Capital

Norwegen

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

etymology: the medieval name was spelt "Aslo"; the as component refered either to the Ekeberg ridge southeast of the town ("as" in modern Norwegian), or to the Aesir (Norse gods); lo refered to "meadow," so the most likely interpretations would have been either "the meadow beneath the ridge" or "the meadow of the gods"; both explanations are considered equally plausible

Arabische Republik Syrien

name: Damascus

geographic coordinates: 33 30 N, 36 18 E

time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight saving time: +1hr, begins midnight on the last Friday in March; ends at midnight on the last Friday in October

etymology: Damascus is a very old city; its earliest name, Temeseq, first appears in an Egyptian geographical list of the 15th century B.C., but the meaning is uncertain

Jamaika

name: Kingston

geographic coordinates: 18 00 N, 76 48 W

time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: the name is a blending of the words "king's" and "town"; the English king at the time of the city's founding in 1692 was WILLIAM III (r. 1689-1702)

Citizenship

Norwegen

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Norway

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years

Arabische Republik Syrien

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Syria; if the father is unknown or stateless, the mother must be a citizen of Syria

dual citizenship recognized: yes

residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

Jamaika

citizenship by birth: yes

citizenship by descent only: yes

dual citizenship recognized: yes

residency requirement for naturalization: 4 out of the previous 5 years

Legal system

Norwegen

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

Arabische Republik Syrien

mixed legal system of civil and Islamic (sharia) law (for family courts)

Jamaika

common law system based on the English model

Suffrage

Norwegen

18 years of age; universal

Arabische Republik Syrien

18 years of age; universal

Jamaika

18 years of age; universal

Area

Norwegen

total: 323,802 sq km

land: 304,282 sq km

water: 19,520 sq km

Arabische Republik Syrien

total: 187,437 sq km

land: 185,887 sq km

water: 1,550 sq km

note: includes 1,295 sq km of Israeli-occupied territory

Jamaika

total: 10,991 sq km

land: 10,831 sq km

water: 160 sq km

Land use

Norwegen

agricultural land: 2.7% (2018 est.)

arable land: 2.2% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 0.5% (2018 est.)

forest: 27.8% (2018 est.)

other: 69.5% (2018 est.)

Arabische Republik Syrien

agricultural land: 75.8% (2018 est.)

arable land: 25.4% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 5.8% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 44.6% (2018 est.)

forest: 2.7% (2018 est.)

other: 21.5% (2018 est.)

Jamaika

agricultural land: 41.4% (2018 est.)

arable land: 11.1% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 9.2% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 21.1% (2018 est.)

forest: 31.1% (2018 est.)

other: 27.5% (2018 est.)

Location

Norwegen

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

Arabische Republik Syrien

Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and Turkey

Jamaika

Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba

Age structure

Norwegen

0-14 years: 17.83% (male 510,835/female 487,126)

15-64 years: 64% (male 1,842,794/female 1,739,688)

65 years and over: 18.18% (2023 est.) (male 474,878/female 542,603)

Arabische Republik Syrien

0-14 years: 33.27% (male 3,914,737/female 3,716,362)

15-64 years: 62.58% (male 7,141,423/female 7,209,386)

65 years and over: 4.15% (2023 est.) (male 445,288/female 506,335)

Jamaika

0-14 years: 24.11% (male 346,566/female 333,673)

15-64 years: 65.8% (male 914,208/female 942,134)

65 years and over: 10.08% (2023 est.) (male 135,388/female 149,013)

Birth rate

Norwegen

10.4 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Arabische Republik Syrien

22.2 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Jamaika

15.8 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Death rate

Norwegen

8.2 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Arabische Republik Syrien

4.1 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Jamaika

7.4 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Languages

Norwegen

Bokmal Norwegian (official), Nynorsk Norwegian (official), small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities; note - Sami has three dialects: Lule, North Sami, and South Sami; Sami is an official language in nine municipalities in Norway's three northernmost counties: Finnmark, Nordland, and Troms

major-language sample(s):
Verdens Faktabok, den essensielle kilden for grunnleggende informasjon. (Norwegian)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Arabische Republik Syrien

Arabic (official), Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian, French, English

major-language sample(s):
كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)

ڕاستییەکانی جیهان، باشترین سەرچاوەیە بۆ زانیارییە بنەڕەتییەکان (Kurdish)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Jamaika

English, Jamaican patois

Life expectancy at birth

Norwegen

total population: 83 years (2023 est.)

male: 81.4 years

female: 84.7 years

Arabische Republik Syrien

total population: 74.6 years (2023 est.)

male: 73.1 years

female: 76.1 years

Jamaika

total population: 76 years (2023 est.)

male: 74.3 years

female: 77.9 years

Major urban areas - population

Norwegen

1.086 million OSLO (capital) (2023)

Arabische Republik Syrien

2.585 million DAMASCUS (capital), 2.203 million Aleppo, 1.443 million Hims (Homs), 996,000 Hamah (2023)

Jamaika

597,000 KINGSTON (capital) (2023)

Median age

Norwegen

total: 40.6 years (2023 est.)

male: 39.9 years

female: 41.4 years

Arabische Republik Syrien

total: 23.9 years (2023 est.)

male: 23.3 years

female: 24.5 years

Jamaika

total: 30.5 years (2023 est.)

male: 29.7 years

female: 31.3 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

Norwegen

29.8 years (2020 est.)

note: data is calculated based on actual age at first births

Jamaika

21.2 years (2008 est.)

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-29

Net migration rate

Norwegen

3.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Arabische Republik Syrien

45.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.) NA

Jamaika

-7.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Population distribution

Norwegen

most Norwegians live in the south where the climate is milder and there is better connectivity to mainland Europe; population clusters are found all along the North Sea coast in the southwest, and Skaggerak in the southeast; the interior areas of the north remain sparsely populated

Arabische Republik Syrien

significant population density along the Mediterranean coast; larger concentrations found in the major cities of Damascus, Aleppo (the country's largest city), and Hims (Homs); more than half of the population lives in the coastal plain, the province of Halab, and the Euphrates River valley

note: the ongoing civil war has altered the population distribution

Jamaika

population density is high throughout, but increases in and around Kingston, Montego Bay, and Port Esquivel

Population growth rate

Norwegen

0.6% (2023 est.)

Arabische Republik Syrien

6.39% (2023 est.)

Jamaika

0.09% (2023 est.)

Total fertility rate

Norwegen

1.57 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Arabische Republik Syrien

2.74 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Jamaika

2.05 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Norwegen

urban population: 84% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 1.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

note: data include Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands

Arabische Republik Syrien

urban population: 57.4% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 5.38% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Jamaika

urban population: 57.4% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 0.79% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Education expenditures

Norwegen

5.9% of GDP (2020 est.)

Arabische Republik Syrien

NA

Jamaika

6% of GDP (2021 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

Norwegen

total: 18 years

male: 18 years

female: 19 years (2020)

Arabische Republik Syrien

total: 9 years

male: 9 years

female: 9 years (2013)

Jamaika

total: 12 years

male: 11 years

female: 13 years (2015)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

Norwegen

4.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Arabische Republik Syrien

-8.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Jamaika

0.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

Norwegen

2.19% (2021 est.)

Arabische Republik Syrien

-14.77% (2020 est.)

Jamaika

2.38% (2021 est.)

Labor force

Norwegen

2.971 million (2021 est.)

Arabische Republik Syrien

6.143 million (2021 est.)

Jamaika

1.418 million (2021 est.)

Population below poverty line

Norwegen

12.7% (2018 est.)

Arabische Republik Syrien

82.5% (2014 est.)

Jamaika

17.1% (2016 est.)

Unemployment rate

Norwegen

4.99% (2021 est.)

4.42% (2020 est.)

3.69% (2019 est.)

Arabische Republik Syrien

10.57% (2021 est.)

10.26% (2020 est.)

8.77% (2019 est.)

Jamaika

9.18% (2021 est.)

9.48% (2020 est.)

7.69% (2019 est.)

Public debt

Norwegen

36.5% of GDP (2017 est.)

36.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

note: data cover general government debt and include debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data exclude treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data exclude debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intragovernmental debt; intragovernmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions

Arabische Republik Syrien

94.8% of GDP (2017 est.)

91.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

Jamaika

106.28% of GDP (2020 est.)

92.25% of GDP (2019 est.)

102.46% of GDP (2017 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Norwegen

3.48% (2021 est.)

1.29% (2020 est.)

2.17% (2019 est.)

Arabische Republik Syrien

28.1% (2017 est.)

47.3% (2016 est.)

Jamaika

5.86% (2021 est.)

5.23% (2020 est.)

3.91% (2019 est.)

Exports

Norwegen

$199.074 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$116.718 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$146.28 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Arabische Republik Syrien

$1.85 billion (2017 est.)

$1.705 billion (2016 est.)

Jamaika

$4.385 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$3.343 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$5.991 billion (2019 est.)

Exports - partners

Norwegen

United Kingdom 21%, Germany 19%, Sweden 8%, Netherlands 7%, China 6% (2021)

Arabische Republik Syrien

Saudi Arabia 23%, Turkey 18%, Egypt 14%, United Arab Emirates 8%, Jordan 7%, Kuwait 5% (2019)

Jamaika

United States 46%, Netherlands 9%, Canada 6%, United Kingdom 4&, Russia 3% (2021)

Imports

Norwegen

$140.444 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$119.632 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$140.211 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Arabische Republik Syrien

$6.279 billion (2017 est.)

$5.496 billion (2016 est.)

Jamaika

$7.414 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$5.911 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$8.317 billion (2019 est.)

Imports - partners

Norwegen

Sweden 18%, Germany 12%, China 10%, Denmark 6%, United States 5% (2021)

Arabische Republik Syrien

Turkey 27%, China 22%, United Arab Emirates 14%, Egypt 5% (2019)

Jamaika

United States 35%, China 13%, Turkey 5%, Trinidad and Tobago 3%, Japan 3% (2021)

Airports

Norwegen

95 (2021)

Arabische Republik Syrien

90 (2021)

Jamaika

28 (2021)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

Norwegen

total: 2,387,661 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 44 (2020 est.)

Arabische Republik Syrien

total: 1,549,356 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2020 est.)

Jamaika

total: 385,603 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2020 est.)

Internet users

Norwegen

total: 5.346 million (2021 est.)

percent of population: 99% (2021 est.)

Arabische Republik Syrien

total: 8,492,468 (2022 est.)

percent of population: 46.6% (2022 est.)

Jamaika

total: 2.296 million (2021 est.)

percent of population: 82% (2021 est.)

Railways

Norwegen

total: 3,848 km (2020) 2,482 km electrified

Arabische Republik Syrien

total: 2,052 km (2014)

standard gauge: 1,801 km (2014) 1.435-m gauge

narrow gauge: 251 km (2014) 1.050-m gauge

Roadways

Norwegen

total: 94,902 km (2018) (includes 455 km of expressways)

Arabische Republik Syrien

total: 69,873 km (2010)

paved: 63,060 km (2010)

unpaved: 6,813 km (2010)

Jamaika

total: 22,121 km (2011) (includes 44 km of expressways)

paved: 16,148 km (2011)

unpaved: 5,973 km (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

Norwegen

total subscriptions: 350,000 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 7 (2021 est.)

Arabische Republik Syrien

total subscriptions: 2,821,171 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 13 (2021 est.)

Jamaika

total subscriptions: 473,617 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

Norwegen

total subscriptions: 5.8 million (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 110 (2021 est.)

Arabische Republik Syrien

total subscriptions: 16,990,714 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 80 (2021 est.)

Jamaika

total subscriptions: 2,905,408 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 103 (2021 est.)

Waterways

Norwegen

1,577 km (2010)

Arabische Republik Syrien

900 km (2011) (navigable but not economically significant)

Disputes - international

Norwegen

Norway-Antarctica: Norway asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Queen Maud Land and its continental shelf)

Norway-Russia: Russia amended its 2001 CLCS submission in 2015 and 2021, each time delineating the outer limits of its continental shelf further into the Arctic Ocean; Norway and Russia signed a comprehensive maritime boundary agreement in 2010, ending a dispute over an area of the Barents Sea by dividing the territory equally

Norway-Sweden: none identified

 

 

Arabische Republik Syrien

Syria-Iraq: none identified

Syria-Israel: Golan Heights is Israeli-controlled with UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) patrolling a buffer zone since 1974; because of ceasefire violations and increased military activity in the Golan Heights, the UN Security Council continues to extend UNDOF’s mandate; since 2000, Lebanon has claimed Shab'a Farms in the Golan Heights

Syria-Jordan: the two countries signed an agreement in 2005 to settle the border dispute based on a 1931 demarcation accord; the two countries began demarcation in 2006

Syria-Lebanon: discussions on demarcating the two countries’ maritime borders were held in April 2021, after Syria signed a contract with a Russian company to conduct oil and gas exploration in a disputed maritime area, but the issue was not resolved

Syria-Turkey: none identified

Jamaika

none identified