Norway–Sweden border
A long border running down the Scandinavian mountains from Finland to the Skagerrak. It became a true international frontier when Norway broke its union with Sweden peacefully in 1905, and Sámi reindeer herders still cross it under rules dating back to 1751.
Written from cited sourcesLast checked 29 September 2026Suggest a correction
See it on the globe:Norway →Sweden →
A peaceful divorce
Norway was joined to Sweden under one king from 1814. After a long conflict over the union, and with the Norwegian government resigned, the Storting declared on 7 June 1905 “the Union with Sweden dissolved as a result of the King ceasing to function as Norwegian King.” Sweden’s parliament refused to accept the unilateral decision, and both countries partly mobilised.[1]
Under that threat Norway negotiated, and a settlement with concessions on both sides was reached at Karlstad in Sweden in September 1905. The union was legally dissolved, and Prince Charles of Denmark, approved by a Norwegian referendum, became King Haakon VII.[1][2]
“the Union with Sweden dissolved as a result of the King ceasing to function as Norwegian King”[1]
Reindeer across the line
When the border between Norway, then part of Denmark, and Sweden was defined in 1751, a codicil known as the Lapp Codicil let Sámi herders keep moving reindeer across it. A Norwegian–Swedish grazing convention came into force in 1972 but expired in 2005; a new convention signed in 2009 had still not been passed by 2018. Swedish herders say they have followed the 1751 codicil since 2005, while the Norwegian state views it as no longer valid, and in 2018 two Sámi villages in Sweden sued Norway over their right to graze there.[3]
Timeline
1751
Border and codicil
The border is defined, with Sámi grazing rights.[3]
19057 June 1905
Union dissolved
The Storting declares the union with Sweden over.[1]
1905September 1905
Karlstad settlement
2005
Convention expires
The 1972 reindeer grazing convention lapses.[3]
2018
Herders sue
Swedish Sámi villages take Norway to court over grazing.[3]
More borders
Norway
Sources
- [1]Norway: The union conflict (1859–1905) · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- [2]Karlstad · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- [3]Court case between Swedish reindeer herders and the State of Norway: Trying the validity of “Lapp Codicil” · The Barents Observer (Yle Sápmi) · 9 November 2018
Map geometry from Natural Earth via world-atlas. See credits.