Statistical information Svalbard 1996

Svalbard in the World

Svalbard - Introduction 1996

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Background: 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.

Svalbard - Geography 1996

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Location: Northern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area
Total: 62,049 km²
Land: 62,049 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia
Comparative note: Includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island)

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 3,587 km

Maritime claims
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm unilaterally claimed by Norway but not recognized by Russia
Territorial sea: 4 nm

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

Terrain: Wild, rugged mountains; much of high land ice covered; west coast clear of ice about half the year; fjords along west and north coasts

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Arctic Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: Newtontoppen 1,717 m

Natural resources:

Coal
Copper
Iron ore
Phosphate
Zinc
Wildlife
Fish

Land use

Land use
Arable land: 0%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 0%
Forests and woodland: 0%
Other: 100% (no trees and the only bushes are crowberry and cloudberry)

Irrigated land: NA

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography

Svalbard - People 1996

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Population:

2,715 (July 1996 est.)
2,914 (July 1995 est.)

Growth rate:

-4.01% (1996 est.)
-3.5% (1995 est.)

Nationality

Ethnic groups:

Russian 64%
Norwegian 35%
Other 1% (1981)

Languages: Russian, Norwegian

Religions

Demographic profile

Age structure

Age structure
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate:

-4.01% (1996 est.)
-3.5% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: NA births/1000 population

Death rate: NA deaths/1000 population

Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1000 population Infant Mortality Rate:NA deaths/1000 live births

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: NA
Current issues Natural hazards: ice floes often block up 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
International agreements: NA
International agreements note: Northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway; consists of nine main islands; glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of the total area

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: NA years
Male: NA years
Female: NA years

Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment

Svalbard - Government 1996

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Country name
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Svalbard

Government type: Territory of Norway administered by the Ministry of Industry, Oslo, through a governor (sysselmann) residing in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920) sovereignty was given to Norway

Capital: Longyearbyen

Administrative divisions

Dependent areas

Independence: None (territory of Norway)

National holiday: NA

Constitution

Legal system: NA

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage

Executive branch: Chief of State:King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991) Head of Government:Governor Ann-Krisitin OLSEN (since NA) and Assistant Governor Jan-Atle HANSEN (since NA September 1993) are responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice
Note: Norwegian inhabitants participate in Norwegian national elections

Legislative branch

Judicial branch

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: None

Diplomatic representation

Flag description: The flag of Norway is used

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage

Svalbard - Economy 1996

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Economy overview: Coal mining is the major economic activity on Svalbard. By treaty (9 February 1920), the nationals of the treaty powers have equal rights to exploit mineral deposits, subject to Norwegian regulation. Although U.S., U.K., Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have mined in the past, the only companies still mining 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 trapping of seal, polar bear, fox, and walrus.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate

Real gdp per capita

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products

Industries

Industrial production growth rate

Labor force: NA

Labor force