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Area: 324,220 sq km
Population: 4,478,000
Capital city: Oslo (pop 483,500)
People: 97% Nordic, Alpine & Baltic, with a Sami minority
Language: Bokmål & Nynorsk
Religion: Christian (93% Evangelical Lutheran)
Government: Constitutional monarchy
Prime Minister: Jens Stoltenberg
King: Harald V

GDP: US$120.5 billion
GDP per head: US$27,400
Annual growth: 3.5%
Inflation: 2%
Major industries: Oil, natural gas, computers, high technology, fishing, shipbuilding and paper production
Major trading partners: EU (esp. UK, Germany & Sweden)
Member of EU: no

Events

The country's biggest holiday is Constitution Day (17 May), when many Norwegians take to the streets attired in traditional folk costumes. Another popular holiday is Midsummer's Eve (usually held on 23 June), which is celebrated with bonfires on the beach. The Sami people (Lapps) also hold colourful celebrations at Easter in Karasjok and Kautokeino. Festivities include reindeer races, joik (traditional chanting) and concerts

Traveling Guidelines

Visas: Scandinavian citizens can enter Norway freely without a passport. Citizens of the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand do not require visas for stays of less than three months.
Health risks: None
Time: GMT/UTC plus 1 hour
Electricity: 220V, 50-60 Hz
Weights & measures: Metric

Ideal time to visit

Norway is at its best and brightest from May to September. Late spring is a particularly pleasant time - fruit trees are in bloom, daylight hours are long, and most hostels and sights are open but uncrowded.

Unless you're heavily into winter skiing or searching for the Aurora Borealis of the polar nights, Norway's cold dark winters are not the prime time to visit. Midnight-sun days, when the sun never drops below the horizon, extend from 13 May to 29 July and from 28 May to 14 July in the Lofoten islands.