Svalbard (sometimes referred to as Spitsbergen, the largest island in the archipelago)
78.00°, 20.00°
CapitalLongyearbyen
Population2,556
Area62,045 km²
LanguagesNorwegian, Russian
CurrencyNorwegian kroner
Governmenta non-self-governing territory of Norway
Introduction
Background
The Svalbard archipelago was potentially first encountered by Norse explorers in the 12th century. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the islands functioned as a global whaling hub. Norway's sovereignty over the area was acknowledged through a treaty in 1920, and in 1925, the country formally assumed control of the territory. The commencement of coal mining occurred in the 20th century, with both a Norwegian and a Russian company continuing operations to this day. Transportation between the settlements is facilitated by snowmobiles, airplanes, and boats.
Geography
Area
land
62,045 sq km
water
0 sq km
total
62,045 sq km
Climate
Arctic climate, moderated by the warm North Atlantic Current; summers are cool while winters are frigid; the North Atlantic Current traverses the western and northern shores of Spitsbergen, maintaining navigable waters for most of the year
Terrain
characterized by rugged mountain ranges; significant portions of the highland regions are covered by ice; the western coastline is ice-free for approximately half of the year; features fjords along the western and northern coasts
Land use
other
100% (2018 est.)
agricultural land
0% (2018 est.)
Location
Located in Northern Europe, these islands lie between the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway
Coastline
3,587 km
Elevation
lowest point
Arctic Ocean 0 m
highest point
Newtontoppen 1,717 m
Map references
Arctic Region
Land boundaries
total
0 km
Maritime claims
contiguous zone
24 nm
territorial sea
12 nm
continental shelf
extends to depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone
200 nm
Natural hazards
Ice floes frequently obstruct the entrance to Bellsund, a key transit point for coal exports on the western coast, and can occasionally hinder access to certain areas on the northeastern coast for maritime navigation
Geography - note
the northernmost region of the Kingdom of Norway; comprises nine principal islands; glaciers and snowfields account for 60% of the overall land area
Natural resources
resources include coal, iron ore, copper, zinc, phosphate, diverse wildlife, and fish
Area - comparative
slightly smaller in area than West Virginia
Geographic coordinates
78 00 N, 20 00 E
Population distribution
the sparse population is mainly situated on the island of Spitsbergen, concentrated in a few settlements on the southern shore of Isfjorden, with Longyearbyen being the largest settlement
People & Society
Languages
Languages
Norwegian, Russian
major-language sample(s)
Verdens Faktabok, den essensielle kilden for grunnleggende informasjon. (Norwegian)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Population
male
1,353
total
2,556 (2025 est.)
female
1,203
Ethnic groups
Norwegian citizens make up 61.1%, while the foreign demographic accounts for 38.9% (mainly comprising individuals from Russia, Thailand, Sweden, the Philippines, and Ukraine) (2021 estimate).
Net migration rate
-5.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Population growth rate
-0.03% (2019 est.)
Population distribution
the limited population is chiefly located on the island of Spitsbergen, concentrated in a few settlements located on the southern shore of Isfjorden, with Longyearbyen being the most populous.
Environment
Climate
Arctic climate, influenced by the warm North Atlantic Current; featuring mild summers and frigid winters; the North Atlantic Current travels alongside the western and northern shores of Spitsbergen, maintaining open and navigable waters for the majority of the year.
Land use
other
100% (2018 est.)
agricultural land
0% (2018 est.)
Government
Flag
the banner of Norway is utilized
Capital
name
Longyearbyen
etymology
the term in Norwegian translates to Longyear Town; this location was founded by John Munro LONGYEAR, who established the Arctic Coal Company that commenced mining activities here in 1906
time difference
UTC+1 (6 hours in advance of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time
+1hr, commences on the last Sunday in March; concludes on the last Sunday in October
geographic coordinates
78 13 N, 15 38 E
Citizenship
see Norway
Country name
etymology
the archipelago was historically identified as Spitsbergen, a Dutch term meaning "jagged peaks," but in the 1920s, Norway renamed it Svalbard upon acquiring sovereignty over the islands, deriving from the Norwegian sval (cold) and bard (shore); the Norwegian designation might have been applied in the Norse period to different areas
conventional long form
none
conventional short form
Svalbard (occasionally called Spitsbergen, the principal island in the archipelago)
Independence
none (territory of Norway)
Legal system
Norwegian laws that specifically pertain to Svalbard, including the Svalbard Act, the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act, and particular regulations; the Spitsbergen Treaty and the Svalbard Treaty confer specific rights to individuals and companies from signatory countries
Government type
a non-self-governing territory of Norway
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Svalbard is under the jurisdiction of Norway's Nord-Troms District Court and Halogaland Court of Appeal, both situated in Tromso
Executive branch
chief of state
King HARALD V of Norway (since 17 January 1991)
head of government
Governor Lars FAUSE (since 24 June 2021)
election/appointment process
none; the monarchy is hereditary; the governor and assistant governor are accountable to the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice
Dependency status
a territory of Norway; governed by the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice, through a governor (sysselmann) based in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; sovereignty was granted to Norway by treaty on 9 February 1920
Political parties
Conservative
Labor
Liberal
Progress
Socialist Left
Legislative branch
National anthem(s)
title
"Ja, vi elsker dette landet" (Yes, We Love This Country)
history
official anthem, as a Norwegian territory
lyrics/music
Bjornstjerne BJORNSON/Rikard NORDRAAK
International organization participation
none
Economy
Exchange rates
Currency
Norwegian kroner (NOK) per US dollar -
Exchange rates 2020
9.416 (2020 est.)
Exchange rates 2021
8.59 (2021 est.)
Exchange rates 2022
9.614 (2022 est.)
Exchange rates 2023
10.563 (2023 est.)
Exchange rates 2024
10.746 (2024 est.)
Economic overview
affluent island economy in Norway; significant sectors include coal extraction, tourism, and research; recently launched the northernmost brewery; serves as a vital hub for whaling and fishing; location of the Global Seed Vault
Energy
Communications
Broadcast media
The Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) delivers television broadcasts to Svalbard through satellite; it offers access to 3 NRK radio channels and 2 television channels.
Internet country code
.sj
Transportation
Ports
large
0
small
0
medium
0
key ports
Barentsburg, Longyearbyen, Ny Alesund
very small
3
total ports
3 (2024)
ports with oil terminals
0
Military & Security
Military - note
Svalbard, a territory belonging to Norway, was designated as demilitarized by treaty on 9 February 1920; the Norwegian Coast Guard is permitted to conduct military operations restricted to fisheries surveillance (2025)
Military and security forces
absent of regular military forces
