Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by Governor-General Quentin Bryce Prime minister: Julia Gillard
Population
4,707,270
22,015,576
Life Expectancy
80.320 years
81.900 years
Capital City
Oslo
Canberra
Largest city
Oslo (population: 839,423)
Sydney (population: 4,394,580)
Human Development Index
0.968
0.965
GDP per capita
$54,200 US
$40,800 US
Literacy Rate
100%
99%
Corruption Perception Index
7.9
8.7
Percentage of Women in Parliament
36.1%
29.6%
Wealthiest Citizens
Stein Erik Hagen & family ($3.1bn US)
Frank Lowy & family ($2.7bn US)
Unemployment Rate
3.300%
5.100%
Death Penalty
Abolished
Abolished
Political System
constitutional monarchy
federal parliamentary democracy
Independence date
7 June 1905 (Norway declared the union with Sweden dissolved); 26 October 1905 (Sweden agreed to the repeal of the union)
1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)
Religions
Church of Norway 85.7%, Pentecostal 1%, Roman Catholic 1%, other Christian 2.4%, Muslim 1.8%, other 8.1% (2004)
Catholic 26.4%, Anglican 20.5%, other Christian 20.5%, Buddhist 1.9%, Muslim 1.5%, other 1.2%, unspecified 12.7%, none 15.3% (2001 Census)
Languages
Bokmal Norwegian (official), Nynorsk Norwegian (official), small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities; note - Sami is official in six municipalities
English 79.1%, Chinese 2.1%, Italian 1.9%, other 11.1%, unspecified 5.8% (2001 Census)
Exports
petroleum and petroleum products, machinery and equipment, metals, chemicals, ships, fish
coal, iron ore, gold, meat, wool, alumina, wheat, machinery and transport equipment
External Debt
$644,500,000,000 $
$1,376,000,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Norwegian kroner (NOK) per US dollar - 5.6361 (2008), 5.86 (2007), 6.418 (2006), 6.445 (2005), 6.7327 (2004)
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar - 1.2059 (2008 est.), 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.900%
3.000%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
10
46
Location
Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden
Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean
Area
323,802 km sq
7,741,220 km sq
Coastline
25,148 km
25,760 km
Climate
temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current; colder interior with increased precipitation and colder summers; rainy year-round on west coast
generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north
