Nordic Countries orScandinavian Countries

Denmark IcelandFinland Sweden Norway

Denmark

Denmark Map

Denmark

• Capital: Copenhagen• Population: 5.5 million • GDP per capita: $33,973• Life expectancy: 76 (male); 80 (female)• Currency: Danish krone

Denmark

• Denmark's per capita expenditures on education rank among the highest in the world.

• Denmark has been a monarchy throughout its entire history.

• More than 80 percent of all Danish paper comes from recycled sources.

• Women in the workforce get a six-month paid maternity leave; men get an optional two weeks.

Viking Burial Ground

Health

• Health care is provided through a comprehensive socialized medical system.

• The system often necessitates long waits for certain operations because costs are contained by rationing services to some extent.

• It’s FREE • Paid by taxes

Finland

Finland Map

Finland

• Capital: Helsinki• Population: 5.3 million• GDP per capita: $32,153• Currency: Euro

Finland

• The national instrument of Finland is the kantele, a stringed instrument played with the fingers.

• More than 187,800 lakes and other bodies of water dominate Finland's landscape.

Land

• North of the Arctic Circle, the sun remains above the horizon day and night in the summer and below the horizon day and night in the winter.

• The aurora borealis lights up winter nights in the north.

Finland

Religion• 83% Evangelical Lutheran

Language• 91% of the population

speaks Finnish

Iceland

Iceland Map

Iceland

• Capital: Reykjavík• Population: 304,367 • GDP per capita: $36,510• Life expectancy: 80 (male); 83 (female)• Currency: Icelandic króna

Iceland

• Icelanders have one of the highest life expectancy rates in the world.

• Iceland averages one volcanic eruption every five years.

Land

• It is the second largest island in Europe.• 80% uninhabited • This “land of fire and ice” is a volcanic island and

one of the most active volcanic countries in the world.

• Iceland has more hot springs than any other country in the world; in fact, geyser is an Icelandic word.

• 10% of the country is covered with glaciers.

A Geyser

Frozen Waterfall

Religion

• 82% Evangelical Lutheran

Winter Swim

Small Town

Blue Lagoon

Norway

Norway Map

Norway

• Capital: Oslo• Population: 4.6 million• GDP per capita: $41,420• Life expectancy: 77 (male); 82 (female)• Currency: Norwegian krone

Norway

• The Arctic Circle crosses Norway near the center of the country.

• Norwegians consider it impolite to place one's hands in the pockets when standing in front of a large group.

• Norway is one of the world's leaders in the percentage of gross national product provided in aid to the world's poorest countries.

Natural Resources

• Crude oil (in the North Sea), copper, nickel, zinc, lead, and timber.

• More than one-fourth of the land is forested.

• Waterfalls are a source of clean, inexpensive electric power.

Food

Religion/Health Care

Religion• 85% of people are

Evangelical Lutheran.

Health Care• The government has an

extensive system that provides free, high-quality healthcare services to all.

Economy

• Norway is one of the world's largest oil exporters.

• Norway is also a major aluminum producer.

• Other important exports include natural gas, fish, and manufactured items such as furniture and ships.

Sweden

Sweden Map

Sweden

• Capital: Stockholm• Population: 9 million• GDP per capita: $32,525• Life expectancy: 78 (male); 83 (female)• Currency: Swedish krona

Sweden

• More than 80 percent of Swedes live in the southern third of the country.

• Swedes usually address each other by first name. • Sweden awards the Nobel Prizes each year. • At Easter, children dress up like old witches with

brooms and go door-to-door (among friends and neighbors only) to collect candy.

Religion/Health

Religion• Most Swedes (about 87

percent) are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Health Care• All Swedes are covered by

national health insurance.

Breakfast Buffet

Economy• Sweden is a major producer

of automobiles (such as Volvo and Saab)

• Exports machinery and steel products.

• Important natural resources include silver, zinc, lead, iron ore, and copper.

• Timber exports (mostly pulp for paper products) are also important.