Events in the year

1998 1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''. Events January * January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for Lunar water, frozen water, in soil i ...

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the archipelago of Svalbard also form part of the Kingdom of ...

Incumbents

Monarch A monarch () is a head of stateWebster's II New College Dictionary. "Monarch". Houghton Mifflin. Boston. 2001. p. 707. Life tenure, for life or until abdication, and therefore the head of state of a monarchy. A monarch may exercise the highest ...

–

Harald V Harald V (, ; born 21 February 1937) has been King of Norway since 1991. A member of the House of Glücksburg, Harald was the third child and only son of King Olav V of Norway and Princess Märtha of Sweden. He was second in the line of succ ...

Prime Minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...

–

Kjell Magne Bondevik Kjell Magne Bondevik (; born 3 September 1947) is a Norway, Norwegian Lutheranism, Lutheran Religious minister, minister and Politics of Norway, politician. As leader of the Christian Democratic Party (Norway), Christian Democratic Party, he ser ...

(

Christian Democratic Party __NOTOC__ Christian democratic parties are political parties that seek to apply Christian principles to public policy. The underlying Christian democracy movement emerged in 19th-century Europe, largely under the influence of Catholic social tea ...

)

Events

*23 June - Norway beat reigning world champion Brazil 2-1 in the group stage of the

FIFA World Cup The FIFA World Cup, often called the World Cup, is an international association football competition among the senior List of men's national association football teams, men's national teams of the members of the FIFA, Fédération Internatio ...

, causing huge celebrations throughout the nation. *26 September –

Christian Conservative Party The Christian Conservative Party (, KKP) was a political party in Norway which was originally formed in 1965 as the Democratic Party of Norway. The party was later also known as the Christian Democrats and the Peace Party, before it became the KKP ...

merged with the

New Future Coalition Party The New Future Coalition Party (, SNF) was a Norwegian political party, which was founded by Member of Parliament Finn Thoresen in 1993. The party was never successful in elections, and merged with the Christian Conservative Party to form the Chr ...

to form the Christian fundamentalist party

Christian Unity Party The Christian Unity Party (, KSP) was a Christian conservative and fundamentalistBrekke, Torkel (2011). Fundamentalism: Prophecy and Protest in an Age of Globalization'. pp. 140-141. Cambridge University Press. . political party in Norway withou ...

. *7 October – Operations cease at

Oslo Airport, Fornebu Oslo Airport, Fornebu was the primary international airport serving Oslo and Eastern Norway from 1 June 1939 to 7 October 1998. It was then replaced by Oslo Airport, Gardermoen, and the area has since been redeveloped. The airport was located at ...

*8 October – The main airport serving

Oslo Oslo ( or ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population of 1,064,235 in 2022 ...

is moved from the

Fornebu airport Oslo Airport, Fornebu was the primary international airport serving Oslo and Eastern Norway from 1 June 1939 to 7 October 1998. It was then replaced by Oslo Airport, Gardermoen, and the area has since been redeveloped. The airport was located at ...

to the all-new Gardermoen airport.

Popular culture

Music

*3 May - Norwegian pop band a-ha release the album

Stay on These Roads ''Stay on These Roads'' is the third studio album by Norwegian band A-ha, released on 3 May 1988 by Warner Bros. Records. Six singles were released from the album. Recording A Synclavier, Sequential Circuits Prophet 5, Yamaha DX-7, Roland D-50, a ...

, their third studio album.

Film

Literature

Television

Notable births

*14 February –

Sander Berge Sander Gard Bolin Berge (born 14 February 1998) is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for club Fulham and the Norway national team. Club career Early career Berge was born in Bærum, Akershus. He started h ...

, footballer *25 February –

Andrea Berntzen Andrea Berntzen (born 25 February 1998) is a Norwegian actress and student. As a student at her secondary school in Oslo, she participated as an actress in a school revue in 2017. She was awarded as the actress of the year in a competition betwe ...

, actress and student *8 March – Jenny Stene, sport shooter. *17 April **

Kristoffer Ajer Kristoffer Vassbakk Köpp Ajer (born 17 April 1998) is a Norwegian professional association football, footballer who plays as centre-back or right-back for club Brentford F.C., Brentford and the Norway national football team, Norway national te ...

, footballer **

Anna Odine Strøm Anna Odine Strøm (born 17 April 1998) is a Norwegian ski jumper. Her achievements include winning individual bronze medals in the world championships in 2023 and 2025, and winning team medals in 2019, 2021, 2023 and 2025. Biography Strøm was ...

, ski jumper. *10 June – Johan-Sebastian Christiansen, chess player. *15 June – Emil Hansson, Footballer *20 June –

Kajsa Vickhoff Lie Kajsa Vickhoff Lie (born 20 June 1998) is a Norwegian World Cup alpine ski racer, representing the club Bærums SK. She specializes in the speed events of downhill and super-G. Career Vickhoff Lie made her World Cup debut at age 18 in Jan ...

, alpine skier. *21 July –

Magnus Bøe Magnus Bøe, also known as Kim Magnus (; born 21 July 1998) is a South Korean-born Norwegian cross-country skiing (sport), cross-country skier. He competed in the 2018 Winter Olympics. Personal life Magnus was born in Busan, South Korea, to a ...

, cross-country skier (born in

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders North Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone, with the Yellow Sea to the west and t ...

) *6 August – Einar Lurås Oftebro, Nordic combined skier *21 August –

Fredrik André Bjørkan Fredrik André Bjørkan (born 21 August 1998) is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Eliteserien club Bodø/Glimt and the Norway national team. Club career Bodø/Glimt Bjørkan was born in Bodø, Nordland. He ...

, footballer *7 September –

Ola Solbakken Ola Selvaag Solbakken (born 7 September 1998) is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Danish Superliga club Nordsjælland and the Norway national team. Club career Bodø/Glimt Solbakken was born in Oslo and raised in M ...

, footballer *30 September –

Narve Gilje Nordås Narve Gilje Nordås (born 30 September 1998) is a Norwegian Track and field, athlete competing in Middle-distance running, middle-distance and Long-distance running, long-distance events. He is a World Athletics Championships, World Championship ...

, athlete competing in middle-distance and long-distance events. *17 December –

Martin Ødegaard Martin Ødegaard (born 17 December 1998) is a Norwegian professional association football, footballer who plays as a midfielder for and Captain (association football), captains both Premier League club Arsenal F.C., Arsenal and the Norway nati ...

, footballer *22 December –

Casper Ruud Casper Ruud (; born 22 December 1998) is a Norwegian professional tennis player. He has been ATP rankings, ranked as high as world No. 2 in men's singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), achieved in September 2022, making him t ...

, tennis player

Notable deaths

*8 January – Audun Hetland, illustrator (born

1920 Events January * January 1 ** Polish–Soviet War: The Russian Red Army increases its troops along the Polish border from 4 divisions to 20. ** Kauniainen in Finland, completely surrounded by the city of Espoo, secedes from Espoo as its ow ...

). *26 January – Olaf Kortner, politician (b.

) *28 January –

Asbjørn Berg-Hansen Asbjørn Berg-Hansen (September 14, 1912 – January 28, 1998) was a Norway, Norwegian Boxing, boxer who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics. He was born and worked in Oslo as an electrician. Amateur career Norway's most successful flyweight ...

, boxer (b.

1912 This year is notable for Sinking of the Titanic, the sinking of the ''Titanic'', which occurred on April 15. In Albania, this leap year runs with only 353 days as the country achieved switching from the Julian to Gregorian Calendar by skippin ...

) *4 February –

Odd Winger Odd Winger (8 January 1923 – 4 February 1998) was a Norwegian journalist, novelist, and children's writer. Career Born in Strinda Municipality on 8 January 1923, Winger made his literary debut in 1953 with the sea novel ''Mot Land's End''. I ...

, journalist and writer (born 1923). *18 February –

Rolv Ryssdal Rolv Einar Rasmussen Ryssdal (27 October 1914 – 18 February 1998) was a Norwegian judge. From 1969 to 1984 he was the 16th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He was Vice President of the European Court of Human Rights from 1981 to 1985 and P ...

, judge (b.

1914 This year saw the beginning of what became known as the First World War, after Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, heir to the Austrian throne was Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, assassinated by Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip ...

) *1 April –

Anne Gullestad Anne Gullestad (26 October 1925 – 1 April 1998) was a Norwegian actress and theatre director. She was born in Kvinesdal, and examen artium, finished her secondary education in 1945. She made her stage debut in 1950 at Den Nationale Scene. She c ...

, actress and theatre director (b.

1925 Events January * January 1 – The Syrian Federation is officially dissolved, the State of Aleppo and the State of Damascus having been replaced by the State of Syria (1925–1930), State of Syria. * January 3 – Benito Mussolini m ...

) *3 April – Paul Svarstad, politician (b.

1917 Events Below, the events of World War I have the "WWI" prefix. January * January 9 – WWI – Battle of Rafa: The last substantial Ottoman Army garrison on the Sinai Peninsula is captured by the Egyptian Expeditionary Force's ...

) *9 May –

Frithjof Clausen Frithjof Clausen (13 March 1916 – 9 May 1998) was a Norwegian wrestler. He won twelve national titles in wrestling, and competed at the 1948 and 1952 Olympic Games. Personal life Clausen was born in Kolbotn, on 13 March 1916. Sports career C ...

, wrestler (born 1916). *8 June – Eva R. Finstad, politician (b.

1933 Events January * January 11 – Australian aviator Sir Charles Kingsford Smith makes the first commercial flight between Australia and New Zealand. * January 17 – The United States Congress votes in favour of Philippines independen ...

) *13 June –

Birger Ruud Birger Johannes Ruud (23 August 1911 – 13 June 1998) was a Norwegian ski jumper and alpine skier. Career Born in Kongsberg, Birger Ruud, with his brothers Sigmund and Asbjørn, dominated international jumping in the 1930s, winning three w ...

, ski jumper, twice Olympic gold medallist and three time World Champion (b.

1911 Events January * January 1 – A decade after federation, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory are added to the Commonwealth of Australia. * January 3 ** 1911 Kebin earthquake: An earthquake of 7.7 m ...

) *17 June –

Aage Eriksen Aage Ingvar Eriksen (5 May 1917 in Notodden 17 June 1998 in Notodden, Telemark) was a Norwegian wrestler and Olympic medalist in Greco-Roman wrestling. Olympics Eriksen competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London where he received a silver ...

, wrestler and Olympic silver medallist (b.

) *28 June –

Brita Collett Paus Brita Lucie Collett Paus (3 July 1917 – 28 June 1998) was a Norwegian humanitarian leader and the founder of Fransiskushjelpen, a Catholic charitable organisation in Norway. She led the organisation from 1956 until 1993. She converted to Catho ...

, humanitarian leader and founder of

Fransiskushjelpen Fransiskushjelpen is a Catholic charitable organisation in Norway, founded in by Brita Collett Paus in 1956. Its administration headquarters are in Oslo, at St. Hallvard's Church and Monastery. The organisation, connected to the Franciscan or ...

(b.

) *9 July –

Knut Bergsland Knut Bergsland (7 March 1914 – 9 July 1998) was a Norwegian linguist. Working as a professor at the University of Oslo from 1947 to 1981, he did groundbreaking research in Uralic (especially Sami) and Eskaleut languages. Career He was born in K ...

, linguist (b.

) *9 July – Halvor J. Sandsdalen, farmer, journalist, poet, novelist, playwright and children's writer (b.

). *18 July – Lars Mathias Hille Esmark, civil servant and business person in the tourist industry (born 1908). *19 July – Rune Nilsen, triple jumper (b.

1923 In Greece, this year contained only 352 days as 13 days was skipped to achieve the calendrical switch from Julian to Gregorian Calendar. It happened there that Wednesday, 15 February ''(Julian Calendar)'' was followed by Thursday, 1 March ' ...

) *26 July – Olav Bø, folklorist (born

1918 The ceasefire that effectively ended the World War I, First World War took place on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of this year. Also in this year, the Spanish flu pandemic killed 50–100 million people wor ...

). *30 July – Axel Buch, politician (b.

1930 Events January * January 15 – The Moon moves into its nearest point to Earth, called perigee, at the same time as its fullest phase of the Lunar Cycle. This is the closest moon distance at in recent history, and the next one will be on J ...

) *30 July –

Laila Schou Nilsen Laila Schou Nilsen (18 March 1919 – 30 July 1998) was one of the foremost Norwegian sportspeople of the 20th century, best known as a speed skater, alpine skier, and tennis player. She was one of the pioneers in women's speed skating, both i ...

, speed skater, alpine skier and tennis player (b.

1919 Events January * January 1 ** The Czechoslovak Legions occupy much of the self-proclaimed "free city" of Pressburg (later Bratislava), enforcing its incorporation into the new republic of Czechoslovakia. ** HMY ''Iolaire'' sinks off th ...

) *31 July – Erling Evensen, cross country skier and Olympic bronze medallist (b.

) *23 August –

Rolf Søder Rolf Søder (4 July 1918 – 23 August 1998) was a Norwegian film actor. He appeared in 40 films between 1955 and 1991. Filmography References External links * 1918 births 1998 deaths Norwegian male film actors Male actors from ...

, actor (b.

) *1 September – Eystein Bærug, politician (b.

) *13 September – Trygve Moe, politician (b.

) *16 September –

John Systad John Systad (14 September 1912 – 16 September 1998) was a Norwegian long-distance runner who specialized in the marathon race. He represented TIF Viking in Bergen. He finished twelfth at the 1946 European Championships, eighth at the 1948 S ...

, long-distance runner (b.

) *26 September –

Gudrun Dorothea Ræder Gudrun Dorothea Ræder (née Martius; 21 April 1908 – 26 September 1998) was a Norwegian diplomat. She was the first female Norwegian diplomat, serving at the legation in London. Personal life Ræder was born in Göttingen on 21 April 1908, a ...

, diplomat (born 1908). *1 October –

Sjur Lindebrække Sjur Lindebrække (6 April 1909 – 1 October 1998) was a Norwegian banker and Conservative politician. Biography He was born on 6 April 1909, in Voss. During the 1940 Norwegian Campaign, Lindebrække was mobilized by the Norwegian 4th Di ...

, banker and politician (b.

1909 Events January–February * January 4 – Explorer Aeneas Mackintosh of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition escapes death by fleeing across ice floes. * January 7 – Colombia recognizes the independence of Panama. * Janu ...

) *5 October –

Arne Øien Arne Øien (22 December 1928 – 5 October 1998) was a Norwegian economist and politician for the Labour Party. He was Minister of Petroleum and Energy from 1986 to 1989. He was born in Oslo and graduated as cand.oecon. in 1954. He worked ...

, economist, politician and Minister (b.

1928 Events January * January – British bacteriologist Frederick Griffith reports the results of Griffith's experiment, indirectly demonstrating that DNA is the genetic material. * January 1 – Eastern Bloc emigration and defection: Boris B ...

) *13 October – Thomas Byberg, speed skater and Olympic silver medallist (b.

1916 Events Below, the events of the First World War have the "WWI" prefix. January * January 1 – The British Empire, British Royal Army Medical Corps carries out the first successful blood transfusion, using blood that has been stored ...

) *27 October –

Reidar Kvammen Reidar Kvammen (23 July 1914 – 27 October 1998) was a Norwegian footballer. Kvammen was an inside-forward who played his entire career for Viking, and is regarded as one of Norway's greatest footballers of all time. Kvammen was the first N ...

, international soccer player (b.

) *2 November – Sverre Brodahl, Nordic skier and Olympic silver medallist (b.

) *11 November – Sam Melberg, sports diver and sports instructor (b.

). *12 November – Bjørn Endreson, actor, stage producer and theatre director (b.

1922 Events January * January 7 – Dáil Éireann (Irish Republic), Dáil Éireann, the parliament of the Irish Republic, ratifies the Anglo-Irish Treaty by 64–57 votes. * January 10 – Arthur Griffith is elected President of Dáil Éirean ...

) *15 November – Asbjørn Øye, politician (b.

1902 Events January * January 1 ** The Nurses Registration Act 1901 comes into effect in New Zealand, making it the first country in the world to require state registration of nurses. On January 10, Ellen Dougherty becomes the world's ...

) *4 December – Egil Johansen, jazz drummer, teacher, composer and arranger (b.

1934 Events January–February * January 1 – The International Telecommunication Union, a specialist agency of the League of Nations, is established. * January 15 – The 8.0 1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake, Nepal–Bihar earthquake strik ...

) *4 December –

Lilli Gjerløw Lilli Gjerløw (19 June 1910 – 4 December 1998) was a Norwegian archivist and liturgical historian. She was employed at the National Archives of Norway for 45 years. Biography She was born in Nord-Audnedal as a daughter of vicar John Jenssøn Gje ...

, archivist (b.

1910 Events January * January 6 – Abé people in the French West Africa colony of Côte d'Ivoire rise against the colonial administration; the rebellion is brutally suppressed by the military. * January 8 – By the Treaty of Punakha, t ...

). *10 December –

Trygve Haugeland Trygve Haugeland (18 March 1914 – 10 December 1998) was a Norwegian politician for the Centre Party. Biography He was born in Lyngdal. He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament from Vest-Agder in 1958, but was not re-elected in 1961 ...

, politician and Minister (b.

) *31 December – Erling Norvik, politician (b.

)

Full date unknown

Øystein Elgarøy Øystein Elgarøy (13 June 1929 – 8 September 1998) was a Norwegian astronomer, with a specialty in solar radio astronomy. He was appointed as a lecturer of astrophysics at the University of Oslo, located in Oslo, Norway, in 1968, and was ...

, astronomer (b.

1929 This year marked the end of a period known in American history as the Roaring Twenties after the Wall Street Crash of 1929 ushered in a worldwide Great Depression. In the Americas, an agreement was brokered to end the Cristero War, a Catholic ...

) *

Yngvar Løchen Yngvar Løchen (31 May 1931 – 28 July 1998) was a Norwegian sociologist. He took his dr.philos. in 1965 and was hired as associate professor of community medicine at the University of Oslo the same year. In 1971 he was appointed professor in th ...

, sociologist (b.

1931 Events January * January 2 – South Dakota native Ernest Lawrence invents the cyclotron, used to accelerate particles to study nuclear physics. * January 4 – German pilot Elly Beinhorn begins her flight to Africa. * January 22 – Sir I ...

)

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:1998 In Norway