Overview
Norse explorers may have first discovered the Svalbard archipelago in the 12th century. The islands served as an international whaling base during the 17th and 18th centuries. Norway's sovereignty was internationally recognized by treaty in 1920, and five years later Norway officially took over the territory. Coal mining started in the 20th century, and a Norwegian company and a Russian company are still in operation today. Travel between the settlements is accomplished with snowmobiles, aircraft, and boats.
Geography
- Location
- Northern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway
- Total Area
- 62,045 sq km
- 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
- rugged mountains; much of the upland areas are ice covered; west coast clear of ice about half the year; fjords along west and north coasts
- Natural Resources
- coal, iron ore, copper, zinc, phosphate, wildlife, fish
- Coastline
- 3,587 km
- Land Borders
- 0 km
People & Society
- Population
- 2,556 (2025 est.)
- Ethnic Groups
- Norwegian 61.1%, foreign population 38.9% (consists primarily of Russians, Thais, Swedes, Filipinos, and Ukrainians) (2021 est.)
Government
- Government Type
- non-self-governing territory of Norway
- Capital
- Longyearbyen
- Independence
- none (territory of Norway)
- Legal System
- laws of Norway that explicitly apply to Svalbard, including the Svalbard Act, the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act, and certain regulations; the Spitsbergen Treaty and the Svalbard Treaty grant certain rights to citizens and corporations of signatory nations
- Executive Branch
- King HARALD V of Norway (since 17 January 1991)
Economy
- Economic Overview
- high-income Norwegian island economy; major coal mining, tourism, and research sectors; recently established northernmost brewery; key whaling and fishing base; home to the Global Seed Vault