Norway

Actually true

• The sovereign wealth fund really is enormous

  Norway's oil fund is one of the largest in the world, funding pensions and public services for generations.

• Cabin culture is a genuine national institution

  Most families own or rent a hytte and retreat there most weekends, regardless of season.

• The midnight sun and polar night are both real extremes

  Parts of northern Norway see 24-hour daylight in summer and near-total darkness in winter.

• Skiing is closer to a birthright than a hobby

  Children learn cross-country skiing almost as soon as they can walk.

Commonly believed, wrong

• "Norway and Sweden are basically interchangeable"

  Language, history and temperament differ meaningfully, and rivalry between the two nations runs deep and friendly.

• "It's dark and cold all year"

  Summers bring long bright days, mild temperatures and an active outdoor culture along the coast.

• "Everyone lives off oil wealth without working"

  Norway has high labour force participation and a strong work ethic alongside its resource wealth.

• "Vikings were purely violent raiders"

  They were also skilled traders, shipbuilders and settlers who established trade routes across Europe and beyond.