Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Balanced and steady and stable, Svalbard and Jan Mayen holds its own in Europe. No dramatic highs or lows — just consistent, solid numbers. Think you know Svalbard and Jan Mayen's stats?
Svalbard and Jan Mayen is a country in Europe with a population of 2.6K and an area of 61,399 km².
At a Glance
The numbers that define this country
Coastline Length
3.6KTotal coastline length from CIA World Factbook.
Highest Elevation
1.7KHighest point elevation from CIA World Factbook.
Lowest Elevation
0Lowest point elevation from CIA World Factbook.
Land Boundaries Length
0Total land boundary length from CIA World Factbook.
Irrigated Land
0Irrigated land area from CIA World Factbook.
Where They Stand Out
Global rankings worth knowing
🌍Coastline Length
3.6KTotal coastline length from CIA World Factbook.
🌍Highest Elevation
1.7KHighest point elevation from CIA World Factbook.
🌍Lowest Elevation
0Lowest point elevation from CIA World Factbook.
Did You Know?
Facts that catch players off guard
Only ranks #227 in population
Population: 2.6K
The total number of people living in the country.
World Bank 2023Only ranks #209 in irrigated land
Irrigated Land: 0
Irrigated land area from CIA World Factbook.
Only ranks #226 in land boundaries length
Land Boundaries Length: 0
Total land boundary length from CIA World Factbook.
Ranks #34 globally in coastline length
Coastline Length: 3.6K
Total coastline length from CIA World Factbook.
Surprised? See how you stack up.
Play NowAbout Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Norse explorers may have first discovered the Svalbard archipelago in the 12th century. The islands served as an international whaling base during the 17th and 18th centuries. Norway's sovereignty was internationally recognized by treaty in 1920, and five years later Norway officially took over the territory. Coal mining started in the 20th century, and a Norwegian company and a Russian company are still in operation today. Travel between the settlements is accomplished with snowmobiles, aircraft, and boats.
- Location
- Northern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway
- Climate
- arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current; cool summers, cold winters; North Atlantic Current flows along west and north coasts of Spitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most of the year
- Terrain
- rugged mountains; much of the upland areas are ice covered; west coast clear of ice about half the year; fjords along west and north coasts
- Natural Resources
- coal, iron ore, copper, zinc, phosphate, wildlife, fish
- Natural Hazards
- ice floes often block the entrance to Bellsund (a transit point for coal export) on the west coast and occasionally make parts of the northeastern coast inaccessible to maritime traffic
- Size Comparison
- slightly smaller than West Virginia
- Languages
- Norwegian, Russian
- Ethnic Groups
- Norwegian 61.1%, foreign population 38.9% (consists primarily of Russians, Thais, Swedes, Filipinos, and Ukrainians) (2021 est.)
- Government Type
- non-self-governing territory of Norway
- Capital
- Longyearbyen
- Capital Coordinates
- 78 13 N, 15 38 E
- Capital Timezone
- UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Name Origin
- the archipelago was traditionally known as Spitsbergen, a Dutch name meaning "jagged peaks," but Norway renamed it Svalbard in the 1920s when it assumed sovereignty of the islands, from the Norwegian sval (cold) and bard (shore); the Norwegian name may have been used during the Norse era for other locations
- Independence
- none (territory of Norway)
- National Anthem
- "Ja, vi elsker dette landet" (Yes, We Love This Country)
- Military Forces
- no regular military forces
- Broadcast Media
- Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) provides TV transmission to Svalbard via satellite; access to 3 NRK radio stations and 2 TV stations
Deep Dive
6 of 6 metricsEvery stat we track, organized by category
Related Countries
Finland
Sweden
Norway
IcelandCompare Svalbard and Jan Mayen with...
More Europe Countries
Åland Islands
Albania
Andorra
Armenia
Austria
AzerbaijanShare a Fact
Share something surprising about Svalbard and Jan Mayen!
The total number of people living in the country.
Frequently Asked Questions about Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Svalbard and Jan Mayen has a population of 2.6K, ranking #227 globally by population.
Svalbard and Jan Mayen is located in Europe. It has an area of 61,399 km².
Svalbard and Jan Mayen ranks particularly high in Population (#227), Coastline Length (#34), Highest Elevation (#139).
Think you know Svalbard and Jan Mayen?
Compare countries, guess statistics, and prove you know your stuff.