The number of immigrants in Norway and children of two immigrant parents was in 2011 approximately 600,922 combined, which corresponded to 12.2% of the total population (2010). In addition to these, 213,486 are born in Norway with one immigrant parent, 31,540 are born abroad with one Norwegian parent, and 37,056 are born abroad to Norwegian parents (including adopted children). The population of Norway is about 4.9 million. Oslo, Norway, 2012.
Woman waiting for the bus with church in the background. Early Norwegians, believed in Norse paganism; the Sámi having a shamanistic religion. Due to the efforts of Christian missionaries, Norway was gradually Christianized in a process starting at approximately 1000 AD and which was substantially finished by 1150 AD. Prior to the Reformation, Norwegians were part of the Catholic Church with the conversion to Protestantism occurring in 1536. Atheism and agosticism is the largest belief system according to Zuckerman and the most recent sensus Islam is now the third largest religion due to recent migration trends. Christianity is growing fast in Norway due to Christian immigration, for example people from Poland, Ethiopia and the Philippines. However, Islam is growing faster as a result of the Church of Norway getting fewer new members. Orthodoxy is the fastest-growing religion in Norway with a rate of 231.1%. Oslo, Norway, 2012.
The economy of Norway is a developed mixed economy with heavy state-ownership in strategic areas of the economy. Although sensitive to global business cycles, the economy of Norway has shown robust growth since the start of the industrial era. Shipping has long been a support of Norway's export sector, but much of Norway's economic growth has been fueled by an abundance of natural resources, including petroleum exploration and production, hydroelectric power, and fisheries. Agriculture and traditional heavy manufacturing have suffered relative decline compared to services and oil-related industries, and the public sector is among the largest in the world as a percentage of the overall gross domestic product. The country has a very high standard of living compared with other European countries, and a strongly integrated welfare system. Oslo, Norway, 2012
