Norway and Sweden

Official Names: Kingdom of Norway, Kingdom of Sweden
Location: Northern Europe, both in Scandinavia and the Nordic region
Shared Characteristics: Long shared history, strong cultural and linguistic ties, 1,630 km shared border meeting at Three-Country Cairn (intersection with Finland)

Wealth: Among the wealthiest countries globally
Rankings: High on quality of life and happiness lists (Sweden #7, Norway #8)
Safety: Both are generally safe, Norway has less crime
Trust: High societal trust in both countries
Welfare Systems: Universal healthcare, high life expectancy (Norway 82.8 years, Sweden 83.2 years), generous parental leave, free daycare, preschool, and college
Taxes: Higher than most countries, Norway's taxes are slightly lower than Sweden's
Economic & Social Policies: The Nordic model includes public services, strong unions, collective bargaining, social corporatism

Political Systems: Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchies with royal families dating back over 1,000 years
Early Inhabitants: Humans lived on the Scandinavian Peninsula ~14,000 years ago
Vikings: Norse explorers and warriors (700s - 1066)
Nations' Birth: Kingdom of Norway by 1060s, Kingdom of Sweden uncertain
Middle Ages to Modern Era:
- Black Death in 1300s significantly reduced the population
- Both countries were part of the Kalmar Union (1397-1523)
- Sweden became independent under Gustav Vasa
- Series of wars and treaties determining their modern borders
- Sweden was once a European power (1600s-1700s)
- Union between Norway and Sweden (1814-1905)
- Both stayed neutral during the World Wars
- Post-WWII: Norway joined NATO, Sweden remained neutral until recently considering NATO membership
- Modern Economies: Norway's wealth bolstered by oil reserves, Sweden through industry and technology
- High democracy rankings (Norway #1, Sweden #4)

Population: Sweden ~10.4 million, Norway ~5.4 million
Regions: Most live in southern parts or along coasts, some areas north of the Arctic Circle
Largest Cities: Capitals are the largest (Oslo for Norway, Stockholm and Gothenburg for Sweden)
Climate: Milder than similar latitudes due to Gulf Stream
Natural Disasters: Minimal, both lands are rising due to post-glacial rebound
Water Systems: Klarälven River flows through both, tens of thousands of islands
Islands: Sweden's largest is Gotland, Norway's largest is Spitsbergen (Svalbard archipelago)
Freedom to Roam: Laws allow camping in nature

Diversity: Increasingly diverse, 1/3 in Sweden have a foreign-born parent
Religion: Predominantly Christian but highly secular, Sweden doesn’t have a state church
Education & Energy: High GDP spending on education, focus on renewable energy
Sámi People: Indigenous culture in northern regions
Social Issues: Nordic model for prostitution, varying legal status of marijuana
Sports: Winter sports are popular, Norway leads in Winter Olympics
Music & Folklore: Rich heritage in folklore and heavy metal music

Land Area: Sweden is larger in area, Norway has more coastline
Population Density: Sweden higher (25.4/km² vs. Norway's 15/km²)
Economies: Norway's higher GDP per capita and household income
Major Industries: Norway (oil, gas, shipping, fishing), Sweden (machinery, vehicles, telecom, pharma)
Topography: Norway more mountainous, known for fjords and waterfalls; Sweden more forested and agricultural
Cost of Living: Cheaper in Sweden
Climate Differences: Both have oceanic, continental, subarctic climates, some tundra
Internet & Legal Differences: Faster internet in Norway, legal differences in marijuana laws
Interesting Facts: Norway’s electric car adoption, IKEA from Sweden, Christmas traditions in Sweden, etc.

Democracy: Both highly democratic (Norway #1, Sweden #4)
Recent Political Climate: Sweden moving towards NATO due to recent global events
Economic Policies: Norway's investment in pension funds from oil revenues
Environmental Practices: Heavy investment in renewable energy in both

Norway and Sweden are both highly prosperous and play significant roles globally. Learning from their success could benefit other parts of the world.

Lecture Notes on Norway and Sweden