Country name
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Svalbard (sometimes referred to as Spitzbergen)

Dependency status territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice, through a governor (sysselmann) residing in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920) sovereignty was awarded to Norway

Government type NA

Capital Longyearbyen

Independence none (territory of Norway)

National holiday NA

Legal system NA

Executive branch
chief of state: King HARALD V of Norway (since 17 January 1991)
head of government: Governor Morten RUUD (since NA November 1998) and Assistant Governor Odd Redar HUMLEGAARD (since NA)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor and assistant governor responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice

International organization participation none

Flag description the flag of Norway is used

NOTE: The information regarding Svalbard on this page is re-published from the 2002 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Svalbard Government 2002 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Svalbard Government 2002 should be addressed to the CIA.