2000 Edition

Background

The population of the Faroe Islands is largely descended from Viking settlers who arrived in the 9th century. The islands have been connected politically to Denmark since the 14th century. A high degree of self-government was attained in 1948.

Area

land

1,399 sq km

total

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

highest point

Slaettaratindur 882 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

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%

forests and woodland

0%

other

94% (1996)

permanent crops

0%

permanent pastures

0%

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, hydropower

Terrain

rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast

Age structure

0-14 years: 23% (male 5,233; female 5,163) 15-64 years: 63% (male 15,270; female 13,382) 65 years and over: 14% (male 2,788; female 3,460) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

13.58 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

8.7 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

Scandinavian

Infant mortality rate

6.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish

Life expectancy at birth

female

81.92 years (2000 est.)

male

74.96 years

total population

78.43 years

Literacy

definition

NA

female

NA%

male

NA%

note

similar to Denmark proper

total population

NA%

Nationality

adjective

Faroese

noun

Faroese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

3.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

45,296 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

0.83% (2000 est.)

Religions

Evangelical Lutheran

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.14 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female

total population

1.06 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.32 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Administrative divisions

none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Capital

Torshavn

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Executive branch

cabinet

Landsstyri elected by the Faroese Parliament

chief of state

Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Bente KLINTE, chief administrative officer (since NA)

election results

Anfinn KALLSBERG elected prime minister; percent of parliamentary vote - NA

elections

the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; 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 30 April 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)

head of government

Prime Minister Anfinn KALLSBERG (since 9 May 1998)

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

NC, NIB

Judicial branch

none

Legal system

Danish

Legislative branch

unicameral Faroese Parliament or Logting (32 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis from the seven constituencies to serve four-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - Republican Party 23.8%, People's Party 21.3%, Social Democratic Party 21.9%, Coalition Party (Union Party, Labor Front, Home Rule Party) 18%; seats by party - Republican Party 8, People's Party 8, Social Democratic Party 7, Coalition Party 6, other parties 3

elections

last held 30 April 1998 (next to be held by NA July 2002)

note

election of 2 seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on 11 March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Social Democratic Party 1, People's Party 1

National holiday

Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)

Political parties and leaders

Center Party ; Christian People's Party ; Home Rule Party ; Labor Front ; People's Party [Oli BRECKMANN]; Republican Party ; Social Democratic Party ; The Faroese Party ; Union Party

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

milk, potatoes, vegetables; sheep; salmon, other fish

Budget

expenditures

$468 million, including capital expenditures of $11 million (1996 est.)

revenues

$467 million

Currency

1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 oere

Debt - external

$767 million (1995 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$150 million (annual subsidy from Denmark) (1995)

Economy - overview

After the severe economic troubles of the early 1990s, brought on by a drop in the vital fish catch, the Faroe Islands have come back in the last few years, with unemployment down to 5% in mid-1998. Nevertheless, the almost total dependence on fishing means the economy remains extremely vulnerable. The Faroese hope to broaden their economic base by building new fish-processing plants. Oil finds close to the Faroese area give hope for deposits in the immediate area, which may lay the basis to sustained economic prosperity. The Faroese are supported by a substantial annual subsidy from Denmark.

Electricity - consumption

173 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

186 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

53.76%

hydro

45.7%

nuclear

0%

other

0.54% (1998)

Exchange rates

Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 - 7.336 (January 2000), 6.976 (1999), 6.701 (1998), 6.604 (1997), 5.799 (1966), 5.602 (1995)

Exports

$362 million (f.o.b., 1995)

Exports - commodities

fish and fish products 92%, animal feedstuffs, transport equipment (ships)

Exports - partners

Denmark 31%, UK 25%, Germany 9%, France 7%, Spain 6%, US 2% (1996)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $700 million (1996 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

20%

industry

16%

services

64% (1996 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $16,000 (1996 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

6% (1996 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$315.6 million (c.i.f., 1995)

Imports - 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%

Imports - partners

Denmark 33%, Norway 18%, UK 8% Germany 9%, Sweden 5%, US 2% (1996)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

fishing, shipbuilding, construction, handicrafts

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.8% (1996 est.)

Labor force

20,500 (1996 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

largely engaged in fishing, manufacturing, transportation, commerce

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

5% (1998 est.)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

26,000 (1997)

Telephone system

good international communications; good domestic facilities

domestic

digitalization was to have been completed in 1998

international

satellite earth stations - 1 Orion; 1 fiber-optic submarine cable linking the Faroe Islands with Denmark and Iceland

Telephones - main lines in use

22,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2,558 (1995)

Television broadcast stations

7 (plus 51 low-power repeaters) (September 1995)

Televisions

15,000 (1997)

Airports

1 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

450 km

total

458 km

unpaved

8 km (1995 est.)

Merchant marine

ships by type

cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off 1, short-sea passenger 1 (1999 est.)

total

6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 22,853 GRT/13,481 DWT

Ports and harbors

Torshavn, Klaksvik, Tvoroyri, Runavik, Fuglafjorour

Railways

0 km

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of Denmark

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%

Disputes - international

none

FIJI