Short facts about the economy in Svalbard

Economy - overview:

Coal mining is the major economic activity on Svalbard. The treaty of 9 February 1920 gives the 41 signatories equal rights to exploit mineral deposits, subject to Norwegian regulation. Although US, UK, Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have mined in the past, the only companies still mining are Norwegian and Russian. The settlements on Svalbard are essentially company towns. The Norwegian state-owned coal company employs nearly 60% of the Norwegian population on the island, runs many of the local services, and provides most of the local infrastructure. There is also some trapping of seal, polar bear, fox, and walrus.

GDP:	purchasing power parity - $NA

GDP - real growth rate:

NA%

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $NA

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%:  NA% highest 10%:  NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

NA%

Labor force:

NA

Budget:

revenues:  $11.5 million expenditures:  $11.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998 est.)

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:

NA kWh

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel:  NA% hydro:  NA% nuclear:  NA% other:  NA%

Electricity - consumption:

NA kWh

Exports:

$NA

Imports:

$NA

Economic aid - recipient:

$8.2 million from Norway (1998)

Currency:

Norwegian krone (NOK)

Currency code:

NOK

Exchange rates:

Norwegian kroner per US dollar - 8.7784 (January 2001), 8.8018 (2000), 7.7992 (1999), 7.5451 (1998), 7.0734 (1997), 6.4498 (1996)

Source: World Factbook