Norway Facts

Interesting Norway Facts for Kids

Norway impressions

Here are some interesting Norway Facts which were chosen and researched by kids especially for kids.

Norway FlagNorway Flag
  • Population: 5.5 million people live in Norway (2024)
  • Capital: Oslo, with just over 1 million inhabitants
  • Name: Kingdom of Norway, short: Norway, in Norwegian: Norge
Norway coat of arms
  • Government: Constitutional Monarchy
  • Language: Norwegian
  • Religion: mainly Christians (more than 70% are Evangelical Lutheran)
  • Life expectancy: 83 years
  • Currency: 1 Norwegian Krone (NOK) = 100 ore
  • National Symbols: moose (animal), heather (flower) and the coat of arms as shown above
music button
  • National Colours: red, white and blue
  • National Anthem: Ja, vi elsker dette landet (Yes, we love this country)
  • National Day: 17 May (Constitution Day)
  • History: Vikings settled in the region. 1905 independence. 
  • Head of State: His Majesty King Herald V.

Norway Facts | Norway Map

Where is Norway? Norway is a country in northern Europe. It is situated above the Arctic circle and borders the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea.

On the map below you can spot where Norway is located in northern Europe.

Norway is part of Scandinavia with neighbouring countries Sweden, Finland and Denmark. Norway is the westernmost country of the Scandinavian countries. 

Norway map location in northern Europe - map by shutterstockNorway in Northern Europe

Norway borders three countries: Finland, Sweden and Russia. The longest border is shared with Sweden.

Norway is slightly larger than the state of New Mexico in the USA and slightly smaller than Vietnam or Italy.

A flight to Oslo takes about two hours from London/UK and 6 hours from New York/USA. 

Norway Facts | Norway Geography

  • Norway highest mountain is called Galdhoppigen and is 2,469 m/8,100 ft high.
  • The largest lake in Norway is Lake Mjøsa
  • Norway has about 50,000 islands off the rugged coastline
  • The majority of the Norwegians (83%) live in urban areas. The interior is only sparsely populated
  • Oslo, the capital city, is the largest city in Norway and the only city in the country with more than 1 million people. Oslo is the third biggest city in Scandinavia (after Stockholm in Sweden and Copenhagen in Denmark), 
  • The deepest and largest fjord in Norway is Sognefjord. This fjord is often referred to as the 'King of Fjords' as it is 205 km/ 127 miles long
SognefjordSognefjord in Norway

Norway Attractions

Here are our favourite Norway attractions for kids:

  • Flåmsbana - Flam Railways: Often called one of the most beautiful train trips in the world, this journey leads from the fjords up to the mountains in Western Norway.
norway_flamsbana_trainTake the train in Norway_Flåmsbana
  • Lofoten Islands: visit the Trollfjord and join nature safaris where you can go whale watching. Here on the archipelago you can experience the fantastic northern lights from September to March.
norway_lofoten_reineReine village on the Lofoten islands
  • Fjordland: Magnificent waterfalls, glaciers, mountains and green blue waters. Hardangerfjord, Sognefjord and Geirangerfjord are the most popular with visitors. One of the most spectacular fjords in Norway is Geirangerfjord. This fjord is surrounded by snow capped mountains and many waterfalls and is an UNESCO world heritage site. 
norway_geirangerfjord_newGeiranger Fjord
  • Bergen is the second largest city in Norway and known as the gateway to the fjords.
norway bergen townBergen's historic wharf
  • Dog sledding in Norway: Go on an exiting trip with the friendly huskies. Sledding tours are available year-round! 
norway_dogs_sledGo dog sledding
  • Lillehammer: Go skiing or snowboarding in one of the oldest ski resorts in Norway. Hafjell for example is just a fifteen minute drive out of town.
norway_lillehammer_skiingSkiing at Hafjell ski resort
  • Oslo: The capital city houses the famous Viking Ship Museum exhibits two of the best preserved Viking ships from the 9th century.
Viking ship by Valerliaarsnaud/Shutterstock.comViking Ship Museum

There are many attractions in Oslo, such as the huge red Cityhall building, the Opera House where you can walk up the roof or the Akershus fortress. 

norway_oslo_operahouseOslo Opera House

Norwegian history and culture can be experienced in the world's oldest open-air museum. And don't miss the Royal palace!

Norway People

Norway has a king and a queen. They are very popular with the Norwegian population. King Harald V and Queen Sonia have two a son, Crowne Prince Haakon, who is married to Crown Princess Mette-Marit, and a daughter, Princess Märtha Louise. The royal palace is in Oslo and this is the main residence of the Royal Family.

Norway Oslo Royal PalaceNational Day Celebrations at Oslo Royal Palace

Most Norwegians live in the south of the country where the climate is milder than in the North. The biggest cities in Norway are Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger and Trondheim.

Norwegians celebrate the Midsummerfest on 24 June (St. John's Day) with a bonfire. There is daylight almost 24 hours during this time in northern Norway, in the south it is only dark for about eight hours.

Edvard Munch Scream'The Scream'

Famous Norwegians are:

  • Erik the Red (1000 BCE): explorer
  • Edvard Grieg (1843 - 1907): composer and pianist
  • Edvard Munch (1863 - 1944): artist and painter is most known for his painting 'The Scream'
  • Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906): author and playwright
  • Liv Ulmann (born 1938): actress
  • Roald Dahl (1916 - 1990): poet, author and screenwriter, most famous for his children's books such as James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory or Matilda
  • Ada Hegerberg (born 1995): soccer player

Norway Facts | Norwegian Language

hei norwegian"Hei" means "Hello"

The people in Norway speak Norwegian, which is a Germanic language. The language is very similar to the Swedish and Danish languages. Almost all Norwegians can speak English, which is taught in schools as a second language.

The Norwegian alphabet is the same as the Danish alphabet and thus also has 29 letters.

In the northern parts of Norway, some indigenous people also speak the Sami language. The Sami people or Laplanders, also called Laps, live in the northern parts of Norway and bordering Sweden as well as Finland. They are the indigenous people of the arctic circle.

Reindeer breeder by VladaZ/shutterstock.comReindeer herder in typical Sami clothing

Norway Economy

Norway is not part of the European Union as agreed in a national referendum in 1994.

Oil and gas were discovered off the Norwegian coastline in the 1960s and are among the country's main natural resources. Norway is on of the largest seafood producers in the world and the second largest nation exporting seafood after China.

Most of the country's electricity is produced by hydropower plants.

The biggest trading partners of Norway are Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, Sweden and China.

Norway Animals

reindeer in norwayReindeer in Norway

In Norway, you will find reindeers. These animals are also called caribou. These animals which only live in the Northern Hemisphere above the Arctic circle travel far to get food. They have antlers which they use for scraping the snow away from the ground to find food. The animals have four toes. It is interesting to know, that reindeer are the only mammals that can see ultraviolet light!

arctic foxesArctic Foxes playing in snow

Arctic foxes also live in Norway. Their coat changes with the seasons. In winter the fur is mainly grey and white, while in summer it changes to a light brown.

Interesting Norway Facts
Did you know...?

... that the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo annually since 1901? The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded for outstanding work in making or keeping peace. The Norwegian King Harald V is also present at the awards ceremony in Oslo. 

The Nobel Prize awards are given to excellent scientist in these science disciplines: physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine and literature. The prizes are presented either in Stockholm/ Sweden.

Only the Nobel Peace Prize is handed over in Oslo! By the way, Alfred Nobel was Swedish, that is why the other Nobel Prizes are awarded at ceremonies in Stockholm.

Norway Facts for Kids
Useful Resources

  • Central Intelligence Agency. "Norway." World Fact Book. Updated 22 January 2024. Last accessed 29 January 2024
  • Life in Norway. "The Royal Family in Norway." Life in Norway. Last accessed 29 January 2024
  • Jill Harness. 11 Facts you might not know about Reindeer. Mental Floss. Update 13 December 2019. Last accessed 29 January 2024
  • Royal Court "The Royal House of Norway". Official website of the Royal House of Norway. Last accessed 29 January 2024


We hope you enjoyed reading our Norway Facts for Kids. Make sure to bookmark this page, as we plan to add on more information to make this page even more interesting, not only for children. Info about "Food in Norway" coming soon:-)

Picture credits on this page: Images by SXC.hu and Shutterstock.com, Geiranger Fjord by emanuela (arancia.org) at sxc.hu; Caribou by Garrisonphoto.org;

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