What are the differences between Scandinavian and Nordic countries? This is something I heavily questioned before making the move to Sweden. It is common to use Scandinavian and Nordic interchangeably, as there are a lot of overlaps, but there are also some key differences to what sets these countries apart.
In short
Scandinavian: Sweden, Norway, and Denmark
Nordic: Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, and Finland. This also includes territories of these countries: Greenland, Svalbard, the Faroe Islands and the Åland Islands
Scandinavian
These countries share certain cultural, linguistic, and geographical characteristics that distinguish them. Scandinavian refers to the Scandinavian peninsula, where the landmass consists of three countries: Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. The languages of these three countries are some of the most similar and have the word “Skandinavien” in common, meaning the land of Northern men.
Viking culture is another element that distinguishes Scandinavian countries. Vikings originated in the Scandinavian countries, while they went and inhabited some of the other Nordic countries but were not originally from there.
Sweden and Norway are a part of the Arctic Circle that experiences extreme variations of light and darkness, unique wildlife, and rugged terrain.
Even though Scandinavian countries are within the continent of Europe, none have adopted the euro as their currency, and only Sweden and Denmark are members of the European Union.
*Some say Finland is also a part of the Scandinavian peninsula, but it is the language that sets Finland apart as it is in the Uralic language family.
Nordic
The word Nordic comes from the French word “nordique,” meaning in the north. So that entails all the people and countries in the north. Therefore, Nordic is more encompassing of northern European identities, which include Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, and Finland. As well as their territories: Greenland, Svalbard, the Faroe Islands, and the Åland Islands.
While Nordic characteristics include a lot of the Scandinavian characteristics, all Nordic countries can be tied to similar histories, religions, and economic ways of life. They have impressive nature, such as northern lights, fjords, and archipelagos. Nordic countries are also famous for folk culture with their music, architecture, fairy tales, and more.
Out of the Nordic countries, Finland is the only one that has taken on the euro as their currency. Then Iceland and Norway are the only ones not a part of the European Union.
The Nordic Territories
Greenland is an autonomous territory of Denmark. Therefore, since it’s not a part of the Scandinavian peninsula, it is considered Nordic.
Svalbard is an archipelago of Norway that is between Norway and the North Pole. It is the Northernmost inhabited area with rugged terrain and lots of Nordic wildlife.
The Faroe Islands are another autonomous, self-governing territory of Denmark. It consists of 18 archipelagos in the Northern Atlantic Ocean.
Åland Islands are an autonomous region of Finland. Six thousand seven hundred islands make up the Åland Islands and are located in the Baltic Sea between Sweden and Finland.
Nordic vs Scandinavian design?
Both types of design are similar in simplicity, natural elements, and sustainability. The different geographical and historical differences, as mentioned above, influence slightly different design styles.
Scandinavian design emphasizes minimalism, functionality, neutral colors, and practicality. In comparison, the Nordic design emphasizes coziness, handcrafted elements, warm tones, and creating an inviting and relaxed space.
