Although you probably already know about the northern lights and the midnight sun, did you know that Norway is planning to completely get rid of FM radio? Or that Norway knighted a penguin in 2008? And this is only the tip of the iceberg, here are 25 interesting facts about Norway you can’t afford to miss.
25
Except for certain circumstances it is illegal to spay or neuter your dog in Norway
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 24
While IKEA names sofas and bookshelves after places in Sweden and carpets after places in Denmark, it names beds and wardrobes after places in Norway
Source: theguardian.com, Image: wikipedia 23
Since the end of WWII only 10 police officers have been killed in Norway
Source: dagbladet.no, Image: wikipedia 22
Norway's monarch is titled "Norway's King" rather than "King of Norway" to show that he belongs to the country instead of the country belonging to him
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 21
Norway actually introduced Japan to salmon sushi in the 80s
Source: nortrade.com, Image: wikipedia 20
Norway donated one billion dollars to help save the Amazon in 2008
Source: cgdev.org, Image: wikipedia 19
Norway was ranked #1 in the 2014 Prosperity Index for the wealth and well being of its people
Source: prosperity.com, Image: wikipedia 18
Norway is the birthplace of skiing. In fact, the word "ski" is Norwegian for "piece of wood"
Source: truenomads.com, Image: wikipedia 17
Odd and Even are actually popular names for men
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 16
Norway has the highest gas prices in the world at over $10 per gallon
Source: aaretz.com, Image: wikipedia 15
Known as the "loneliest place on Earth", Bouvet Island is an uninhabited and frozen piece of land half way between Africa and Antarctica. Although many have tried to claim it, today it belongs to Norway.
Source: atlasobscura.com, Image: wikipedia 14
Norway knighted a penguin in 2008
Source: nbcnews.com, Image: wikipedia 13
Since Sweden ran out of trash it imports trash from Norway and burns it for fuel
Source: nydailynews.com, Image: wikipedia 12
Norwegian prisoners all have internet in their cells
Source: theguardian.com, Image: wikipedia 11
A large percentage of people (over 8%) eat tacos every single Friday. They call them "fredagstacos"
Source: theforeigner.no, Image: wikipedia 10
The NRK TV channel in Norway features 18 hours of salmon spawning
Source: theguardian.com, Image: wikipedia 9
If you publish a book in Norway, the government will buy 1000 copies of it and distribute them to libraries around the country
Source: newrepublic.com, Image: wikipedia 8
King Olav V of Norway used public transport and paid for his own tickets
Source: marilynsroyalblog.blogspot.co.il, Image: wikipedia 7
King Herald of Norway vowed celibacy for his entire life unless he could marry his true love, the daughter of a cloth merchant. She eventually became queen.
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 6
It is illegal to advertise to children younger than 12
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 5
Between 1814 and 1905 Sweden and Norway were actually one kingdom
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia 4
In 2000 Norway built the longest tunnel in the world. It is 24.5 km (15.3 miles)
Source: nationalgeographic.com, Image: wikipedia 3
Norway's universities are free for everybody, even foreigners
Source: studyinnorway.no, Image: wikipedia 2
Norway plans to become the first country to completely abandon FM radio in 2017 when it completely changes over to digital
Source: gizmodo.com, Image: wikipedia 1
Norway's original name was "Nordweg" meaning "Northern Way"
Source: etymonline.com, Image: wikipedia 
