Editing Norway (section)

== Politics and government ==
{{Main|Politics of Norway|Law of Norway}}
{{See also|2021 Norwegian parliamentary election}}
[[File:Spring Royal Palace Slottet Oslo Norway (2022.04.21).jpg|thumb|[[Royal Palace, Oslo|The Royal Palace]] in Oslo]]
[[File:Kong Harald og Dronning Sonja - Kino 2012.JPG|thumb|[[Monarchy of Norway|King of Norway]], [[Harald V of Norway|Harald V]] and his consort, [[Queen Sonja of Norway|Queen Sonja]]<br>(reigning since 17 January 1991)]]
[[File:Nordic prime ministers’ meeting in Helsinki 1.11.2022 - 52469398971 (cropped).jpg|thumb|150px|[[Prime Minister of Norway]], [[Jonas Gahr Støre]]<br>(since 14 October 2021)]]
[[File:Stortinget, Oslo, Norway.jpg|thumb|''[[Storting building|The Storting]]'' is the [[Parliament of Norway]].]]

Norway is considered to be one of the most developed democracies and [[Rechtsstaat|states of justice]] in the world. Since 2010, Norway has been classified as the world's most democratic country by the [[Democracy Index]].<ref>Wong, Curtis M. (14 December 2010). [https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/14/worlds-top-democratic-gov_n_796107.html#s206314title=Norway__1 World's Top Democratic Governments: Economist Intelligence Unit's Democracy Index 2010 (PHOTOS)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010165522/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/14/worlds-top-democratic-gov_n_796107.html#s206314title=Norway__1 |date=10 October 2017 }}. ''[[The Huffington Post]].'' Retrieved 27 August 2013.</ref><ref>[http://www.sida.se/Global/About Sida/Så arbetar vi/EIU_Democracy_Index_Dec2011.pdf Democracy index 2011] {{dead link|date=February 2017|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}. ''[[Economist Intelligence Unit]]'' Retrieved 27 August 2013.</ref><ref>Davidson, Kavitha A. (21 March 2013). [https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/21/democracy-index-2013-economist-intelligence-unit_n_2909619.html Democracy Index 2013: Global Democracy At A Standstill, The Economist Intelligence Unit's Annual Report Shows] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010165527/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/21/democracy-index-2013-economist-intelligence-unit_n_2909619.html |date=10 October 2017 }}. ''[[The Huffington Post]].'' Retrieved 27 August 2013.</ref>

According to the [[Constitution of Norway]], which was adopted on 17 May 1814<ref name="Constitution">{{cite web|url=https://stortinget.no/en/In-English/About-the-Storting/The-Constitution/The-Constitution/ |title=The Constitution – Complete text |work=The Storting's Information Corner |year=2011 |access-date=9 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110829055430/http://www.stortinget.no/en/In-English/About-the-Storting/The-Constitution/The-Constitution/ |archive-date=29 August 2011}}</ref> and was inspired by the [[United States Declaration of Independence]] and [[French Revolution]], Norway is a unitary [[constitutional monarchy]] with a [[parliamentary system]] of government, wherein the [[Monarchy of Norway|King of Norway]] is the [[head of state]] and the [[Prime Minister of Norway|prime minister]] is the [[head of government]]. Power is separated among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government, as defined by the Constitution, which serves as the country's supreme legal document.

The [[Norwegian Royal Family|monarch]] officially retains executive power. But following the introduction of a parliamentary system of government, the duties of the monarch became strictly representative and ceremonial.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kongehuset.no/c27300/seksjonstekst/vis.html?tid=29977|title=The King's constitutional role|publisher=The Royal Court of Norway|access-date=24 April 2009|archive-date=14 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100714005240/http://www.kongehuset.no/c27300/seksjonstekst/vis.html?tid=29977|url-status=live}}</ref> The Monarch is [[commander-in-chief]] of the [[Norwegian Armed Forces]], and serves as chief diplomatic official abroad and as a symbol of unity. [[Harald V of Norway|Harald V]] of the [[House of Glücksburg|House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg]] ascended to the Norwegian throne in 1991, the first since the 14th century who has been born in the country.<ref name="norway.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.norway.org/aboutnorway/society/political/monarchy/ |title=The Monarchy |publisher=Norway.org |date=24 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222042421/http://www.norway.org/aboutnorway/society/political/monarchy/ |archive-date=22 February 2012}}</ref> [[Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway]], is the heir to the throne.

In practice, the Prime Minister exercises the executive powers. Constitutionally, legislative power is vested with both the government and the Parliament of Norway, but the latter is the supreme legislature and a [[unicameralism|unicameral]] body.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.norway.org/aboutnorway/society/political/storting/ |title=The Storting |publisher=Norway.org |date=10 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126212450/http://www.norway.org/aboutnorway/society/political/storting/ |archive-date=26 January 2012}}</ref> Norway is fundamentally structured as a [[representative democracy]]. The Parliament can pass a law by simple majority of the 169 representatives, of which 150 are elected directly from 19 constituencies, and an additional 19 seats ("levelling seats") are allocated on a nationwide basis to make the representation in parliament correspond better with the popular vote for the political parties. A 4% election threshold is required for a party to gain levelling seats in Parliament.<ref name="Election threshold">{{cite web|url=http://www.parties-and-elections.de/norway.html |title=Parties and Elections in Europe |first=Wolfram |last=Nordsieck |publisher=parties-and-elections.de |year=2011 |quote=Storting, 4-year term, 4% threshold (supplementary seats) |access-date=10 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903220240/http://parties-and-elections.de/norway.html |archive-date=3 September 2011}}</ref>

The Parliament of Norway, called the ''[[Parliament of Norway|Storting]]'', ratifies national [[treaty|treaties]] developed by the executive branch. It can [[impeachment|impeach]] members of the government if their acts are declared unconstitutional. If an indicted suspect is impeached, Parliament has the power to remove the person from office.

The position of [[Prime Minister of Norway|prime minister]] is allocated to the member of Parliament who can obtain the confidence of a majority in Parliament, usually the current leader of the largest political party or, more effectively, through a coalition of parties; Norway has often been ruled by minority governments. The prime minister nominates the cabinet, traditionally drawn from members of the same political party or parties in the Storting, making up the government. The PM organises the executive government and exercises its power as vested by the Constitution.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.norway.org/aboutnorway/society/political/government |title=The Government |publisher=Norway.org |date=10 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100903135300/http://www.norway.org/aboutnorway/society/political/government/ |archive-date=3 September 2010}}</ref>

Norway has a state church, the Lutheran [[Church of Norway]], which has gradually been granted more internal autonomy in day-to-day affairs, but which still has a special constitutional status. Formerly, the PM had to have more than half the members of cabinet be members of the Church of Norway; this rule was removed in 2012. The issue of [[separation of church and state]] in Norway has been increasingly controversial. A part of this is the evolution of the public school subject Christianity, a required subject since 1739. Even the state's loss in a battle at the [[European Court of Human Rights]] at [[Strasbourg]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng?i=001-81356 |title=Case of Folgerø and Others v. Norway |date=29 June 2007 |access-date=17 March 2015 |website=[[European Court of Human Rights]] |archive-date=8 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208063742/http://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng?i=001-81356 |url-status=live }}</ref> in 2007 did not settle the matter. As of 1 January 2017, the Church of Norway is a separate legal entity, and no longer a branch of the civil service.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dagen.no/dagensdebatt/lederartikkel/P%C3%A5-statskirkens-siste-dag-429116|title=På statskirkens siste dag|newspaper=Dagen.no|language=no|access-date=4 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205111011/http://www.dagen.no/dagensdebatt/lederartikkel/P%C3%A5-statskirkens-siste-dag-429116|archive-date=5 February 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Through the [[Norwegian Council of State|Council of State]], a [[privy council]] presided over by the monarch, the prime minister and the cabinet meet at the [[Royal Palace, Oslo|Royal Palace]] and formally consult the Monarch. All government bills need formal approval by the monarch before and after introduction to Parliament. The Council approves all of the monarch's actions as head of state.<ref name="norway.org"/>

Members of the Storting are directly elected from [[party-list proportional representation]] in nineteen [[plurality voting system|plural-member]] constituencies in a national [[multi-party system]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.norway.org/aboutnorway/society/political/general/ |title=Form of Government |publisher=Norway.org |date=10 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120222042417/http://www.norway.org/aboutnorway/society/political/general/ |archive-date=22 February 2012}}</ref> Historically, both the [[Norwegian Labour Party]] and [[Conservative Party (Norway)|Conservative Party]] have played leading political roles. In the early 21st century, the Labour Party has been in power since the [[2005 Norwegian parliamentary election|2005 election]], in a [[Red–Green Coalition]] with the [[Socialist Left Party (Norway)|Socialist Left Party]] and the [[Centre Party (Norway)|Centre Party]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.123independenceday.com/norway/political-system.html |title=Political System of Norway |publisher=123independenceday.com |access-date=27 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100225175552/http://www.123independenceday.com/norway/political-system.html |archive-date=25 February 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Since 2005, both the Conservative Party and the [[Progress Party (Norway)|Progress Party]] have won numerous seats in the Parliament.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.norway.org/aboutnorway/society/political/ |title=Political System |publisher=Norway.org |date=18 November 2009 |access-date=27 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100412142148/http://www.norway.org/aboutnorway/society/political/ |archive-date=12 April 2010}}</ref>

In national elections in September 2013, two political parties, [[Høyre]] and [[Progress Party (Norway)|Fremskrittspartiet]], were elected on promises of tax cuts, more spending on infrastructure and education, better services and stricter rules on immigration, formed a government. [[Erna Solberg]] became prime minister, the second female prime minister after [[Gro Harlem Brundtland]] and the first conservative prime minister since [[Jan P. Syse]]. Solberg said her win was "a historic election victory for the right-wing parties".<ref>{{cite web |author=Bevanger, Lars |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24014551 |title=Norway election: Erna Solberg to form new government |publisher=BBC |date=10 September 2013 |access-date=15 February 2014 |archive-date=23 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023154253/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24014551 |url-status=live }}</ref> Her centre-right government won re-election in the [[2017 Norwegian parliamentary election]].<ref name="reuters.com"/> Norway's new centre-left cabinet under Prime Minister [[Jonas Gahr Støre]], the leader the Labour Party, took office on 14 October 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2021-10-14/norways-prime-minister-present-his-new-government |title=Norway's Prime Minister Presents His New Government |work=U.S. News & World Report |agency=Associated Press |date=14 October 2021 |access-date=9 December 2021 |archive-date=26 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026095923/https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2021-10-14/norways-prime-minister-present-his-new-government |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Administrative divisions ===
{{Main|Administrative divisions of Norway|Counties of Norway|Municipalities of Norway|List of towns and cities in Norway}}
{{See also|Sápmi (area)}}
[[File:Fylkesinndeling2024 original.webp|thumb|upright=0.9|A municipal and regional reform: "From 14 June 2022, the Storting decided the following division of counties."]]
Norway, a [[unitary state]], is divided into fifteen first-level administrative [[county|counties]] (''fylke'').<ref>{{cite web | title=Fylkesinndelingen fra 2024 | publisher=regjeringen.no | date=5 July 2022 | url=https://www.regjeringen.no/no/tema/kommuner-og-regioner/kommunestruktur/fylkesinndelingen-fra-2024/id2922222/ | language=nb | access-date=11 January 2024 | archive-date=17 March 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317094243/https://www.regjeringen.no/no/tema/kommuner-og-regioner/kommunestruktur/fylkesinndelingen-fra-2024/id2922222/ | url-status=live }}</ref> The counties are administered through directly elected [[County municipality (Norway)|county councils]] who elect the [[County mayor|County Mayor]]. Additionally, the [[Norwegian Royal Family|King]] and government are represented in every county by a [[County governor (Norway)|County Governor]] ({{langx|no|statsforvalteren}}).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.norway.org/aboutnorway/society/political/local/ |title=Local Government |publisher=Norway.org |date=10 June 2009 |access-date=27 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611231520/http://www.norway.org/aboutnorway/society/political/local/ |archive-date=11 June 2010}}</ref> The counties are then sub-divided into 357 second-level municipalities ({{langx|no|kommuner}}), which in turn are administered by directly elected [[Municipal council (Norway)|municipal council]], headed by a mayor and a small executive cabinet. The capital of [[Oslo]] is considered both a county and a municipality. Norway has two integral overseas territories out of mainland: [[Jan Mayen]] and [[Svalbard]], the only developed island in the archipelago of the same name, located far to the north of the Norwegian mainland.<ref>{{cite web |title=An Introduction to Norway » Government & Politics |url=https://www.lifeinnorway.net/about-norway/government/ |website=Life in Norway |date=5 February 2017 |access-date=8 March 2021 |archive-date=16 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230816180642/https://www.lifeinnorway.net/about-norway/government/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

There are 108 settlements that have [[List of towns and cities in Norway|town/city]] status in Norway (the Norwegian word {{lang|no|by}} is used to represent these places and that word can be translated as either town or city in English). Cities/towns in Norway were historically designated by the King and used to have special rules and privileges under the law. This was changed in the late 20th century, so now towns/cities have no special rights and a municipality can designate an urban settlement as a city/town. Towns and cities in Norway do not have to be large. Some cities have over a million residents such as Oslo, while others are much smaller such as [[Honningsvåg]] with about 2,200 residents. Usually, there is only one town within a municipality, but there are some municipalities that have more than one town within it (such as [[Larvik Municipality]] which has the [[Larvik (town)|town of Larvik]] and the town of [[Stavern]].<ref name="byer-norge">{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Byer i Norge |encyclopedia=[[Store norske leksikon]] |publisher=[[Kunnskapsforlaget]] |url=https://snl.no/byer_i_Norge |date=8 April 2024 |editor-last=Thorsnæs |editor-first=Geir |language=no |accessdate=1 July 2024}}</ref>

==== Dependencies of Norway ====
{{Main|Dependencies of Norway}}

There are three [[Antarctica|Antarctic]] and [[Subantarctic]] [[dependent territory|dependencies]]: [[Bouvet Island]], [[Peter I Island]], and [[Queen Maud Land]]. On most maps, there was an unclaimed area between Queen Maud Land and the [[South Pole]] until 12 June 2015 when Norway formally annexed that area.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rapp|first1=Ole Magnus|title=Norge utvider Dronning Maud Land helt frem til Sydpolen|journal=Aftenposten|url=http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/Norge-utvider-Dronning-Maud-Land-helt-frem-til-Sydpolen-8168779.html|access-date=22 September 2015|date=21 September 2015|location=Oslo, Norway|language=no|quote=…formålet med anneksjonen var å legge under seg det landet som til nå ligger herreløst og som ingen andre enn nordmenn har kartlagt og gransket. Norske myndigheter har derfor ikke motsatt seg at noen tolker det norske kravet slik at det går helt opp til og inkluderer polpunktet.|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061346/http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/Norge-utvider-Dronning-Maud-Land-helt-frem-til-Sydpolen-8168779.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Norway (+overseas), administrative divisions - english.svg|center|thumb|upright=2.5|Norway and its overseas administrative divisions]]

=== Largest populated areas ===
{{main|List of towns and cities in Norway}}
{{Largest cities of Norway}}

=== Judicial system and law enforcement ===
{{Main|Judiciary of Norway}}
Norway uses a [[civil law (legal system)|civil law system]] where laws are created and amended in Parliament and the system regulated through the [[Courts of justice of Norway]]. It consists of the [[Supreme Court of Norway|Supreme Court]] of 20 permanent judges and a [[Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Norway|Chief Justice]], [[appellate court]]s, city and [[Courts of justice of Norway#District courts|district courts]], and [[conciliation councils]].<ref name="norway">{{cite web|url=http://www.norway.org/aboutnorway/society/political/judiciary/ |title=The Judiciary |publisher=Norway.org |date=10 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126212439/http://www.norway.org/aboutnorway/society/political/judiciary/ |archive-date=26 January 2012}}</ref> The judiciary is independent of executive and legislative branches. While the Prime Minister nominates Supreme Court Justices for office, their nomination must be approved by Parliament and formally confirmed by the Monarch. Usually, judges attached to regular courts are formally appointed by the Monarch on the advice of the Prime Minister.

The Courts' formal mission is to regulate the Norwegian judicial system, interpret the Constitution, and implement the legislation adopted by Parliament. In its judicial reviews, it monitors the legislative and executive branches to ensure that they comply with provisions of enacted legislation.<ref name="norway"/>

The [[Law enforcement in Norway|law is enforced in Norway]] by the [[Norwegian Police Service]]. 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]], known as ''Økokrim''; and the [[National Criminal Investigation Service (Norway)|National Criminal Investigation Service]], known as ''Kripos'', each headed by a chief of police. The Police Service is headed by the [[National Police Directorate]], which reports to the Ministry of Justice and the Police. The Police Directorate is headed by a National Police Commissioner. The only exception is the [[Norwegian Police Security Service|Norwegian Police Security Agency]], whose head answers directly to the Ministry of Justice and the Police.

Norway abolished the death penalty for regular criminal acts in 1902 and for high treason in war and war-crimes in 1979. Norwegian prisons are humane, rather than tough, with emphasis on rehabilitation. At 20%, Norway's re-conviction rate is among the lowest in the world.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-35813470 Anders Breivik: Just how cushy are Norwegian prisons?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180922223917/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-35813470 |date=22 September 2018 }} ''[[BBC]]''</ref>

[[Reporters Without Borders]], in its 2024 [[World Press Freedom Index]], ranked Norway in first place out of 180 countries.<ref>{{cite web |title=Index 2023 – Global score |url=https://rsf.org/en/index?year=2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230510151133/https://rsf.org/en/index?year=2023 |archive-date=10 May 2023 |access-date=22 March 2025 |website=[[Reporters Without Borders]]}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Global Corruption Barometer 2013-Norway|url=http://www.transparency.org/gcb2013/country/?country=norway|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021022145/http://www.transparency.org/gcb2013/country/?country=norway|archive-date=21 October 2014|publisher=Transparency International|access-date=17 November 2013}}</ref>

=== Human rights ===
{{main|Human rights in Norway}}
Norway has been considered a progressive country, which has adopted legislation and policies to support women's rights, minority rights, and [[LGBT rights in Norway|LGBT rights]]. As early as 1884, 171 of the leading figures, among them five Prime Ministers, co-founded the [[Norwegian Association for Women's Rights]].<ref>Aslaug Moksnes. ''Likestilling eller særstilling? Norsk kvinnesaksforening 1884–1913'' (p. 35), [[Gyldendal Norsk Forlag]], 1984, {{ISBN|8205153566}}</ref> They successfully campaigned for women's [[right to education]], [[women's suffrage]], the [[right to work]], and other gender equality policies. 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]]. Civil society organisations also continue to play an important role; women's rights organisations are today organised in the [[Norwegian Women's Lobby]] umbrella organisation.

In 1990, the Norwegian constitution was amended to grant [[absolute primogeniture]] to the Norwegian throne, meaning that the eldest child, regardless of gender, takes precedence in the line of succession. As it was not retroactive, the current successor to the throne is the eldest son of the King, rather than his eldest child.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stortinget.no/en/In-English/About-the-Storting/The-Constitution/The-Constitution/ |title=The Constitution – Complete text |publisher=Stortinget.no |access-date=23 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629190647/http://stortinget.no/en/In-English/About-the-Storting/The-Constitution/The-Constitution/ |archive-date=29 June 2011}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite book|title=Civil Society in the Baltic Sea Region |first=Reetta |last=Toivanen |editor-first=Norbert |editor-last=Götz|year=2003 |publisher=Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. |isbn=978-0754633174 |pages=205–216 |display-authors=etal}}</ref> Norway has been greatly criticised by the international community for the politics of [[Norwegianization]] of and discrimination against the indigenous population of the country.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.galdu.org/govat/doc/mindeengelsk.pdf |title=Journal of Indigenous People Rights. Issue No. 3/2005 |access-date=31 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212030751/http://www.galdu.org/govat/doc/mindeengelsk.pdf |archive-date=12 February 2015 }}</ref> Nevertheless, Norway was, in 1990, the first country to recognise [[Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989|ILO-convention 169]] on [[indigenous people]] recommended by the UN.

Norway was the first country in the world to enact an anti-discrimination law protecting the rights of gay men and lesbians. In 1993, Norway became the second country to legalise [[civil union]] partnerships for same-sex couples, and on 1 January 2009, [[Same-sex marriage in Norway|Norway became the sixth country]] to legalise [[same-sex marriage]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Same-Sex Marriage Around the World |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/fact-sheet/gay-marriage-around-the-world/ |website=[[Pew Research Center]] |date=9 June 2023 |access-date=26 October 2023 |archive-date=16 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230116174657/https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/fact-sheet/gay-marriage-around-the-world/ |url-status=live }}</ref> As a promoter of human rights, Norway has held the annual [[Oslo Freedom Forum]] conference, a gathering described by ''[[The Economist]]'' as "on its way to becoming a human-rights equivalent of the Davos economic forum".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.economist.com/node/16219707?story_id=16219707 |title=Human rights: A crowded field |newspaper=The Economist |date=27 May 2010 |access-date=23 July 2011 |archive-date=29 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629210338/http://www.economist.com/node/16219707?story_id=16219707 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Foreign relations ===
{{Main|Foreign relations of Norway}}
{{See also|Norway and the European Union|Whaling in Norway}}
[[File:KNM Fridtjof Nansen-2006-06-01-side.jpg|thumb|[[Royal Norwegian Navy]] [[Fridtjof Nansen-class frigate|''Fridtjof Nansen'' class frigate]]]]
Norway maintains embassies in 75 countries.<ref>{{cite web |date=26 March 2025 |title=Norway - Embassies and consulates |url=https://www.embassypages.com/norway |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206092107/http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/ud/dok/veiledninger/2005/Norges-utenriksstasjoner.html?id=88166&epslanguage=NO |archive-date=6 February 2008 |access-date=30 March 2025}}</ref> 73 countries maintain an embassy in Norway, all of them in the capital, Oslo.

Norway is a founding member of the [[United Nations]] (UN), the [[NATO|North Atlantic Treaty Organization]] (NATO), the [[Council of Europe]] and the [[European Free Trade Association]] (EFTA). Norway issued applications for accession to the European Union (EU) and its predecessors in 1962, 1967 and 1992, respectively. While Denmark, Sweden and Finland obtained membership, the Norwegian electorate rejected the treaties of accession in referendums in [[1972 Norwegian European Communities membership referendum|1972]] and [[1994 Norwegian European Union membership referendum|1994]].

After the 1994 referendum, Norway maintained its membership in the [[European Economic Area]] (EEA), granting the country access to the [[Single market of the European Union|internal market]] of the Union, on the condition that Norway implements the Union's pieces of legislation which are deemed relevant.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://intportal.vaf.no/hoved.aspx?m=2761&amid=49981 |title=Refleksjoner fra Brussel – Hospitering ved Sørlandets Europakontor – Vest-Agder Fylkeskommune |publisher=Intportal.vaf.no |date=4 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606042007/http://intportal.vaf.no/hoved.aspx?m=2761&amid=49981 |archive-date=6 June 2013 |access-date=15 August 2010 }}</ref> 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. Non-voting participation by Norway has been granted in, for instance, the Union's [[Common Security and Defence Policy]], the [[Schengen Agreement]], and the [[European Defence Agency]], as well as 19 separate programmes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eu-norge.org/en/Norges_forhold_til_EU/deltakelse/EU_programmer/ |title=EU-programmer |publisher=Eu-norge.org |date=30 June 2009 |access-date=29 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501055247/http://www.eu-norge.org/en/Norges_forhold_til_EU/deltakelse/EU_programmer/ |archive-date=1 May 2011}}</ref>

Norway participated in the 1990s brokering of the [[Oslo Accords]], an unsuccessful attempt to resolve the [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]].

=== Military ===
{{Main|Norwegian Armed Forces}}
[[File:First Norwegian F-35.png|thumb|right|The first Norwegian [[F-35 Lightning II]] lands at Luke Air Force Base.]]
The Norwegian Armed Forces numbers about 25,000 personnel, including civilian employees. According to 2009 mobilisation plans, full mobilisation produces approximately 83,000 combatant personnel. Norway has [[conscription]] (including 6–12 months of training);<ref name=NDFnumbers>{{cite web|url=http://www.mil.no/languages/english/start/facts/article.jhtml?articleID=32061 |title=NDF official numbers |publisher=NDF |access-date=22 April 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090412023336/http://www.mil.no/languages/english/start/facts/article.jhtml?articleID=32061 |archive-date=12 April 2009}}</ref> in 2013, the country became the first in Europe and NATO to draft women as well as men. However, due to less need for conscripts after the [[Cold War]], few people have to serve if they are not motivated.<ref>Gwladys Fouche and Balazs Koranyi (14 June 2013): [http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-norway-women-conscription-idUKBRE95D0N920130614 "Norway becomes first NATO country to draft women into military"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228065943/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-norway-women-conscription-idUKBRE95D0N920130614 |date=28 February 2019 }}, [[Reuters]]. Retrieved 15 June 2013.</ref> The Armed Forces are subordinate to the [[Norwegian Ministry of Defence]]. The Commander-in-Chief is [[Harald V of Norway|King Harald V]]. The military of Norway is divided into the [[Norwegian Army]], the [[Royal Norwegian Navy]], the [[Royal Norwegian Air Force]], the [[Norwegian Cyber Defence Force]] and the [[Home Guard (Norway)|Home Guard]].

The country was one of the founding nations of the [[NATO|North Atlantic Treaty Organization]] (NATO) on 4 April 1949. Norway contributed in the [[International Security Assistance Force]] (ISAF) in [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|Afghanistan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mil.no/languages/english/start/general/ |title=Forsvarsnett: Norwegian forces abroad |access-date=2 September 2008 |publisher=mil.no |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080929023134/http://www.mil.no/languages/english/start/general/ |archive-date=29 September 2008}}</ref> Additionally, Norway has contributed in several missions in contexts of the United Nations, NATO, and the [[Common Security and Defence Policy]] of the European Union.