Norway Country Report

Norway is a well-developed and stable country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula of northern Europe. It borders Russia, Finland, Sweden, the North Sea, and the Norwegian Sea. The government is democratically-elected and highly stable; there are no major threats to stability. Norway enjoys one of the best standards of living in the world due in large part to its well-developed oil and gas, shipping and fishing industries; the country presents a positive environment for business and tourism. Corruption levels are low. Although the crime rate remains relatively low, foreign travelers may be vulnerable to petty crime and transport poses a hazard in northern areas.

Norway is not a member of the European Union, but it is a member of the European Economic Area (EEA), the European Free Trade Area (EFTA) and the Schengen zone.

Norway does not face any conflict risk. Although the crime rate is generally low, petty crime presents a common threat to foreigners in Norway. Violent crime is rare and does not typically affect foreign travelers. The country remains a potential target of Islamist terrorist organizations.

There are no safety concerns over air travel.

Overland travel can be hazardous due to the country’s climate and terrain.

The Port of Oslo is considered efficient.

Utilities are good, however, electricity is expensive.

Cyber threats remain the biggest external threat to Norway's national security.

Norway is prone to hurricanes between June and November. The country’s coastline is especially vulnerable to flooding and landslides that occasionally result from severe hurricanes. Extreme cold and snowfall affects the north of the country.

Medical facilities are widely available and of high quality, but may be limited outside the larger urban areas.

Norway is a unitary multi-party parliamentary constitutional monarchy. The monarch is the head of state and the Prime Minister is the head of government. The Prime Minister and the Cabinet form the government and exercise executive power. The unicameral parliament, or the Great Council, exercises legislative power. Parliamentary elections take place once every four years. The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.

Coalitions featuring a cross-section of political parties are typically required to form the government. Government collapses are rare. State institutions are competent and effective and provide reliable services across most of the country.