Northern Europe, Scandinavia.

Norway Mainland: GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October). Jan Mayen Islands, Svalbard: GMT + 1.

385,155 sq km (148,669 sq miles).

4.6 million (UN estimate 2006).

12.1 per sq km.

Oslo. Population: 795,000 (UN estimate 2003).

Norway is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by Finland, the Russian Federation and Sweden, to the south by the Skagerrak (which separates it from Denmark) and to the west by the North Sea. The coastline is more than 20,000km (12,400 miles) long, its most outstanding feature being the fjords. Most of them are between 80 to 160km (50 to 100 miles) long, and are often very deep and surrounded by towering mountains. Much of northern Norway lies beyond the Arctic Circle and the landscape is stark. In the south, the landscape consists of forests with many lakes, rivers and mountains.

Constitutional monarchy. Declared independence from Sweden in 1905.

King Harald V since 1991.

Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg since 2005.

The minority centre-right coalition (Christian Democrats, Conservatives and Liberals), which took office after the last election in 2001, was led by Prime Minister Magne Bondevik, and lost the general election in 2005. A new majority centre-left 'red-green' coalition made up of the Labour Party, Centre Party and Socialist Left was formed, led by Labour Party leader Jens Stoltenberg.

Norwegian (Bokmål and Nynorsk). Sami is spoken by the Sami population in the north. English is widely spoken.

Approximately 86% Evangelical Lutherans; plus other Christian denominations, Muslim and other minority religions.

230 volts AC, 50/60Hz. Plugs are of the European round two-pin type.

Normal courtesies should be observed. It is customary for the guest to refrain from drinking until the host toasts their health. Casual dress is normal. Lunch, generally a light open sandwich snack known as a matpakke, takes place between 1130 and 1200, and dinner usually takes place at 1700. It is customary for an invited guest to offer gifts to the host/hostess of a meal. Punctuality is expected if invited out for dinner. Smoking is prohibited in all public places.