rules in Norway and the other EFTA countries. This makes Norway a highly integrated member of most sectors of the EU internal market. However, some sectors, such as agriculture, oil and fish, are not wholly covered by the EEA Treaty. Norway has also acceded to the [[Schengen Agreement]] and several other intergovernmental agreements between the EU member states.

[[File:Fredvang Lofoten 2009 2.JPG|thumb|right|Agriculture is a significant sector, in spite of the mountainous landscape ([[Flakstad]])]]

The country is richly endowed with natural resources including [[petroleum]], [[hydropower]], [[fish]], [[forestry|forests]], and [[mineral]]s. Large reserves of petroleum and [[natural gas]] were discovered in the 1960s, which led to a boom in the economy. Norway has obtained one of the highest standards of living in the world in part by having a large amount of natural resources compared to the size of the population. The Norwegian welfare state makes public health care free, and parents have 12 months paid<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nav.no/Familie/Svangerskap%2C+f%C3%B8dsel+og+adopsjon/Foreldrepenger+ved+f%C3%B8dsel/Foreldrepenger+ved+f%C3%B8dsel/805369034.cms |title=NAV - Foreldrepenger ved fødsel |publisher=Nav.no |date=2009-07-01 |accessdate=2010-01-27}}</ref> parental leave. The income that the state receives from natural resources includes a significant contribution from petroleum production and the substantial and well-managed income related to this sector. Norway has a very low unemployment rate, currently 3.1%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.norwaypost.no/content/view/22427/ |title=The Norway Post - Declining unemplyment rate |publisher=Norwaypost.no |date= |accessdate=2010-01-27}}</ref> The hourly productivity levels, as well as average hourly wages in Norway are among the highest in the world. The [[egalitarianism|egalitarian]] values of the Norwegian society ensure that the wage difference between the lowest paid worker and the CEO of most companies is much smaller than in comparable western economies. This is also evident in [[List of countries by income equality|Norway's low Gini coefficient]].

Cost of living is about 30% higher in Norway than in the United States and 25% higher than the United Kingdom.
The standard of living in Norway is among the highest in the world. [[Foreign Policy|Foreign Policy Magazine]] ranks Norway last in its [[List of countries by Failed States Index|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.

=== Resources ===
[[File:StatfjordA(Jarvin1982).jpg|thumb|left|Oil production has been a big part of the Norwegian economy since the 1970s ([[Statfjord oil field]])]]
Export revenues from oil and gas have risen to 45% of total exports and constitute more than 20% of the [[Gross domestic product|GDP]].<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Norway's Bureau of Statistics |url=http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/00/norge_en/sekundaer_en.pdf |format=PDF|title=This is Norway&nbsp;— Secondary Industries |accessdate=2008-06-20}}</ref> Norway is the fifth largest oil exporter and third largest gas exporter in the world, but it is not a member of the OPEC. To reduce over-heating in economy from oil revenues and minimize uncertainty from volatility in oil price, and to provide cushion for the effect of aging of the population, the Norwegian government in 1995 established the [[sovereign wealth fund]] ([[The Government Pension Fund of Norway|"Government Pension Fund&nbsp;— Global"]]), which would be funded with oil revenues, including taxes, dividends, sales revenues and licensing fees.

The government controls its petroleum resources through a combination of state ownership in major operators in the oil fields (with approximately 62% ownership in [[Statoil]] in 2007) and the fully state-owned [[Petoro]], which has a market value of about twice Statoil, and [[State's Direct Financial Interest|SDFI]]. Finally, the government controls licensing of exploration and production of fields. The fund invests in developed financial markets outside Norway. The budgetary rule ("Handlingsregelen") is to spend no more than 4% of the fund each year (assumed to be the normal yield from the fund ).

By January 2006, [[the Government Pension Fund of Norway]] controlled assets valued at US$200 billion. During the first half of 2007, the pension fund became the largest fund in Europe, with assets of about US$300 billion (equivalent to over US$62,000 per capita). The savings equal the Norwegian GDP and are the largest capital reserve per capita of any nation as of April 2007. Projections indicate that the Norwegian pension fund may become the largest capital fund in the world. Currently it is the second-largest state-owned [[sovereign wealth fund]], second only to the [[Abu Dhabi Investment Authority]]; Conservative estimates tell that the fund may reach US$800–900 billion by 2017. As of November 2009, the size of the fund is approximately US$455 billion, and it controls approximately 1.25% of all listed shares in Europe and more than 1% of the all the publicly traded shares in the world. The Norwegian Central Bank operates investment offices in London, New York and Shanghai. New guidelines (implemented in 2007) allow the fund to invest up to 60% of the capital in shares (maximum of 40% prior), while the rest may be placed in bonds and real-estate. As the stock markets tumbled in September 2008, the fund was able to buy more shares at low prices. In this way, the losses incurred by the market turmoil was recuperated by November 2009.

[[File:Ewf 7092 noorwegen 2007.jpg|thumb|right|[[Stockfish]] has been exported from [[Lofoten]] in Norway for at least 1,000 years.]]

Other [[natural resource]]-based economies, such as [[Russia]], are trying to learn from Norway by establishing similar funds. The investment choices of the Norwegian fund are directed by [[Socially responsible investing|ethical guidelines]]; for example, the fund is not allowed to invest in companies that produce parts for nuclear weapons. The highly [[transparency (market)|transparent]] investment scheme is lauded by the international community.

The future size of the fund is of course closely linked to the price of oil and to developments in international financial markets. The Norwegian trade surplus for 2008 reached approximately US$80 billion. With an enormous amount of cash invested in international financial markets, Norway has financial muscles to avert many of the worst effects of the financial crisis that hit most countries in the fall of 2008. As most western countries struggle with burgeoning foreign debt, Norway remains an island of stowed-away wealth, financial stability and economic power to meet the challenges of the worldwide economic crisis. In spite of the crisis, Norway still runs a 9% state budget surplus, being the only western country to run a surplus as of July 2009.

In 2000, the government sold one-third of the state-owned oil company Statoil in an [[Initial public offering|IPO]]. The next year, the main telecom supplier, [[Telenor]], was listed on [[Oslo Stock Exchange]]. The state also owns significant shares of Norway's largest bank, [[DnB NOR]] and the airline [[Scandinavian Airlines|SAS]]. Since 2000, [[economic growth]] has been rapid, pushing unemployment down to levels not seen since the early 1980s (unemployment in 2007: 1.3%). The international financial crisis has primarily affected the industrial sector, but it is unlikely that unemployment will surpass 3,5% in 2009–2010. Norway is among the least affected countries of the international economic downturn. Neighbouring [[Sweden]] is experiencing substantially higher actual and projected unemployment numbers as a result of the ongoing recession, and in the 1st quarter of 2009 the GNP of Norway surpassed Sweden's for the first time in history, despite a population numbering about half of Sweden's.

Norway is also the world's second largest exporter of fish (in value, after China).<ref name="GGT"/> [[hydroelectricity|Hydroelectric plants]] generate roughly 98–99% of Norway's electric power.<ref>{{cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Binge and purge |url=http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12970769 |quote=98–99% of Norway’s electricity comes from hydroelectric plants. |work=[[The Economist]] |year=2009 |accessdate=2009-01-30 }}</ref>

== Transport ==
{{Main|Transport in Norway|Rail transport in Norway|List of airports in Norway}}
Due to the low population density, narrow shape and long coastlines, [[public transport]] in Norway is less developed than in many [[Europe]]an countries, especially outside the cities. As such, Norway has old [[Ship transport|water transport]] traditions, but the [[Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications]] has in recent years implemented [[rail transport|rail]], [[road transport|road]] and [[aviation|air transport]] through numerous subsidiaries in order to develop the country's infrastructure.<ref>Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communication, 2003: 3</ref>

[[File:NSB BM73 at Oslo S 20080327.jpg|thumb|[[Norwegian State Railways|NSB]] [[NSB Class 73|type 73]] at [[Oslo Central Station]], the largest railway station in the country.]]

Norway's main railway network consists of {{convert|4114|km|mi}} of [[standard gauge]] lines, of which {{convert|242|km|mi}} is [[double track]] and {{convert|64|km|mi}} [[high-speed rail]] (210&nbsp;km/h) while 62% is electrified at {{15 kV AC}}. The railways transported 56,827,000 passengers 2,956 million [[Units of transportation measurement|passenger kilometre]]s and 24,783,000 tonnes of cargo 3,414 million [[Units of transportation measurement|tonne kilometre]]s.<ref>Norwegian National Rail Administration, 2008: 4</ref> The entire network is owned by the [[Norwegian National Rail Administration]],<ref name=jbvabout>{{cite web |url=http://www.jernbaneverket.no/english/about/ |title=About |author=Norwegian National Rail Administration |accessdate=2008-07-15| archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20071216163520/http://www.jernbaneverket.no/english/about/| archivedate = December 16, 2007}}</ref> while all domestic passenger trains except the [[Flytoget|Airport Express Train]] are operated by [[Norwegian State Railways|Norges Statsbaner]] (NSB).<ref>Norwegian National Rail Administration, 2008: 13</ref> Several companies operate freight trains.<ref>Norwegian National Rail Administration, 2008: 16</ref>

Investment in new infrastructure and maintenance is financed through the [[State budget of Norway|state budget]],<ref name=jbvabout /> and subsidies are provided for passenger train operations.<ref name=minpt>{{cite web |url=http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/sd/tema/kollektivtransport.html?id=1387 |title=Kollektivtransport |author=Norwegian Ministry of Transport |accessdate=2008-07-15 |language=Norwegian}}</ref> NSB operates long-haul trains, including [[NSB Night Train|night trains]], regional services and four [[commuter rail|commuter train]] systems, around [[Oslo Commuter Rail|Oslo]], [[Trøndelag Commuter Rail|Trondheim]], [[Bergen Commuter Rail|Bergen]] and [[Jæren Line|Stavanger]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nsb.no/about_nsb/train_facts/ |title=Train facts |author=[[Norwegian State Railways|Norges Statsbaner]] |accessdate=2008-07-15| archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080612161348/http://www.nsb.no/about_nsb/train_facts/| archivedate = June 12, 2008}}</ref>

[[File:OslPlane.JPG|thumb|left|[[Norwegian Air Shuttle|Norwegian]] and [[Scandinavian Airlines|Scandinavian]] aircraft at [[Oslo Airport, Gardermoen]].]]

There are approximately {{convert|92946|km|mi}} of [[road]] network in Norway, of which {{convert|72033|km|mi}} are paved and {{convert|664|km|mi}} are [[motorway]].<ref name=cia>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/no.html |title=Norway |author=[[Central Intelligence Agency]] |year=2008 |accessdate=2008-07-15}}</ref> There are four tiers of road routes; national, county, municipal and private, with only the national roads numbered en route. The most important national routes are part of the [[International E-road network|European route]] scheme, and the two most prominent are the [[European route E6|E6]] going north-south through the entire country, while [[European route E39|E39]] follows the West Coast. National and county roads are managed by the [[Norwegian Public Roads Administration]].<ref>Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications, 2003: 15</ref>

Of the 97 airports in Norway,<ref name=cia /> 52 are public,<ref name=avinorpassengers>{{cite web |url=http://www.avinor.no/tridionimages/2007%20Passasjerer_tcm181-51564.xls |title=2007 Passasjerer |author=Avinor |year=2008 |accessdate=2008-07-15 |language=Norwegian}}</ref> and 46 are operated by the state-owned [[Avinor]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.avinor.no/en/avinor/aboutavinor |title=About Avinor |author=[[Avinor]] |accessdate=2008-07-15}}</ref> [[List of the largest airports in the Nordic countries|Seven airports]] have more than one million passengers annually.<ref name=avinorpassengers /> 41,089,675 passengers passed through Norwegian airports in 2007, of which 13,397,458 were international.<ref name=avinorpassengers/>

The central gateway by air to Norway is [[Oslo Airport, Gardermoen]],<ref name=avinorpassengers /> located about {{convert|50|km|mi}} north of Oslo with departures to most European countries and some intercontinental destinations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.osl.no/index.asp?startID=&topExpand=1000314&subExpand=1000318&menuid=1001352&menuid_1=1001348&pid_1=1001332&l=3&languagecode=9&strUrl=//templates/applications/internet/showobject.asp?infoobjectid=1006072 |title=Car |author=[[Oslo Airport, Gardermoen|Oslo Lufthavn]] |accessdate=2008-07-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.osl.no/index.asp?startID=&strUrl=//templates/applications/internet/showobject.asp?infoobjectid=1010847&showad=1&menuid=1001345&menuid_1=1001345&topExpand=1000314&subExpand=1000317&pid_1=1001332&l=2&languagecode=9 |title=International scheduled routes from Oslo |author=[[Oslo Airport, Gardermoen|Oslo Lufthavn]] |accessdate=2008-07-15}}</ref> It is [[airline hub|hub]] for the two major Norwegian [[airline]]s [[Scandinavian Airlines|Scandinavian Airlines System]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sas.no/no/Misc/Service_Links_Container/Rutekart/ |title=Rutekart |author=[[Scandinavian Airlines|Scandinavian Airlines System]] |accessdate=2008-07-15}}</ref> and [[Norwegian Air Shuttle]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ip.norwegian.no/ip/RouteMapAction.aspx?app_language=en-GB |title=Route Map |author=[[Norwegian Air Shuttle]] |accessdate=2008-07-15}}</ref> and for regional aircraft from Western Norway.<ref name=wideroemap>{{cite web |url=http://www.wideroe.no/modules/module_123/proxy.asp?D=2&C=642&I=4274&language=NO |title=Våre destinasjoner |author=[[Widerøe]] |accessdate=2008-07-15}}</ref>

== Education ==
{{Main|Education in Norway}}
[[File:NTNU Trondheim Mainbuilding.jpg|thumb|right|The main building of the [[Norwegian University of Science and Technology]] in [[Trondheim]].]]
[[Higher education in Norway]] is offered by a range of seven [[List of universities in Norway|universities]], five specialized colleges, 25 [[university college]]s as well as a range of private colleges. Education follows the [[Bologna Process]] involving [[Bachelor's degree|Bachelor]] (3 years), [[Master's degree|Master]] (2 years) and [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]] (3 years) degrees.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bologna-berlin2003.de/pdf/Norway1.pdf |title=Norway - Implementation of the elements of the Bologna Process |format=PDF |date= |accessdate=2010-05-30}}</ref> Acceptance is offered after finishing [[Education in Norway|upper secondary school]] with general study competence.

Public education is virtually free, regardless of nationality,<ref>Tuition Fees - Study in Norway http://www.studyinnorway.no/sn/Tuition-Scholarships/Tuition-fees Retrieved June 21, 2010.</ref> with an academic year with two [[Academic term|semester]]s, from August to December and from January to June. The ultimate responsibility for the education lies with the [[Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research]].

== Demography ==
{{Historical populations
|footnote = '''''Source''': [http://www.ssb.no/fob2001/nos_d316/ Statistics Norway].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ssb.no/emner/02/02/folkendrhist/tabeller/tab/00.html |title=Tabell 0 Hele landet. Folkemengde 1. januar og endringer i året. 1951 |language={{no icon}} |publisher=Ssb.no |date= |accessdate=2010-01-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/02/03/folkfram_en/tab-2010-06-15-01-en.html |title=Population 1 January. Registered 2010. Projected 2011-2060 in fourteen variants. 1 000 |language={{en icon}} |publisher=Ssb.no |date= |accessdate=2010-01-27}}</ref>
|shading = off
|1500|140000
|1665|440000
|1735|616109
|1801|883603
|1855|1490047
|1900|2240032
|1950|3278546
|2000|4478497
|2050?|6627000
}}
{{Main|Demography of Norway}}
[[File:Basic demographics of Norway 1900 2000.PNG|thumb|left|Demographics in Norway]]
Norway's population numbers roughly 4.8 million.<ref name="Population" /> Most Norwegians are [[Norwegians|ethnic Norwegians]], a North [[Germanic peoples|Germanic]] people.

The [[Sami people]] traditionally inhabit central and northern parts of Norway and Sweden, as well as in northern Finland and in Russia on the Kola Peninsula. Another national minority are the [[Kven people]] who are the descendants of Finnish speaking people that moved to northern Norway in the 18th up to the 20th century. Both the Sami and the Kven were subjected to a strong assimilation policy by the Norwegian government from the 19th century up to the 1970s.<ref>Eivind Bråstad Jensen. 1991. Fra fornorskningspolitikk mot kulturelt mangfold. Nordkalott-Forlaget.</ref> Because of this "[[Norwegianization]] process", many families of Sami or Kven ancestry now self-identify as ethnic Norwegian.<ref>I. Bjørklund, T. Brantenberg, H. Eidheim, J.A. Kalstad and D. Storm. 2002. Australian Indigenous Law Reporter (AILR) 1 7(1)</ref>

Other groups recognized as national minorities of Norway are [[Jews]], [[Forest Finns]], and [[Norwegian and Swedish Travellers|Norwegian Romani Travellers]] (a branch of the [[Romani people]], not to be confused with non-recognized [[Indigenous Norwegian Travellers]]{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}}).

In recent years, [[immigration]] has accounted for more than half of Norway's population growth. According to [[Statistics Norway]] (SSB), a record 61,200 immigrants arrived in the country in 2007—35% higher than 2006. At the beginning of 2010, there were 552,313 persons in Norway with an immigrant background (i.e. immigrants, or born of immigrant parents), comprising 11.4% of the total population. 210,725 were from Western countries (EU/EFTA, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand) and 341,588 were from other countries. The largest immigrant groups by country of origin, in order of size, are [[Poles]], [[Swedes]], [[Pakistani Norwegians|Pakistanis]], [[Demographics of Iraq|Iraqis]], [[Somali people|Somalis]], [[Germans]], [[Vietnamese Norwegian|Vietnamese]], and [[Danes]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/02/01/10/innvbef_en/ |title=Immigrant population |publisher=Ssb.no |date= |accessdate=2010-05-24}}</ref>

[[Pakistani Norwegians|Norwegians of Pakistani descent]] are the largest visible minority group in Norway, and most of their 31,000 members live around Oslo. The Iraqi immigrant population has shown a large increase in recent years. After the enlargement of the EU in 2004, there has also been an influx of immigrants from Central and Eastern Europe, particularly [[Poland]]. The largest increase in 2007 was of immigrants from [[Poland]], [[Germany]], [[Sweden]], [[Lithuania]] and [[Russia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/02/02/folkendrkv_en/ |title=Population statistics |publisher=Ssb.no |date= |accessdate=2009-02-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/02/01/10/utlstat_en/ |title=Foreign citizens, 1st January 2004 |publisher=Ssb.no |date=2004-01-01 |accessdate=2009-03-08}}</ref>

There are almost 4.7 million [[Norwegian American]]s according to the 2006 U.S. census.<ref>{{cite web|author=American FactFinder, United States Census Bureau |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ADPTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=01000US&-ds_name=ACS_2006_EST_G00_&-_lang=en&-_caller=geoselect&-format= |title=Census 2006 ACS Ancestry estimates |publisher=Factfinder.census.gov |date= |accessdate=2010-05-30}}</ref> The number of Americans of Norwegian descent living in the U.S. today is roughly equal to the current population of Norway. In the 2006 Canadian census, 432,515 Canadian citizens claimed [[Norwegian Canadian|Norwegian ancestry]].<ref name="Canada">{{cite web|url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/ethnic/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=01&Data=Count&Table=2&StartRec=1&Sort=3&Display=All&CSDFilter=5000|title= Ethnic origins, 2006 counts, for Canada, provinces and territories - 20% sample data|year=2006|work=Statistics Canada|accessdate=2009-09-16}}</ref>

=== Immigration ===
{{Main|Immigration to Norway}}

=== Religion ===
{{Main|Religion in Norway}}
{{Clear}}
{| cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" rules="all" style="width:200px; float:right; margin:1em; background:#fff; border:2px solid #aaa; font-size:100%;"
|- style="background:#f0f0f0; text-align:center;"
! Year!! Population!! Church of Norway Members!! Percentage !! Members of other Christian communities!! Percentage
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2001 || 4.503.436 || 3,901,566 || 86.6% || ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2005 || 4.606.363 || 3,938,723 || 85.5% || 215,090 || 4.7%
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2006 || 4.640.219 || 3,871,006 || 83.4% || 216,141 || 4.7%
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2007 || 4.681.134 || 3,873,847 || 82.8% || 225,507 || 4.8%
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2008 || 4.737.171 || 3,874,823 || 81.8% || 226,969 || 4.8%
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2009 || 4.799.252 || 3,848,841 || 80.2% ||234,772 || 4.9%
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2010 || || || 79.2% <ref name="kirken.no">{{cite web|url=http://www.kirken.no/index.cfm?event=doLink&famId=230 |title=Membership as per Church Of Norway website |publisher=Kirken.no |date= |accessdate=2010-08-08}}</ref> || ||
|- style="text-align:center;"
| colspan=6 |<small>statistical data as per 1 January<ref>{{cite web|url=http://statbank.ssb.no/statistikkbanken/Default_FR.asp?PXSid=0&nvl=true&PLanguage=1&tilside=selectvarval/define.asp&Tabellid=06929 |title=Statistics 2005 -2008 |publisher=Statbank.ssb.no |date= |accessdate=2010-05-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ssb.no/kirke_kostra_en/tab-2009-06-16-01-en.html |title=Table 1 Church of Norway. Members and church ceremonies, by diocese. 2005-2008 |language={{no icon}} |publisher=Ssb.no |date= |accessdate=2010-02-04}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
Source: Statistisk sentralbyrå (Statistic Norway)</small> <ref name="Church of Norway. Members and church ceremonies, by diocese. 2005-2009">{{cite web|url=http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/07/02/10/kirke_kostra_en/tab-2010-06-16-01-en.html |title=Church of Norway. Members and church ceremonies, by diocese. 2005-2009 |publisher=[[Statistics Norway]] |date= |accessdate=2010-06-20}}</ref>
|}
Norwegians are registered at baptism as members of the Church of Norway, many remain in the state church to be able to use services such as [[baptism]], [[confirmation]], marriage and burial, rites which have strong cultural standing in Norway.

79.2% <ref name="kirken.no"/> of Norwegians were members of the state [[Church of Norway]] as of January 1, 2010, a 1% drop compared to the year before and down nearly 3% from two years earlier. However, only 20% of Norwegians say that religion occupies an important place in their life (according to a recent [[The Gallup Organization|Gallup poll]]), making Norway one of the most secular countries of the world (only in Estonia, Sweden and Denmark were the percentage of people who considered religion to be important lower).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://02varvara.wordpress.com/2009/02/11/gallup-poll-results-reveal-estonia-as-the-most-atheistic-country-in-the-world/ |title=Gallup Poll Results Reveal Estonia as the Most Atheistic Country in the World « Voices from Russia |publisher=02varvara.wordpress.com |date= |accessdate=2009-07-08}}</ref> In the early 1990s, it was estimated that between 4.7% – 5.3% of Norwegians attended church on a weekly basis.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://209.85.129.132/search?q=cache:xFytiwM0GLMJ:www.dawnnorge.no/dawnnorge/vedlegg/dawn_eng_22.08.2003_00.40.49.doc+%22The+Norwegian+DAWN+Report+1995%22&cd=1&hl=ro&ct=clnk&gl=ro |title=The People In The Church |publisher=209.85.129.132 |date= |accessdate=2009-07-08}}</ref> This low figure dropped to a mere 2 % by 2008, putting Norway at the bottom of the church attendance rankings in Europe <ref>[http://www.newsinenglish.no/News/nooneinchurch.html Norway nearly no one in church]</ref> In 2010, Norway statistics reported still a further drop in church attendance during 2009<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ssb.no/kirke_kostra_en/ |title=KOSTRA (Municipality-State-Reporting): Church |language={{no icon}} |publisher=Ssb.no |date= |accessdate=2010-08-29}}</ref><ref>[http://www.ssb.no/kirke_kostra_en/tab-2010-06-16-02-en.html Church of Norway. Church services and participants, by diocese. 2005-2009 (Corrected 28 June 2010) ]</ref>
According to the somewhat outdated recent Eurobarometer Poll 2005, at that time 32% of Norwegian citizens responded that "they believe there is a god".<ref name=EUROBAROMETER>{{cite web |url=http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_225_report_en.pdf |title=Eurobarometer on Social Values, Science and technology 2005 |page=11 |format=PDF |accessdate=2007-05-05}}</ref> This aligns with another study by Gustafsson and Pettersson (2002), according to which 72% of Norwegians do not believe in a 'personal God.'<ref>Gustafsson, Goran and Thorleif Pettersson. Folkkyrk och religios pluraism ?den nordiska religiosa modellen. Stockholm, Sweden: Verbum Forlag</ref>
[[File:Nidarosdomen ne april 2006.jpg|thumb|[[Nidaros Cathedral]] in [[Trondheim]]]]

Just above 10% of the population is unaffiliated (per 1 January 2010, 79.2%<ref name="kirken.no"/> were members of the Church of Norway. Another 9%, or 431 000, were members of religious and life stance communities outside the Church of Norway as per 1 January 2009).<ref name="Norway1">{{cite web|url=http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/07/02/10/trosamf_en/ |title=''More members in religious and philosophical communities'' |publisher=Ssb.no |date= |accessdate=2009-03-08}}</ref>
Other [[Christianity|Christian]] denominations total about 4.9% <ref name="Norway1"/> of the population, the largest of which is the [[Catholic Church]], with 57,000 members.<ref name="Norwayreligion2">{{cite web|url=http://www.ssb.no/trosamf_en/tab-2009-12-09-03-en.html |title=''Members of Christian communities outside the Church of Norway'' |publisher=Statistics Norway |date= |accessdate=2010-08-21}}</ref> Others include [[Pentecostalism|Pentecostals]] (39,600),<ref name="Norwayreligion2"/> the [[Evangelical Lutheran Free Church of Norway]] (19,300),<ref name="Norwayreligion2"/> [[Methodism|Methodists]] (11,000),<ref name="Norwayreligion2"/> [[Baptists]] (9,400),<ref name="Norwayreligion2"/> [[Orthodoxy|Orthodox]] (7,700)<ref name="Norwayreligion2"/> [[Seventh-day Adventist Church|Adventists]] (5,100),<ref name="Norwayreligion2"/> [[Religion in Iraq|Assyrians and Chaldeans]], and others. The Swedish, Finnish and Icelandic Lutheran congregations in Norway have about 22,500 members in total.<ref name="Norwayreligion2"/>

Among non-Christian religions, [[Islam]] is the largest, representing about 1.5% of the population. It is practiced mainly by [[Somali people|Somali]], [[Arab diaspora|Arab]], [[Albanians|Albanian]], and [[Turkish people|Turkish]] immigrants, as well as [[Pakistani Norwegians|Norwegians of Pakistani descent]]. Other religions comprise less than 1% each, including 803 adherents of [[History of the Jews in Norway|Judaism]],<ref name="Norwayreligion">{{cite web|url=http://www.ssb.no/trosamf_en/tab-2009-12-09-01-en.html |title=''Members of religious and life-stance communities outside the Church of Norway, by religion/life stance'' |publisher=Statistics Norway |date= |accessdate=2010-08-21}}</ref> [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], and 15,000 [[Jehovah's Witnesses]].<ref name="Norwayreligion2"/> [[India]]n immigrants introduced [[Hinduism]] to Norway, which in 2009 has slightly more than 5,200 adherents, or 1% of non-Lutheran Norwegians.<ref name="Norwayreligion"/> There are eleven [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] organizations, grouped under the [[Buddhist Federation of Norway|Buddhistforbundet]] organization, with slightly over 12,000 members,<ref name="Norwayreligion"/> which make up 0.42% of the population. The [[Baha'i]] religion has slightly more than 1,000 adherents.<ref name="Norwayreligion"/> Sikhism has 2,700.<ref name="Norwayreligion"/> Around 1.5% of Norwegians adhere to the secular [[Norwegian Humanist Association]].

Like other [[Scandinavia]]n countries, the Norse followed a form of native [[Germanic paganism]] known as [[Norse paganism]]. By the end of the eleventh century, when Norway had been [[Christianization of Scandinavia|Christianized]], the indigenous Norse religion and practices were prohibited. Remnants of the native religion and beliefs of Norway survive today in the form of names, referential names of cities and locations, the days of the week, and other parts of the everyday language. Modern interest in the old ways has led to a revival of the pagan religious practices in the form of [[Germanic Neopaganism|Asatru]]. The Norwegian Åsatrufellesskapet Bifrost formed in 1996; as of 2005, the fellowship has some 200 members. Foreningen Forn Sed formed in 1999 and has been recognized by the Norwegian government as a religious organization.

Parts of the Sami minority retained their [[sami shamanism|shamanistic religion]] well into the 18th century when they were converted to Christianity by Dano-Norwegian missionaries.

[[Orthodoxy in Norway|Orthodoxy]] is the fastest-growing religion in Norway with a rate from 2000 to 2009 of 231.1% compared to [[Islam]]'s 64.3%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/07/02/10/trosamf_en/arkiv/ |title=Statistics Norway |publisher=Ssb.no |date= |accessdate=2010-05-30}}</ref>

=== Language ===
{{Main|Languages of Norway}}
{{See also|Norwegian language|Sami languages}}
The [[North Germanic languages|North Germanic]] Norwegian language has two official written forms, ''[[Bokmål]]'' and ''[[Nynorsk]]''. Both of them are recognized as official languages, in that they are both used in public administration, in schools, churches, and media, but Bokmål is used by the vast majority, about 85–90%. Around 95% of the population speak Norwegian as their native tongue, although many speak [[dialect]]s that may differ significantly from the written language. In general, most Norwegian dialects are inter-intelligible, although some may require significant efforts on the part of a listener to understand. Several [[Finno-Ugric languages|Finno-Ugric]] Sami languages are spoken and written throughout the country, especially in the north, by the ''[[Sami people]]''. Speakers have a right to get education in Sami language no matter where they are living and receive communication from the government in various Sami languages. The [[Kven people|Kven]] minority speak the Finno-Ugric [[Kven language]]/Finnish. There is advocacy for making [[Norwegian Sign Language]] an official Norwegian language.

In the 19th and 20th century, Norwegian language was subject to [[Norwegian language conflict|strong political and cultural controversy]], which led to the creation of Nynorsk in the 19th century and to the formation of alternative spelling standards in the 20th century, notably the [[Bokmål|Riksmål]] standard, which is more conservative (that is, more similar to Danish) than Bokmål.

Norwegian is similar to the other languages in Scandinavia, [[Swedish language|Swedish]] and [[Danish language|Danish]]. All three languages are mutually intelligible and can be, and commonly are, employed in communication between inhabitants of the Scandinavian countries. As a result of the cooperation within the [[Nordic Council]], inhabitants of all Nordic countries, including [[Iceland]] and [[Finland]], have the right to communicate with the Norwegian authorities in their own language.

Any Norwegian student who is a child of immigrant parents is encouraged to learn the Norwegian language. The Norwegian government offers language instructional courses for immigrants wishing to obtain Norwegian citizenship. However, immigrants are not required to learn Norwegian in order to gain Norwegian citizenship, nor are their children.

The main foreign language taught in Norwegian elementary school is [[English language|English]]. The majority of the population is fluent in English, especially those born after World War II. [[German language|German]], [[French language|French]] and [[Spanish language|Spanish]] are also commonly taught as a second or, more often, third language. [[Russian language|Russian]], [[Japanese language|Japanese]], [[Italian language|Italian]], [[Latin]] and rarely [[Standard Mandarin|Chinese (Mandarin)]] are available in some schools, mostly in the cities. Traditionally, English, German and French were considered the main foreign languages in Norway. These languages, for instance, had been used on Norwegian passports until the 1990s, and university students have a general right to use these languages when submitting their theses.

== Culture ==
{{Main|Culture of Norway}}
[[File:Oppdal and Nord Gudbrandsdals bunad.jpg|thumb|150px|The various regions of Norway have their own [[bunad]]s; traditional costumes]]
The unique [[Norwegian farm culture]], sustained to this day, has resulted not only from scarce resources and a harsh climate but also from [[Ancient Norwegian property laws|ancient property laws]]. In the 18th century, it brought about a strong [[Norwegian romantic nationalism|romantic nationalistic]] movement, which is still visible in the [[Norwegian language]] and [[:Category:Norwegian media|media]]. In the 19th century, Norwegian culture blossomed as efforts continued to achieve an independent identity in the areas of literature, art and music. This continues today in the performing arts and as a result of government support for exhibitions, cultural projects and artwork.<ref>[http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761556517_4/norway.html Norway's Culture. Encarta.] Retrieved 27 November 2008. [http://www.webcitation.org/5kwb6gaky Archived] 2009-10-31.</ref>

Norway is an early adopter of women's rights, minority rights, and LGBT rights.<ref>[[LGBT rights in Norway]]</ref> For example, in 1990 Norway was the first country to recognize the [[Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989|ILO-convention 169]] about indigenous people, in 1993 Norway became the second country to legalize [[civil union]] partnerships for same-sex couples, and on January 1, 2009, [[Same-sex marriage in Norway|Norway became the sixth country]] to grant full [[Same-sex marriage|marriage equality]] to same-sex couples. An ardent promoter of human rights, Norway is home to the annual [[Oslo Freedom Forum]] conference, a gathering described by [[The Economist]] as “on its way to becoming a human-rights equivalent of the Davos economic forum.”<ref>[http://www.economist.com/node/16219707?story_id=16219707 Human Rights Oslo]. Retrieved 09 August 2010.</ref>

=== Cuisine ===
{{Main|Cuisine of Norway}}
[[File:NorwegianKransekake.JPG|thumb|right|100px|[[Kransekake]] cake decorated with small [[Flag of Norway|flags of Norway]] at the [[Olmsted County, Minnesota|Olmsted County]] in [[Rochester, Minnesota]].]]
[[File:Norwegian.open.sandwich-01.jpg|thumb|left|Norwegian open sandwich.]]
[[:Category:Norwegian cuisine|Norway's culinary traditions]] show the influence of long seafaring and farming traditions with [[salmon]] (fresh and cured), [[herring]] (pickled or marinated), [[trout]], [[cod]]fish and other seafood balanced by cheeses, dairy products and breads (predominantly dark/darker). [[Lefse]] is a common Norwegian potato flatbread, common around Christmas. Some traditional Norwegian dishes include [[lutefisk]], [[smalahove]], [[pinnekjøtt]], [[Krotekaker]] and [[fårikål]].<ref>[http://www.everyculture.com/No-Sa/Norway.html Culture of Norway. Everyculture.com.]. Retrieved 27 November 2008.</ref>

===Performing arts===
==== Film ====
{{Main|Cinema of Norway}}
Not until fairly recently has the Norwegian cinema received international recognition, but as early as 1951 a documentary film of the ''[[Kon-Tiki (film)|Kon-Tiki]]'' expedition won an Oscar Academy Award. In 1959, [[Arne Skouen]]'s ''Nine Lives'' was nominated, but failed to win. Another notable film is ''[[Flåklypa Grand Prix]]'' (English: ''Pinchcliffe Grand Prix''), an animated feature film directed by [[Ivo Caprino]]. The film was released in 1975 and is based on characters from Norwegian cartoonist [[Kjell Aukrust]]. It is the most widely seen Norwegian film of all time.

There was however a real breakthrough in 1987 with [[Nils Gaup]]'s ''[[Pathfinder (1987 film)|Pathfinder]]'' which told the story of the [[Sami people|Sami]]. It was nominated for an Oscar and was a huge international success. [[Berit Nesheim]]'s ''[[The Other Side of Sunday]]'' was also nominated for an Oscar in 1997.

Since the 1990s, the film industry has thrived with up to 20 feature films each year. Particular successes were ''[[Kristin Lavransdatter]]'', ''[[The Telegraphist]]'' and ''[[Gurin with the Foxtail]]''. [[Knut Erik Jensen]] was among the more successful new directors together with [[Erik Skjoldbjærg]] remembered for ''[[Insomnia (1997 film)|Insomnia]]''.<ref>[http://www.norway.org/About_Norway/culture/film/A_Brief_History_of_Norwegian_Film/ A brief history of Norwegian film. Norway, the official site in the United States. Retrieved 8 February 2010].</ref>

In late 2008, the movie ''[[Max Manus (film)|Max Manus]]'' opened at Norwegian theatres. The movie was a WW2 drama, telling the story of the Norwegian resistance hero [[Max Manus]] who led many successful sabotage operations against the German occupation. The movie became the highest grossing Norwegian movie ever.

==== Music ====
{{Main|Music of Norway}}
[[File:Edvard Grieg by Lindahl 1876.jpg|thumb|150px|[[Edvard Grieg]], composer and pianist.]]
[[File:FeleHel (2).jpg|left|thumb|100px|[[Hardingfele]], a fiddle from Norway.]]
Along with the classical [[music of Norway|music]] of [[romanticism|romantic]] [[composer]] [[Edvard Grieg]] and the modern music of [[Arne Nordheim]], [[Early Norwegian black metal scene|Norwegian black metal]] has become something of an export article in recent years.

Norway's classical performers include [[Leif Ove Andsnes]], one of the world's more famous pianists, and [[Truls Mørk]], an outstanding cellist.

The jazz scene in Norway is also thriving. [[Jan Garbarek]], [[Terje Rypdal]], [[Mari Boine]], [[Arild Andersen]], and [[Bugge Wesseltoft]] are internationally recognized while [[Paal Nilssen-Love]], [[Supersilent]], [[Jaga Jazzist]] and [[Wibutee]] are becoming world-class artists of the younger generation.<ref>[http://www.studyinnorway.no/sn/Living-in-Norway/Culture Culture from Study in Norway]. Retrieved 2 December 2008.</ref>

Norway has a strong [[folk music]] tradition which remains popular to this day.<ref>[http://www.norway.org.uk/culture/music/folk/folk.htm Norwegian Folk Music from Norway, official site in the UK.]. Retrieved 25 November 2008.</ref> Among the most prominent folk musicians are [[Hardingfele|Hardanger fiddlers]] [[Andrea Een]], [[Olav Jørgen Hegge]] and [[Annbjørg Lien]], vocalists [[Agnes Buen Garnås]], [[Kirsten Bråten Berg]] and [[Odd Nordstoga]].<ref>[http://www.norway.org.uk/culture/contemporaryart/ Contemporary art from Norway the official site.]. Retrieved 28 November 2008.</ref>

Since the 1990s, Norway's biggest cultural export is [[black metal]]. The lo-fi, dark and raw form of [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] exploded in Norway during the 90s and launched the worldwide acclaimed careers of bands such as [[Gorgoroth]], [[Mayhem (band)|Mayhem]], [[Burzum]], [[Emperor (band)|Emperor]], [[Darkthrone]] and [[Immortal (band)|Immortal]], as well as later bands such as [[Dimmu Borgir]]. This development has since become an important part of [[extreme metal]], but many events that took place in the early 1990s related to the black metal movement such as several [[church burnings]] and a prominent [[Black metal#Aarseth's murder|murder case]] caused some concern amongst the Norwegian citizens at large.

===Fine arts===
==== Literature ====
{{Main|Norwegian literature}}
{{See also|List of Norwegian writers}}
[[File:Hamsun bldsa HA0269.jpg|thumb|150px|[[Knut Hamsun]]]]
History of Norwegian literature starts with the [[Norse paganism|pagan]] [[Poetic Edda|Eddaic poems]] and [[skald|skaldic verse]] of the 9th and 10th centuries with poets such as [[Bragi Boddason]] and [[Eyvindr skáldaspillir]]. The arrival of Christianity around the year 1000 brought Norway into contact with European mediaeval learning, hagiography and history writing. Merged with native oral tradition and Icelandic influence this was to flower into an active period of literature production in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. Major works of that period include ''[[Historia Norwegiæ]]'', ''[[Þiðrekssaga]]'' and ''[[Konungs skuggsjá]]''.

Little Norwegian literature came out of the period of the Scandinavian Union and the subsequent Dano-Norwegian union (1387—1814), with some notable exceptions such as [[Petter Dass]] and [[Ludvig Holberg]]. In his play [[Peer Gynt]], Ibsen characterized this period as "Twice two hundred years of darkness/brooded o'er the race of monkeys", although the latter line is not as frequently quoted as the former. During the union with Denmark, written Norwegian was replaced by Danish.
[[File:Ibsen photography.jpg|thumb|left|150px|[[Henrik Ibsen]]]]
Two major events precipitated a major resurgence in Norwegian literature. In 1811 a Norwegian university was established in [[Oslo|Christiania]]. Seized by the spirit of revolution following the [[American Revolution|American]] and [[French Revolution]]s, the Norwegians signed their first [[Constitution of Norway|Constitution]] in 1814. Soon, the cultural backwater that was Norway brought forth a series of strong authors recognized first in Scandinavia, and then worldwide; among them were [[Henrik Wergeland]], [[Peter Christen Asbjørnsen]], [[Jørgen Moe]] and [[Camilla Collett]].

By the late 19th century, in the [[Golden Age]] of Norwegian literature, the so-called ''Great Four'' emerged: [[Henrik Ibsen]], [[Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson]], [[Alexander Kielland]], and [[Jonas Lie]]. Bjørnson's "peasant novels", such as "En glad gutt" (A Happy Boy) and "Synnøve Solbakken" are typical of the national romanticism of their day, whereas Kielland's novels and short stories are mostly realistic. Although an important contributor to early [[Norwegian romantic nationalism]] (especially the ironic [[Peer Gynt]]), [[Henrik Ibsen]]'s fame rests primarily on his pioneering realistic dramas such ''[[The Wild Duck]]'' and ''[[A Doll's House]]'', many of which caused moral uproar because of their candid portrayals of the middle classes.

In the 20th century, three Norwegian novelists were awarded the [[Nobel Prize in Literature]]: [[Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson]] in 1903, [[Knut Hamsun]] for the book "[[Growth of the Soil|Markens grøde]]" ("Growth of the Soil") in 1920, and [[Sigrid Undset]] in 1928.
Further important contributions to Norwegian literature were made by writers like [[Dag Solstad]], [[Jon Fosse]], [[Cora Sandel]], [[Olav Duun]], [[Olav H. Hauge]], [[Gunvor Hofmo]], [[Stein Mehren]], [[Kjell Askildsen]], [[Hans Herbjørnsrud]], [[Aksel Sandemose]], [[Bergljot Hobæk Haff]], [[Jostein Gaarder]], [[Erik Fosnes Hansen]], [[Jens Bjørneboe]], [[Kjartan Fløgstad]], [[Lars Saabye Christensen]], [[Johan Borgen]], [[Herbjørg Wassmo]], [[Jan Erik Vold]], [[Rolf Jacobsen (poet)|Rolf Jacobsen]], [[Olaf Bull]], [[Jan Kjærstad]], [[Georg Johannesen]], [[Tarjei Vesaas]], [[Sigurd Hoel]], [[Arnulf Øverland]] and [[Johan Falkberget]].

==== Architecture ====
{{Main|Architecture of Norway}}
[[File:Urnesstavkirke.jpg|thumb|[[Urnes stave church]] has been listed by [[UNESCO]] as a [[World Heritage Site]]]]
Norway has always had a tradition of building in wood. Indeed, many of today's most interesting new buildings are made of wood, reflecting the strong appeal that this material continues to hold for Norwegian designers and builders.<ref>[http://www.norway.org/culture/architecture/history/norwegian.htm The evolution of Norwegian architecture. Norway, the official site in the United States]. Retrieved 25 November 2008.</ref>

Norway's conversion to Christianity some 1,000 years ago led to the introduction of stonework architecture, beginning with the construction of [[Nidaros Cathedral]] in [[Trondheim]].
[[File:Finneveta Røros.jpg|thumb|left|upright|The small town [[Røros]] has small streets and houses.]]
In the early [[Middle Ages]], [[stave church]]es were constructed throughout Norway. Many of them remain to this day and represent Norway’s most important contribution to architectural history. A fine example is The Stave Church at [[Urnes stave church|Urnes]] which is now on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Another notable example of wooden architecture is the [[Bryggen|Bryggen Wharf]] in Bergen, consisting of a row of narrow wooden structures along the quayside.

In the 17th century, under the Danish monarchy, cities such as [[Kongsberg]] with its Baroque church and [[Røros]] with its wooden buildings were established.

After Norway’s union with Denmark was dissolved in 1814, Oslo became the capital. Architect [[Christian Heinrich Grosch|Christian H. Grosch]] designed the oldest parts of the [[University of Oslo]], the [[Oslo Stock Exchange]], and many other buildings and churches.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the city of [[Ålesund]] was rebuilt in the [[Art Nouveau]] style. The 1930s, when functionalism dominated, became a strong period for Norwegian architecture, but it is only in recent decades that Norwegian architects have truly achieved international renown. One of the most striking modern buildings in Norway is the [[Sami Parliament of Norway|Sami Parliament]] in [[Karasjok|Kárášjohka]] designed by [[Stein Halvorson]] and [[Christian Sundby]]. Its debating chamber is an abstract timber version of a Lavvo, the traditional tent used by the nomadic [[Sami people]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leslieburgher.co.uk/portfolio/Other/norway.htm |title=Norwegian Architecture by Leslie Burgher. Retrieved 25 November 2008 |publisher=Leslieburgher.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2010-05-30}}</ref>

==== Art ====
{{Main|Art of Norway}}
[[File:Brudeferden.jpg|thumb|left|''Brudeferd i Hardanger'' by [[Adolph Tidemand]] og [[Hans Gude]], 1848]]
[[File:The Scream.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Edvard Munch]]'s [[The Scream]], 1893]]
For an extended period, the Norwegian art scene was dominated by artwork from Germany and Holland as well as by the influence of Copenhagen. It was in the 19th century that a truly Norwegian era began, first with portraits, later with even more impressive landscapes. Johan Christian Dahl (1788–1857), originally from the Dresden school, eventually returned to paint the landscapes of western Norway, defining Norwegian painting for the first time."<ref name="HFG">{{cite book | last = Haverkamp | first = Frode | authorlink = | coauthors = | others = trans. Joan Fuglesang | title = Hans Fredrik Gude: From National Romanticism to Realism in Landscape | accessdate = 2008-01-07 | language = Norwegian}}</ref>

Norway’s new-found independence from Denmark encouraged painters to develop their Norwegian identity, especially with landscape painting by artists such as [[Kitty Lange Kielland|Kitty Kielland]], a female painter who studied under Gude; [[Harriet Backer]], 1845–1932, another pioneer among female artists, influenced by [[impressionism]]. [[Frits Thaulow]], an impressionist, was influenced by the art scene in Paris as was [[Christian Krohg]], a realist painter, famous for his paintings of prostitutes.<ref>[http://www.artcyclopedia.com/nationalities/Norwegian.html Norwegian Artists from ArtCyclopedia]. Retrieved 25 November 2008.</ref>

Of particular note is [[Edvard Munch]], a symbolist/expressionist painter who became world famous for [[The Scream]] which is said to represent the anxiety of modern man.

Other artists of note include [[Harald Sohlberg]], a neo-romantic painter remembered for his paintings of [[Røros]]; and [[Odd Nerdrum]], a figurative painter who maintains his work is not art but [[kitsch]].

== See also ==
{{Portal|Norway}}
{{Main|Outline of Norway}}

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Norway}}
{{Wikinews|Portal:Norway|Norway}}
* [http://www.norway.no Norway.no], Norway's official portal
* [http://www.ssb.no/english/ Statistics Norway]
* [http://www.environment.no/ State of the Environment Norway]
* {{CIA World Factbook link|no|Norway}}
* [http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/420178/Norway Norway] entry at ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]''
* [http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/norway.htm Norway] from ''UCB Libraries GovPubs''
* [http://www.norway.info Norway.info], official foreign portal of the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Norway)|Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs]]
* {{Wikiatlas|Norway}}
* [http://www.visitnorway.com VisitNorway.com], official travel guide to Norway.
* {{Wikitravel}}
* [http://www.vifanord.de/index.php?id=1&L=1&rd=243343734 vifanord] – a digital library that provides scientific information on the Nordic and Baltic countries as well as the Baltic region as a whole.
* [http://bird.dintur.no/ Birdwatching Norway]

<br />{{Geographic Location (8-way)
| Northwest = ''[[Norwegian Sea]]'' • ''{{Flag|Greenland}}'' • ''{{Flag|Jan Mayen}}''
| North = ''[[Barents Sea]]'' • ''{{Flag|Svalbard}}''
| Northeast = ''{{Flag|Russia}}''
| West = ''[[Norwegian Sea]]'' • ''{{Flag|Iceland}}'' • ''{{Flag|Faroe Islands}}''
| Centre = {{Flagicon|Norway}} [[Outline of Norway|Norway]]
| East = ''{{Flag|Sweden}}'' • ''{{Flag|Finland}}''
| Southwest = ''[[North Sea]]'' • ''{{Flag|United Kingdom}}''
| South = ''[[North Sea]]'' • ''{{Flag|Netherlands}}'' • ''{{Flag|Germany}}''
| Southeast = ''[[Skagerrak]]'' • ''{{Flag|Denmark}}''}}

{{Norway topics}}

{{Template group
|title = Geographic locale
|list =
{{Countries of Europe}}
}}
{{Template group
|title = International organizations
|list =
{{Council of Europe}}
{{Nordic Council}}
{{Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development}}
{{North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)}}
{{OSCE}}
{{World Trade Organization (WTO)}}
}}

[[Category:Norway| ]]
[[Category:European countries]]
[[Category:Nordic countries]]
[[Category:Countries bordering the Arctic Ocean]]
[[Category:Countries bordering the Atlantic Ocean]]
[[Category:Scandinavia]]
[[Category:Northern Europe]]
[[Category:Constitutional monarchies]]
[[Category:Liberal democracies]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 872]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1905]]
[[Category:Members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization]]

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