Page last updated on January 7, 2014

Introduction:
Background:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
First discovered by the Norwegians in the 12th century, the islands served as an international whaling base during the 17th and 18th centuries. Norway's sovereignty was recognized in 1920; five years later it officially took over the territory.
Geography:
Location:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Northern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway
Geographic coordinates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
78 00 N, 20 00 E
Map references:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Europe
Area:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 62,045 sq km
country comparison to the world: 125
land: 62,045 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island)
Area - comparative:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
slightly smaller than West Virginia
Land boundaries:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 km
Coastline:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
3,587 km
Maritime claims:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
territorial sea: 4 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm unilaterally claimed by Norway but not recognized by Russia
Climate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current; cool summers, cold winters; North Atlantic Current flows along west and north coasts of Spitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most of the year
Terrain:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
wild, rugged mountains; much of high land ice covered; west coast clear of ice about one-half of the year; fjords along west and north coasts
Elevation extremes:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
lowest point: Arctic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Newtontoppen 1,717 m
Natural resources:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
coal, iron ore, copper, zinc, phosphate, wildlife, fish
Land use:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (no trees; the only bushes are crowberry and cloudberry) (2011)
Irrigated land:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
Natural hazards:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
ice floes often block the entrance to Bellsund (a transit point for coal export) on the west coast and occasionally make parts of the northeastern coast inaccessible to maritime traffic
Environment - current issues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
Geography - note:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway; consists of nine main islands; glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of the total area; Spitsbergen Island is the site of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, a seed repository established by the Global Crop Diversity Trust and the Norwegian Government
Ethnic groups:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Norwegian 55.4%, Russian and Ukrainian 44.3%, other 0.3% (1998)
Languages:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Norwegian, Russian
Population:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1,921 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 234
Population growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
-0.03% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
Sex ratio:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
Infant mortality rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Life expectancy at birth:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA
Total fertility rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0% (2001)
country comparison to the world: 166
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 163
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
0 (2001)
country comparison to the world: 153
Education expenditures:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
Literacy:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
Government:
Country name:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Svalbard (sometimes referred to as Spitsbergen)
Dependency status:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice, through a governor (sysselmann) residing in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920) sovereignty was awarded to Norway
Government type:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
Capital:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
name: Longyearbyen
geographic coordinates: 78 13 N, 15 38 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Independence:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
none (territory of Norway)
Legal system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
the laws of Norway where applicable apply
Executive branch:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
chief of state: King HARALD V of Norway (since 17 January 1991)
head of government: Governor Odd Olsen INGERO (since September 2009); Assistant Governor Lars Erik ALHEIM
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor and assistant governor responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA
International organization participation:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
none
Flag description:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
the flag of Norway is used
National anthem:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
note: as a territory of Norway, "Ja, vi elsker dette landet" is official (see Norway)
Economy:
Economy - overview:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Coal mining, tourism, and international research are the major revenue sources on Svalbard. Coal mining is the dominant economic activity and a treaty of 9 February 1920 gave the 41 signatories equal rights to exploit mineral deposits, subject to Norwegian regulation. Although US, UK, Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have mined in the past, the only companies still engaging in this are Norwegian and Russian. The settlements on Svalbard are essentially company towns. The Norwegian state-owned coal company employs nearly 60% of the Norwegian population on the island, runs many of the local services, and provides most of the local infrastructure. There is also some hunting of seal, reindeer, and fox. Goods such as alcohol, tobacco, and vehicles, normally highly taxed on mainland Norway, are considerably cheaper in Svalbard in an effort by the Norwegian government to entice more people to live on the Arctic archipelago. By law, the Norwegians collect only enough taxes to pay for the needs of the local government; none of tax proceeds go to Norway.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$6.313 billion
GDP - real growth rate:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA%
Labor force:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1,234 (2003)
country comparison to the world: 229
Budget:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA
Taxes and other revenues:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA% of GDP
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
NA% of GDP
Exports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$NA
Imports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
$NA
Exchange rates:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Norwegian kroner (NOK) per US dollar -
Communications:
Telephone system:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
general assessment: adequate
domestic: local telephone service
international: country code - 47-790; satellite earth station - 1 of unknown type (for communication with Norwegian mainland only) (2005)
Broadcast media:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) began direct TV transmission to Svalbard via satellite in 1984; Longyearbyen households have access to 3 NRK radio and 2 TV stations (2008)
Internet country code:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
.sj
Transportation:
Airports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
4 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 188
Airports - with paved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2013)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
total: 3
under 914 m:
Heliports:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
1 (2013)
Ports and terminals:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
major seaport(s): Barentsburg, Longyearbyen, Ny-Alesund, Pyramiden
Military:
Military branches:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
no regular military forces
Military - note:
Field Background: For all countries in alphabetical order
Svalbard is a territory of Norway, demilitarized by treaty on 9 February 1920; Norwegian military activity is limited to fisheries surveillance by the Norwegian Coast Guard