World Factbook
Norway
Kongeriket Norge
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: red with a blue cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of the flag; the the cross is shifted to the left side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) meaning: the colors represent Norway's past political unions with Denmark (red and white) and Sweden (blue)
Capital
name
Oslo
etymology
the name may derive from the Old Norwegian word os , meaning "estuary" and referring to the city's location on a fjord; alternatively, the name may come from As, a Scandinavian god, and Lo, a nearby river
time difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
geographic coordinates
59 55 N, 10 45 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Norway
dual citizenship recognized
yes
residency requirement for naturalization
7 years
Constitution
history
drafted spring 1814, adopted 16 May 1814, signed by Constituent Assembly 17 May 1814
amendment process
proposals submitted by members of Parliament or by the government within the first three years of Parliament's four-year term; passage requires two-thirds majority vote of a two-thirds quorum in the next elected Parliament
Country name
etymology
derives from the Old Norse words norre and vegr , meaning "northern way," and refers to the long coastline of western Norway
local long form
Kongeriket Norge
local short form
Norge
conventional long form
Kingdom of Norway
conventional short form
Norway
Independence
7 June 1905 (union with Sweden declared dissolved); 26 October 1905 (Sweden agreed to the repeal of the union); notable earlier dates: ca. 872 (traditional unification of Norwegian kingdoms by HARALD Fairhair); 1397 (Kalmar Union of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden); 1524 (Denmark-Norway); 17 May 1814 (Norwegian constitution adopted); 4 November 1814 (Sweden-Norway union confirmed)
Legal system
mixed system of civil, common, and customary law; Supreme Court can advise on legislative acts
Dependent areas
Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard (3)
Government type
parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Judicial branch
note
note: in addition to professionally trained judges, elected lay judges sit on the bench with professional judges in the Courts of Appeal and district courts
highest court(s)
Supreme Court or Hoyesterett (consists of the chief justice and 18 associate justices)
subordinate courts
Courts of Appeal or Lagmennsrett; regional and district courts; Conciliation Boards; ordinary and special courts
judge selection and term of office
justices appointed by the monarch (King in Council) on the recommendation of the Judicial Appointments Board; justices can serve until mandatory retirement at age 70
Executive branch
cabinet
Council of State appointed by the monarch, approved by Parliament
chief of state
King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991)
head of government
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr STORE (since 14 October 2021)
election/appointment process
the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the monarch usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as prime minister, with the approval of Parliament
National holiday
Constitution Day, 17 May (1814)
National color(s)
red, white, blue
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
8 (7 cultural, 1 natural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Bryggen (c); Urnes Stave Church (c); Røros Mining Town and the Circumference (c); Rock Art of Alta (c); Vegaøyan – The Vega Archipelago (c); Struve Geodetic Arc (c); West Norwegian Fjords – Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord (n); Rjukan-Notodden Industrial Heritage Site (c)
Political parties
Center Party or Sp Christian Democratic Party or KrF Conservative Party or H Green Party or MDG Labor Party or Ap Liberal Party or V Patient Focus or PF Progress Party or FrP Red Party or R Socialist Left Party or SV
Legislative branch
term in office
4 years
number of seats
169 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
legislature name
Parliament (Stortinget)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
9/8/2025
expected date of next election
September 2029
percentage of women in chamber
40.2%
parties elected and seats per party
Labour Party (53); Progress Party (47); Conservative Party (24); Socialist Left Party (9); Center Party (9); Red Party (9); Other (18)
National anthem(s)
note
note: since 2011, the patriotic song “Mitt lille land” has been called a new national anthem and is sometimes performed at patriotic events, but it is not used as often as “Ja, vi elsker dette landet”
title
"Kongesangen" (Song of the King)
history
royal anthem; uses the tune of "God Save the King," the United Kingdom's anthem
lyrics/music
Gustav JENSEN
National symbol(s)
lion
Administrative divisions
12 counties ( fylker , singular - fylke ); Agder, Innlandet, More og Romsdal, Nordland, Oslo, Rogaland, Romsdal, Troms og Finnmark, Trondelag, Vestfold og Telemark, Vestland, Viken (2024)
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 469-3990
chancery
2720 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 333-6000
chief of mission
Ambassador Anniken Scharning HUITFELDT (since 18 September 2024)
consulate(s) general
New York, San Francisco
email address and website
emb.washington@mfa.no https://www.norway.no/en/usa/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[47] 22-56-27-51
embassy
Morgedalsvegen 36, 0378 Oslo
telephone
[47] 21-30-85-40
mailing address
5460 Oslo Place, Washington DC 20521-5460
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Eric MEYER (since August 2024)
email address and website
OsloACS@state.gov https://no.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, EITI (implementing country), ESA, FAO, FATF, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMISS, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction