| Population:
4,574,560 (July 2004 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.8% (male 462,899; female 440,725)
15-64 years: 65.4% (male 1,520,481; female 1,473,101)
65 years and over: 14.8% (male 284,170; female 393,184) (2004 est.)
Capital: OSLO
Area:
total: 324,220 sq km
land: 307,860 sq km
water: 16,360 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly larger than New Mexico
Coastline:
21,925 km (includes mainland 3,419 km, large islands 2,413 km, long fjords,
numerous small islands, and minor indentations 16,093 km)
Climate:
temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current; colder interior
with increased precipitation and colder summers; rainy autumn and spring
on west coast
Terrain:
glaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains broken by fertile
valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeply indented by fjords;
arctic tundra in north
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m
highest point: Galdhopiggen 2,469 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, titanium, pyrites,
nickel, fish, timber, hydropower
Economy
GDP:
Purchasing power parity - $171.6 billion (2003 est.)
Discovery of oil and gas in adjacent waters in the late
1960s boosted Norway's economic fortunes. The current focus is on containing
spending on the extensive welfare system and planning for the time when
petroleum reserves are depleted. In referenda held in 1972 and 1994, Norway
rejected joining the EU.
Family income 2001: NOK 356.000 or USD 50.403
Largest income rise for older households
In 2002 average after-tax income for Norwegian households was NOK 333
500.
From 1990 to 2002 the median after-tax income for all households rose
with
roughly 22 per cent, in real prices.
All household types have experienced an income rise in recent years.
There is nevertheless a tendency that the older households have had a
stronger rise in income compared to younger households. We find this
trend among singles, couples with children, as well as among couples
without children. In particular couples without children, where the
main income earner is 65 years and older, have had a solid increase
in household income.
Activities of travel agencies, tourist offices,
and tour operators,
structural business statistics 2002
Decline in turnover
Travel agencies, tourist offices and tour operators had a gross turnover
of
NOK 29.5 billion in 2002 a decline just above NOK 600 million from 2001.
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