Statistical information Svalbard 1996

Svalbard in the World
top of pageBackground: 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.
top of pageLocation: Northern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway
Geographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaTotal: 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 claimsExclusive 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
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Arctic Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: Newtontoppen 1,717 m
Natural resources:
Coal
Copper
Iron ore
Phosphate
Zinc
Wildlife
Fish
Land useArable 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 riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographytop of pagePopulation:
2,715 (July 1996 est.)
2,914 (July 1995 est.)
Growth rate:-4.01% (1996 est.)
-3.5% (1995 est.)
NationalityEthnic groups:
Russian 64%
Norwegian 35%
Other 1% (1981)
Languages: Russian, Norwegian
ReligionsDemographic profileAge structure0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation 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 distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent 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 pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rateLife expectancy at birthTotal population: NA years
Male: NA years
Female: NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracySchool life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional 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 divisionsDependent areasIndependence: None (territory of Norway)
National holiday: NA
ConstitutionLegal system: NA
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrageExecutive 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 branchJudicial branchPolitical parties and leadersInternational organization participation: None
Diplomatic representationFlag description
: The flag of Norway is used
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy 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 parityReal gdp growth rateReal gdp per capitaGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture productsIndustriesIndustrial production growth rateLabor force: NA
Unemployment rateYouth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $11.6 million
Expenditures:$11.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995 est.)
$13.3 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1990 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal yearInflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExportsImportsReserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt externalStock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Norwegian kroner (NKr) per US$1_6.4160 (January 1996), 6.3352 (1995), 7.0576 (1994), 7.0941 (1993), 6.2145 (1992), 6.4829 (1991), 6.2597 (1990)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 21,000 kW
Production: 45 million kWh
Consumption per capita: 13,860 kWh (1992)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone system: NA telephones; local telephone service
Local: NA
Intercity: NA
International: satellite communication with Norwegian mainland
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresMilitary and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 4
15-24 to 2437 m: 1
Under 914 m: 3 (1995 est.)
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marine: None
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes internationalRefugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs