Interesting facts about Norway in 2024?

1. Norwegians rejected EU membership twice in referendums, but the country have implemented more EU directives than any of the actual EU member states;
2. Norway is the world’s second-largest natural gas exporter;
3. Norway saves state revenue from the petroleum sector in the world’s second largest sovereign wealth fund, valued at over $700 billion in January 2013 and uses the fund’s return to help finance public expenses;
4. Grocery stores are not allowed to be open on Sundays, but gas stations and kiosks can (and they sell groceries);
5. Norway was one of the first countries to establish a Ministry for the Environment (1972);
6. Hydropower accounts for 99 per cent of the electricity generated in Norway;
7. In Norway, wine and liquor is only sold in a monopoly store called “Vinmonopolet”, which translates to “The Wine Monopoly”;
8. The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo, Norway’s capital, every year;
9. In Norway, education is free, even college and university education;
10. In Norway, speeding fines are often more serious than if a person is caught with drugs;
11. Before starting a new enterprise, an entrepreneur should draft a business plan. There is no obligation to produce such business plan, but in-depth work at this stage will increase the likelihood of the project turning out well, and will provide a better overview of the real risks in the business concept.