--- title: Norway — English Wikipedia · full text with trees · page 4 description: Wikipedia's «Norway», whole, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics, CC BY-SA 4.0. It begins: Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country comprising the western and northernmost parts of the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe, the remote Arctic island Jan May --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Norway/page/4/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [wikipedia](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/) / [en](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/) / Norway # Norway · page 4 From Wikipedia, [«Norway»](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norway), revision of the 2026-09-01 dump, [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). The trees and pragmatics of these pages, Mova's parse of that text, are CC BY-SA 4.0 too. [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Norway/) [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Norway/page/2/) [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Norway/page/3/) **4** [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Norway/page/5/) [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Norway/page/6/) [7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Norway/page/7/) Members of the Storting are directly elected from [party-list proportional representation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party-list_proportional_representation) in nineteen [multiwinner voting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiwinner_voting) constituencies in a national [multi-party system](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-party_system).[\[130\]](../../page/7/#ref-130 "note 130")[279](../../279/ "tree and pragmatics") Historically, both the [Norwegian Labour Party](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_Labour_Party) and [Conservative Party](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservative_Party_%28Norway%29) have played leading political roles.[280](../../280/ "tree and pragmatics") In the early 21st century, the Labour Party has been in power since the [2005 election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_Norwegian_parliamentary_election), in a [Red–Green Coalition](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red–Green_Coalition) with the [Socialist Left Party](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_Left_Party_%28Norway%29) and the [Centre Party](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centre_Party_%28Norway%29).[\[131\]](../../page/7/#ref-131 "note 131")[281](../../281/ "tree and pragmatics") Since 2005, both the Conservative Party and the [Progress Party](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progress_Party_%28Norway%29) have won numerous seats in the Parliament.[\[132\]](../../page/7/#ref-132 "note 132")[282](../../282/ "tree and pragmatics") In national elections in September 2013, two political parties, [Høyre](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Høyre) and [Fremskrittspartiet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progress_Party_%28Norway%29), were elected on promises of tax cuts, more spending on infrastructure and education, better services and stricter rules on immigration, formed a government.[283](../../283/ "tree and pragmatics") [Erna Solberg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erna_Solberg) became prime minister, the second female prime minister after [Gro Harlem Brundtland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gro_Harlem_Brundtland) and the first conservative prime minister since [Jan P. Syse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_P._Syse).[284](../../284/ "tree and pragmatics") Solberg said her win was "a historic election victory for the right-wing parties".[\[133\]](../../page/7/#ref-133 "note 133")[285](../../285/ "tree and pragmatics") Her centre-right government won re-election in the [2017 Norwegian parliamentary election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_Norwegian_parliamentary_election).[\[84\]](../../page/7/#ref-84 "note 84")[286](../../286/ "tree and pragmatics") A centre-left cabinet under Prime Minister [Jonas Gahr Støre](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonas_Gahr_Støre), the leader of the Labour Party, took office on 14 October 2021.[\[134\]](../../page/7/#ref-134 "note 134")[287](../../287/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Administrative divisions Main article: [Administrative divisions of Norway](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Administrative_divisions_of_Norway), [Counties of Norway](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counties_of_Norway), [Municipalities of Norway](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Municipalities_of_Norway), [List of towns and cities in Norway](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_towns_and_cities_in_Norway) See also: [Sápmi (area)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sápmi_%28area%29) Norway, a [unitary state](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitary_state), is divided into fifteen first-level administrative [counties](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/County) (fylke).[\[135\]](../../page/7/#ref-135 "note 135")[288](../../288/ "tree and pragmatics") The counties are administered through directly-elected [county councils](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/County_municipality_%28Norway%29) who in turn elect the [county mayor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/County_mayor).[289](../../289/ "tree and pragmatics") Additionally, the [king](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_Royal_Family) and the national government are represented in every county by a [county governor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/County_governor_%28Norway%29) (statsforvalteren).[\[136\]](../../page/7/#ref-136 "note 136")[290](../../290/ "tree and pragmatics") The counties are then sub-divided into second-level municipalities (kommuner), which are administered by directly-elected [municipal councils](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Municipal_council_%28Norway%29) headed by a mayor and a small executive cabinet.[291](../../291/ "tree and pragmatics") The capital, Oslo, is considered both a county and a municipality.[292](../../292/ "tree and pragmatics") Norway has two integral overseas territories outside its mainland, [Jan Mayen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Mayen) and [Svalbard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svalbard), both located far to the north of the Norwegian mainland.[\[137\]](../../page/7/#ref-137 "note 137")[293](../../293/ "tree and pragmatics") There are 108 settlements that have [town/city](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_towns_and_cities_in_Norway) status in Norway (the Norwegian word by is used to represent these places, and can be translated as either town or city in English).[294](../../294/ "tree and pragmatics") Cities/towns in Norway were historically designated by the king, and used to have special rules and privileges under the law.[295](../../295/ "tree and pragmatics") This was changed in the late 20th century, so now towns/cities have no special rights and a municipality can designate any urban settlement as a city/town.[296](../../296/ "tree and pragmatics") Places in Norway are not designated "town" or "city" based on their size; some cities have over a million residents such as Oslo, while others are much smaller such as [Honningsvåg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honningsvåg) with about 2,200 residents.[297](../../297/ "tree and pragmatics") Usually, there is only one town within a municipality, but some municipalities have more than one, such as [Larvik Municipality](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larvik_Municipality) with the towns [Larvik](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larvik_%28town%29) and [Stavern](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stavern).[\[138\]](../../page/7/#ref-138 "note 138")[298](../../298/ "tree and pragmatics") #### Dependencies of Norway Main article: [Dependencies of Norway](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dependencies_of_Norway) Norway has three [Antarctic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antarctica) and [Subantarctic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subantarctic) [dependencies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dependent_territory): [Bouvet Island](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bouvet_Island), [Peter I Island](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_I_Island), and [Queen Maud Land](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Maud_Land).[299](../../299/ "tree and pragmatics") On most maps, there was an unclaimed area between Queen Maud Land and the [South Pole](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Pole) until 12 June 2015 when Norway formally annexed that area.[\[139\]](../../page/7/#ref-139 "note 139")[300](../../300/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Largest populated areas Main article: [List of towns and cities in Norway](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_towns_and_cities_in_Norway) ### Judicial system and law enforcement Main article: [Judiciary of Norway](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judiciary_of_Norway) Norway uses a [civil law system](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_law_%28legal_system%29) where laws are created and amended in Parliament and the system regulated through the [Courts of justice of Norway](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courts_of_justice_of_Norway).[301](../../301/ "tree and pragmatics") It consists of the [Supreme Court](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_Norway) of 20 permanent judges and a [Chief Justice](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Justice_of_the_Supreme_Court_of_Norway), [appellate courts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appellate_court), city and [district courts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Courts_of_justice_of_Norway#District_courts), and [conciliation councils](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conciliation_council).[\[140\]](../../page/7/#ref-140 "note 140")[302](../../302/ "tree and pragmatics") The judiciary is independent of executive and legislative branches.[303](../../303/ "tree and pragmatics") While the Prime Minister nominates Supreme Court Justices for office, their nomination must be approved by Parliament and formally confirmed by the Monarch.[304](../../304/ "tree and pragmatics") Usually, judges attached to regular courts are formally appointed by the Monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister.[305](../../305/ "tree and pragmatics") The Courts' formal mission is to regulate the Norwegian judicial system, interpret the Constitution, and implement the legislation adopted by Parliament.[306](../../306/ "tree and pragmatics") In its judicial reviews, it monitors the legislative and executive branches to ensure that they comply with provisions of enacted legislation.[\[140\]](../../page/7/#ref-140 "note 140")[307](../../307/ "tree and pragmatics") The [law is enforced in Norway](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_enforcement_in_Norway) by the [Norwegian Police Service](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_Police_Service).[308](../../308/ "tree and pragmatics") It is a Unified National Police Service made up of 27 Police Districts and several specialist agencies, such as [Norwegian National Authority for the Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_National_Authority_for_the_Investigation_and_Prosecution_of_Economic_and_Environmental_Crime), known as Økokrim; and the [National Criminal Investigation Service](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Criminal_Investigation_Service_%28Norway%29), known as Kripos, each headed by a chief of police.[309](../../309/ "tree and pragmatics") The Police Service is headed by the [National Police Directorate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Police_Directorate), which reports to the Ministry of Justice and the Police.[310](../../310/ "tree and pragmatics") The Police Directorate is headed by a National Police Commissioner.[311](../../311/ "tree and pragmatics") The only exception is the [Norwegian Police Security Agency](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_Police_Security_Service), whose head answers directly to the Ministry of Justice and the Police.[312](../../312/ "tree and pragmatics") Norway abolished the death penalty for regular criminal acts in 1902 and for high treason in war and war-crimes in 1979.[313](../../313/ "tree and pragmatics") Norwegian prisons are humane, rather than tough, with emphasis on rehabilitation.[314](../../314/ "tree and pragmatics") At 20%, Norway's re-conviction rate is among the lowest in the world.[\[141\]](../../page/7/#ref-141 "note 141")[315](../../315/ "tree and pragmatics") [Reporters Without Borders](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reporters_Without_Borders), in its 2024 [World Press Freedom Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Press_Freedom_Index), ranked Norway in first place out of 180 countries.[\[142\]](../../page/7/#ref-142 "note 142")[316](../../316/ "tree and pragmatics") In general, the legal and institutional framework in Norway is characterised by a high degree of transparency, accountability and integrity, and the perception and the occurrence of corruption are very low.[\[143\]](../../page/7/#ref-143 "note 143")[317](../../317/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Human rights Main article: [Human rights in Norway](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights_in_Norway) Norway has long been considered a progressive country, and has adopted legislation and policies to support women's rights, minority rights, and [LGBT rights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Norway).[318](../../318/ "tree and pragmatics") As early as 1884, 171 of the leading figures, among them five Prime Ministers, co-founded the [Norwegian Association for Women's Rights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_Association_for_Women%27s_Rights).[\[144\]](../../page/7/#ref-144 "note 144")[319](../../319/ "tree and pragmatics") They successfully campaigned for women's [right to education](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_education), [women's suffrage](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_suffrage), the [right to work](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_to_work), and other gender equality policies.[320](../../320/ "tree and pragmatics") From the 1970s, gender equality also came high on the state agenda, with the establishment of a public body to promote gender equality, which evolved into the [Gender Equality and Anti-Discrimination Ombud](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_Equality_and_Anti-Discrimination_Ombud).[321](../../321/ "tree and pragmatics") In the 21st century [intersectional feminists](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intersectional_feminism) have organised in the [Initiative for Inclusive Feminism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Initiative_for_Inclusive_Feminism), which seeks to build a broad, intersectional feminist movement rooted in the universality and indivisibility of human rights.[\[145\]](../../page/7/#ref-145 "note 145")[322](../../322/ "tree and pragmatics") It also maintains a very high quality of life ranking.[\[146\]](../../page/7/#ref-146 "note 146")[323](../../323/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1990, the Norwegian constitution was amended to grant [absolute primogeniture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absolute_primogeniture) to the Norwegian throne, meaning that the eldest child, regardless of gender, takes precedence in the line of succession.[324](../../324/ "tree and pragmatics") As it was not retroactive, the current successor to the throne is the eldest son of the King, rather than his eldest child.[\[147\]](../../page/7/#ref-147 "note 147")[325](../../325/ "tree and pragmatics") The Sámi people have for centuries been the subject of discrimination and abuse by the dominant cultures in Scandinavia and Russia, those countries claiming possession of Sámi lands.[\[148\]](../../page/7/#ref-148 "note 148")[326](../../326/ "tree and pragmatics") Norway has been greatly criticised by the international community for the politics of [Norwegianization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegianization) of and discrimination against the indigenous population of the country.[\[149\]](../../page/7/#ref-149 "note 149")[327](../../327/ "tree and pragmatics") Nevertheless, Norway was, in 1990, the first country to recognise [ILO-convention 1989](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_and_Tribal_Peoples_Convention,_1989) on [indigenous people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_people) recommended by the UN.[328](../../328/ "tree and pragmatics") Norway was the first country in the world to enact an anti-discrimination law protecting the rights of gay men and lesbians.[329](../../329/ "tree and pragmatics") In 1993, Norway became the second country to legalise [civil union](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_union) partnerships for same-sex couples, and on 1 January 2009, [Norway became the sixth country](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage_in_Norway) to legalise [same-sex marriage](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage).[\[150\]](../../page/7/#ref-150 "note 150")[330](../../330/ "tree and pragmatics") As a promoter of human rights, Norway has held the annual [Oslo Freedom Forum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oslo_Freedom_Forum) conference, a gathering described by [The Economist](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Economist) as "on its way to becoming a human-rights equivalent of the Davos economic forum".[\[151\]](../../page/7/#ref-151 "note 151")[331](../../331/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Foreign relations Main article: [Foreign relations of Norway](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_Norway) See also: [Norway and the European Union](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norway_and_the_European_Union), [Whaling in Norway](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whaling_in_Norway) Norway maintains embassies in 75 countries.[\[152\]](../../page/7/#ref-152 "note 152")[332](../../332/ "tree and pragmatics") 73 countries maintain an embassy in Norway, all of them in the capital, Oslo.[333](../../333/ "tree and pragmatics") Norway is a founding member of the [United Nations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations) (UN), the [North Atlantic Treaty Organization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO) (NATO), the [Council of Europe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_Europe) and the [European Free Trade Association](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Free_Trade_Association) (EFTA).[334](../../334/ "tree and pragmatics") Norway issued applications for accession to the European Union (EU) and its predecessors in 1962, 1967 and 1992, respectively.[335](../../335/ "tree and pragmatics") While Denmark, Sweden and Finland obtained membership, the Norwegian electorate rejected the treaties of accession in referendums in [1972](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1972_Norwegian_European_Communities_membership_referendum) and [1994](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_Norwegian_European_Union_membership_referendum).[336](../../336/ "tree and pragmatics") After the 1994 referendum, Norway maintained its membership in the [European Economic Area](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Economic_Area) (EEA), granting the country access to the [internal market](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_market_of_the_European_Union) of the Union, on the condition that Norway implements the Union's pieces of legislation which are deemed relevant.[\[153\]](../../page/7/#ref-153 "note 153")[337](../../337/ "tree and pragmatics") Successive Norwegian governments have, since 1994, requested participation in parts of the EU's co-operation that go beyond the provisions of the EEA agreement.[338](../../338/ "tree and pragmatics") Non-voting participation by Norway has been granted in, for instance, the Union's [Common Security and Defence Policy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Security_and_Defence_Policy), the [Schengen Agreement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_Agreement), and the [European Defence Agency](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Defence_Agency), as well as 19 separate programmes.[\[154\]](../../page/7/#ref-154 "note 154")[339](../../339/ "tree and pragmatics") Norway participated in the 1990s brokering of the [Oslo Accords](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oslo_Accords), an unsuccessful attempt to resolve the [Israeli–Palestinian conflict](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli–Palestinian_conflict).[340](../../340/ "tree and pragmatics") ### Military Main article: [Norwegian Armed Forces](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_Armed_Forces) The Norwegian Armed Forces numbers about 25,000 personnel, including civilian employees.[341](../../341/ "tree and pragmatics") According to 2009 mobilisation plans, full mobilisation produces approximately 83,000 combatant personnel.[342](../../342/ "tree and pragmatics") Norway has [conscription](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscription) (including 6–12 months of training);[\[155\]](../../page/7/#ref-155 "note 155") in 2013, the country became the first in Europe and NATO to draft women as well as men.[343](../../343/ "tree and pragmatics") However, due to less need for conscripts after the [Cold War](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War), few people have to serve if they are not motivated.[\[156\]](../../page/7/#ref-156 "note 156")[344](../../344/ "tree and pragmatics") The Armed Forces are subordinate to the [Norwegian Ministry of Defence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_Ministry_of_Defence).[345](../../345/ "tree and pragmatics") The Commander-in-Chief is [King Harald V](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harald_V_of_Norway). The military of Norway is divided into the [Norwegian Army](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_Army), the [Royal Norwegian Navy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Norwegian_Navy), the [Royal Norwegian Air Force](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Norwegian_Air_Force), the [Norwegian Cyber Defence Force](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_Cyber_Defence_Force) and the [Home Guard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_Guard_%28Norway%29).[346](../../346/ "tree and pragmatics") The country was one of the founding nations of the [North Atlantic Treaty Organization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO) (NATO) on 4 April 1949.[347](../../347/ "tree and pragmatics") Norway contributed in the [International Security Assistance Force](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Security_Assistance_Force) (ISAF) in [Afghanistan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_Afghanistan_%282001–present%29).[\[157\]](../../page/7/#ref-157 "note 157")[348](../../348/ "tree and pragmatics") Additionally, Norway has contributed in several missions in contexts of the United Nations, NATO, and the [Common Security and Defence Policy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Security_and_Defence_Policy) of the European Union.[349](../../349/ "tree and pragmatics") ## Economy Main article: [Economy of Norway](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Norway), [Energy in Norway](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_in_Norway), [European Economic Area](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Economic_Area), [Exclusive economic zone § Norway](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exclusive_economic_zone#Norway) Norwegians enjoy the second-highest [GDP per capita](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28nominal%29_per_capita) among European countries (after [Luxembourg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxembourg) [corpus](../../../Luxembourg/ "in our corpus")), and the sixth-highest [PPP-adjusted GDP per capita](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_%28PPP%29_per_capita) in the world.[350](../../350/ "tree and pragmatics") Norway ranks as the second-wealthiest country in monetary value, with the largest capital reserve per capita of any nation.[\[158\]](../../page/7/#ref-158 "note 158")[351](../../351/ "tree and pragmatics") According to the CIA World Factbook, Norway is a net external creditor of debt.[\[95\]](../../page/7/#ref-95 "note 95")[352](../../352/ "tree and pragmatics") Norway reclaimed first place in the world in the [UNDP](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Development_Programme) [Human Development Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Development_Index) (HDI) in 2009.[\[159\]](../../page/7/#ref-159 "note 159")[353](../../353/ "tree and pragmatics") The standard of living in Norway is among the highest in the world.[354](../../354/ "tree and pragmatics") [Foreign Policy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_Policy) magazine ranks Norway last in its [Failed States Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_Failed_States_Index) for 2009 and 2023, judging Norway to be the world's most well-functioning and stable country.[355](../../355/ "tree and pragmatics") The [OECD](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OECD) ranks Norway fourth in the 2013 equalised [Better Life Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OECD_Better_Life_Index) and third in intergenerational earnings elasticity according to a 2010 study.[\[160\]](../../page/7/#ref-160 "note 160")[\[161\]](../../page/7/#ref-161 "note 161")[356](../../356/ "tree and pragmatics") The Norwegian economy is an example of a [mixed economy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixed_economy); a prosperous capitalist [welfare state](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welfare_state), it features a combination of [free market](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_market) activity and large state ownership in certain key sectors, influenced by both liberal governments from the late 19th century and later by [social democratic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labour_Party_%28Norway%29) governments in the postwar era.[357](../../357/ "tree and pragmatics") [Public healthcare in Norway](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Healthcare_in_Norway) is free (after an annual charge of around 2000 [kroner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_krone) for those over 16), and parents have 46 weeks paid[\[162\]](../../page/7/#ref-162 "note 162") parental leave.[358](../../358/ "tree and pragmatics") The state income derived from natural resources includes a significant contribution from petroleum production. as of 2025 February, Norway has an unemployment rate of 3.9%, with 69.7% of the population aged 15–74 employed.[\[163\]](../../page/7/#ref-163 "note 163")[359](../../359/ "tree and pragmatics") People in the labour force are either employed or looking for work.[\[164\]](../../page/7/#ref-164 "note 164") as of 2023, 10.6% of the population aged 18–67 receive a disability benefit[\[165\]](../../page/7/#ref-165 "note 165") and 30% of the labour force are employed by the government, the highest in the [OECD](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OECD).[\[166\]](../../page/7/#ref-166 "note 166")[360](../../360/ "tree and pragmatics") The hourly productivity levels, as well as average hourly wages in Norway, are among the highest in the world.[\[167\]](../../page/7/#ref-167 "note 167")[\[168\]](../../page/7/#ref-168 "note 168")[361](../../361/ "tree and pragmatics") The [egalitarian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egalitarianism) values of Norwegian society have kept the wage difference between the lowest paid worker and the CEO of most companies as much less than in comparable western economies.[\[169\]](../../page/7/#ref-169 "note 169")[362](../../362/ "tree and pragmatics") This is also evident in [Norway's low Gini coefficient](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_income_equality).[363](../../363/ "tree and pragmatics") The state has large ownership positions in key industrial sectors, such as the strategic petroleum sector (Equinor), hydroelectric energy production ([Statkraft](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statkraft)), aluminium production ([Norsk Hydro](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norsk_Hydro)), the largest Norwegian bank ([DNB](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNB_ASA)), and telecommunication provider ([Telenor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telenor)).[364](../../364/ "tree and pragmatics") Through these big companies, the government controls approximately 30% of the stock values at the Oslo Stock Exchange.[\[170\]](../../page/7/#ref-170 "note 170")[365](../../365/ "tree and pragmatics") When non-listed companies are included, the state has even higher share in ownership (mainly from direct oil licence ownership).[366](../../366/ "tree and pragmatics") Norway is a major shipping nation and has the world's sixth largest [merchant fleet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_transport), with 1,412 Norwegian-owned merchant vessels.[\[171\]](../../page/7/#ref-171 "note 171")[367](../../367/ "tree and pragmatics") By referendums in [1972](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1972_Norwegian_European_Communities_membership_referendum) and [1994](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_Norwegian_European_Union_membership_referendum), Norwegians rejected proposals to join the European Union (EU).[368](../../368/ "tree and pragmatics") However, Norway, together with [Iceland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iceland) [corpus](../../../Iceland/ "in our corpus") and [Liechtenstein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liechtenstein) [corpus](../../../Liechtenstein/ "in our corpus"), participates in the European Union's single market through the [European Economic Area](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Economic_Area) (EEA) agreement.[369](../../369/ "tree and pragmatics") The EEA Treaty between the European Union countries and the EFTA countries—transposed into Norwegian law via "EØS-loven"[\[172\]](../../page/7/#ref-172 "note 172")—describes the procedures for implementing European Union rules in Norway and the other EFTA countries.[370](../../370/ "tree and pragmatics") Norway is a highly integrated member of most sectors of the EU internal market.[371](../../371/ "tree and pragmatics") Some sectors, such as agriculture, oil and fish, are not wholly covered by the EEA Treaty.[372](../../372/ "tree and pragmatics") Norway has also acceded to the [Schengen Agreement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schengen_Agreement) and several other intergovernmental agreements among the EU member states.[373](../../373/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Norway/) [2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Norway/page/2/) [3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Norway/page/3/) **4** [5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Norway/page/5/) [6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/wikipedia/en/Norway/page/6/) 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