O, UPU, WEU
(associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Tom Erik VRAALSEN
chancery: 2720 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: (202) 333-6000
FAX: (202) 337-0870
consulate(s) general: Houston, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, and San
Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador David B. HERMELIN
embassy: Drammensveien 18, 0244 Oslo
mailing address: PSC 69, Box 1000, APO AE 09707
telephone: (22) 44 85 50
FAX: (22) 43 07 77

Flag description: red with a blue cross outlined in white that extends
to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to
the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

@Norway:Economy

Economy - overview: The Norwegian economy is a prosperous bastion of
welfare capitalism, featuring a combination of free market activity
and government intervention. The government controls key areas, such
as the vital petroleum sector (through large-scale state enterprises),
and extensively subsidizes agriculture, fishing, and areas with sparse
resources. The extensive welfare system helps propel public sector
expenditures to more than 50% of GDP. A major shipping nation, with a
high dependence on international trade, Norway is basically an
exporter of raw materials and semiprocessed goods. The country is
richly endowed with natural resources - petroleum, hydropower, fish,
forests, and minerals - and is highly dependent on its oil production
and international oil prices. Only Saudi Arabia exports more oil than
Norway. Norway imports more than half its food needs. Oslo opted to
stay out of the EU during a referendum in November 1994. Growth was a
meager 0.8% in 1999 because of weak private consumption and anemic
investment activity in the oil and other sectors. Growth should pick
up in 2000, perhaps to 2.7%. Despite their high per capita income and
generous welfare benefits, Norwegians worry about that time in the
next two decades when the oil and gas begin to run out.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $111.3 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 0.8% (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $25,100 (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 2.2%
industry: 26.3%
services: 71.5% (1998)

Population below poverty line: NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 4.1%
highest 10%: 21.2% (1991)

Inflation