President: Tony Tan Prime minister: Lee Hsien Loong
King: Harald V Prime minister: Jens Stoltenberg
Population
5,353,494
4,707,270
Life Expectancy
83.750 years
80.320 years
Capital City
Singapore
Oslo
Largest city
Singapore (population: 3,547,810)
Oslo (population: 839,423)
Human Development Index
0.918
0.968
GDP per capita
$60,500 US
$54,200 US
Literacy Rate
92.5%
100%
Corruption Perception Index
9.2
7.9
Percentage of Women in Parliament
24.5%
36.1%
Wealthiest Citizens
Ng Teng Fong & family ($5.5bn US)
Stein Erik Hagen & family ($3.1bn US)
Unemployment Rate
2.000%
3.300%
Death Penalty
Legal
Abolished
Political System
parliamentary republic
constitutional monarchy
Independence date
9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)
7 June 1905 (Norway declared the union with Sweden dissolved); 26 October 1905 (Sweden agreed to the repeal of the union)
Religions
Buddhist 42.5%, Muslim 14.9%, Taoist 8.5%, Hindu 4%, Catholic 4.8%, other Christian 9.8%, other 0.7%, none 14.8% (2000 census)
Church of Norway 85.7%, Pentecostal 1%, Roman Catholic 1%, other Christian 2.4%, Muslim 1.8%, other 8.1% (2004)
Languages
Mandarin 35%, English 23%, Malay 14.1%, Hokkien 11.4%, Cantonese 5.7%, Teochew 4.9%, Tamil 3.2%, other Chinese dialects 1.8%, other 0.9% (2000 census)
Bokmal Norwegian (official), Nynorsk Norwegian (official), small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities; note - Sami is official in six municipalities
Exports
machinery and equipment (including electronics), consumer goods, pharmaceuticals and other chemicals, mineral fuels
petroleum and petroleum products, machinery and equipment, metals, chemicals, ships, fish
External Debt
$23,580,000,000 $
$644,500,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
Singapore dollars (SGD) per US dollar - 1.415 (2008 est.), 1.507 (2007), 1.5889 (2006), 1.6644 (2005), 1.6902 (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
4.900%
1.900%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
10
Location
Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia
Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden
Area
697 km sq
323,802 km sq
Coastline
193 km
25,148 km
Climate
tropical; hot, humid, rainy; two distinct monsoon seasons - Northeastern monsoon (December to March) and Southwestern monsoon (June to September); inter-monsoon - frequent afternoon and early evening thunderstorms
temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current; colder interior with increased precipitation and colder summers; rainy year-round on west coast
