Country Guide

Norfolk Island Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

Location:
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia


Geographic coordinates:
29 02 S, 167 57 E


Map references:
Oceania


Area:
total:36 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 235
land:36 sq km
water:0 sq km


Area - comparative:
about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC


Land boundaries:
territorial sea:12 nm
exclusive fishing zone:200 nm


Climate:
subtropical; mild, little seasonal temperature variation


    Terrain:
volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains


Elevation extremes:
lowest point:Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point:Mount Bates 319 m


Natural resources:
fish


Land use:
arable land:0%
permanent crops:0%
other:100% (2011)


Irrigated land:
NA


Natural hazards:
typhoons (especially May to July)


Environment - current issues:
NA


Geography - note:
most of the 32 km coastline consists of almost inaccessible cliffs, but the land slopes down to the sea in one small southern area on Sydney Bay, where the capital of Kingston is situated

People and Society

Nationality:
noun: Norfolk Islander(s)
adjective:Norfolk Islander(s)


Ethnic groups:
Australian 79.5%, New Zealander 13.3%, Fijian 2.5%, Filipino 1.1%, English 1%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.8% (2011 est.)


Languages:
English (official) 67.6%, other 32.4% (includes Norfolk Island 23.7%, which is a mixture of 18th century English and ancient Tahitian) (2011 est.)


Religions:
Protestant 49.6% (Anglican 31.8%, Uniting Church in Australia 10.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.2%), Roman Catholic 11.7%, other 8.6%, none 23.5%, unspecified 6.6% (2011 est.)


Population:
2,210 (July 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 233


Age structure:
0-14 years:20.2%
15-64 years:63.9%
65 years and over:15.9% (2013 est.)


    Population growth rate:
0.01% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 194


Sex ratio:
total:NA
male:NA
female:NA


Life expectancy at birth:
total population:NA
male:NA
female:NA


Total fertility rate:
NA


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA


Literacy:

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island
conventional short form:Norfolk Island


Dependency status:
self-governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport


Government type:
NA


Capital:
name:Kingston
geographic coordinates:29 03 S, 167 58 E
time difference:UTC+11.5 (16.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)


Administrative divisions:
none (territory of Australia)


Independence:
none (territory of Australia)


National holiday:
Bounty Day (commemorates the arrival of Pitcairn Islanders), 8 June (1856)


Constitution:
previous 1913, 1957; latest effective 7 August 1979; amended many times, last in 2010 (2011)


Legal system:
English common law and the laws of Australia


Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal


Executive branch:
chief of state:Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by the Australian governor general
head of government:Administrator Neil POPE (since 1 April 2012)
cabinet:Executive Council made up of 4 of the 9 members of the Legislative Assembly; the council devises government policy and acts as an advisor to the administrator
elections:the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia for a two year term and represents the monarch and Australia


Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly (9 seats; members elected by electors who have nine equal votes each but only four votes can be given to any one candidate; members to serve three-year terms)
elections:last held on 13 March 2013 (next to be held in 2016)
election results:seats - independents 8; Norfolk Liberals 1


    Judicial branch:
highest court(s):Supreme Court of Norfolk Island (consists of the chief justice and NA justices)
note - appeals beyond the Supreme Court of Norfolk Island are heard by the Federal Court of Australia
judge selection and term of office:justices appointed by the governor general of Australia from among justices of the Federal Court of Australia; justices serve until mandatory retirement at age 70
subordinate courts:Petty Court of Sessions; specialized courts including a Coroner's Court and the Employment Tribunal


Political parties and leaders:
Norfolk Island Labor Party [Mike KELLY]
Norfolk Liberals [John BROWN]


Political pressure groups and leaders:
none


International organization participation:
UPU


Diplomatic representation in the US:
note:somewhat reminiscent of the flag of Canada with its use of only two colors and depiction of a prominent local floral symbol in the central white band

National symbol(s):
Norfolk Island pine


National anthem:
name:'Come Ye Blessed'
lyrics/music:New Testament/John Prindle SCOTT
note:the local anthem, whose lyrics consist of the words from Matthew 25:34-36, 40, is also known as 'The Pitcairn Anthem;' as a territory of Australia, 'God Save the Queen' is official (see Australia), however, the island does not recognize 'Advance Australia Fair'

Economy

Background:
Two British attempts at establishing the island as a penal colony (1788-1814 and 1825-55) were ultimately abandoned. In 1856, the island was resettled by Pitcairn Islanders, descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions.


Location:
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia


Geographic coordinates:
29 02 S, 167 57 E


Map references:
Oceania


Area:
about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC


Land boundaries:
0 km


Coastline:
32 km


Maritime claims:
subtropical; mild, little seasonal temperature variation


Terrain:
volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains


Elevation extremes:
fish


Land use:
NA


Natural hazards:
typhoons (especially May to July)


Environment - current issues:
NA


Geography - note:
most of the 32 km coastline consists of almost inaccessible cliffs, but the land slopes down to the sea in one small southern area on Sydney Bay, where the capital of Kingston is situated


Nationality:
Australian 79.5%, New Zealander 13.3%, Fijian 2.5%, Filipino 1.1%, English 1%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.8% (2011 est.)


Languages:
English (official) 67.6%, other 32.4% (includes Norfolk Island 23.7%, which is a mixture of 18th century English and ancient Tahitian) (2011 est.)


Religions:
Protestant 49.6% (Anglican 31.8%, Uniting Church in Australia 10.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.2%), Roman Catholic 11.7%, other 8.6%, none 23.5%, unspecified 6.6% (2011 est.)


Population:
2,210 (July 2014 est.)


Age structure:
0.01% (2014 est.)


Sex ratio:
NA


Infant mortality rate:
NA


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA


Literacy:
NA


Country name:
self-governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport


Government type:
NA


Capital:
none (territory of Australia)


Independence:
none (territory of Australia)


National holiday:
Bounty Day (commemorates the arrival of Pitcairn Islanders), 8 June (1856)


Constitution:
previous 1913, 1957; latest effective 7 August 1979; amended many times, last in 2010 (2011)


Legal system:
English common law and the laws of Australia


Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal


Executive branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly (9 seats; members elected by electors who have nine equal votes each but only four votes can be given to any one candidate; members to serve three-year terms)


    Judicial branch:
Norfolk Island Labor Party [Mike KELLY]


Political pressure groups and leaders:
none


International organization participation:
UPU


Diplomatic representation in the US:
none (territory of Australia)


Diplomatic representation from the US:
none (territory of Australia)


Flag description:
three vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green with a large green Norfolk Island pine tree centered in the slightly wider white band; green stands for the rich vegetation on the island, and the pine tree - endemic to the island - is a symbol of Norfolk Island


National symbol(s):
Norfolk Island pine


National anthem:
Norfolk Island is suffering from a severe economic downturn. Tourism, the primary economic activity, is the main driver of economic growth. The agricultural sector has become self sufficient in the production of beef, poultry, and eggs.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$NA


Agriculture - products:
Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables, fruit; cattle, poultry


Industries:
tourism, light industry, ready mixed concrete


Labor force:
978 (2006)
country comparison to the world: 230


Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:6%
industry:14%
services:80% (2006 est.)


Budget:
revenues:$4.6 million
expenditures:$4.8 million (FY99/00)


Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June


Exports:
$NA


Exports - commodities:
postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia palm, small quantities of avocados


Imports:
$NA


Imports - commodities:
NA


Debt - external:
$NA


Exchange rates:
Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -
1.031 (2013)
0.9658 (2012)
1.0902 (2010)
1.2822 (2009)
1.2059 (2008)


Telephone system:
1 local radio station; broadcasts of several Australian radio and TV stations available via satellite (2009)


Internet country code:
.nf


Internet hosts:
128 (2012)


Airports:
1 (2013)


Airports - with paved runways:
defense is the responsibility of Australia


Disputes - international:
none

Energy

Background:
Two British attempts at establishing the island as a penal colony (1788-1814 and 1825-55) were ultimately abandoned. In 1856, the island was resettled by Pitcairn Islanders, descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions.



Location:
Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia



Geographic coordinates:
29 02 S, 167 57 E



Map references:



Area:
about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC



Land boundaries:
0 km



Coastline:
32 km



Maritime claims:
subtropical; mild, little seasonal temperature variation



Terrain:
volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains



Elevation extremes:
fish



Land use:
NA



Natural hazards:
typhoons (especially May to July)



Environment - current issues:
NA



Geography - note:
most of the 32 km coastline consists of almost inaccessible cliffs, but the land slopes down to the sea in one small southern area on Sydney Bay, where the capital of Kingston is situated



Nationality:
Australian 79.5%, New Zealander 13.3%, Fijian 2.5%, Filipino 1.1%, English 1%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.8% (2011 est.)



Languages:
English (official) 67.6%, other 32.4% (includes Norfolk Island 23.7%, which is a mixture of 18th century English and ancient Tahitian) (2011 est.)



Religions:
Protestant 49.6% (Anglican 31.8%, Uniting Church in Australia 10.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.2%), Roman Catholic 11.7%, other 8.6%, none 23.5%, unspecified 6.6% (2011 est.)



Population:
2,210 (July 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 233


Age structure:
0.01% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194


Sex ratio:
NA



Infant mortality rate:
NA



HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA



HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA



HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA



Literacy:
NA



Country name:
self-governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport



Government type:
NA



Capital:
none (territory of Australia)



Independence:
none (territory of Australia)



National holiday:
Bounty Day (commemorates the arrival of Pitcairn Islanders), 8 June (1856)



Constitution:
previous 1913, 1957; latest effective 7 August 1979; amended many times, last in 2010 (2011)



Legal system:
English common law and the laws of Australia



Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal



Executive branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly (9 seats; members elected by electors who have nine equal votes each but only four votes can be given to any one candidate; members to serve three-year terms)
elections:last held on 13 March 2013 (next to b LookForAttorney.com | Country Guide of Norway

Country Guide

Norway Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

Location:
Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden


Geographic coordinates:
62 00 N, 10 00 E


Map references:
Europe


Area:
total:323,802 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 68
land:304,282 sq km
water:19,520 sq km


Area - comparative:
slightly larger than New Mexico


Land boundaries:
total:2,542 km
border countries:Finland 727 km, Sweden 1,619 km, Russia 196 km


Coastline:
25,148 km (includes mainland 2,650 km, as well as long fjords, numerous small islands, and minor indentations 22,498 km; length of island coastlines 58,133 km)


Maritime claims:
territorial sea:12 nm
contiguous zone:10 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm
continental shelf:200 nm


Climate:
temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current; colder interior with increased precipitation and colder summers; rainy year-round on west coast


Terrain:
glaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains broken by fertile valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeply indented by fjords; arctic tundra in north


Elevation extremes:
lowest point:Norwegian Sea 0 m
highest point:Galdhopiggen 2,469 m


    Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, titanium, pyrites, nickel, fish, timber, hydropower


Land use:
arable land:2.52%
permanent crops:0.01%
other:97.46% (2011)


Irrigated land:
1,149 sq km (2007)


Total renewable water resources:
382 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
382 cu km (2011)

Natural hazards:
rockslides, avalanches


Environment - current issues:
water pollution; acid rain damaging forests and adversely affecting lakes, threatening fish stocks; air pollution from vehicle emissions


Environment - international agreements:
party to:Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements


Geography - note:
about two-thirds mountains; some 50,000 islands off its much-indented coastline; strategic location adjacent to sea lanes and air routes in North Atlantic; one of the most rugged and longest coastlines in the world

People and Society

Nationality:
noun: Norwegian(s)
adjective:Norwegian


Ethnic groups:
Norwegian 94.4% (includes Sami, about 60,000), other European 3.6%, other 2% (2007 estimate)


Languages:
Bokmal Norwegian (official), Nynorsk Norwegian (official), small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities


Religions:
Church of Norway (Evangelical Lutheran - official) 82.1%, other Christian 3.9%, Muslim 2.3%, Roman Catholic 1.8%, other 2.4%, unspecified 7.5% (2011 est.)


Population:
5,147,792 (July 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 121


Age structure:
0-14 years:18.2% (male 480,176/female 456,128)
15-24 years:13.1% (male 347,873/female 329,021)
25-54 years:40.8% (male 1,080,339/female 1,021,370)
55-64 years:11.7% (male 305,094/female 298,134)
65 years and over:16.8% (male 375,909/female 453,748) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:53.2 %
youth dependency ratio:28.5 %
elderly dependency ratio:24.7 %
potential support ratio:4.1 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:39.1 years
male:38.2 years
female:39.9 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
1.19% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 101


Birth rate:
12.09 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 165


Death rate:
8.19 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 93


Net migration rate:
7.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 18


Urbanization:
urban population:79.4% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:1.03% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
OSLO (capital) 915,000 (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years:1.06 male(s)/female
25-54 years:1.06 male(s)/female
55-64 years:1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.78 male(s)/female
total population:0.98 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


Mother's mean age at first birth:
28.5


Maternal mortality rate:
7 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


Infant mortality rate:
total:2.48 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 221
male:2.79 deaths/1,000 live births
female:2.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


    Life expectancy at birth:
total population:81.6 yearscountry comparison to the world: 17
male:79.63 years
female:83.69 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
1.86 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 145


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
88.4%


Health expenditures:
9.1% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
3.7 physicians/1,000 population (2011)


Hospital bed density:
3.3 beds/1,000 population (2010)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 100% of population
rural: 100% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved:
urban: 0% of population
rural: 0% of population
total: 0% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.1% (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 164


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
4,000 (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 127


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 100 (2009 est.)country comparison to the world: 136


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
21.5% (2008)country comparison to the world: 84


Education expenditures:
6.9% of GDP (2010)country comparison to the world: 21

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:100%
male:100%
female:100%


School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:18 years
male:17 years
female:18 years (2011)


Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:8.6%country comparison to the world: 117
male:10%
female:7.2% (2012)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Norway
conventional short form:Norway
local long form:Kongeriket Norge
local short form:Norge


Government type:
constitutional monarchy


Capital:
name:Oslo
geographic coordinates:59 55 N, 10 45 E
time difference:UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time:+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October


Administrative divisions:
19 counties (fylker, singular - fylke); Akershus, Aust-Agder, Buskerud, Finnmark, Hedmark, Hordaland, More og Romsdal, Nordland, Nord-Trondelag, Oppland, Oslo, Ostfold, Rogaland, Sogn og Fjordane, Sor-Trondelag, Telemark, Troms, Vest-Agder, Vestfold


Dependent areas:
Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard


Independence:
7 June 1905 (Norway declared the union with Sweden dissolved); 26 October 1905 (Sweden agreed to the repeal of the union)


National holiday:
Constitution Day, 17 May (1814)


Constitution:
drafted spring 1814, adopted 16 May 1814, signed by Constituent Assembly 17 May 1814; amended many times, last in 2012 (2012)


Legal system:
mixed legal system of civil, common, and customary law; Supreme Court can advise on legislative acts


International law organization participation:
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction


Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal


Executive branch:
chief of state:King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991); Heir Apparent Crown Prince HAAKON MAGNUS, son of the monarch (born 20 July 1973)
head of government:Prime Minister Erna SOLBERG (since 16 October 2013)
cabinet:State Council appointed by the monarch with the approval of parliament
elections:the monarchy is hereditary; following parliamentary elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the monarch with the approval of the parliament


Legislative branch:
modified unicameral Parliament or Storting (169 seats; members elected by popular vote by proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections:last held on 9 September 2013 (next to be held in September 2017)
election results:percent of vote by party - Ap 30.8%, H 26.3%, FrP 16.3%, KrF 5.6%, Sp 5.5%, V 5.2%, SV 4.1%, MDG 2.8, other 2.7%; seats by party - Ap 55, H 48, FrP 29, Sp 10, KrF 10, V 9, SV 7, MDG 1


Judicial branch:
highest court(s):Supreme Court or Hoyesterett (consists of the chief justice and 18 associate justices)
note - in addition to professionally trained judges, there are elected lay judges that sit on the bench with professional judges in the Courts of Appeal and district courts
judge selection and term of office:justices appointed by the monarch (King in Council) upon the recommendation of the Judicial Appointments Board; justice retirement mandatory at age 70
subordinate courts:Courts of Appeal or Lagmensrett; regional and district courts; Conciliation Boards; ordinary and special courts


    Political parties and leaders:
Center Party or Sp [Liv Signe NAVARSETE]
Christian Democratic Party or KrF [Knut Arild HAREIDE]
Conservative Party or H [Erna SOLBERG]
Labor Party or Ap [Jens STOLTENBERG]
Liberal Party or V [Trine SKEI-GRANDE]
Progress Party or FrP [Siv JENSEN]
Socialist Left Party or SV [Audun LYSBAKKEN]


Political pressure groups and leaders:
Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (Naeringslivets Hovedorganisasjon) or NHO [President Tore ULSTEIN; CEO Kristin SKOGEN LUND]


International organization participation:
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, EITI (implementing country), ESA, FAO, FATF, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD (partners), IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMISS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Kare Reidar AAS (since 22 August 2013)
chancery:2720 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 333-6000
FAX:[1] (202) 469-3990
consulate(s) general:Houston, New York, San Francisco


Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Julie Furuta-Toy (since 27 September 2013)
embassy:Henrik Ibsens gate 48, 0244 Oslo; note - the embassy will move to Huseby in the near future
mailing address:PSC 69, Box 1000, APO AE 09707
telephone:[47] 21-30-85-40
FAX:[47] 22-44-33-63, 22-56-27-51


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); the colors recall Norway's past political unions with Denmark (red and white) and Sweden (blue)


National symbol(s):
lion


National anthem:
name:'Ja, vi elsker dette landet' (Yes, We Love This Country)

lyrics/music:lyrics/music: Bjornstjerne BJORNSON/Rikard NORDRAAK
note:adopted 1864; in addition to the national anthem, 'Kongesangen' (Song of the King), which uses the tune of 'God Save the Queen,' serves as the royal anthem

Economy

Economy - overview:
The Norwegian economy is a prosperous mixed economy, with a vibrant private sector, a large state sector, and an extensive social safety net. The government controls key areas, such as the vital petroleum sector, through extensive regulation and large-scale state-majority-owned enterprises. The country is richly endowed with natural resources - petroleum, hydropower, fish, forests, and minerals - and is highly dependent on the petroleum sector, which accounts for the largest portion of export revenue and about 30% of government revenue. Norway is the world's third-largest natural gas exporter; and seventh largest oil exporter, making one of its largest offshore oil finds in 2011. Norway opted to stay out of the EU during a referendum in November 1994; nonetheless, as a member of the European Economic Area, it contributes sizably to the EU budget. In anticipation of eventual declines in oil and gas production, Norway saves state revenue from the petroleum sector in the world's largest sovereign wealth fund, valued at over $830 billion in January 2014 and uses the fund's return to he