Situated in Northern Europe, Svalbard and Jan Mayen 🇸🇯 (officially Svalbard og Jan Mayen) is one of the most interesting places you can land on when you spin the globe. With a population of about 2,900 and a total area of -1 km², it offers far more than its statistics suggest.
Whether you discovered Svalbard and Jan Mayen through our random country spinner or searched for it directly, this guide covers everything you need to know: the flag, the capital city of Longyearbyen, population figures, languages, currency, geography and a collection of memorable facts.
Where is Svalbard and Jan Mayen located?
Svalbard and Jan Mayen lies in Northern Europe, in the Europe region of the world. Measuring roughly -1 square kilometres, it ranks 250th in the world by total area.
Svalbard and Jan Mayen has no land borders at all — it is surrounded entirely by water, and this island setting has given it a distinct identity, ecosystem and way of life.
Longyearbyen serves as the capital — the centre of government and, for most travellers, the gateway to everything else Svalbard and Jan Mayen has to offer.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Who lives in Svalbard and Jan Mayen?
Svalbard and Jan Mayen is home to approximately 2,900 residents — the 237th largest population on the planet. Its people are known as Norwegians.
The main language spoken here is Norwegian. Learning even a handful of phrases before a visit goes a long way with locals.
Like every country featured on Spin a Country, Svalbard and Jan Mayen rewards curiosity — its festivals, food and everyday customs tell a story that statistics alone never can.
Good to know before you go
The official currency is the krone (NOK, symbol kr). Exchange rates fluctuate, so check current rates before travelling.
The international dialling code for Svalbard and Jan Mayen is +4779. Websites from the country typically use the .sj internet domain.
If Svalbard and Jan Mayen came up on your random spin, take five minutes to memorise its flag, capital (Longyearbyen) and population — these are the three facts most often asked in geography quizzes.
Fun facts about Svalbard and Jan Mayen
- Svalbard and Jan Mayen's flag emoji is 🇸🇯 — its two-letter country code is SJ and its three-letter code is SJM.
- Svalbard and Jan Mayen covers -1 km², ranking 250th in the world by area.
- With about 2,900 people, Svalbard and Jan Mayen holds the 237th spot in the world population ranking.
- Svalbard and Jan Mayen is not a full member state of the United Nations.
- Svalbard and Jan Mayen is completely surrounded by water, with zero land borders.
Svalbard and Jan Mayen — frequently asked questions
- What is the capital of Svalbard and Jan Mayen?
- The capital of Svalbard and Jan Mayen is Longyearbyen.
- What is the population of Svalbard and Jan Mayen?
- Svalbard and Jan Mayen has a population of approximately 2,900 people, ranking 237th in the world.
- Where is Svalbard and Jan Mayen located?
- Svalbard and Jan Mayen is located in Northern Europe, part of the Europe region.
- What language is spoken in Svalbard and Jan Mayen?
- The main language spoken in Svalbard and Jan Mayen is Norwegian.
- What currency is used in Svalbard and Jan Mayen?
- Svalbard and Jan Mayen uses the krone (NOK).
