<item><hi format=bold>Administrative divisions:</hi> 19 provinces (fylker, singular—fylke); Akershus, Aust-Agder, Buskerud, Finnmark, Hedmark, Hordaland, More og Romsdal, Nordland, Nord-Trondelag, Oppland, Oslo, Ostfold, Rogaland, Sogn og Fjordane, Sor-Trondelag, Telemark, Troms, Vest-Agder, Vestfold
<item><hi format=bold>Dependent areas:</hi> Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard
<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 26 October 1905 (from Sweden)
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Constitution Day, 17 May (1814)
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> 17 May 1814, modified in 1884
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> mixture of customary law, civil law system, and common law traditions; Supreme Court renders advisory opinions to legislature when asked; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> 18 years of age; universal
<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state:</hi> King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991); Heir Apparent Crown Prince HAAKON MAGNUS (born 20 July 1973)
<item>• <hi format=ital>head of government:</hi> Prime Minister Gro Harlem BRUNDTLAND (since 3 November 1990)
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> State Council; appointed by the king in accordance with the will of the Storting
<item><hi format=bold>Storting:</hi> elections last held on 13 September 1993 (next to be held September 1997); results—Labor 37.1%, Center Party 18.5%, Conservatives 15.6%, Christian Peoples' 8.4%, Socialist Left 7.9%, Progress 6%, Left Party 3.6%, Red Electoral Alliance 1.2%; seats—(165 total) Labor 67, Center Party 32, Consevatives 18, Christian Peoples' 13, Socialist Left 13, Progress 10, Left Party 1, Red Electoral Alliance 1, unawarded 10
<item><hi format=bold>Lagting:</hi> Storting elects one-fourth of its member to upper house
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi> Labor Party, Thorbjorn JAGLUND; Conservative Party, Jan PETERSEN; Center Party, Anne ENGER LAHNSTEIN; Christian People's Party, Kjell Magne BONDEVIK; Socialist Left, Eric SOLHEIM; Norwegian Communist, Ingre IVERSEN; Progress Party, Carl I. HAGEN; Liberal, Odd Einar DORUM; Finnmark List, leader NA; Left Party; Red Electoral Alliance
<item><hi format=bold>Flag:</hi> red with a blue cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)