1998 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1998 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 1,399 sq km land: 1,399 sq km water: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams)
Area-comparative
eight times the size of Washington, DC
Climate
mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy
Coastline
1,117 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m
Environment-current issues
NA
Environment-international agreements
party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geographic coordinates
62 00 N, 7 00 W
Geography-note
archipelago of 17 inhabited islands and one uninhabited island, and a few uninhabited islets; strategically located along important sea lanes in northeastern Atlantic; precipitous terrain limits habitation to small coastal lowlands
Irrigated land
0 sq km
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 6% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 94% (1996)
Location
Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the north Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Iceland to Norway
Map references
Europe
Maritime claims
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
Natural hazards
NA
Natural resources
fish, whales
Terrain
rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 23% (male 4,971; female 4,777) 15-64 years: 62% (male 13,896; female 12,034) 65 years and over: 15% (male 2,759; female 3,397) (July 1998 est.)
Birth rate
13.08 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate
8.84 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Ethnic groups
Scandinavian
Infant mortality rate
10.5 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Languages
Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 78.43 years male: 75.53 years female: 81.45 years (1998 est.)
Literacy
NA note: similar to Denmark proper
Nationality
noun: Faroese (singular and plural) adjective: Faroese
Net migration rate
-21.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Population
41,834 (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate
-1.72% (1998 est.)
Religions
Evangelical Lutheran
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.15 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate
2.36 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Constitution
5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)
Country name
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Faroe Islands local long form: none local short form: Foroyar
Data code
FO
Dependency status
part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1948
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Bente KLINTE, chief administrative officer (since NA) head of government: Prime Minister Anfinn KALLSBERG (since NA May 1998) cabinet: Landsstyri elected by the Faroese Parliament elections: the queen is a constitutional monarch; high commissioner appointed by the queen; following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats is usually elected prime minister by the Faroese Parliament; election last held NA 1994 (next to be held NA 1998) election results: Edmund JOENSEN elected prime minister; percent of parliamentary vote - 23.4%
Flag description
white with a red cross outlined in blue that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
Government type
NA
Independence
none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
International organization participation
none Diplomatic representation in the US: none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Judicial branch
none Political parties and leaders: Social Democratic Party [Joannes EIDESGAARD]; Workers' Party [Alis JACOBSEN]; Home Rule Party [Helena Dam A NEYSTABO]; Unionist Party [Edmund JOENSEN]; Republican Party [Heini O. HEINESEN]; Center Party [Tordur NICLASEN]; Christian People's Party [Niels Pauli DANIELSEN]; People's Party [Arnfinn KALLSBERG]
Legal system
Danish
Legislative branch
unicameral Faroese Parliament or Logting (32 seats; members are elected on a proportional basis from the seven constituencies to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 30 April 1998 (next to be held by NA July 2002) election results: percent of vote by party-Republicans 23.8%, People's Party 21.3%, Social Democrats 21.9%, Coalition Party (Union Party, Labor Front, Home Rule Party) 15%; seats by party-Republicans 8, People's Party 8, Social Democrats 7, Coalition Party 6, other parties 3 note: election of 2 seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on 21 September 1994 (next to be held by September 1998); results-percent of vote by party - Unionist Party 22.5%, People's Party 21.7%; seats by party-Unionist Party 1, People's Party 1
National capital
Torshavn
National holiday
Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture-products
milk, potatoes, vegetables; sheep; salmon farming; fish
Budget
revenues: $467 million expenditures: $468 million, including capital expenditures of $11 million (1996 est.)
Currency
1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 oere
Debt-external
$767 million (1995 est.)
Economic aid
receives an annual subsidy from Denmark of about $150 million (1995)
Economy-overview
The Faroese economy in 1995 and 1996 saw a noticeable upturn after several years of decline brought on by a drop in fish catches and declining prices and by over-spending by the Faroese Home Rule Government (FHRG). In the early 1990s, property values plummeted, and the FHRG had to bail out and merge the two largest Faroese banks. Fishing is now improving; wage costs are increasing; the FHRG's budget is almost in balance; and the large foreign debt has come down significantly. Nevertheless, the total dependence on fishing makes the Faroese economy extremely vulnerable, and the reduction in the foreign debt is at the cost of low investment. Oil finds close to the Faroese area give hope for deposits in the immediate Faroese area, which may lay the basis for an eventual economic rebound. The Faroese are supported by a substantial annual subsidy from Denmark.
Electricity-capacity
91,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita
4,092 kWh (1995)
Electricity-production
200 million kWh (1995)
Exchange rates
Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1-6.916 (January 1998), 6.604 (1997), 5.799 (1966), 5.602 (1995), 6.361 (1994), 6.484 (1993)
Exports
total value: $362 million (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: fish and fish products 92%, animal feedstuffs, transport equipment (ships) partners: Denmark 22.2%, UK 25.8%, Germany 9.7%, France 8.3%, Norway 6.2%, US 2.0%
Fiscal year
calendar year Communications
GDP
purchasing power parity-$800 million (1996 est.)
GDP-composition by sector
agriculture: 20% industry: 16% services: 64% (1996 est.)
GDP-per capita
purchasing power parity-$16,300 (1996 est.)
GDP-real growth rate
6% (1996 est.)
Imports
total value: $315.6 (c.i.f., 1995) commodities: machinery and transport equipment 17.0%, consumer goods 33%, raw materials and semi-manufactures 26.9%, fuels 11.4%, fish and salt 6.7% partners: Denmark 34.5%, Norway 15.9%, UK 8.4% Germany 7.8%, Sweden 5.8%, US 1.5%
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
fishing, shipbuilding, construction, handicrafts
Inflation rate-consumer price index
2.8% (1996 est.)
Labor force
total: 20,345 (1995 est.) by occupation: largely engaged in fishing, manufacturing, transportation, and commerce
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1, FM 1 (repeaters 13), shortwave 0
Radios
11,800 (1996 est.)
Telephone system
good international communications; good domestic facilities domestic: digitalization to be completed in 1998 international: satellite earth stations-1 Orion; 1 optical fiber submarine cable linking the Faroe Islands with Denmark and Iceland
Telephones
26,000 of which about 3,500 are mobile telephones (1996)
Television broadcast stations
1 (repeaters 45)
Televisions
11,600 (1996 est.)
Unemployment rate
11% (1996 est.)
Transportation
Airports
1 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Highways
total: 458 km paved: 450 km unpaved: 8 km (1995 est.) Ports and harbors: Torshavn, Klaksvik, Tvoroyri, Runavik, Fuglafjorour
Merchant marine
total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 22,853 GRT/13,481 DWT ships by type: cargo 2, oil tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea passenger 1 (1997 est.)
Railways
0 km
Military and Security
Military branches
no organized native military forces; only a small Police Force and Coast Guard are maintained
Military expenditures-dollar figure
$NA
Military expenditures-percent of GDP
NA%
Military-note
defense is the responsibility of Denmark
Transnational Issues
Disputes-international
none