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Geography · Europe

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Kingdom of Norway · Northern Europe

Quick answerNorway is a country in Northern Europe, with a population of 5,633,770 (2026). Its capital is Oslo, its official language is Norwegian Bokmål and Norwegian Nynorsk and Sami, and its currency is the Norwegian krone (NOK). It covers 323,802 square kilometres (125,021 square miles), and its time zone is Europe/Oslo.

Norway is a long, mountainous country in Northern Europe, home to about 5.6 million people. Its capital is Oslo, its official languages are Norwegian and Sami, and its currency is the Norwegian krone.

Key facts

CapitalOslo
Population5,633,770 (2026) · 5.6 million
Population density18.5 people per km² (land area)
Area323,802 km² (125,021 sq mi) total · 304,282 km² (117,484 sq mi) land
Official languagesNorwegian Bokmål (official), Norwegian Nynorsk (official), Sami (official)
CurrencyNorwegian krone (NOK, kr)
Time zoneEurope/Oslo
GovernmentUnitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Coastline25,148 km
Highest pointGaldhøpiggen, 2,469 m
Life expectancy83.2 years (2024)
Calling code+47
Driving sideRight
Internet domain.no

Overview

Norway occupies the western half of the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe, a long, narrow country facing the North Sea, the Norwegian Sea and, in the far north, the Barents Sea. It borders Sweden to the east, Finland to the north-east and Russia in the far north, and its mainland covers 323,802 square kilometres. With Svalbard and Jan Mayen included, the total is 385,207 square kilometres. The mainland coastline, counting the fjords, runs to 25,148 kilometres, one of the longest in the world, and the interior is mostly mountain and plateau. The highest point is Galdhøpiggen, at 2,469 metres, and above the Arctic Circle the sun does not set in summer or rise in winter.

Norway had 5,633,770 people on 1 January 2026, making it one of the least densely settled countries in Europe. About 83 per cent of Norwegians live in towns and cities, above all in and around Oslo, Bergen and Trondheim, while the far north is thinly peopled. Norwegian is the official language, written in two forms, Bokmål and Nynorsk, and Sami is official in parts of the north. Life expectancy at birth was 83.2 years in 2024, among the highest in the world. Most Norwegians live well by world standards, and the country regularly tops rankings of living standards and human development.

Norway is a unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy, with a king as head of state and a prime minister heading the government. It was a founding member of NATO in 1949 but has twice voted against joining the European Union, staying in the European Economic Area instead. Oil and gas, found in the North Sea from 1969, fund the world's largest sovereign wealth fund, and fishing, shipping and hydropower remain important. Norway has eight UNESCO World Heritage sites, from the Bryggen wharf in Bergen to the fjords of Geiranger and Nærøy, and its mountains, fjords and northern lights draw visitors from all over the world.

Notable facts

How Norway compares

Comparison table — Norway next to 3 similar countries (neighbours first, then the same subregion).

CountryPopulationAreaDensityCapital
Norway ★ 5,633,770 (2026) 323,802 km² 18.5 people per km² Oslo
Iceland 392,404 (2025) 103,000 km² 3.9 people per km² Reykjavík
United Kingdom 69,483,939 (2025) 244,376 km² 286.5 people per km² London
Australia 27,801,023 (2025) 7,692,024 km² 3.6 people per km² Canberra

Cities in Norway

See all 4 cities in Norway →

Frequently asked questions

What is the capital of Norway?

The capital of Norway is Oslo. It is also the country's largest city, with 724,290 people in the municipality on 1 January 2025 and about 1.5 million in the wider Oslo region. Oslo sits at the head of the Oslofjord in south-eastern Norway and is home to the Royal Palace, Akershus Fortress and the Vigeland Sculpture Park.

What is the population of Norway?

Norway had 5,633,770 people on 1 January 2026, according to Statistics Norway. That makes it one of the least densely settled countries in Europe, with most people living in the south around Oslo, Bergen and Trondheim. About 83 per cent of Norwegians live in towns and cities.

What language is spoken in Norway?

Norwegian is the official language of Norway, written in two forms, Bokmål and Nynorsk. Bokmål is used by most people, while Nynorsk is used mainly in western Norway. Sami is also an official language in parts of northern Norway, and almost all Norwegians speak good English.

What currency is used in Norway?

Norway uses the Norwegian krone (NOK, symbol kr). Norway is one of the most cashless countries in the world: cards and mobile payments work almost everywhere, even for small amounts, and many places no longer accept cash at all. Visitors rarely need to carry banknotes.

Where is Norway?

Norway is in Northern Europe, on the western side of the Scandinavian Peninsula. It borders Sweden to the east, Finland to the north-east and Russia in the far north, and faces the North Sea, the Norwegian Sea and the Barents Sea. The Arctic archipelago of Svalbard is also part of Norway.

What time zone is Norway in?

Norway uses Central European Time (CET, UTC+1) in winter and Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2) from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October. The IANA time zone name is Europe/Oslo. In the far north, the midnight sun makes the clock feel less important in summer.

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1. What is the capital of Norway?

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3. What currency is used in Norway?

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Sources & last updated

Last updated: . Figures are shown with their year; where sources disagree, the value is left out rather than estimated.