2010 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 granted the Faroese in 1948, who have autonomy over most internal affairs while Denmark is responsible for justice, defense, and foreign affairs. The Faroe Islands are not part of the European Union.

Area

land

1,393 sq km

total

1,393 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

Environment - international agreements

party to

Marine Dumping - associate member to the London Convention and Ship Pollution

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

2.14%

other

97.86% (2005)

permanent crops

0%

Location

Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about half way between Iceland and 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

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

fish, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 21.6% (male 5,451/female 5,108) 15-64 years: 64% (male 16,708/female 14,544) 65 years and over: 14.4% (male 3,324/female 3,721) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

12.9 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

8.66 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Ethnic groups

Scandinavian

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

female

5.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

6.43 deaths/1,000 live births

total

6.18 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish

Life expectancy at birth

female

82.21 years (2010 est.)

male

77.13 years

total population

79.58 years

Literacy

NA; note - probably 99%, the same as Denmark proper

Median age

female

37.9 years (2010 est.)

male

36.5 years

total

37.1 years

Nationality

adjective

Faroese

noun

Faroese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

49,057 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

0.424% (2010 est.)

Religions

Evangelical Lutheran 83.8%, other and unspecified 16.2% (2006 census)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.069 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.15 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female

total population

1.09 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.43 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

41% of total population (2008)

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 34 municipalities

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

62 01 N, 6 46 W

name

Torshavn

time difference

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

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 appointed by the prime minister (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Dan Michael KNUDSEN, chief administrative officer (since 2008)

election results

Joannes EIDESGAARD elected prime minister in 2008; governing coalition collapses in September 2008, Kaj Leo JOHANNESSEN becomes prime minister

elections

the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by the Faroese Parliament; election last held on 19 January 2008 (next to be held no later than January 2012)

head of government

Prime Minister Kaj Leo JOHANNESSEN (since 26 September 2008)

Flag description

white with a red cross outlined in blue extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted toward the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag); referred to as Merkid, meaning "the banner" or "the mark," the flag resembles those of neighboring Iceland and Norway, and uses the same three colors - but in a different sequence; white represents the clear Faroese sky as well as the foam of the waves; red and blue are traditional Faroese colors

Government type

NA

Independence

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

International organization participation

Arctic Council, IMO (associate), NC, NIB, UNESCO (associate), UPU

Judicial branch

none

Legal system

the laws of Denmark where applicable apply

Legislative branch

unicameral Faroese Parliament or Logting (33 seats; members elected by popular vote on a proportional basis from the seven constituencies to serve four-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - Union Party 21%, Social Democratic Party 19.3%, Republican Party 23.3%, People's Party 20.1%, Center Party 8.4%, Independence Party 7.2%, other 0.7%; seats by party - Republican Party 8, Union Party 7, Social Democratic Party 6, People's Party 7, Center Party 3, Independence Party 2 note: election of two seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on 13 November 2007 (next to be held no later than November 2011); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 1, Union Party 1

elections

last held on 19 January 2008 (next to be held no later than January 2012)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Simun av SKAROI/Peter ALBERG note: adopted 1948; the anthem is also known as "Tu alfagra land mitt" (Thou Fairest Land of Mine); as an autonomous overseas division of Denmark, the Faroe Islands are permitted their own national anthem

name

"Mitt alfagra land" (My Fairest Land)

National holiday

Olaifest (Olavsoka ), 29 July

Political parties and leaders

Center Party [Jenis av RANA]; Independence Party [Kari P. HOJGAARD]; People's Party [Jorgen NICLASEN]; Republican Party [Hogni HOYDAL]; Social Democratic Party [Joannes EIDESGAARD]; Union Party [Kaj Leo JOHANNESEN]

Political pressure groups and leaders

conservationists

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Debt - external

$68.1 million (2006)

Economy - overview

The Faroese economy is dependent on fishing, which makes the economy vulnerable to price swings. The sector accounts for about 95% of exports and nearly half of GDP. In early 2008 the Faroese economy began to slow as a result of smaller catches and historically high oil prices that continue to trouble the economy. Though oil prices have come down, reduced catches, especially of cod and haddock, have continued to strain the Faroese economy. GDP grew 0.5% in 2008-09. The slowdown in the Faroese economy followed a strong performance since the mid-1990s with annual growth rates averaging close to 6%, mostly a result of increased fish landings and salmon farming, and high export prices. Unemployment reached its lowest level in the first half of 2008, but increased to 3.9% in 2009 and is rising. The Faroese Home Rule Government produced increasing budget surpluses that helped to reduce the large public debt, most of it to Denmark. However, total dependence on fishing and salmon farming make the Faroese economy very vulnerable to fluctuations in world demand. In addition, budget surpluses turned to deficits in 2008-09, and the economy at both the country and local level is running large deficits. Initial discoveries of oil in the Faroese area give hope for eventual oil production, which may provide a foundation for a more diversified economy and less dependence on Danish economic assistance. Aided by an annual subsidy from Denmark amounting to about 6% of Faroese GDP, the Faroese have a standard of living almost equal to that of Denmark and Greenland.

Electricity - consumption

264.4 million kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008)

Electricity - production

275.8 million kWh (2008 est.)

Exchange rates

Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - 5.774 (2009), 5.0236 (2008), 5.4797 (2007), 5.9468 (2006)

Exports

$848 million (2008) $634 million (2006)

Exports - commodities

fish and fish products 94%, stamps, ships

Exports - partners

Hungary 36.26%, Denmark 21.36%, UK 12.21%, Nigeria 7.72%, US 6.49%, Norway 5.46% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

16%

industry

29%

services

55% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$34,000 (2008 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

0.5% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.45 billion (2008 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.642 billion (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$983 million (2008) $751 million (2006)

Imports - commodities

consumer goods 36%, raw materials and semi-manufactures 32%, machinery and transport equipment 29%, fuels, fish, salt

Imports - partners

Denmark 54.42%, Norway 20.76%, Sweden 4.79% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

8% (2007 est.)

Industries

fishing, fish processing, small ship repair and refurbishment, handicrafts

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-1.1% (2009) 6.4% (2008)

Labor force

34,680 (November 2008)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

10.2%

industry

20.5%

services

69.2% (2008)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

5,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2008)

Oil - imports

4,922 bbl/day (2008)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

3.9% (2009) 1.2% (2008)

Broadcast media

1 publicly-owned TV station; the Faroese telecommunications company distributes local and international channels through its digital terrestrial network; publicly-owned radio station supplemented by 2 privately-owned stations broadcasting over multiple frequencies (2008)

Internet country code

.fo

Internet hosts

8,936 (2010)

Internet users

37,500 (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

conversion to digital system completed in 1998; both NMT (analog) and GSM (digital) mobile telephone systems are installed

general assessment

good international communications; good domestic facilities

international

country code - 298; 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

20,900 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

57,000 (2009)

Airports

1 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

cargo 11, chemical tanker 6, container 2, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 3, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 1

foreign-owned

11 (Norway 6, Sweden 5) (2010)

total

26

Ports and terminals

Fuglafjordur, Torshavn, Vagur

Roadways

total

463 km (2006)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 11,788 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 9,792 females age 16-49: 8,354 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

368 (2010 est.)

male

379

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of Denmark

Military branches

no regular military forces

Military expenditures

NA

Disputes - international

because anticipated offshore hydrocarbon resources have not been realized, earlier Faroese proposals for full independence have been deferred; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm page last updated on January 19, 2011 ======================================================================