Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association Norwegians exercise these freedoms without restraint. Permits for public demonstrations are granted routinely. The state church is the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Norway, which is financially supported by the State, and to which 93 percent of the population nominally belongs. There is a constitutional requirement that the King and half of the Cabinet belong to the state church. Approximately 4 percent of the population are registered members of 20 other denominations which operate freely and may proselytize.
Foreign clergy are welcome in Norway.
No religious community is required to register with the Government unless it desires state support, which is provided to all registered denominations on a proportional basis in accordance with membership. Although the state religion is taught in all public schools, children of other faiths are allowed to be absent from such classes upon parental request. If there are enough students of the same faith, the school will arrange classes in that faith. Workers belonging to minority denominations are allowed leave for religious holidays. Freedom of Movement Within the Country, Foreign Travel, Emigration, and Repatriation The Government does not impede foreign or domestic travel.