Nordic countries

Nordic Countries

The Nordic countries (pronunciation: /ˈnɔːrdɪk ˈkʌntriz/) are a geographical and cultural region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic. The term includes Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, as well as Greenland and the Faroe Islands—which are both part of the Kingdom of Denmark—and the Åland Islands and Svalbard archipelagos that belong to Finland and Norway respectively.

Etymology

The term Nordic is derived from the Germanic word nord, meaning "north". The term "Nordic countries" is used colloquially to refer to Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, including their associated territories (Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and the Åland Islands).

Related Terms

Scandinavia: A region in Northern Europe, with strong historical, cultural, and linguistic ties. The term is most often used linguistically, to mean places that speak Scandinavian languages (Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish).
Nordic Council: A geo-political inter-parliamentary forum for co-operation between the Nordic countries.
Nordic Model: A socio-economic model adopted by the Nordic countries, characterized by a comprehensive welfare state and multi-level collective bargaining.
Nordic Bronze Age: A period of Scandinavian prehistory from c. 1700–500 BC.
Nordic Cross flag: The design of most of the flags of the Nordic countries.