The Nordic countries (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland and Denmark) have a lot in common. Both are welfare countries, and Nordic countries have a long history of cooperation. But different Nordic countries have different curriculum structures. Only in the lower grades, geography classes in Nordic countries are offered separately. In Norway, Iceland and Sweden, geography is a part of social science. In Finland, it is part of biology and geography classes.

In Norway and Iceland, civics, history and geography are all taught in social studies, but these three courses have their own systems. The same structure also appears in Sweden, but social studies in Sweden include a wider range, including religion.

In Finland, geography, biology, physics, chemistry and health education are the teaching contents of environment and health courses in the first four years. In grades 5-6, geography and biology constitute biology and geography. In grades 7-9, geography and biology still belong to biology and geography, but both disciplines have their own disciplinary status.

In Denmark, geography, biology, physics and chemistry in grades 1-6 constitute a natural and technical course, while geography in grades 7-9 is a separate course.

In Norway, after the curriculum reform in 2006, geography still appears as a compulsory course in middle schools. In 2005, the position of geography in Swedish middle schools was questioned, and geography was replaced by a new curriculum "sustainable development". Middle schools in Finland have a compulsory course in physical geography and human geography. In Iceland, all courses related to geography are compulsory. In Finland, geography is no longer a compulsory course in middle schools.

Interestingly, in some countries such as Norway and Sweden, geography belongs to social science. In Denmark, it was assigned to natural science. In Finland, geography is mainly natural science, except human geography in middle schools. In Iceland, geography (including geography and geomorphology) belongs to both natural science and social science.

Human geography and physical geography? Or a traditional geography course?

In all countries in northern Europe, geography classes in junior high schools are complete. However, in high school, complete geography classes appear in Norway and Sweden. Physical geography is very important in Denmark. In Iceland and Finland, geography courses are divided into physical geography and human geography.