History of Norway in Timeline
Norway, a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula, includes Jan Mayen and Svalbard, with dependencies in Bouvet Island and claims in Antarctica. With a population of 5.6 million, its capital is Oslo. Bordered by Sweden, Finland, and Russia, it features a long coastline facing the North Atlantic. Norway ranked as the seventh happiest country in the world in 2024.
2 days ago : Norway's World Cup glory tainted: Player faces conviction for sharing illegal video.
Norway's World Cup qualifying moment was overshadowed by Andreas Schjelderup, a footballer, facing conviction for sharing an illegal video. The incident has drawn significant attention and criticism, overshadowing the teams achievement and leading to legal repercussions.
1900: First Olympic Games Participation
In 1900, Norway first participated at the Olympic Games.
1902: Abolition of Death Penalty
In 1902, Norway abolished the death penalty for regular criminal acts.
1903: Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson Nobel Prize in Literature
In 1903, Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, a Norwegian novelist, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.
1904: Olympic Games Absence
In 1904, Norway did not participate in the sparsely attended Olympic Games.
June 1905: Peaceful separation from Sweden
On 7 June 1905, Christian Michelsen played a central role in the peaceful separation of Norway from Sweden.
1905: Norway in personal union with Sweden
From 1814 to 1905, Norway was in a personal union with Sweden.
1907: Christian Michelsen's Prime Ministership ends
Christian Michelsen, Prime Minister of Norway from 1905, left office in 1907.
1913: Universal suffrage for women
In 1913, all women were granted universal suffrage in Norway.
1920: Knut Hamsun Nobel Prize in Literature
In 1920, Knut Hamsun was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his book Markens grøde ("Growth of the Soil").
1928: Sigrid Undset Nobel Prize in Literature
In 1928, Sigrid Undset, known for Kristin Lavransdatter, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.
1938: FIFA World Cup Participation
In 1938, the men's national football team participated in the FIFA World Cup.
April 1940: Invasion by German forces
On 9 April 1940, Norway, proclaiming neutrality during the Second World War, was invaded by German forces.
June 1940: Norwegians join Allied forces
In June 1940, a small group of Norwegians, including 13 ships, five aircraft, and 500 men from the Royal Norwegian Navy, left Norway following their king to Britain to join the Allied forces.
1945: Labour Party absolute majority
From 1945 to 1962, the Labour Party held an absolute majority in the parliament and implemented Keynesian economics.
1947: Norway receives Marshall Plan aid
In 1947, Norway started receiving Marshall Plan aid from the United States.
1948: Communists" seizure of power in Czechoslovakia
After the Communists' seizure of power in Czechoslovakia in 1948, the Labour Party distanced itself from the Communists.
April 1949: Norway Becomes Founding Member of NATO
On April 4, 1949, Norway became one of the founding nations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
1949: Norway founding member of NATO
In 1949, Norway became a founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
1949: Rationing of dairy products lifted
In 1949, the rationing of dairy products was lifted in Norway, which had been in place since the war.
1950: Kon-Tiki wins Academy Award
In 1950, the documentary film Kon-Tiki won an Academy Award.
1960: First Eurovision participation
In 1960 Norway participated for the first time in the Eurovision Song Contest.
1960: End of price controls and rationing
Until 1960, price controls and rationing of housing and cars continued in Norway after the end of the war.
1962: End of Labour Party absolute majority
From 1945 to 1962, the Labour Party held an absolute majority in the parliament.
1962: Application for Accession to the European Union
In 1962, Norway issued the first application for accession to the European Union (EU) and its predecessors.
1966: Oil Well Drilling
Between 1966 and 2013, Norwegian companies drilled 5,085 oil wells, mostly in the North Sea.
1967: Application for Accession to the European Union
In 1967, Norway issued another application for accession to the European Union (EU) and its predecessors.
1967: Discovery of oil at Balder field
In 1967, oil was discovered at the small Balder field in Norway, although production only began in 1999.
1969: Phillips Petroleum discovers oil at Ekofisk
In 1969, the Phillips Petroleum Company discovered petroleum resources at the Ekofisk field west of Norway.
1972: Referendum on joining the European Union
In 1972, Norway declined to join the European Union after a referendum failed by a narrow margin.
1972: Norwegians Reject EU Membership
In 1972, Norwegians rejected proposals to join the European Union (EU) in a referendum.
1972: Norwegian Electorate Rejects Treaty of Accession
In 1972, the Norwegian electorate rejected the treaties of accession in a referendum.
1973: Foundation of Statoil
In 1973, the Norwegian government founded the State oil company, Statoil (now Equinor).
1975: Peak in industrial workers
Around 1975, both the proportion and absolute number of workers in industry peaked in Norway.
1975: Release of The Pinchcliffe Grand Prix
In 1975, The Pinchcliffe Grand Prix, an animated feature film directed by Ivo Caprino, was released.
1979: Abolition of Death Penalty for High Treason
In 1979, Norway abolished the death penalty for high treason in war and war-crimes.
1980: Summer Olympics Boycott
In 1980, Norway did not participate in the Summer Olympics in Moscow due to the American-led boycott.
1981: Conservative Party government
In 1981, a Conservative Party government led by Kåre Willoch replaced the Labour Party, implementing policies of tax cuts and economic liberalization.
1985: Bobbysocks win in Eurovision
Bobbysocks won the Eurovision Song Contest for Norway in 1985.
1987: Pathfinder nominated for an Oscar
In 1987, Nils Gaup's Pathfinder, the story of the Sámi, was nominated for an Oscar.
1987: UEFA European Women's Championship Title
In 1987, the women's team won a UEFA European Women's Championship title.
1990: Norway Recognizes ILO-convention 169
In 1990, Norway was the first country to recognise ILO-convention 169 on indigenous people recommended by the UN.
1990: Norwegian Constitution Amended
In 1990, the Norwegian constitution was amended to grant absolute primogeniture to the Norwegian throne, meaning that the eldest child, regardless of gender, takes precedence in the line of succession.
1991: Harald V ascends to throne
Harald V of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg ascended to the Norwegian throne in 1991.
1992: Application for Accession to the European Union
In 1992, Norway issued another application for accession to the European Union (EU) and its predecessors.
1992: Establishment of Musikkens Dag
In 1992, the city of Oslo wanted to adopt the French music festival Fête de la Musique, and Fredrik Carl Størmer established the festival. From its first year, "Musikkens Dag" gathered thousands of people and artists in the streets of Oslo. "Musikkens Dag" is now renamed Musikkfest Oslo.
1993: Legalisation of Civil Union Partnerships
In 1993, Norway became the second country to legalise civil union partnerships for same-sex couples.
1994: Norway Maintains Membership in the European Economic Area
After the 1994 referendum, Norway maintained its membership in the European Economic Area (EEA).
1994: Second referendum on joining the European Union
In 1994, Norway again declined to join the European Union after a referendum failed by a narrow margin.
1994: Norwegians Reject EU Membership Again
In 1994, Norwegians again rejected proposals to join the European Union (EU) in a referendum.
1994: Norwegian Electorate Rejects Treaty of Accession
In 1994, the Norwegian electorate rejected the treaties of accession in a referendum.
1994: FIFA World Cup Participation
In 1994, the men's national football team participated in the FIFA World Cup.
1995: Government Pension Fund Established
In 1995, the Norwegian government established the sovereign wealth fund ("Government Pension Fund – Global") to be funded with oil revenues.
1995: FIFA Women's World Cup Win
In 1995, the women's national team won the FIFA Women's World Cup.
1995: Secret Garden win in Eurovision
Secret Garden won the Eurovision Song Contest for Norway in 1995.
1996: Formation of Åsatrufellesskapet Bifrost
The Norwegian Åsatrufellesskapet Bifrost was formed in 1996.
1997: The Other Side of Sunday nominated for an Oscar
Berit Nesheim's The Other Side of Sunday was nominated for an Oscar in 1997.
1998: Handball European Championship win
In 1998, the Norway women's national handball team won the European Championship.
1998: FIFA World Cup Participation
In 1998, the men's national football team participated in the FIFA World Cup.
1999: Formation of Foreningen Forn Sed
Foreningen Forn Sed was formed in 1999 and has been recognised by the Norwegian government.
1999: Handball World Championship win
In 1999, the Norway women's national handball team won the World Championship.
1999: Start of Balder field production
Oil was discovered at the small Balder field in 1967, but production only began in 1999.
2000: Olympic Football Tournament Win
In 2000, the women's national team won the Olympic Football Tournament.
2000: Public Healthcare Annual Charge
Public healthcare in Norway is free after an annual charge of around 2000 kroner (NOK) for those over 16.
2004: Handball European Championship win
In 2004, the Norway women's national handball team won the European Championship.
2005: Jens Stoltenberg becomes prime minister
From 2005 to 2013, Jens Stoltenberg served as the prime minister of Norway.
2005: Labour Party in Power
In 2005, the Labour Party came into power, forming a Red–Green Coalition with the Socialist Left Party and the Centre Party.
2006: Fastest Growing Religious Communities
From 2006 to 2011, the fastest-growing religious communities in Norway were Eastern Orthodox Christianity and Oriental Orthodox Christianity, which grew in membership by 80%.
2006: Norwegian Americans Census
In 2006, according to the US Census Bureau, almost 4.7 million persons identified as Norwegian Americans.
2006: Handball European Championship win
In 2006, the Norway women's national handball team won the European Championship.
2007: Airport passenger statistics
In 2007, a total of 41,089,675 passengers passed through Norwegian airports, with 13,397,458 being international passengers.
2007: State Ownership in Equinor
In 2007, the government controlled petroleum resources through state ownership, with approximately 62% ownership in Equinor.
2007: State's loss in a battle at the European Court of Human Rights at Strasbourg
In 2007, the state's loss in a battle at the European Court of Human Rights at Strasbourg did not settle the matter of the public school subject Christianity, highlighting the ongoing controversy surrounding the separation of church and state in Norway.
2008: Handball Summer Olympics championship
In 2008, the Norway women's national handball team won the Summer Olympics championship.
January 2009: Legalisation of Same-Sex Marriage
On January 1, 2009, Norway became the sixth country to legalise same-sex marriage.
2009: Roman Catholic Church Membership
According to 2009 government statistics, other Christian denominations total about 4.9% of the population, the largest of which is the Roman Catholic Church, with 83,000 members.
2009: Mobilisation Plans
According to 2009 mobilisation plans, full mobilisation produces approximately 83,000 combatant personnel.
2009: Alexander Rybak wins Eurovision
Alexander Rybak won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2009 with his song Fairytale.
2009: Norway Reclaims Top Spot in HDI
Norway reclaimed first place in the world in the UNDP Human Development Index (HDI) in 2009.
2010: Eurobarometer Poll on Beliefs
According to the 2010 Eurobarometer Poll, 22% of Norwegian citizens believed in God, 44% believed in some sort of spirit or life force, and 29% did not believe in any spirit, God, or life force.
2010: Religious Affiliation Statistics
In 2010, 10% of the population was religiously unaffiliated, while another 9% were members of religious communities outside the Church of Norway.
2010: Endangered species listed
In 2010, 2,398 species were listed as endangered or vulnerable in Norway.
2010: Handball European Championship win
In 2010, the Norway women's national handball team won the European Championship.
2010: Democracy Index ranking
Since 2010, Norway has been classified as the world's most democratic country by the Democracy Index.
2010: OECD Ranks Norway Third
The OECD ranks Norway third in intergenerational earnings elasticity according to a 2010 study.
2010: Red list of species
The red list of 2010 encompasses 4,599 species in Norway.
2011: Growth in Religious Communities
From 2006 to 2011, there was growth in Roman Catholicism (78.7%), Hinduism (59.6%), Islam (48.1%), and Buddhism (46.7%).
2011: State Revenues Generated from Petroleum Industry
In 2011, 28% of state revenues were generated from the petroleum industry.
2011: Hindu Population
In 2011, Hinduism had slightly more than 5,900 adherents in Norway.
2011: Terrorist attacks in Norway
In 2011, Norway experienced two terrorist attacks by Anders Behring Breivik, targeting the government quarter in Oslo and a Labour party youth camp at Utøya island, resulting in 77 deaths and 319 wounded.
2011: Handball World Championship win
In 2011, the Norway women's national handball team won the World Championship.
2011: Åsatrufellesskapet Bifrost Membership
In 2011, the Åsatrufellesskapet Bifrost fellowship had about 300 members.
May 2012: Church Autonomy Vote
In May 2012, the Norwegian parliament voted to grant the Church of Norway greater autonomy, confirmed by a constitutional amendment on May 21, 2012.
October 2012: Roman Catholic Population Estimates
The Aftenposten (Evening Post) in October 2012 reported about 115,234 registered Roman Catholics in Norway, estimating the total number of people with a Roman Catholic background may be 170,000–200,000 or higher.
2012: Handball Summer Olympics championship
In 2012, the Norway women's national handball team won the Summer Olympics championship.
2012: Kon-Tiki Nominated for Oscar
In 2012, the adaption of Kon-Tiki was nominated for an Oscar for the best foreign language film.
2012: Rule Removed Requiring Cabinet Members to be Church of Norway Members
In 2012, the rule that required the Prime Minister to have more than half of the cabinet members be members of the Church of Norway was removed, signaling a shift in the relationship between church and state.
2012: Parliamentary Official Church Membership Requirement
Until 2012 parliamentary officials were required to be members of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Norway.
September 2013: Right-Wing Parties Elected
In September 2013, Høyre and Fremskrittspartiet were elected, forming a government led by Erna Solberg, who became the second female prime minister and the first conservative prime minister since Jan P. Syse.
2013: Ice hockey biggest indoor sport
As of 2013, ice hockey was the biggest indoor sport in Norway.
2013: Oil Wells Drilled
Between 1966 and 2013, Norwegian companies drilled 5,085 oil wells, mostly in the North Sea. In 2013, Wisting Central had a calculated size of 65–156 million barrels of oil and 10 to 40 billion cubic feet of gas.
2013: Norway Drafts Women into Military
In 2013, Norway became the first country in Europe and NATO to draft women as well as men into the military.
2013: Mineral Production Value
In 2013, Norway's mineral production was valued at US$1.5 billion (Norwegian Geological Survey data).
2013: Immigrant Population in Cities
In 2013, the cities with the highest share of immigrants were Oslo (32%) and Drammen (27%).
2013: Magnus Carlsen world chess champion
Magnus Carlsen, a Norwegian, was the world chess champion between 2013 and 2023.
2013: UN Human Development Index Ranking
Norway was awarded first place according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI) for 2013.
2013: Conservative government comes to power
The 2013 Norwegian parliamentary election brought a more conservative government to power, with the Conservative Party and the Progress Party winning 43% of the electorate's votes.
2013: OECD Ranks Norway Fourth in Better Life Index
The OECD ranks Norway fourth in the 2013 equalised Better Life Index.
March 2014: Electric vehicle milestone
In March 2014, Norway became the first country where over 1 in every 100 passenger cars on the roads were plug-in electric vehicles.
2014: Norway Declares Intention to Ban Deforestation
In 2014, Norway declared its intention to ban deforestation at the UN Climate Summit alongside Great Britain and Germany.
2014: Handball European Championship win
In 2014, the Norway women's national handball team won the European Championship.
June 2015: Norway Annexes Unclaimed Antarctic Area
On June 12, 2015, Norway formally annexed the unclaimed area between Queen Maud Land and the South Pole.
2015: Handball World Championship win
In 2015, the Norway women's national handball team won the World Championship.
June 2016: Potential ban on gasoline and diesel vehicles
In June 2016, a report by Dagens Næringsliv indicated that Norway considered banning the sale of gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles as early as 2025.
2016: Winter Youth Olympics in Lillehammer
In 2016, Norway hosted the Winter Youth Olympics in Lillehammer, becoming the first country to host both Winter regular and Youth Olympics.
2016: Tourism Contribution to GDP
In 2016, tourism in Norway contributed to 4.2% of the gross domestic product.
January 2017: Church of Norway Becomes Separate Legal Entity
As of January 2017, the Church of Norway became a separate legal entity, marking a significant step in its separation from the civil service.
January 2017: Church Independence
On January 1, 2017, Norway made the church independent of the state, retaining its status as the "people's church".
2017: World Happiness Report Ranking
In 2017, Norway's population ranked first on the World Happiness Report.
2017: Government Pension Fund Value Surpasses US$1 Trillion
In 2017, the Government Pension Fund controlled assets surpassed a value of US$1 trillion (equal to US$190,000 per capita), about 250% of Norway's 2017 GDP.
2017: Norway national handball team in IHF World Men's Handball Championships
In 2017, the Norway national handball team reached the finals of the IHF World Men's Handball Championships.
2017: Budgetary Rule Change
In 2017, the budgetary rule (Handlingsregelen), which limits spending over time to no more than the real value yield of the fund, was lowered to 3% of the fund's total value.
2017: Centre-Right Government Re-elected
In 2017, the centre-right government won re-election in the Norwegian parliamentary election.
2017: Re-election of Erna Solberg's government
In the 2017 Norwegian parliamentary election, the centre-right government of Prime Minister Erna Solberg won re-election.
January 2018: Bandy World Championships
As of January 2018, the men's national bandy team captured one silver and one bronze, while the women's national bandy team managed five bronzes at the World Championships.
2018: Muslim population
In 2018, Islam is the largest non-Christian religion, with 166,861 registered members.
2018: CEV Beach Volleyball Continental Cup
In 2018, Norway featured a women's national team in beach volleyball that competed at the CEV Beach Volleyball Continental Cup.
2019: Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report Ranking
In 2019, Norway ranked 20th in the World Economic Forum's Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report.
2019: Norway national handball team in IHF World Men's Handball Championships
In 2019, the Norway national handball team reached the finals of the IHF World Men's Handball Championships.
2019: Forest Landscape Integrity Index score
Norway had a 2019 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 6.98/10, ranking it 60th globally.
2020: Summer Olympics beach volleyball gold metal
In 2020, Norway featured a men's national team in beach volleyball at the Summer Olympics that won gold metal.
October 2021: Centre-Left Cabinet Takes Office
In October 2021, Norway's new centre-left cabinet under Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre of the Labour Party took office.
2021: Canadian Census: Norwegian Ancestry
In the 2021 Canadian census, 466,500 Canadian citizens identified as having Norwegian ancestry.
2021: Jonas Gahr Støre became Prime Minister
Since 2021, Jonas Gahr Støre has served as the Prime Minister of Norway.
2023: Disability Benefit Statistics
As of 2023, 10.6% of the population aged 18–67 receive a disability benefit and 30% of the labour force are employed by the government.
2023: Norway Ranks Last in Failed States Index
Foreign Policy magazine ranked Norway last in its Failed States Index for 2023, judging Norway to be the world's most well-functioning and stable country.
2023: Magnus Carlsen world chess champion
In 2023, Magnus Carlsen was no longer the world chess champion.
2023: Total Fertility Rate
In 2023, the total fertility rate (TFR) in Norway was estimated at 1.40 children born per woman.
2023: Implementation of Tuition Fees for Non-EU/EEA Students
In 2023, tuition fees were implemented for all students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland for higher education.
2023: Kolstad Håndball among highest EHF Champions League crowds
In the 2023–24 season, Kolstad Håndball had among the highest group stage average crowds in the EHF Champions League.
2024: Infant Mortality Rate
In 2024 the infant mortality rate in Norway was 2.1 per 1,000 live births among children under the age of one.
2024: Norway ranked seventh happiest country
In 2024, Norway was ranked as the seventh happiest country in the world.
2024: Norway Ranked First in World Press Freedom Index
In 2024, Reporters Without Borders ranked Norway in first place out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index.
2024: Church Membership and Ritual Participation
In 2024, about 61.7% of Norwegians were members of the Church of Norway, with approximately 50.4% of all newborns being baptised and about 47.6% of all 15-year-olds being confirmed in the church.
2024: Immigrant Population Statistics
In 2024, approximately 931,081 individuals (16.8% of the population) of the population of Norway were immigrants.
2024: Kolstad Håndball among highest EHF Champions League crowds
In the 2024–25 season, Kolstad Håndball had among the highest group stage average crowds in the EHF Champions League.
2024: Environmental Performance Index rank
The 2024 Environmental Performance Index ranked Norway in seventh place globally.
February 2025: Norway Unemployment Rate
As of February 2025, Norway has an unemployment rate of 3.9%, with 69.7% of the population aged 15–74 employed.
2025: Possible ban of gasoline and diesel vehicles
According to a report from 2016, Norway might ban sales of gasoline and diesel powered vehicles as early as 2025.
2025: Global Innovation Index Ranking
As of 2025, Norway is ranked 20th in the Global Innovation Index.
2025: World Happiness Report Ranking
In 2025, Norway ranked seventh on the World Happiness Report.
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