Norway
Europe Β· Capital: Oslo
How it is run: Norway has a king for ceremonies and a parliament called the Storting that makes the real laws.
Norway is home to 5.6 million people in Northern Europe, where people speak Norwegian Nynorsk, Norwegian BokmΓ₯l, Sami.
Numbers that tell a story π’
π₯ People
5.6 million people
That is about 693 people out of every million on Earth (counted in 2025).
πΊοΈ Land
323,802 kmΒ²
Bigger than Texas β a long road trip from one side to the other.
ποΈ How crowded
Only about 17 people per square kilometre β lots of wide open space between towns.
π Size in its region
24th most people in Europe
8th largest by land in Europe.
π£οΈ Official languages
Norwegian Nynorsk, Norwegian BokmΓ₯l, Sami
More than one language is used for official business.
π° Money
Norwegian krone (kr)
Life here today π©Ί
These come from World Bank open data β the same numbers governments use when they argue about budgets.
β€οΈ How long people live
83.2 years on average
One of the healthier countries β good hospitals and clean water make a big difference.
πΌ Money made per person each year
about US$94,594
A high-income country: most families can afford cars, travel and new technology.
π’ Living in cities
83.6% of people
Mostly a city country β think buses, trains and apartment blocks.
π Kids under 15
15.9% of the population
An older country β there are more grandparents than schoolchildren.
Everyday details π§
π Phone code
+47
Dial this before the number to call from another country.
π Websites end in
.no
π§ People here are called
Norwegian
π·οΈ Name at home
Noreg Β· Norge Β· Norgga
Also written: Norge, Noreg, Kingdom of Norway.
π Coast or inland
Has a coastline
ποΈ UN voting group
Western European and Others Group
Countries in the same group often plan votes together.
Neighbours & borders π€
Norway touches 3 neighbours by land. Neighbours share rivers, roads and usually a lot of trade.
Say its name around the world π£οΈ
Countries have different names in different languages. Try these with a penpal.
Spanish
Noruega
French
Norvège
Arabic
Ψ§ΩΩΨ±ΩΩΨ¬
Chinese
ζͺε¨
Japanese
γγ«γ¦γ§γΌ
Russian
ΠΠΎΡΠ²Π΅Π³ΠΈΡ
Portuguese
Noruega
German
Norwegen
Put it in perspective π
- Russia β the most populated country in Europe β has about 25.6Γ as many people as Norway.
- Norway covers roughly 3,084 times the area of Hong Kong Island.
- If everyone in Norway lined up shoulder to shoulder, the line would stretch about 2,805 km.
Country snapshot π
π₯ People
5.5 million people
πΊοΈ Size
385,207 kmΒ² of fjords and Arctic coast
π£οΈ Languages
Norwegian (BokmΓ₯l and Nynorsk) and SΓ‘mi
π° Money
Norwegian krone (kr)
ποΈ Government
Constitutional monarchy with a parliament (the Storting)
ποΈ Leader
Prime Minister
ποΈ United Nations
Founding UN member, 1945
πΌ Economy
Oil and gas, fishing, shipping and hydropower
π Climate promise
Cut emissions 55% by 2030 and be a low-emission society by 2050
π School life
Kids get lots of outdoor time β even in snow β because of 'friluftsliv'.
𧩠Biggest challenge
Selling oil abroad while promising to go green at home.
β¨ Did you know?
Nearly 9 out of 10 new cars sold in Norway are electric.
Who decides here? ποΈ
Constitutional monarchy with the Storting (parliament)
The King is head of state for ceremony; the government decides and the Storting must be consulted on serious matters.
Flags through time π
A flag is a country telling you what it believes. Scroll the timeline and watch Norway change.
Union with Denmark
Norway used the Danish red-and-white cross for over 400 years.
The 'herring salad' flag
During the union with Sweden a mixed union mark sat in the corner. Norwegians nicknamed it the herring salad.
Independent Norway
Norway left the union peacefully in 1905 and kept the red, white and blue Nordic cross.
War room simulations βοΈ
Step into the room where the decision was made. You will see who really had the power β generals, a president, a parliament or a king β and what each choice cost.
The invasion of Norway
Neutral Norway was invaded in April 1940. The king and government escaped and kept leading from London while resistance grew at home.
Who was in the room? King Haakon VII refused to appoint a government the invaders wanted, saying the choice belonged to the Storting.
Sit in the decision room ποΈ
You will face 2 real moments. Choose, then see what actually happened.
Policies today π
Almost every new car is electric
Electric cars get lower taxes, free parking and toll discounts, so most new cars sold in Norway are electric.
Saving oil money for the future
Money earned from oil goes into a giant savings fund so future generations still benefit.
Long paid leave for new parents
Parents share almost a year of paid time off after a baby is born, and dads must take part of it.
Fast facts π§
Fact of the day: Norway shares its part of the world with Jersey. Countries close together often trade the most with each other.
π·οΈ Official name
Kingdom of Norway
ποΈ Capital
Oslo
π Region
Europe Β· Northern Europe
π€ Country code
NO
ποΈ UN status
UN member state
π© Independence
Independent country
More about Norway π
Geirangerfjord
A fjord is a deep valley carved by a glacier and then flooded by the sea. Waterfalls called the Seven Sisters pour down its walls.
See it in Street Viewπ§ Where on the map
62.0Β° N, 10.0Β° E
π Half of the world
Northern & Eastern hemisphere
π°οΈ Clock check
Roughly UTC+1 β when it is noon in London it is about 13:00 in Oslo.
- Norway is close to the line of 0Β° longitude, so its clocks are near the world's reference time (UTC).
- The capital of Norway is Oslo β that's where the country's big decisions get made.
- π³π΄ is the flag of Norway. Its country code β the short name used on the internet and at the Olympics β is NO.
- Norway is an independent country, meaning it makes its own laws.
- Norway shares its part of the world with Jersey. Countries close together often trade the most with each other.
Countries nearby π€
Talk about it π¬
- Norway has 3 official languages. How would your school day change if lessons were taught in more than one language?
- Norway can trade by sea. What should a country protect first: its ports, its fishing waters, or its beaches?
- If Norway spoke at the General Assembly tomorrow, what one problem should its delegate ask the world to help fix?
Quick quiz π§ͺ
Guess first, then tap to check your answer.
What is the capital of Norway?
Oslo
Which money do people spend in Norway?
Norwegian krone (kr)
How many countries share a land border with Norway?
3 β Finland, Sweden, Russia.
Roughly how many people live in Norway?
5.6 million people
Keep researching π
Everything here is a starting point. These trusted sites, databases and libraries will take you further β and they are the kind of sources a teacher will accept in a report.
Start here β kid-friendly encyclopedias π
Short articles written for students, with maps and photos you can use in a report.
Official data & government sources ποΈ
Primary sources. Cite these when your teacher asks for real data.
News & current policy π°
Use two different outlets before you decide what you think.
Your library card π«
Libraries give you books, databases and librarians β all free.
Library tip: Ask your school or public librarian for their online databases (like Gale in Context or EBSCO Explora). Your library card unlocks them for free at home, and they are already checked by adults for school use.