Communications: Broadcast media
Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) provides TV transmission to Svalbard via satellite; access to 3 NRK radio stations and 2 TV stations
Communications: Internet country code
.sj
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Norwegian kroner (NOK) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
9.416 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
8.59 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
9.614 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
10.563 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
10.746 (2024 est.)
Environment: Climate
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
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
0% (2018 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
100% (2018 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly smaller than West Virginia
Geography: Area: land
62,045 sq km
Geography: Area: water
0 sq km
Geography: Coastline
3,587 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Newtontoppen 1,717 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Arctic Ocean 0 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
78 00 N, 20 00 E
Geography: Geography - note
northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway; consists of nine main islands; glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of the total area
Geography: Land boundaries: total
0 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
0% (2018 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
100% (2018 est.)
Geography: Map references
Arctic Region
Geography: Maritime claims: contiguous zone
24 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: continental shelf
extends to depth of exploitation
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
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
Geography: Population distribution
the small population is primarily concentrated on the island of Spitsbergen in a handful of settlements on the south side of the Isfjorden, with Longyearbyen being the largest
Geography: Terrain
rugged mountains; much of the upland areas are ice covered; west coast clear of ice about half the year; fjords along west and north coasts
Government: Capital: daylight saving time
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Government: Capital: etymology
the name in Norwegian means Longyear Town; the site was established by and named after John Munro LONGYEAR, whose Arctic Coal Company began mining operations there in 1906
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
78 13 N, 15 38 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship
see Norway
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Svalbard (sometimes referred to as Spitsbergen, the largest island in the archipelago)
Government: Country name: etymology
the archipelago was traditionally known as Spitsbergen, a Dutch name meaning "jagged peaks," but Norway renamed it Svalbard in the 1920s when it assumed sovereignty of the islands, from the Norwegian sval (cold) and bard (shore); the Norwegian name may have been used during the Norse era for other locations
Government: Dependency status
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: Executive branch: chief of state
King HARALD V of Norway (since 17 January 1991)
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor and assistant governor responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Governor Lars FAUSE (since 24 June 2021)
Government: Flag
the flag of Norway is used
Government: International organization participation
none
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Svalbard is subordinate to Norway's Nord-Troms District Court and Halogaland Court of Appeal, both located in Tromso
Government: Legal system
laws of Norway that explicitly apply to Svalbard, including the Svalbard Act, the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act, and certain regulations; the Spitsbergen Treaty and the Svalbard Treaty grant certain rights to citizens and corporations of signatory nations
Government: National anthem(s): history
official anthem, as a Norwegian territory
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Bjornstjerne BJORNSON/Rikard NORDRAAK
Government: Political parties
Conservative Labor Liberal Progress Socialist Left
Introduction: Background
Norse explorers may have first discovered the Svalbard archipelago in the 12th century. The islands served as an international whaling base during the 17th and 18th centuries. Norway's sovereignty was internationally recognized by treaty in 1920, and five years later Norway officially took over the territory. Coal mining started in the 20th century, and a Norwegian company and a Russian company are still in operation today. Travel between the settlements is accomplished with snowmobiles, aircraft, and boats.
Military and Security: Military - note
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 (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
no regular military forces
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Norwegian 61.1%, foreign population 38.9% (consists primarily of Russians, Thais, Swedes, Filipinos, and Ukrainians) (2021 est.)
People and Society: Languages: Languages
Norwegian, Russian
People and Society: Languages: major-language sample(s)
Verdens Faktabok, den essensielle kilden for grunnleggende informasjon. (Norwegian) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
People and Society: Net migration rate
-5.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
the small population is primarily concentrated on the island of Spitsbergen in a handful of settlements on the south side of the Isfjorden, with Longyearbyen being the largest
People and Society: Population growth rate
-0.03% (2019 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
1,203
People and Society: Population: male
1,353
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Barentsburg, Longyearbyen, Ny Alesund
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
0
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
0
Transportation: Ports: small
0
Transportation: Ports: total ports
3 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
3
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.