This report is an indispensable reference guide to Norway, putting key facts and figures, political and economic information at your fingertips, without having to trawl through other books and websites. And it's not just dry data: the report combines key economic indicators with our expert analysis to bring you the most comprehensive overview of the Norwegian market.
 

 
Through a unique combination of macroeconomic and market data, this country profile gives you quick access to country data points, trends and analysis including:
 

 
the country's political and government make-up
 

 
the country's economic performance and GDP
 

 
the potential for development
 

 
detailed market and industry analysis of the country's business environment
 

TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3
 
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 8
 
1.1 What is this report about? 8
 
1.2 Who is the target reader? 8
 
1.3 How to use this report 8
 
CHAPTER 2 Key Facts & Overview 10
 
2.1 Key Facts 10
 
2.2 Overview 12
 
CHAPTER 3 Politics & Government 14
 
3.1 Summary 14
 
3.2 Elections and Goverment Make-up 15
 
3.3 Policy and Business 17
 
3.4 External Relations 19
 
CHAPTER 4 Economy 21
 
4.1 Summary 21
 
4.2 Economic Performance 22
 
4.3 Major Trading Partners 23
 
4.4 Key Issues 24
 
4.5 Prospects 26
 
CHAPTER 5 Macroeconomic Data 27
 
5.1 GDP 27
 
5.2 Population by age and gender 33
 
5.3 Consumer Price Index 35
 
5.4 Exchange rate 36
 
5.5 Employment 37
 
5.6 Unemployment 38
 
5.7 Working hours 40
 
5.8 Part-time employment 41
 
5.9 Working women 43
 

 
LIST OF TABLES
 
Table 1: Norwegian real GDP (NKr billion), 1998-2003 27
 
Table 2: Norwegian real GDP forecast (NKr billion), 2003-2008 28
 
Table 3: Norwegian real GDP (US$ billion), 1998-2003 29
 
Table 4: Norwegian real GDP (US$ billion), 2003-2008 30
 
Table 5: GDP per capita in Norway compared to other Scandinavian countries, 2003 31
 
Table 6: GDP growth per capita in Scandinavia, 1998-2003 and forecast 2003-08 31
 
Table 7: Norwegian population by age and gender (thousands), 2003 33
 
Table 8: Consumer Price Index inflation in Norway compared to Scandinavian benchmark, 1998-2003 35
 
Table 9: Exchange rate, NKr-US$, 1990-2003 (annual average) 36
 
Table 10: Norwegian employed population (thousands), 1990-2003 37
 
Table 11: Norwegian unemployed population (thousands), 1990-2003 38
 
Table 12: Percentage of Norwegian labor force that is unemployed, 1990-2003 39
 
Table 13: Norwegian average working hours per week, 1990-2002 40
 
Table 14: Part time employment in Norway, 1990-2002 41
 
Table 15: Percentage of Norwegian employed population in part time work, 1990-2002 42
 
Table 16: Number of working women in Norway (thousands), 1990-2003 43
 
Table 17: Percentage of Norway's employed population that is female, compared to Scandinavia benchmark, 1990-2003 44
 

 

 

 
LIST OF CHARTS
 
Figure 1: Norwegian real GDP (NKr billion), 1998-2003 27
 
Figure 2: Norwegian real GDP forecast (NKr billion), 2003-2008 28
 
Figure 3: Norwegian real GDP (US$ billion), 1998-2003 29
 
Figure 4: Norwegian real GDP (US$ billion), 2003-2008 30
 
Figure 5: Per capita GDP and growth rates in Scandinavia 32
 
Figure 6: Norwegian population by age and gender (thousands), 2003 34
 
Figure 7: Consumer Price Index inflation in Norway compared to Scandinavian benchmark, 1998-2003 35
 
Figure 8: Exchange rate, NKr-US$, 1990-2003 (annual average) 36
 
Figure 9: Norwegian employed population (millions), 1990-2003 37
 
Figure 10: Norwegian unemployed population (thousands), 1990-2003 38
 
Figure 11: Percentage of Norwegian labor force that is unemployed, 1990-2003 39
 
Figure 12: Norwegian average working hours per week, 1990-2002 40
 
Figure 13: Part time employment in Norway, 1990-2002 41
 
Figure 14: Percentage of Norwegian employed population in part time work, 1990-2002 42
 
Figure 15: Number of working women in Norway (thousands), 1990-2003 43
 
Figure 16: Percentage of Norway's employed population that is female, compared to Scandinavia benchmark, 1990-2003 44
 

 

 

 
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
 
This report provides detailed analysis of Norway, providing a top-level overview of its political, economic and business environment. This information is represented both textually and in graph and tabular formats.
 
1.1 What is this report about?
 
By combining macroeconomic and market data, this country profile gives access to