Svalbard (sometimes referred to as Spitsbergen, the largest island in the archipelago)

Non-Self-Governing Territory Of NorwayPop3KCP0.0→Beta

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Overview

Background: 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

Area

Land: 62,045 sq km
Note: note: includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island)
Water: 0 sq km
Total: 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

Land Use

Other: 100% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)

Location: Northern Europe, islands 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 often block the entrance to Bellsund (a transit point for coal export) on the west coast and occasionally make parts of the northeastern coast inaccessible to maritime traffic
Geography note: northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway; consists of nine main islands; glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of the total area
Natural resources: coal, iron ore, copper, zinc, phosphate, wildlife, fish
Area comparative: slightly smaller than West Virginia
Geographic coordinates: 78 00 N, 20 00 E
Population distribution: the small population is primarily concentrated on the island of Spitsbergen in a handful of settlements on the south side of the Isfjorden, with Longyearbyen being the largest

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 61.1%, foreign population 38.9% (consists primarily of Russians, Thais, Swedes, Filipinos, and Ukrainians) (2021 est.)
Net migration rate: -5.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Population growth rate: -0.03% (2019 est.)
Population distribution: the small population is primarily concentrated on the island of Spitsbergen in a handful of settlements on the south side of the Isfjorden, with Longyearbyen being the largest

Government

Flag: the flag of Norway is used

Capital

Name: Longyearbyen
Etymology: the name in Norwegian means Longyear Town; the site was established by and named after John Munro LONGYEAR, whose Arctic Coal Company began mining operations there in 1906
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
Geographic coordinates: 78 13 N, 15 38 E

Citizenship: see Norway

Country Name

Etymology: the archipelago was traditionally known as Spitsbergen, a Dutch name meaning "jagged peaks," but Norway renamed it Svalbard in the 1920s when it assumed sovereignty of the islands, from the Norwegian sval (cold) and bard (shore); the Norwegian name may have been used during the Norse era for other locations
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Svalbard (sometimes referred to as Spitsbergen, the largest island in the archipelago)

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
Government type: non-self-governing territory of Norway

Judicial Branch

Highest court(s): Svalbard is subordinate to Norway's Nord-Troms District Court and Halogaland Court of Appeal, both located 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; governor and assistant governor responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice

Dependency status: territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice, through a governor (sysselmann) residing in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920), sovereignty was awarded to Norway
Political parties: Conservative
Labor
Liberal
Progress
Socialist Left

Legislative Branch

Note: note: the Council acts much like a Norwegian municipality, with responsibility for infrastructure and utilities (including power, land-use and community planning, education, and child welfare); however, the state provides healthcare services

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 organisations: 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: 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

Communications

Broadcast media: Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) provides TV transmission to Svalbard via satellite; access to 3 NRK radio stations and 2 TV stations
Internet country code: .sj

Transport

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

Environment

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

Land Use

Other: 100% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land: 0% (2018 est.)

Military & Security

Military note: Svalbard is a territory of Norway, demilitarized by treaty on 9 February 1920; Norwegian military activity is limited to fisheries surveillance by the Norwegian Coast Guard (2025)
Military and security forces: no regular military forces

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Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Svalbard (sometimes referred to as Spitsbergen, the largest island in the archipelago) — vintage 2026-Q1: Svalbard (sometimes referred to as Spitsbergen, the largest island in the archipelago) factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/svalbard-sometimes-referred-to-as-spitsbergen-the-largest-island-in-the-archipelago

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Sources: CIA World Factbook