7 June 1905 (Norway declared the union with Sweden dissolved); 26 October 1905 (Sweden agreed to the repeal of the union)
Religions
Anglican 14.9%, Roman Catholic 12.4%, Presbyterian 10.9%, Methodist 2.9%, Pentecostal 1.7%, Baptist 1.3%, other Christian 9.4%, other 3.3%, unspecified 17.2%, none 26% (2001 census)
Church of Norway 85.7%, Pentecostal 1%, Roman Catholic 1%, other Christian 2.4%, Muslim 1.8%, other 8.1% (2004)
Languages
English (official), Maori (official), Sign Language (official)
Bokmal Norwegian (official), Nynorsk Norwegian (official), small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities; note - Sami is official in six municipalities
Exports
dairy products, meat, wood and wood products, fish, machinery
petroleum and petroleum products, machinery and equipment, metals, chemicals, ships, fish
External Debt
$85,650,000,000 $
$644,500,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
New Zealand dollars (NZD) per US dollar - 1.4151 (2008 est.), 1.3811 (2007), 1.5408 (2006), 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004)
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
1.000%
1.900%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
9
10
Location
Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia
Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden
Area
267,710 km sq
323,802 km sq
Coastline
15,134 km
25,148 km
Climate
temperate with sharp regional contrasts
temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current; colder interior with increased precipitation and colder summers; rainy year-round on west coast