Svalbard and Jan Mayen: Flag and Facts
Svalbard and Jan Mayen does not have a flag of its own, so the flag of Norway is flown there.
- Official name
- Svalbard og Jan Mayen
- Capital
- Longyearbyen
- Region
- Northern Europe
- Population
- 2,556 (2025)
- Languages
- Norwegian
- Currency
- krone
- Area
- -1 km² (-0 sq mi)
- People
- Norwegian
- Calling code
- +4779
- Highest point
- Newtontoppen 1,717 m
- Independence
- none (territory of Norway)
- Borders
- No land borders
- Status
- Territory (not a sovereign country)
About Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Norse explorers may have found the Svalbard islands as early as the 12th century. During the 17th and 18th centuries they served as a whaling base for crews from many nations. A treaty in 1920 recognized Norwegian sovereignty, and five years after that Norway formally took charge. Coal mining began in the 20th century, and one Norwegian and one Russian company still dig there.
Only about 2,556 people live in this Arctic territory, and Longyearbyen is the main settlement. Rugged mountains cover the land, ice sits on much of the high ground, and fjords cut into the west and north coasts. A warm ocean current keeps nearby waters open for most of the year, even though winters are cold. People get between settlements by snowmobile, plane or boat, since there are no roads linking them.
Did you know?
- Newtontoppen, the highest peak, stands 1,717 meters above the Arctic Ocean.
- Residents pay with the Norwegian krone.
- The anthem used there is Norway's, whose title means Yes, We Love This Country.
Want to test yourself? The random flag generator has a quiz mode, and the full flags of the world page shows every flag at once.
Questions about Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Who owns Svalbard and Jan Mayen?
It is a territory of Norway and is not self-governing.
What language is spoken in Svalbard?
Norwegian is the listed language.
Sources
- CIA World Factbook, checked October 8, 2026
- REST Countries data (mledoze/countries), checked October 8, 2026
- Flag artwork: flag-icons (MIT), checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.