Eternal president: Kim Il-sung (deceased) Chairman, National Defence Commission: Kim Jong-il
King: Harald V Prime minister: Jens Stoltenberg
Population
24,589,122
4,707,270
Life Expectancy
69.200 years
80.320 years
Capital City
Oslo
Largest city
Pyongyang (population: 3,222,000)
Oslo (population: 839,423)
Human Development Index
0
0.968
GDP per capita
$54,200 US
Literacy Rate
99%
100%
Corruption Perception Index
NA
7.9
Percentage of Women in Parliament
20.1%
36.1%
Wealthiest Citizens
NA
Stein Erik Hagen & family ($3.1bn US)
Unemployment Rate
3.300%
Death Penalty
NA
Abolished
Political System
Communist state one-man dictatorship
constitutional monarchy
Independence date
7 June 1905 (Norway declared the union with Sweden dissolved); 26 October 1905 (Sweden agreed to the repeal of the union)
Religions
traditionally Buddhist and Confucianist, some Christian and syncretic Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way) note: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent; government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of religious freedom
Church of Norway 85.7%, Pentecostal 1%, Roman Catholic 1%, other Christian 2.4%, Muslim 1.8%, other 8.1% (2004)
Languages
Korean
Bokmal Norwegian (official), Nynorsk Norwegian (official), small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities; note - Sami is official in six municipalities
Exports
petroleum and petroleum products, machinery and equipment, metals, chemicals, ships, fish
External Debt
$644,500,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Norwegian kroner (NOK) per US dollar - 5.6361 (2008), 5.86 (2007), 6.418 (2006), 6.445 (2005), 6.7327 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.900%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
6
10
Location
Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and South Korea
Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden
Area
120,538 km sq
323,802 km sq
Coastline
2,495 km
25,148 km
Climate
temperate with rainfall concentrated in summer
temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current; colder interior with increased precipitation and colder summers; rainy year-round on west coast
