1. High taxes and right here "leveling" which is carried out at the expense of these same taxes. The standard of living of the poor and the rich, of course, differs, but not in the same way as in many other countries. For politicians, for example, it is considered bad form to have an expensive car or, God forbid, a personal driver. Better bike. Both for health and image.

If you have a high salary by Norwegian standards, then you will pay between 40 and 50% tax. If you have a good, average salary, then, for example, 36%. It needs to be clarified, but if you earn no more than 20,000 crowns per year (from a hobby, for example), then you do not pay tax.

2. Small selection of products in stores. dairy company Tine has a monopoly here. Therefore, until recently, we had only one type of cottage cheese (now, there seems to be a subspecies with fruits and herbs), not a very large selection of yogurts and other dairy products. But very tasty lightly salted butter! The quality of fruits and vegetables is so-so. Cucumbers and tomatoes are often tasteless. But mangoes, coconuts, pineapples, avocados and all other "exotics" are very cheap. When I left Tomsk in 2008, I saw pineapples for 1000 rubles! Despite the deplorable choice of products in ordinary stores, there are a lot of immigrant shops in Oslo where you can buy fresh feta cheese by weight, excellent olives, various meats and even pork legs (I recently saw it in an Asian store). There you will also find a much more incendiary selection of vegetables and fruits, and the prices are often much lower. You can find all kinds of spices, pasta, rice, tea, fish. After the semi-Spartan Menu and Ica, the choice may blow your mind if you have an unstable psyche.

3. Low level of service(a controversial point for me personally, I'm probably not very demanding) combined with high prices. In general, not a very developed service market. Although, again, who is used to what.

4. Actually, high prices.

5. cold winters. Eh. To me, as a Siberian, they are very warm. But I often hear exactly this complaint from friends who come from warm lands. There are also complaints about the cold summer and the lack of vitamin D, which is widely discussed here.

6. Few cultural events. In general, just a little. Historically, there are few writers, artists, poets. On the other hand, the country is small, so everything is fair. There are few clubs where you can dance, all places are known and listed with 3 fingers of one hand. You won’t get too drunk in bars, and even more so in the trash - it’s expensive. Before going to a bar or club, Norwegians often breastfeed at home (from supplies carefully brought from Duty Free), and then they go somewhere. Still the economy. There are also high prices for alcohol and cigarettes. What? also part of the culture!

7. All fuck closed on sundays. For historical and religious reasons. And also because "everyone has the right to rest on Sunday." Only small immigrant shops and stalls like 7-11 are open, where you can buy a ticket for travel or, for example, condoms are 30 crowns more expensive than in stores. If you really want to.

8. Often there are complaints about medicine, as a rule, from compatriots who are accustomed to a different system. The doctors here are calm, they don’t escalate the situation, they are in no hurry to make diagnoses. It is often advised to walk around, think about life, maybe everything will pass by itself (you still need to pay for such advice, if anything). Sometimes the truth passes, that's where the miracle is! It takes a very long time to wait for x-rays and scans - such devices are available only in some special places.

If you come with complaints of a "cold" - the first thing they do is take blood from you. Maybe they do it in Russia too, I'm not sure. As I remember, if you come to the doctor with a "cold", you are prescribed a bunch of vitamins, echinacea tincture, some newfangled "antiviruses" and so on. They don’t do anything here, they just take blood from a finger (brrr, I’d rather drink 2 bottles of echinacea, and in one gulp!) - if it’s a virus, then you go home, wait until everything goes away on its own. In general, according to the first impression, it seems that everyone does not care and everything is lazy, but at the same time the life expectancy is very high, so, probably, this is really some other system. With less running around the patient and prescribing drugs to a minimum.

Regarding the conduct of pregnancy - I have no personal experience, but my friends have. Everything is still very calm. If there are no special complaints and everything is going well, you will have one or two blood tests and an ultrasound and that's it.

Norway is a country that rarely pleases its inhabitants with sunny days, there are no snow-white sandy beaches on its territory, but international experts have recognized it as one of the best places to live. In this regard, even the progressive countries of Europe are inferior to Norway - all thanks to the correct domestic policy and the competent disposal of fossil natural resources. However, not everything is so simple - there are not only positive, but also negative aspects of life in the country.

Norway is a land of fjords

Norway is located on the Scandinavian Peninsula, in the east it is adjacent to Sweden, and in the northern part - to Russia and Finland. The capital of the country is the city of Oslo, the official currency is the Norwegian krone, the official language is Norwegian. The nature of Norway is beautiful - it's botanical gardens and gorgeous waterfalls, crystal clear lakes, rich mountains and cliffs, as well as fjords - narrow and winding sea bays with rocky shores that cut deep into the land. Despite the harsh climate, the country gathers many tourists from all over the world..

The weather conditions here are largely determined by the Gulf Stream, which carries warm equatorial waters to the ice-free seas that wash the coast of Norway. The climate is temperate, there is a lot of precipitation, at the beginning of the year the temperature averages +4 degrees, in July +17. In the north of the country, severe winters - in the regions of Troms and Finnmark located beyond the Arctic Circle, the temperature can drop to -40 degrees. Often there is also such a natural phenomenon as the polar night - for half a year in winter there is practically no sun here, and local residents spend this time at home.

Important! In some cities of the Kingdom, you can watch the northern lights, a beautiful and bewitching miracle of nature. This phenomenon is part of the daily life of the inhabitants of the northern regions of the country.

Pros of living in Norway

Tourists like to visit Norway, many of them want to move to this beautiful country. If we compare Norway with other countries, we can highlight the following advantages.

Cons of living in Norway

Norway is a wonderful country, one of the best places to live. However, like any other place, Norway has its drawbacks, which relate to prices, taxes and job search.

Important! Statistics from the UN World Happiness Report, which collects information on 156 countries, reports that Norway is the country with the happiest inhabitants.

Standard of living

Norway has over 5 million inhabitants. Here they managed to realize the dreams of the Union of creating a social democratic partnership that takes into account the wishes of all groups of the population. This was made possible thanks to the wise use of natural resources, which Norway can boast of. With the help of advanced technologies, the country builds deposits and produces oil and gas, which are sold to European countries. The government of the country uses the money received from the sale more than competently.

The wages here are decent - even cleaners or janitors buy real estate, and banks freely provide loans and loans, and the interest on payments does not hit the borrower's wallet. Everyone here can afford to travel abroad to warm countries. Unemployment in Norway is about 3%. The life expectancy in the Kingdom is 83 years. According to statistics, 94% of residents note the good quality of water and food, and the index of life satisfaction is 7 points out of 10.

Financial issue: work, salaries and taxes

The competition for a good job with decent pay in Norway is very strong. Employers provide their employees with the most comfortable working conditions. The working day in the country starts at 8 am and lasts about 7.5 hours, but in reality it often happens that company employees come to the office at 10 and leave it at 4. There are no overtime hours here, but if there is a need for them, they are paid at a higher rate.

As for the size of wages, the living wage and the minimum wage are not established here. The average annual figure, excluding taxes, is approximately 57,000 kroons, which is about 6,000 euros per month. The highest incomes are among those working in the field of IT technologies, the oil industry, and entrepreneurs also earn a lot, and higher salaries are among specialists who have received higher education. The highest wages are for ordinary workers - managers and managers receive less.

The more a Norwegian earns, the more taxes he pays to the state. At the same time, everything is taxed, including movable and immovable property - yachts, cars, cottages and jewelry. It is thanks to this that social equality is maintained - the taxes of the richer go to support for the poor. About a third of the salary has to be paid to the state as taxes, in some cases the percentages are higher, but the high cost ensures high-quality medicine and social support.

Important! If a person earns 260 thousand crowns (27 thousand euros per year), he will have to pay 36% of taxes, if his income is from 96 thousand crowns (10 thousand euros per month), the tax rises to 55%. The largest tax in the country can reach 80%.

Prices in Norway

Alcohol in the country is sold for a lot of money, and its sale is allowed only in some stores. It is more profitable to buy hard liquor in Duty Free shops - this “life hack” is used by most Norwegians. Food prices are also high here. On Saturdays and Sundays, many Norwegians come to Sweden and shop for the next week. Cheaper sell stationery and various small household items.

Approximate prices for some items are shown in the table.

Prices for renting apartments and utilities here are no higher than in Russia - Norwegians do not save on electricity and water. But buying a car in Norway is unprofitable - gasoline is sold here for a price three times higher than in our country. Traveling by public transport is also unprofitable from a financial point of view - the reason for this is the high fare, so Norwegians prefer to buy and use bicycles to get around.

Education in the country

For the first time, children go to school at the age of 6, and until the 8th grade they do not have a classical grading structure, that is, they do not have a five-point system familiar to a Russian person. It was created in order to focus on earning knowledge, and not on getting good grades. Training is aimed primarily at improving personality traits and minimizing stressful conditions. Children study at school for 13 years, while education is completely free - students come to school and are given textbooks, albums, pens, pencils and other stationery, and all this is paid for by the state.

Free education is also offered by higher educational institutions in Norway, this also applies to foreign citizens. There are 53 accredited universities in the country, for admission you will need a special entrance sheet with requirements for secondary education and two languages ​​- Norwegian and English. While studying in the Kingdom, you will be able to participate in financial support programs, which include various scholarships, incentives and grants. For example, the Norwegian-Russian Scholarship program operates for Russians.

Medicine and healthcare in Norway

Residents of the Kingdom who were born in it, as well as visitors who have lived in the country for at least a year and pay taxes, can receive free medical care, which is sponsored by the National Insurance System. At the same time, an employed person pays a medical tax in the amount of 2 thousand crowns annually (206 euros), only in this case he is entitled to all possible medical benefits and free treatment in hospitals. For a fee, services of a dentist, as well as a family doctor (therapist) are provided. Patients in Norway have a good attitude, doctors are polite and qualified. The majority of medical institutions are owned by the state, and private services are limited. According to the London National Research Institute Legatum Institute, as well as the World Health Organization, Norwegian medicine is considered one of the best in the world.

Important! The state allocates about 8% of the budget to provide the country's residents with quality medical care.

Social protection of the population

The social support of the inhabitants of Norway is at a high level. The state supports the unemployed, pensioners, as well as pregnant women and families with children:

• a person who has lost his job, for some time (from 52 to 104 weeks) receives an allowance in the amount of 62.4% of the income at the last job;

• parents who are unable to go on maternity leave due to lack of work are paid about 35,000 kroons (3,600 euros) upon the birth of a child;
• child care allowance lasts 56 weeks and amounts to 80-100% of wages;
• if the child does not attend kindergarten, parents receive from 3 to 5 thousand kroons (from 309 to 516 euros), if the child is 1 to 3 years old;
• after reaching the age of 67, Norwegians receive an old-age pension, the amount of which is determined by the state and currently amounts to 176 thousand crowns (18,172 euros).

Russians in Norway

According to official statistics, every year about a thousand residents of Russia and the CIS countries receive a residence permit in the Kingdom. More often, residents of the Kola Peninsula, which is located near the border, come to the country. The status of a permanent resident of a Russian citizen can be obtained in several cases:

• upon entering into marriage with a person who has Norwegian citizenship;
• employment in a company of the country, while it is necessary to find a vacancy in advance and conclude an employment contract;
• admission to higher education.

There are several ways to obtain Norwegian citizenship.

Immigrants from our country and the CIS countries can be found in any large settlement in Norway, but there are more of them in the city of Kirkenes, which is located 8 kilometers from the border with Russia. About 10% of Russians from the population of the city live and work in it. There is no official Russian community in the Kingdom, but in some cities there are associations in which informal meetings of fellow countrymen are held. On the basis of many of them, you can go to lessons in Norwegian and Russian.

Important! Norwegians are wary of immigrants, but they are positive about Russian-speaking visitors. Many residents of Russia, having moved to Norway, note the friendliness and hospitality of the people of Norway.

Not everyone likes a quiet and serene life in Norway. But if you are ready to live and work according to the laws of this beautiful country, put up with its cloudy weather, high cost of food and taxes, the Kingdom will give you stability, as well as a high level of social and medical security.

Video - Pros and cons of living in Norway

Do you really want to live in Norway?

Some people think they can just pack their bags and move to Norway. They think that once they have a comfortable apartment, they will find a good job, earn a lot of money, make lots of friends, and live happily ever after. All I can say about it is "hmmm".

Over the past couple of years, I've seen people on several blogs who have suddenly decided to make Norway their new home. But alas, it did not take them long after moving to Norway to realize their mistake - their dream of a new, interesting life in Norway did not quite come true. Not only do they often return to their old beaten home, they are unemployed and have a lot of debt.

Since I am a "survivor" from Norway, I think I have a fair share of perspective on how and who would like to move to Norway. Hopefully this clears up some of the misconceptions for "new settlers" so they can make better choices. This is not a pessimistic view, but "prepare for the worst, hoping for the best" - as a point of view. But remember, there are always two sides: so after reading this, check out the other side of the coin: Why Norway?

Why people choose Norway:

Below are some of the seemingly positive benefits of living in Norway and the factors that help people decide in favor of Norway. However, be very, very careful in your decision to move based on them. They are not always what they seem:

Moving to Norway for social benefits:

Some people want to come to Norway because they believe the government will support them with social benefits. However, in Norway the reality is that each worker pulls his own load. Even if it is a "socialist" country, the organizer of "equality" has gone far beyond the limits of "law", and many factors prevent making everyone "equal". Why should a Norwegian work for his own food and support you as well?

Social Security/National Insurance System:

Some are impressed with the social security system in Norway. They think that they will be provided with benefits freely, especially if they want to have children here. However, there are some social security conditions and unfortunately this information is usually only in Norwegian.

unemployment benefits

To be eligible for employment/unemployment benefits (i.e. you have lost your job and want to qualify for financial support), you must be a resident (i.e. at least have a residence permit), have worked for a certain period of time (usually year/full time) by earning a certain amount of money and paying taxes before you can qualify. Unemployment benefits only entitle you to a percentage of your previous earnings, and after a year you will be cut off from this system unless there are good reasons, such as injury. After a certain period of "on unemployment" you are required to attend NAV job search courses; the national employment center can even choose a job for you - cleaner, garbage man, waiter - and you will also have to travel anywhere in the country for any job, otherwise you may be ineligible for unemployment benefits. Now all these "benefits" are dependent on permission for your residence status in Norway, and many "new settlers" do not have rights.

Childhood Benefits

Maternity / fatherhood

For maternity leave, you need to have work experience (at least a year), i.e. you have to earn a certain amount of money before the baby is born before you can claim maternity benefits. This also applies to paternity benefits. This benefit will be a percentage of your normal taxable income paid by your employer. However, in general, paternity benefits are based on the mother's income, which is generally less than the father's income. "New Settlers" who have not worked for at least a year are not eligible for such benefits.In addition, "New Settlers" may be in the process of waiting for some permits (because they have stopped working) and will have to return to their home country. If you have not worked in Norway for at least a year, then you cannot claim maternity or paternity benefits.In addition, this benefit depends on your status in Norway, so many "new settlers" are not eligible for benefits .

Having a child for permits and social security

I have observed how some "new-settlers" (especially students) believe that having a child can help them stay in the country. They think their newborn will be a Norwegian citizen. However, this is not the case. Children born in Norway do not automatically become Norwegian citizens. They inherit the citizenship of their country where their parents come from. Only when one of the parents is a Norwegian citizen does the child born also become a Norwegian citizen. So it is not possible to stay in the country with benefits through the birth of a child.

Birth and child benefits

All children born in Norway receive at least 30,000 kr, which can only be claimed in the first year, and only when the mother is unemployed and had no job in the previous year. All children receive only 1000 kr. per month. If you are a stay-at-home parent, 3000 kr. or so, from 1 year to 3 years - this option is provided for home care. But everything stops at 3 because you are expected to enroll your child in kindergarten and return to full time. This is an advantage for all children with parents who have at least the status of "residence permit". Note: Child support is far from enough to live on this money alone. The other parent of the child must work and support the family, and if you are divorced, the other party must pay child support. The social security system will support the family if the other parent is not working, but this is at a minimum.

Medical Benefits

Medical assistance is provided to all residents of Norway, but for the "new migrant" this rule is conditional. Each person pays up to 2000 kr per year for medical appointments up to "free" medical benefits (freecourt). If you do not have a social number, you will have to pay for your own medical expenses. To receive all medical benefits, you must be a useful member of the national insurance system, meaning you earn enough money and pay taxes within 12 months. Children and pregnant women receive medical appointments free of charge. Dentistry is not covered by the national insurance system and usually ranges from 600-1000 kr. - for general consultations. NOTE: A large number of people have depression during the dark season and insomnia during daylight hours. This problem is not really addressed in Norway. Mental problems are recognized only if the person has a serious illness, such as autism. There is a rule - no services for those who consult a therapist because of emotional or life problems.

Pension provision

The main benefits, like a pension from the state (the right to retire), are granted to those who have a residence / permanent residence permit, that is, if you permanently reside in Norway. (To obtain a permanent residence permit, you must have lived in Norway for three years and attended at least 300 hours of Norwegian courses.). Norway will only provide a basic pension based on the time you have lived in the country. The rest of your pension must come from other countries where you have worked/lived. If you have worked in Norway, you will receive more depending on your average salary. The basic pension is similar to student income. This is one reason many Norwegians take their pensions to Spain to try and stretch their money out. There are a lot of Norwegian pensioners in Spain, and even politicians come there to get the support of the votes in the elections. If you want to have things like a car, buy good food, and have your own home, you need to work to add to your basic pension.

Relocation to Norway - Salary and working conditions:

Some believe that if Norway has high wages, then everything will be fine. Net salary in Norway is about 240,000 kr, per year. For most countries, it seems like a lot, but in Norway with such a salary, you just have to make ends meet. The poverty rate is considered below 215,000 kr. The normal salary per person is about 300,000 kr. The salary of a novice teacher is about 320,000 - 350,000 kr. If higher, then you must be someone in management, business, work in computer technology, in the oil industry, or at least have a master's degree. But there is one thing that "new-migrants" often overlook - the cost of living in Norway:

Tax system in Norway

Taxes in Norway are very high. They must be so in order to provide all the growing social benefits. You will pay low taxes of 36% if you earn 250,000 kr per year. That is, more than a third of your salary will go to the tax piggy bank.

Accommodation in Norway

Renting a two-room apartment in Oslo will cost 72,000 kr per year. But finding accommodation, even if you're willing to give that money, can be very difficult (even students live in university dorms for months until they find a place to live). Another nuance to renting is that you have to pay three to six months in advance and, when you intend to leave the property, you must give 3 months' notice. This can make the move costly and sometimes frustrating if you take a job in another city. Rent, when it comes to a separate apartment, as a rule, does not include utilities. The cost of heating, especially in winter, is expensive and can be as high as 20% of the rent.

Food in Norway

Norway has to import a lot of food and the import taxes are outrageous. In order to save money, you must learn to eat like Norwegians, otherwise you will spend a fortune on food. Simple everyday products are very expensive - capsicum/bell peppers around 50-70 kr/kg in winter. Food is a luxury. A large pizza in a restaurant will cost an average of 250 crowns. "Big Mac" in "McDonald's" - about 120 crowns. The cost of food will be one of the most devastating expenses of the New Settlers.

Transport in Norway

To get anywhere in Norway, you need to spend a lot of money. The bus ride can cost you 50 CZK. It is easier to walk if the weather permits, in winter you can use skis/sleds. To travel around the country, you need to fly frequently from city to city. Buying a car in Norway (approximately 250,000 crowns) is not cheap and is subject to high taxes. Do not even think about buying in a country where prices are lower, anyway, when you enter Norway, you will have to pay tax on the import of a vehicle.

working conditions

Working conditions in Norway are very favorable. Working hours are from 8 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday. Overtime is extremely rare. You may join a union and generally must be granted leave during the summer. If you don't speak Norwegian, you are usually contractually obligated to learn the language by a certain time, which is very difficult to achieve because at first everyone will just talk to you in English. I know several university professors who see this as a problem and are worried about their future employment.

Moving to Norway unemployed

Many New Settlers think they can get a job after they have moved to Norway. This is a very bad idea. If you do not have a residence permit, you are disabled. Usually, if you do not speak fluent Norwegian, you will have little chance, especially if you are not an expert in your field. Being a "specialist" means that there is no one in Norway who can do what you do. However, if you do not find an employer willing to hire you, without permission you will most likely have to leave Norway, and in order to get a full-time job, the employer takes all the necessary legal steps for your immigration, which means that you cannot enter Norway before starting work, which must be approved by the Directorate of Immigrant Affairs. However, the Directorate is trying to make this process faster, but there are some exceptions. If employers do not comply with the established rules, they will pay heavy fines for the "illegal" use of your labor. Finding a job in Norway is not easy and troublesome.

So, as you can see, the "new-settlers" need to achieve financial stability in order to wait out the problems, for this you need to have some savings, at least for the first six months. Even if you have been working since the very beginning of your arrival in the country, you are likely to wait a month to receive your first full salary, since most wages are paid monthly. You cannot receive money if you do not have a bank account and you cannot open a bank account if you do not have a social number. To obtain a social number, you must obtain permission from the Directorate. Often this domino effect binds people hand and foot and also prolongs the period of lack of money. Few employers provide financial support for migrants and temporary residence, but this is only possible for certain employees in whom the employer is particularly interested. If you want to have the Internet, telephone, cable TV, you must learn to wait, endure and save money.

Moving to Norway - free education:

Education certainly attracts people to move to Norway, as schools and universities are state-owned and they are free. There are schools, usually "international" or "cultural", where you can study, paying for your studies in advance. Although the university is free, undergraduate studies almost always require you to pass the Norwegian high school level. There are subjects that do not require knowledge of Norwegian, but 99.9% of the bachelor's courses from the main list of basic subjects are taught in Norwegian, and exams are taken in Norwegian. However, undergraduate and postgraduate students do not need Norwegian, although this limits the choice for some areas of study.

Although education is free, the rest is certainly not included in the free list. Most Norwegian students must take out a loan from the state to pay for living expenses if they do not live with their parents. A loan is equivalent to the cost of a higher education anyway - and in Norway is a big debt! At least not less than 80,000 crowns per year. Obviously, families have to struggle when one of the spouses is studying. However, many New Settlers do not qualify for such support. Unless, of course, some of the loans do not turn into subsidies. People who can apply for student loans: political refugees, people married to a Norwegian citizen/citizen, family members by reunification, children under 19, those who have had full-time employment for at least 24 months, and those who have already studied at Norway with own funding for at least three years. Do not forget that the loan is paid with interest. If you plan to someday move to a cheaper country (like Australia), you can almost guarantee that you will have to pay off the loan until you die.

Moving to Norway - Statistics:

Some "new settlers" decided to live in Norway, seduced by international statistics found on the wiki. Although "statistics" are given to give a good idea of ​​the country, they can also be deceiving in terms of real life.

Human Development Index - standard of living

Many people don't understand what the Human Development Index really means. Because Norway has one of the highest scores in the world, people often assume that life is more luxurious there than elsewhere. But what the Human Development Index actually consists of several factors, such as how many people per capita are educated, how many people per capita are people of mature age, the quality of income and medical services.This indicator has nothing to do with the "standard of living" indicator, which is actually perceived as quality of life and is derived from lifestyle, convenience, wealth and happiness.In fact, the US, UK, France, Australia and Canada have almost the same "Quality Index" as Norway.

However, the "quality of life" in Norway is different from other countries with the same "standard of living" index.

In general, most conventional produce must be imported, and therefore fresh produce is generally second-class. Of course, fresh meat is available, but mostly in frozen and canned form. The almost complete absence of organic matter, and these are great difficulties for a diabetic diet. In many cities and regions, for example, there are long queues of children who would like to engage in various sections (Lilu was in line for a gym for two years). A fair amount of unqualified teachers as there are not enough of them in Norway. (And I know what you're thinking: "! Work Work Work", but to work as unqualified teachers, you must speak Norwegian at the level of the completed advanced course.) Norway is by no means in the lead in "service": shops are closed on Sundays , there is no such thing as 24-hour shopping, during the summer many businesses operate at half capacity (don't even think about getting a job during this time), and regular transportation schedules are drastically reduced, food options are limited, specialty stores and groceries are limited (e.g. maternity clothes, books, shoes, etc.), very limited customer service, limited activities (no rugby, baseball, cricket or netball - not even seen on TV), extremely marginal employment opportunities (no fashion gurus, mobile dog washers, landscape gardeners, wrestlers - people who make life more fun), no real ethnic restaurants or food - just a Norwegianized version, no ethnic holidays or festivals, and the list goes on. Now, of course, there are exceptions, one-offs here and there, and I'm not talking about Oslo, of course, but most of the country. Consider Norway compared to an English or American provincial town of 50,000 people and you will get an idea of ​​all the amenities, services and offerings.

Social health index

Social health has nothing to do with physical or mental health. It is related to the health of the country, in terms of: the rule of law, equality in the distribution of wealth, accessibility to the generality of the decision-making process and the level of social capital. These standards in most Western countries are the pinnacle, but secondly, something is controversial in Norway on the international stage:

1. Norway is a social democratic society. Norwegians constantly say that they are rich, and therefore this is without discussion.

2. Feminism is at its peak so much that it is frowned upon even by women who would like to take on traditional responsibilities such as "housekeeping".

Environmental Performance Index

This indicator refers to the quality of drinking water, sanitation, environmental pollution, disease, etc. Norway is one of the western countries and has all the normal performance as other western countries, but what is the reason why it is especially good in terms of population? Norway has a population of less than five million people, most of whom live on land. The largest settlement is located in Oslo, a city with a population of about 500,000. Most live in untouched nature. The country of fjords is closest to one of the cleanest places on the planet - the Arctic. This has a relatively large effect on the index statistics, how can it be indexed according to the norms of other countries, such as the US and the UK, which do not have such a low population index?

Moving to Norway - lifestyle:

The "new settlers" are too zealous in believing rumors about Norwegian life. Norway, of course, is a breathtaking country life when it comes to scenery. It is also known for healthy outdoor activities during the summer and winter seasons. But one thing "new settlers" always lose sight of when it comes to "life" in Norway, when it comes to "social life". Norway can seem like a lonely country if you're used to big cities, lots of people and the habit of speaking English. When you move to Norway, you will not be able to rely on the Norwegians who have become your friends. Norway is very difficult for the "new settlers", but for couples and families, it can be a little easier. All activities in Norwegian, all courses in Norwegian, all national broadcasts in Norwegian, all theatres, all newspapers, all websites, all information in Norwegian. There are no generally accepted celebrations, with the exception of the Norwegian tradition and holidays. If you do not know Norwegian, you may find yourself isolated from society.

Many "new settlers" who are accustomed to the sun will suffer a long, dark winter, and even Norwegians are depressed about it. During the dark season in Norway, it's life indoors. Very often muddy, slippery and very wet footpaths and streets, occasionally a meter of snow and deserted roads, rare cars, because most of the residents stay at home. Many recommendations should be followed to survive the winter, such as drinking fish oil and leaving the house every day. Even in Oslo, the long, incomprehensible spring takes some getting used to. If you don't like nature, an inactive person who can't stand cold and dampness, then Norway is certainly not the place for you.

What you need to move to Norway:

The first thing you need is a fallback. If you want to move to Norway, you must have at least two things (a good job or money):

Good job

The job will give you much-needed money and social contact. This is the only way to survive in Norway.

Nice Norwegian family

Family support in Norway is vital. A Norwegian family can teach you how to live, how to eat and how to be happy. A Norwegian family will make life much easier.

Knowing the language will give you much better job opportunities. You will be more socially acceptable and will be able to communicate with everyone. He will create a status for you in your new life, and you will not hear sometimes unpleasant: "immigrant".

Education

Having at least a bachelor's degree will be very helpful. Employers are looking for people with a master's degree. Your education is vital to a successful life in Norway. If you do not have an education, you can only expect to get a job in childcare or cleaning. Even people with a bachelor's degree are found in such jobs because their degree does not qualify for Norwegian jobs and they do not know the language.

If you have good savings that you are willing to use, then it is much easier to move to Norway with this. Do not come to Norway if you are not financially stable and cannot support the family you will bring with you. If you do not have a job, a sufficient number of lived years, for example 2, everything will be of great help. Life can be very difficult for new settlers if they don't have a job. In addition, it is very difficult to live on one income. Renting a three-room house/apartment will take about 50% of your salary. Add 36% tax and there's not much left to live on.

Climate Adaptation

If you love the dark and don't like the sun or don't like the warmth of the sun for 6 months of the year, then Norway is the place for you!

Still interested in moving to Norway?

If you still want to live in Norway after reading all of the above, then there are some other factors that you will need to have in order to live in Norway. You must be resilient. Physical life in Norway is much more difficult than in other countries. Just walking to the shops here will be twice as difficult - on snow, ice, grass, hills, etc. You must discount all nuances of discrimination and racism. Norwegians don't care about immigrants who complain, in fact, immigrants have created a bad reputation as complainers. You should enjoy your own company, especially if you moved to Norway on your own. You must know how to take care of your physical health as medical services are very minimal. You must learn the language whether you like it or not, whether you have the ability or not. You have to adapt to the business system in Norway. Differences in mentality, complaining about different thinking in your path will only upset you. You mustn't get angry or "smart" or say powerfully, "I know it all," otherwise you will alienate yourself. If you are ready to be pleasant, modest, carefree, you will be loved in Norway.

An example of a new migrant survivor in Norway: Me!

(First time.) I moved to Norway with a postgraduate education to a place where there were no specialists of this level. Among my colleagues, I was considered very educated and hardworking. It also helped that I was there when a new project was starting. I had a strong Norwegian base - a family with a Norwegian husband. I did not know the language, but my Norwegian colleagues and family helped me with learning the language and culture. Although I didn't have a job when I came to Norway, my husband was working full-time and had a good salary to support me financially. As soon as my residence was confirmed by the Directorate, I found a job. I worked much longer than the rest of the immigrants in the Norwegian class. Most of them gathered and went home. I was very active in the community, used my time and talents and built a good network of partners and friends.

Norway is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. The people, the culture and the landscape are all attractive. If you are willing to sacrifice a lot, you will be rewarded. Norway, of course, is for those who like to change, solve problems, and yearn for change. Anyone can fall in love with Norway. The trick is to make Norway fall in love with you.

Norway is a quiet and calm country. Today it is a state very different from many other countries in Europe. This happened due to the fact that some time ago deposits of gas and oil were discovered on its territory, and the government was able to properly organize the process of exploiting resources. Norway continues to be a prosperous state and at present, some difficulties, combined with a sometimes harsh climate, do not stop those wishing to emigrate here. Life in Norway is leisurely and quite comfortable.

What can surprise the country

The Kingdom of the Fjords is a place that surprises with the high level of culture of the people living here. Almost all citizens of the state are as honest, responsive, and trusting as possible. It is unique and original, attracting not only tourists, but also those citizens who plan to move here for permanent residence.

The features of the country are also in its nature, which is unique. Big green mountains, huge blue lakes, beautiful local landscapes do not leave anyone indifferent. Tourism is a big part of Norway's livelihood. Travelers come here from all over the world. Comfortable conditions of stay, cordial and hospitable hosts, a variety of possible types of recreation - all this makes Norway a country, visiting which leaves only pleasant impressions.

Norwegian climate

This is a territory with a temperate oceanic and subarctic climate. Winters here are quite mild, the average January temperature is 2 ° C below zero. In the northern regions, the cold can be very severe, the temperature can drop to -40 ° C. Summer in this country is rainy. The air temperature averages 15 ° C in the south and 10 ° C in the north.

The amount of precipitation is not the same for different areas. So, in the west of the country there are more of them than in the east: 3000 and 800 mm per year, respectively. The inhabitants of Norway are used to such a climate, but for an immigrant, especially if he lived in central Russia, it takes a very long time to adapt to such weather.

mentality

Norwegians are very open and free people. Some features of their way of life draw close attention of the guests of the country:

• a private house is never locked during the day;
• women vehemently defend gender equality;
• have long been accustomed to homosexual relations;
• the mentality of the Norwegians does not allow them to be careless about the environment;
• skiing is practiced with great love in the country.

The way ordinary people live in Norway, everyone can live. You just need to understand the customs of the country, adapt to climatic conditions and show respect for others.

Standard of living in Norway

The country of the midnight sun has about 5 million citizens, however, the standard of living is one of the most worthy in the world. This is ensured by the high turnover of exports of gas and oil produced in the country. The pride of Norway is a society well built on social democratic principles. The absence of the poor and the rich is the key to a calm economic situation in this country.

There is no social stratification, the standard of living of the population in Norway is above average. Even a simple cleaning lady, who receives a standard salary for the country, can save up for her own house in a few years. Any bank will quite calmly provide the missing amount in the form of a loan.

Food cost

Food and drink in Norway are not cheap. In order to save money, those citizens who can afford long-distance travel travel to Sweden 3-4 times a month to purchase various goods. High food prices can be explained by the fact that the country pays well for work. Pensioners receive cash payments, the size of which allows them to live comfortably. A full meal basket for one adult costs 2,500 kroons per month.

Some guests of the country ask questions about how much bread costs. It, like other products, is not cheap. So, a half-kilogram roll will cost 23 crowns, which is the same as 2.5 euros. In Russia, such a cost would be considered very high.

Prices for clothes and shoes

Prices in Norway for these goods are also high, so locals go shopping to neighboring countries. However, it is worth noting that everything produced in the kingdom of the fjords is of excellent quality. So, an original sweater made of natural wool can cost from 1000 to 5000 crowns. Outlets located in Europe offer similar products at more affordable prices.

Housing and transport

The cost of renting real estate is high, but it correlates well with the average wage. Renting a room in Oslo is not easy: it can cost around 750-800 euros. Renting an entire apartment in the capital is beyond the means of most visitors, so migrants have to settle in the suburbs.

You can buy your own home in Norway only after several years of work. The amount that is not enough for the purchase can be requested from the bank. Trustworthy borrowers are not denied, so it is quite possible to become the owner of your home. The cost of housing is calculated in square meters and is about 3,000 euros in the suburbs.

Transport in this country is expensive. One ride on the metro or bus costs 2.2 euros. More profitable are travel cards for a day, a week or 8 trips, which cost 5.35, 18.15 or 13.9 euros, respectively.

Jobs and salaries in the country

The average annual salary of a local resident is more than 55 thousand euros. A person who earns less than 23 thousand euros per year is considered poor in this country. Employees in the computer, oil, and business sectors receive higher incomes. The cost of living in Norway consists of several indicators. As a result, you can receive an amount not exceeding 2000 euros. This is the money needed for the life of two adults for a month.

Norwegian tax system

Residents have to pay them in accordance with their income. The more successful a person is, the higher taxes in Norway he pays in favor of the state. If we talk about amounts, then on average one third of the salary has to be divided. With an income of 27 thousand euros, 36% will have to be paid in taxes. If a Norwegian earns 120 thousand euros a year, then he will give 55% of these funds to the state. The largest tax in the country is 80%. Luxury goods are also subject to taxation: villas, expensive yachts, luxury cars, jewelry, antiques, jewelry.

Social Security

In Norway, various types of support for the population are widely developed. All those in need of housing receive it on preferential terms; to provide their families with food, citizens can apply for a state loan. To do this, you must fill out an application addressed to the credit fund of the country.

Payment of benefits

Getting various grants in Norway is not difficult. Making payments is simple, in some cases it is enough to send a letter by mail. An application for the provision of a support measure, photocopies of the documents on the basis of which this must be done should be enclosed in the envelope. It is also important that benefits are issued only to those who are registered in the country and have their own personal number.

For children

Payments intended for those who have a child are reduced to the following types.

1. Decree funds.
2. One time payment.
3. Monthly allowance for the maintenance of children.
4. Compensation for nanny's wages if the child does not attend kindergarten.

Also, every woman can count on receiving alimony if the baby's father does not pay them. In this case, a monthly surcharge of 1430 kroons is charged.

Unemployment

Its level in the country is low, but the indigenous population and persons with the right of permanent residence receive benefits if such a nuisance as losing a job happens to them. To assign a payment, there are certain conditions under which a Norwegian citizen will receive unemployment benefits. Its size is from 800 to 1200 euros per month. For the period of searching for a place of work, the state is also ready to take on utility bills and some of the citizen's other expenses.

The amount of pensions

Upon reaching the age of 67, a resident of Norway becomes a pensioner and the owner of the right to receive benefits. The minimum average pension is $27,000 per year. This is not very much, however, it is quite possible to live on this money. Tax deductions make life easier for older people. Retirement age may come earlier. Certain categories of citizens go on a well-deserved rest at the age of 62. Children rarely help their parents, because a pension in Norway often provides its citizens with a quite decent standard of living.

Education system

It involves three stages of schooling:

• primary - from kindergarten to 7th grade of high school;
• secondary - from 8 to 10 grade;
• high school - three more years of study, which will give the teenager the opportunity to enter a college, college or university.

Children of foreigners can also be educated in the country of the fjords. There are international schools, the stay in which must be paid. available to almost everyone. Every person who has successfully completed a course of study in a basic high school has the right to higher education.

Medicine

All residents of the country are required to have insurance, regardless of citizenship. Services are provided according to an unusual scheme for Russia. In Norway, a system is being implemented that assumes that each patient has a so-called family doctor who performs an initial appointment and, if necessary, refers to narrow specialists. You can choose your own "personal" doctor.

An appointment with such a specialist must be paid. The cost is from 150 to 200 kroons. Children and pregnant women visit the doctor free of charge. Medicine in Norway "works" in the interests of its citizens. If the expenses for this part exceed 1,800 kroons per year, the state will compensate for the overpayment. The only exceptions are the services of a dentist and a physiotherapist.

Russians in Norway

At the moment, there are more than 16,000 Russians in the country. There are several ways to obtain residency rights:

• having entered into marriage with a citizen;
• being employed in an enterprise;
• having entered the university.

Life in Norway through the eyes of Russians looks more than worthy. However, this does not mean that everything will be presented to the settlers “on a silver platter”. To achieve a good standard of living, you must work and follow the rules of this country.

Difficulties in adaptation

Successful and rapid integration into society is possible only in one case: knowledge of the Norwegian language is required. This increases the chances of getting a good job. Russian reviews contain information about courses that are organized in almost every city. There you can get acquainted with the culture of the country and its traditions.

The way Norwegians treat Russians speaks of their wariness towards immigrants. More than half of the indigenous people are in favor of limiting the influx of migrants. However, when meeting, it becomes clear that the inhabitants of the country are open and hospitable people who have a negative attitude only to those who do not want to integrate into their society and accept the rules of life.

Where do they work

Most migrants associate moving to Norway with working in a large oil producing company, where wages are very high and there are a large number of jobs. In fact, everything turns out differently. Only specialists with very high qualifications can find employment in such corporations. The rest have to look for other employment.

Very accessible in the social sphere. Help desk employees receive around 30,000 kroons per month. For the device, you need to know the language and have a specialized education. Low-skilled personnel work in fish processing plants or agricultural farms. This activity is seasonal. The salary cannot be lower than 21 thousand kroons per month, which is equivalent to 160 thousand rubles.

Russian diaspora in Norway

Almost in all major cities you can meet migrants from Russia. There is no organized Russian diaspora in the country, however, public associations of people who speak Russian operate in some localities. Such clubs hold informal cultural events, organize thematic meetings, accompany courses in the study of the Norwegian language. Thinking about how Russians live in Norway, one should not be afraid of loneliness in these parts. People with identical views on life can be found here.

Refugees

Norway is a country with a strict migration policy. The influx of refugees is not welcome. However, an application for asylum is the best option for organizing a move here for permanent residence. There are camps for such persons in the country. You can stay there for two or three years, after this period you must either obtain a residence permit or leave the state. If a person wishes to return to their homeland again, they can count on some kind of allowance, the so-called lifting.

Comparison of living standards in Norway and Russia

The pros and cons of the country of the midnight sun are presented in the form of a table.

Advantages of Norway	Disadvantages of Norway
Socialism, lack of social inequality	Boredom of life, which seems to young Russians total
Excellent ecological environment	The climate is not suitable for everyone, which, unlike the Russian one, affects many unfavorably
Low crime rate	Obvious difficulties with the purchase of alcohol, which is easy to do in Russia
Ease of functioning of social services	The need for a residence permit to receive a pension and other benefits
High average salary	Very high taxes, inconvenient taxation system for citizens: it seems to some that it makes no sense to earn a lot in Norway
Promotion of healthy lifestyles	High prices for food, transport, clothing. All shops are closed on Sunday
The friendliness of the local people	Lack of cultural events, which are very numerous in Russia
The opportunity to realize all your dreams	Remoteness from the center of Europe, which makes flights very expensive

A comparison of life in Norway and Russia, with all the advantages of the former, shows that it is not ideal, and here too difficulties may arise. The main thing is that people trust each other, the government, and themselves. They believe in social justice and understand that negativity does not prevail in life and it is always worth believing in the best.

Conclusion

Why does Norway have the highest standard of living? The reasons are that the population and the state trust each other. Nature, decent salaries, good attitude of people to each other make many people choose this place as their home. Comparing the pros and cons of living here, you need to correlate them with your idea of ​​an ideal place.

Of course, the socialism of Norway cannot become an ideal environment for every person, however, those who are in search of a calm and peaceful space for life can safely think about changing their place of residence, not forgetting to first carefully study all the features of the country and its mentality residents.

Today I moved from Kristiansund to another city along the way - Trondheim, settled with the Norwegians in a three-story mansion (I was given a whole floor with my own shower, they have three (!) Souls for three people living in the house), and I thought, why is it so good live in Norway...

And here's why...

1. First and most importantly, salaries here are huge by world standards. People live here richly.

Here are the stats online
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_European_countries_by_average_wage

The average monthly salary in Norway is 3850 euros... not bad, right? More only in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, a little less - in Monaco. For comparison, the salary in Ukraine (according to statistics, this is the POOREST country in Europe) - 148 euros. This is nothing for Norway, just nothing, here the homeless, collecting empty beer cans from trash cans, have much more. In Belarus - 325 euros, in Russia - 453 ... All these are ridiculous amounts compared to ...

And the pensions are good. Grandfather from Kristiansund, with whom I spent the night yesterday, said that he had a pension of 4,000 euros per month (that's 100,000 hryvnias or 280,000 rubles). You can compare with how much your relatives receive. And the old people here every month receive such a mountain of money from the state! With this money they fly around the world on airplanes, have fun in shopping centers, sit in restaurants ... Yes, hell, a lot is possible with that kind of money!

2. Norway is very safe. Here you can safely walk the streets at night, everywhere is peace and grace. Here you can’t see gopniks on the streets at all (probably there are, but very few), the entire audience, even in remote villages, looks very decent - they look good in glasses, smartly. You won't see classic tractor-combine operators with a bottle of muddy moonshine in their hands, who walk along the streets, bawling songs... No, this is clearly not about Norway.

In the 4-storey house in Ulstenvik, where I recently lived, the door was not locked at all. At all! They tell me to come back from the walk whenever you want, the door is ALWAYS open. On the technical floor they store bicycles, a lawn mower, and something else expensive. You can enter there through a separate door, bypassing the house, and the owners will not hear anything at all. But, damn it, don't steal! And this is commendable.

In the center of Oslo, of course, gypsies roam and beg. Of course, one should not have any illusions about these comrades, but they are noticeable only in the capital, and the province is completely calm here.

Today I moved into a three-story house in Trondheim. I found the address, called, but the call, apparently, did not answer. I tried the door - it's open ... The owners lock it, as it turned out, only when they leave, but while at home - it's always open. There is no crime, and in fact - why close?
It is curious that in Central Europe people in the private sector have small, conditional fences, it is easy to climb over them, but in the CIS they are high so that they do not climb. And in Mexico, even with broken glass on top, or the current is running. In Norway, however ... there are usually no fences at all! How is it, you ask? And like this ... Everyone can theoretically enter the yard of any person - there are no fences. And in the yards there are chairs with tables, and rakes, and brooms, and there are dishes on the tables, and vases, and everything is safe. And no one takes.
It is very interesting to look at life without fences...

3. Norway has very clean tap water. And all over the country, in all settlements. It is so pure that you can safely drink it and it tastes good. And I drink it, and the locals drink it. There is no chlorine here, not to mention rust. No microbes either.
There is also very clean water in all reservoirs. Here you can safely drink water (but it is better to boil, of course) from any stream, lake, river. We cooked here from the ocean water from the fjord (there was no salt), and nothing, it’s also good!

4. Norway has incredibly clean air. There is no burning from cars - modern filters are used everywhere, almost all cars are new, gasoline is very good. Electric vehicles are also popular - they generally work on a battery-battery. They drove me in such a car - everything inside is ultra-modern. And it doesn’t look like an ordinary car, but like a spaceship.
You walk around the city - you don’t notice exhaust gases at all. And it smells of nature everywhere here - the sea, forest, moss, fresh grass or pines. All settlements are so intertwined with wildlife... A real forest with wild animals can separate one urban area from another, and this is the norm here. The smell of forest freshness is everywhere. As one person told me: I like to ride a motorcycle, not a car, so that I can smell every part of the city that I pass through. And these are by no means smells from garbage dumps and factories ...

5. Norway is very clean, fantastically clean. That you came to the city, to the village, to the wild. It is clean at the station, and in the industrial zone, and on the ring road, and at the railway line, and in the park. Wherever you go, there is grass everywhere, neat footpaths, trash cans everywhere. So that people from high-rise buildings throw out old furniture, beds, etc. into the yard, and then the janitors burn it, making a fire up to the 4th floor right there (as directly at my house in the so-called "European" Kiev) - just imagine itself is impossible. Everywhere there is a place to throw out the trash.

6. In Norway, hygienic standards are at their best, which made me very happy, because in many countries I observe shortcomings in this regard. In most countries, even so. And here ... Every grocery store has a sink and liquid soap so that customers can wash their hands with soap before and after shopping. Many stores also have toilets, free of charge, of course. I also observe free and very clean toilets in city parks, green areas. And even in such places - the cleanliness is complete, and there is toilet paper, and a mirror, and liquid soap.

There are toilets everywhere on the roads at gas stations, most ferries have them, probably rarely anyone runs into the forest in the bushes, in terms of sanitation, civilization here is amazing. And the trains have everything, and in museums, and the university. Yes, everything is good here. Seems to be everywhere. One of the cleanest countries in the world.

7. Norway has very good roads. Everywhere, even in the mountains on the passes - almost perfect quality asphalt, bumpers, road markings. Since the roads are mountainous, everywhere they go into tunnels. There are an incredible number of them here, I think more than anywhere else in the world. Building dozens of tunnels in the mountains is not cheap, but Norway can afford it. An incredible number of bridges have also been built here - to the smallest islands, where almost no one lives sometimes. But the budget swells from oil revenues (Norway is the European leader in oil production, except for Russia), and every year more and more new bridges and tunnels appear here. No one is going to rest on their laurels - the construction of new facilities is going on right before our eyes.

Another useful property of local roads for a traveler is that they are not spoiled by autobahns. There are practically none here. Ordinary roads, very beautiful, pass through settlements, bays and lakes - you drive around Norway and you can see the country as it lives. When you drive across Germany on the autobahn, you won't see anything.

Also, the lack of autobahns allows you to effectively hitchhike here - on autobahns it is very difficult and disgusting, well, at least to me, maybe someone likes it, it's like that ...

8. In Norway, all public transport - both urban and intercity - is new, beautiful, sparkling. There are only old trams in Oslo, perhaps. And so everything is brand new, beautiful, in buses the following stops are displayed on the electronic scoreboard, you don’t have to ask anyone where to get off. Everything is on schedule - at bus stops or electronic boards again with the time of departure of the bus, or a paper timetable.

9. In Norway, you can find cafes and restaurants from all over the world. Migrants flocked here like bees to honey, because the income is considerable, and they opened nutritional establishments ... Indian, Turkish establishments are at every turn here, like any European ones. There are many Mexican establishments, of course American ones. In Bergen I even saw a restaurant of Eritrean and Ethiopian cuisine. So Norwegian gourmets can familiarize themselves with the achievements of culinary arts from all over the world without leaving the country.

10. Norway is a very beautiful country. I would even say - a fantastically beautiful country. There are practically no ordinary flat places with fields and forests. At every kilometer of almost every highway, the views are breathtaking. Here you have snow-capped mountains (the snow does not leave the peaks this year), and views of the sea, and a rugged coastline with bays, rocks, forests, moss-covered boulders along the roads, hundreds of high waterfalls - they are just the same everywhere, fantastic fjords, gorges ... And wherever you go, it's like that everywhere. I have already traveled 1000 km in Norway, it is interesting here everywhere! On every section of the road.

So I will say that whoever has not been to Norway has lost a lot. This is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, without exaggeration, one of the most, which certainly deserves a visit, and not just for show for 2-3 days, but for a longer period. I think every traveler should visit this place at least once in their life. Despite the prices...

11. Norway is a very photogenic country. Take fantastic beauty photos here - just spit. Lovely colorful houses against the backdrop of mountains shrouded in mist... Not bad for a photo? And here it is everywhere... Photography lovers should definitely come here with all the tripods and lenses. There is something to capture here.

12. The houses here are incredibly aesthetic. Traditionally Norwegians build them out of wood or sheath them with wood. What's amazing here? They have not departed from this tradition until now. Wooden houses in this country are everywhere - from Oslo to the very last village, and all the houses are like new, all well-groomed, painted. You walk down the street - as if you were in a museum of wooden architecture. Everything is so new, beautiful, everything is so fragrant... There is also a lot of wooden architecture in Russia. It has survived so far... But for some reason it is not appreciated at all, it is being demolished in quarters in almost all cities, and where it is preserved, it is in a terrible state. No one plans to restore. Demolished and built up with glass squalor. It would be necessary for Russia to learn from its northern neighbors a reverent attitude towards wooden architecture, because these are our roots, our history and tradition...

13. In Norway, stray dogs do not annoy at all - they are not visible here at all, there is no malaria - this scourge of our time. But I have not yet seen ordinary harmless mosquitoes. You enter the forest, it looks like ours - the same pines and moss. But there are no reptiles ... You put up a tent - no one will bite you. Nice. Norway, however...

14. An incredible amount of people go in for sports here. And they ride bicycles - they are everywhere, and they run - solid runners, and they climb mountains as a charge, and so on. Here the cult of health is developed.

15. Norway has a very high life expectancy and other indicators that are important for the life of the population. The Human Development Index (HDI) is very popular on the web, until 2013 the Human Development Index (HDI) is an integral indicator calculated annually for cross-country comparison and measuring the standard of living, literacy, education and longevity as the main characteristics of the human potential of the study area. The UN considers it, and for 187 countries of the world at once.