Basic data and indicators

Last updated: November 2011

Basic Data

Population (1 000): 4 858.2 inhabitants (2010)
GDP at market prices: 311 854.6 million Euro (2010)
GDP per inhabitant in PPS (Purchasing Power Standards, EU-27 = 100): 179.0 (2010)
GDP growth rate: 0.3 % (2010)
Inflation rate: 2.3 % (2010)
Unemployment rate: 3.5 % (2010)
Government debt/GDP: 44 % (2010)
Public balance (government deficit or surplus/GDP): 10.6 % (2010)
Source: Eurostat

Area: 323 802 km²
Capital city: Oslo
Official EU language: Norwegian (Bokmål and Nynorsk) and Sámi in some districts*
Currency: Norwegian kroner
Source: Norway official website*
Source: Europa website 

Political Structure

Norway is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democratic system of governance. All citizens are able to participate in the Storting (National Assembly), county and municipal councils. The Government, in accordance with the original articles of the Constitution, derives its authority from the executive power vested in the King.

The power of the King is mainly representative and ceremonial; however, it satisfies an important symbolic function as the Head of State and official representative of the Norwegian society and industry. State power is formally distributed between three institutions: the Storting (the legislative power), the Government (the executive power) and the courts (the judicial power). There is also a geographical distribution of political power into state, county and municipal levels.

The participation of the people in the political sphere takes place both through direct elections and through their membership in organisations.

The Storting, comprised of 169 members, serves as the highest political body in Norway. Elections to the Storting are held every fourth year, and mandates are distributed according to a system of proportional representation. The Government is selected on behalf of the King from within the Storting. It maintains formal control over the two most important tools of government: the enactment of legislation and approval of national budgets.

The Government's most important functions are to submit bills and budget proposals to the Storting and implement decisions through the ministries. The Government is derived from the Storting and is headed by the Prime Minister. Formally speaking, it is the King who asks the majority party to form a government, or a viable coalition. All Royal Decrees must be signed by the King and countersigned by the Prime Minister.

Norway is divided into 18 counties and 430 municipalities (2011). The powers of the county and municipal councils for self-government have been delegated by the State, and are set out in legislation, not in the Constitution.

Head of State: King Harald V of Norway (since 17 January 1991).

Head of Government: Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg (since 17 October 2005).

Information Society Indicators

Percentage of households with Internet access: 90 % (2010)
Percentage of enterprises with Internet access: 97 % (2010)
Percentage of individuals using the Internet at least once a week: 90 % (2010)
Percentage of households with a broadband connection: 83 % (2010)
Percentage of enterprises with a broadband connection: 87 % (2010)
Percentage of individuals having purchased/ordered online in the last three months: 53 % (2010)
Percentage of enterprises having received orders online within the previous year: 29 % (2009)
Percentage of individuals using the Internet for interacting with public authorities: obtaining information 61.8 %, downloading forms 38.7 %, returning filled forms 34.0 % (2010)
Percentage of enterprises using the Internet for interacting with public authorities: obtaining information 77 %, downloading forms 78 %, returning filled forms 71 % (2009)
Source: Eurostat

Editorial notice: Statistical indicators referenced in this section reflect those of Eurostat at the time the Edition is being prepared.