Why Norway is Becoming the World's Richest Country

Select video clips courtesy of Getty Images

Select video clips courtesy of the AP Archive

Special thanks to MapTiler, OpenStreetMap Contributors, and GEOlayers

[joshygoldiem_j]

FUN FACT: The former king of Norway Olav V was immensely popular because he ruled by example, earning him the nickname "the People's King." When driving was restricted due to the 1973 oil crisis, the king, who legally could've driven, took public transport carrying his skiing gear on his shoulders. When the media asked him how he could even dare to go outside without bodyguards, he responded by saying "I have four million bodyguards, " referring to the population of Norway at the time.

[cknowledge]

Norway is the country which won the lottery but kept the normal job

[osasunaitor]

In addition to being wealthy, Norway is INSANELY beautiful. Travelling the country from point to point in spring felt like moving through a fairytale land, I'm not kidding. The deep fjord valleys, massive snow covered mountains, dense forests, lush green prairies, crystal-clear rivers, thousands of waterfalls... It's hard to imagine a prettier landscape to me. And most of it is practically untouched by the human hand, with just a few colourful wooden-house villages scattered here and there.
Being born in Norway must be like winning lottery on so many levels...

[Norralin]

It has to be said, that not only does Norway have a lot of its relative power covered by hydropower - it also uses electricity for everything. There are very few gas powered kitchen stoves in Norway - almost no houses are heated by gas. Just about everything in every home is powered in its entirety by electrical power, including heating water, heating houses and cooking.

[Nerdforge]

Its not actually hydropower, its mountain trolls on spinning bikes

[Boofer.]

as a Norwegian, a 40 min video of about how good we are was very entertaining

[TheWandererBard]

It's so refreshing to hear of a government that humbly and intelligently make decisions to protect the interests of their people and FUTURE generations. Bravo to those men who made those selfless decisions 👏🙌

[ishaantyagi]

It's been 6 minutes since playing this and I'm overwhelmed with the sheer amount of information packed into this video so far.

[rebjorn]

It's not all glamour. In 2011 we experienced a butter shortage. We sorted it out, thankfully. It's difficult for me to talk about.

[elic]

the day i watch a reallifelore video without the word vast is the day the world ends

[jimparsons]

What wasn't mention but might have been is that Norway early on had hydroelectric power and that it pretty much always had a very high regard for education and educated people. There by increasing the odds of maximizing any resources that they might have had. A historical pattern, you might say. I've had first-hand experience with the Norwegians, as I went to school with a bunch of them, and found them pretty sharp. Later I found out that some had advanced degrees before they started the cited undergraduate courses I was enrolled in. Strategy counts for a lot.

[sreengleen]

This was a fantastic tutorial on the topic - fast-moving, dense with information and incredibly educational and informative! Many thanks!!!

[steveuganski]

“kinetic energy just sitting there” is a funny phrase.

[TerjeMathisen]

You did start out very nicely by showing how our fjords and coastline meant sea transport was crucial. The very best way to illustrate this is to look at our road numbering system:
It starts at 2! This is a silent acknowledgment that the sea has always been #1, i.e. our main highway.

[bubbii]

I lived in Norway for a very short time. I miss it so much. The most beautiful place I have ever been, super lovely friendly people. I actually would do anything to move back there

[The_NordKnight]

Norway is such an amazing country. As a Dane, I could easily see myself living in Norway in the future, although the lack of low altitudes might kill me.

[ArbiterJ]

As a Brit, it’s depressing to hear how a countries leaders had such amazing foresight to ensure their countries prosperity for decades to come. Unlike my countries leaders who have only ensured a death by a 1000 cuts for the UK.

[Clone]

Norway is a rare case of an oil state not completely squandering the money

[johnsamuel]

I like how you went from discussing how Gallium to Germanium are quite indispensable for semi conductor production to how Norway has huge phosphate mines just to say "Checkmate China".

[drzainnas]

Thanks to the Norway's country, people and their leaders, they are all certainly do deserve our respect and gratitude.