Keen to find out more about the country that we’re living in? Look no further – here’s your at a glance guide to Norway, statistically speaking.
Fast Facts
Ranks top in the United Nations Human Development Report every year since 2001.
Norway was the 4th country to allow women the same voting rights as men, in 1913, and ranks 2nd best in the world for gender equality overall.
It has the 12th best life expectancy in the world.
Ranks as the third best country to live in for quality of life.
One of the world’s most economically competitive countries, coming in annually around 6th (2003-2004) and 12th (2006).
It was the second country to officially recognize same-sex marriages, granting almost full legal equality for gay partnerships in 1993.
Impressively Norway is the fourth least obese developed nation in the world, with only 8.3% of the population are obese. (For comparisons sake, 23% of adults in the UK are obese and 19% in Colorado, the healthiest State in the USA.)
Norway has the second highest high literacy level in the world, second only to Sweden.
Norway gives a higher percentage of its National Income as foreign aid than does any other country, and was the 4th best country for the poor in 2006.
Oslo is the second most expensive city to live in, in the world. Stavanger ranks in as the 6th most expensive city in the world. (Stavanger moved up from 14th in 2009)
Geography, Climate and Language
Norway stretches 2518km from tip to tip. At its widest point, it’s 420km and its narrowest just 6km. Norway is the 7th largest country in Europe.
Sognefjord is Norway’s longest fjord at just over 200km long. Galdhøpiggen (in Oppland, central Norway) is Northern Europe’s highest mountain at 2469m. The Hardangervidda is Europe’s highest and largest plateau, at 900m above sea level.
There are 4 seasons in Norway, but with great climatic variations by region. Temperatures vary from -30 degrees Celsius in winter to plus 30 degrees in summer. For a detailed overview of the climate in Norway, plus a month by month guide to weather in Stavanger, check out this article.
There are 2 official languages in Norway – Bokmål and Nynorsk. Bokmål is spoken by 80% of the population and is the predominant language of instruction in schools and for the media. Nynorsk is more predominant in the Western and Central regions. Regional dialects vary hugely here, and it’s not unusual for people from different areas to have trouble understanding each other.
Population, people and culture
As of 6th September 2011, Norway’s population stands at 4,964,771. On 1st January 2011 there were 50.01% males and 49.99% females in Norway. Norway has one of the lowest population densities in Europe with around 12 people per square kilometre (compared to 246 in the UK).
Children made up 22.4 per cent of the total population. 56% live with married parents, 18% with cohabitant parents and 25% with one parent.
The immigrant population accounts for 11.4% of Norway’s population and come from more than 200 different countries. Of the 65100 immigrants without Norwegian citizenship, 41700 (64%) were citizens of EU member countries.
Norwegian municipalities spent nearly 11.3 billion NOK on health services in 2010, a 7% increase on 2009. There are 9.6 physicians per 10 000 inhabitants. In 2010, about 1.7 million people were examined or treated at general hospitals.
For the first time since the measurements of smoking habits started in 1973, the proportion of daily smokers amongst 16-74yr olds is less than 20 per cent.
In 2010, the museums in Norway had a total of over 10.5 million visits. This is an increase of 4% since 2009. Since 2002, total visits have increased by more than two million, or 27 per cent.
Almost ½ the population use a social media service each week. 84% had Internet with a broadband connection in their household in 2010.
There were 11 million cinema visits in 2010.
The average Norwegian borrows 5.1 books or other medium from public libraries per year.
A 2007 survey found 73% of Norwegians aged 16 years and above exercise at least once a week, with 11% never exercising. The most popular exercise activity is ‘fast walking trips’, with 77% taking part in this type of activity during the last 12 months. Cross-country skiing is next with 45%, cycling with 40%, jogging with 38% and weight-training with 30%. The most typical outdoor activities are shorter walking trips and whole day walking trips in the forests and mountains. Approximately eight out of ten people do these activities during a 12 month period. The vast majority have also been bathing in salt or fresh water. Over 40% have been on skiing day trips and just as many have had cycling day trips and fishing trips.
There are over 115,000 voluntary groups and organisations in Norway, more than 84% of the population is a member of 1 or more of these.
Economy, Jobs and Labour Market
All statistics are for 2010 unless otherwise stated
Unemployment 3.3%
Percentage of population in employment 69.7%
GDP per capita $54,600
GDP composition by sector: agriculture 2.5%; industry 39.4%; services 58.1%
$132.6 billion in exports (31 in world country rankings) which include petroleum and petroleum products, machinery and equipment, metals, chemicals, ships and fish.
Labour force by occupation (2008): agriculture 2.9%; industry 21.2%; services 76%
The average monthly wage for all salaried employees was NOK 36 700.
In 2010, women earned an average of 85 per cent of men’s earnings.
The second quarter of 2011 saw an increase of 78 000 job vacancies. This is up from 10 500 from the same quarter last year. Good news for all of the job hunters amongst us!
Between the 4th quarter of 2009 and the 4th quarter of 2010 the number of employed persons increased by 0.8%. Rogaland saw the highest increase with 1.6%.
Ranks 2nd in the world on the Big Mac Index, after Brazil and ahead of Sweden, Switzerland and Denmark.
Food and agriculture
In 2010, the aquaculture industry achieved record-breaking results for Norway. For the first time ever, the yearly sales of slaughtered fish exceeded one million tonnes. This corresponded to a first hand value of NOK 30 billion.
Salmon was the main product both in quantity and value. The prices increased by 30 per cent compared to 2009, which resulted in an average price per kilo of NOK 30.30.
In 2010, the total agricultural area covered 10.1 million decares (1 decare = 1000 square metres). Between 1999 and 2010, the number of dairy cows has fallen by 25% to 238000. Total grain production was estimated at 1.22 million tonnes.
Organic farmland covered 440 000 decares of agricultural area in use, or 4.1% of the total area. A total of 30 800 cattle were approved for organic farming in 2010. About 8 800 of these were dairy cows and 4 000 beef cows.
Transport
In 2010, 54 per cent of the population of Norway owned a car. 2.9 million cars were registered in Norway. There were 208 deaths caused by road accidents.
More than 500 million trips were made by public transport in 2010. This is an increase of 21 million passengers from 2009.
Transport industries accounted for 3.2% of the GDP and 6.5% of employment in 2010.
Facts have been collated from a variety of sources including NAV, Statistics Norway and Vexen
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About Sadie Ramm
Sadie is English and moved to Stavanger in May 2010 with her boyfriend who works in the oil industry. After leaving her career in marketing to relocate to Norway, she's currently freelancing as a marketing consultant, specialising in helping small businesses with strategy and planning, website design and copywriting. She is making the most of the great outdoors that Norway has to offer, and has taken up cycling since moving here. She loves making stuff - knitting, sewing and cooking in particular. She's most often found out walking with her Manchester Terrier puppy, Nero.
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3 comments
EL
Sep 7, 2011
“Oslo is the second most expensive city to live in, in the world. Stavanger ranks in as the 6th most expensive city in the world. (Stavanger moved up from 14th in 2009)”
Actually, I think those statistics were geared towards which cities are the most expensive to VISIT, not live in. The salaries are much higher than in other countries, so the percentage of salary spent on food, rent, etc… is a more reliable indicator.
Lani Cantor
Sep 7, 2011
fun to know!
Katie
Sep 13, 2011
Love facts, Sadie!