2001 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2001 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Administrative divisions
none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 49 municipalities
Age structure
0-14 years: 22.62% (male 5,193; female 5,136) 15-64 years: 63.64% (male 15,463; female 13,596) 65 years and over: 13.74% (male 2,802; female 3,471) (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products
milk, potatoes, vegetables; sheep; salmon, other fish
Airports
1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2000 est.) Faroe Islands Military
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
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. Faroe Islands Geography
Birth rate
13.64 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Budget
revenues: $488 million expenditures: $484 million, including capital expenditures of $21 million (1999)
Capital
Torshavn
Climate
mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy
Coastline
1,117 km
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
Currency
Danish krone (DKK)
Currency code
DKK
Death rate
8.69 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Debt - external
$64 million (1999)
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)
Disputes - international
Faroese are considering proposals for full independence
Economic aid - recipient
$135 million (annual subsidy from Denmark) (1999)
Economy - overview
The Faroese economy has had a strong performance since 1994, mostly as a result of increasing fish landings and high and stable export prices. Unemployment is falling and there are signs of labor shortages in several sectors. The positive economic development has helped the Faroese Home Rule Government produce increasing budget surpluses which in turn help to reduce the large public debt, most of it owed to Denmark. However, the total dependence on fishing makes the Faroese economy extremely vulnerable, and the present fishing efforts appear in excess of what is required to ensure a sustainable level of fishing in the long term. Oil finds close to the Faroese area give hope for deposits in the immediate Faroese area, which may eventually lay the basis for a more diversified economy and thus less dependence on Denmark and Danish economic assistance. Aided by a substantial annual subsidy (15% of GDP) from Denmark, the Faroese have a standard of living not far below the Danes and other Scandinavians.
Electricity - consumption
158.1 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production
170 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: 58.82% hydro: 41.18% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m
Environment - current issues
NA
Ethnic groups
Scandinavian
Exchange rates
Danish kroner per US dollar - 7.951 (January 2001), 8.093 (2000), 6.976 (1999), 6.701 (1998), 6.604 (1997), 5.799 (1966)
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Ms. Vibeke LARSEN, chief administrative officer (since NA) head of government: Prime Minister Anfinn KALLSBERG (since 15 May 1998) cabinet: Landsstyri appointed by the prime minister 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 no later than April 2002) election results: Anfinn KALLSBERG elected prime minister; percent of parliamentary vote - 52.8% note: coalition of People's Party, Republican Party and Home Rule Party
Exports
$471 million (f.o.b., 1999)
Exports - commodities
fish and fish products 94%, stamps, ships (1999)
Exports - partners
Denmark 32%, UK 21%, France 9%, Germany 7%, Iceland 5%, US 5% (1996)
Fiscal year
calendar year Faroe Islands Communications
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) Faroe Islands Economy
GDP
purchasing power parity - $910 million (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 27% industry: 11% services: 62% (1999)
GDP - per capita
purchasing power parity - $20,000 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
5% (2000 est.)
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 Faroe Islands People
Government type
NA
Highways
total: 463 km paved: 454 km unpaved: 9 km (1999)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA%
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$469 million (c.i.f., 1999)
Imports - commodities
machinery and transport equipment 29%, consumer goods 36%, raw materials and semi-manufactures 32%, fuels, fish and salt (1999)
Imports - partners
Denmark 28%, Norway 26%, Germany 7%, UK 6% Sweden 5%, Iceland 4%, US (1999)
Independence
none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Industrial production growth rate
8% (1999 est.)
Industries
fishing, fish processing, shipbuilding, construction, handicrafts
Infant mortality rate
6.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
5.1% (1999)
International organization participation
NC, NIB
Internet country code
.fo
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
2 (2000)
Internet users
3,000 (2000) Faroe Islands Transportation
Irrigated land
0 sq km
Judicial branch
none
Labor force
24,250 (October 2000)
Labor force - by occupation
fishing, fish processing, and manufacturing 33%, construction and private services 33%, public services 34%
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 6% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 94% (1996)
Languages
Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish
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) elections: last held 30 April 1998 (next to be held not later than April 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - Republican Party 23.8%, People's Party 21.3%, Social Democratic Party 21.9%, Union Party 18%, Home Rue Party 7.7%, Center Party 4.1%; seats by party - Republican Party 8, People's Party 8, Social Democratic Party 7, Union Party 6, Home Rule Party 2, Center Party 1 note: election of 2 seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on 11 March 1998 (next to be held not later than March 2002); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Social Democratic Party 1, People's Party 1
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 78.59 years male: 75.12 years female: 82.06 years
Literacy
definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% note: similar to Denmark proper Faroe Islands Government
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
continental shelf: 200 NM or agreed boundaries or median line exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM or agreed boundaries or median line territorial sea: 3 NM
Merchant marine
total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 23,247 GRT/11,736 DWT ships by type: cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1, short-sea passenger 1 (2000 est.)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of Denmark Faroe Islands Transnational Issues
Military branches
defense is the responsibility of Denmark; 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%
National holiday
Olaifest, 29 July
Nationality
noun: Faroese (singular and plural) adjective: Faroese
Natural hazards
NA
Natural resources
fish, whales, hydropower
Net migration rate
2.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Political parties and leaders
Center Party [Jenis A. RANA]; Home Rule Party [Helena Dam a NEYSTABO]; People's Party [Oli BRECKMANN]; Republican Party [Hogni HOYDAL]; Social Democratic Party [Joannes EIDESGAARD]; Union Party [Edmund JOENSEN]
Political pressure groups and leaders
NA
Population
45,661 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Population growth rate
0.78% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors
Torshavn, Klaksvik, Tvoroyri, Runavik, Fuglafjorour
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios
26,000 (1997)
Railways
0 km
Religions
Evangelical Lutheran
Sex ratio
at birth: 1 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 (2001 est.)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Telephone system
general assessment: good international communications; good domestic facilities domestic: digitalization was completed in 1998; both NMT (analog) and GSM (digital) mobile telephone systems are installed international: satellite earth stations - 1 Orion; 1 fiber-optic submarine cable to the Shetland Islands, linking the Faroe Islands with Denmark and Iceland; fiber-optic submarine cable connection to Canada-Europe cable
Telephones - main lines in use
24,851 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular
10,761 (1999)
Television broadcast stations
3 (plus 43 low-power repeaters) (September 1995)
Televisions
15,000 (1997)
Terrain
rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast
Total fertility rate
2.3 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Unemployment rate
1% (October 2000)
Waterways
none