2017 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

1,393 sq km 1,393 sq km 0 sq km (some lakes and streams)

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

NA lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m

elevation extremes

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point

Slaettaratindur 882 m

mean elevation

NA

Environment - current issues

coastal erosion, landslides and rockfalls, flash flooding, wind storms; oil spills

Environment - international agreements

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

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

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

2.1% arable land 2.1%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 0% 0.1% 97.8% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

2.1%

forest

0.1%

other

97.8% (2011 est.)

Location

Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about halfway between Iceland and Norway

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

12 nm 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line

continental shelf

200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line

exclusive fishing zone

200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

strong winds and heavy rains can occur throughout the year

Natural resources

fish, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas

Population - distribution

the island of Streymoy is by far the most populous with over 40% of the population; it has approximately twice as many inhabitants as Eysturoy, the second most populous island; seven of the inhabited islands have fewer than 100 people

Terrain

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

Age structure

19.89% (male 5,214/female 4,878) 14.34% (male 3,738/female 3,538) 37.31% (male 10,252/female 8,676) 11.69% (male 3,054/female 2,878) 16.76% (male 4,111/female 4,391) (2017 est.)

0-14 years

19.89% (male 5,214/female 4,878)

15-24 years

14.34% (male 3,738/female 3,538)

25-54 years

37.31% (male 10,252/female 8,676)

55-64 years

11.69% (male 3,054/female 2,878)

65 years and over

16.76% (male 4,111/female 4,391) (2017 est.)

Birth rate

14.3 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Death rate

8.8 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Ethnic groups

Faroese 89.2% (Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon descent), Danish 7.1%, other 3.7% (includes Icelander, Norwegian, Greenlander, Filipino, Thai, British) data represent respondents by country of birth (2011 est.)

note

data represent respondents by country of birth (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Hospital bed density

5.14 beds/1,000 population (2014)

Infant mortality rate

5.4 deaths/1,000 live births 5.7 deaths/1,000 live births 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

female

5.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.)

male

5.7 deaths/1,000 live births

total

5.4 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Faroese 93.8% (derived from Old Norse), Danish 3.2%, other 3% (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

80.5 years 78 years 83.2 years (2017 est.)

female

83.2 years (2017 est.)

male

78 years

total population

80.5 years

Major urban areas - population

TORSHAVN (capital) 21,000 (2014)

Median age

37.6 years 37.1 years 38.3 years (2017 est.)

female

38.3 years (2017 est.)

male

37.1 years

total

37.6 years

Nationality

Faroese (singular and plural) Faroese

adjective

Faroese

noun

Faroese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

Physicians density

2.63 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

Population

50,730 (July 2017 est.)

Population distribution

the island of Streymoy is by far the most populous with over 40% of the population; it has approximately twice as many inhabitants as Eysturoy, the second most populous island; seven of the inhabited islands have fewer than 100 people

Population growth rate

0.55% (2017 est.)

Religions

Christian 89.3% (predominantly Evangelical Lutheran), other 0.7%, more than one religion 0.2%, none 3.8%, unspecified 6% (2011 est.)

Sex ratio

1.07 male(s)/female 1.07 male(s)/female 1.05 male(s)/female 1.18 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 0.94 male(s)/female 1.08 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

0-14 years

1.07 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.05 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.18 male(s)/female

55-64 years

1.06 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.94 male(s)/female

at birth

1.07 male(s)/female

total population

1.08 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.35 children born/woman (2017 est.)

Urbanization

42.4% of total population (2017) 0.87% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

rate of urbanization

0.87% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

42.4% of total population (2017)

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 30 municipalities

Capital

Torshavn 62 00 N, 6 46 W UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

daylight saving time

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

geographic coordinates

62 00 N, 6 46 W

name

Torshavn

time difference

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

Citizenship

see Denmark

Constitution

5 June 1953 (Danish Constitution), 23 March 1948 (Home Rule Act), and 24 June 2005 (Takeover Act) serve as the Faroe Islands constitutional position in the Unity of the Realm see entry for Denmark (2016)

amendments

see entry for Denmark (2016)

history

5 June 1953 (Danish Constitution), 23 March 1948 (Home Rule Act), and 24 June 2005 (Takeover Act) serve as the Faroe Islands constitutional position in the Unity of the Realm

Country name

none Faroe Islands none Foroyar the archipelago's name may derive from the Old Norse word "faer," meaning sheep

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Faroe Islands

etymology

the archipelago's name may derive from the Old Norse word "faer," meaning sheep

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

Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Dan Michael KNUDSEN, chief administrative officer (since 1 January 2008) Prime Minister Aksel V. JOHANNESEN (since 15 September 2015) Landsstyri appointed by the prime minister the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually elected prime minister by the Faroese Parliament; election last held on 1 September 2015 (next to be held in 2019) Aksel V. JOHANNESEN elected prime minister; Parliament vote - NA

cabinet

Landsstyri appointed by the prime minister

chief of state

Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Dan Michael KNUDSEN, chief administrative officer (since 1 January 2008)

election results

Aksel V. JOHANNESEN elected prime minister; Parliament vote - NA

elections/appointments

the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually elected prime minister by the Faroese Parliament; election last held on 1 September 2015 (next to be held in 2019)

head of government

Prime Minister Aksel V. JOHANNESEN (since 15 September 2015)

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 the blue on the flag is a lighter blue (azure) than that found on the flags of Iceland or Norway

note

the blue on the flag is a lighter blue (azure) than that found on the flags of Iceland or Norway

Government type

parliamentary democracy (Faroese Parliament); part of the Kingdom of Denmark

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

Faroese Court or Raett (Rett - Danish) decides both civil and criminal cases; the Court is part of the Danish legal system Court of the First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif; Mixed Commercial Court; Land Court

highest court(s)

Faroese Court or Raett (Rett - Danish) decides both civil and criminal cases; the Court is part of the Danish legal system

subordinate courts

Court of the First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif; Mixed Commercial Court; Land Court

Legal system

the laws of Denmark, where applicable, apply

Legislative branch

unicameral Faroese Parliament or Logting (33 seats; members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms) last held on 1 September 2015 (next to be held no later than October 2019) percent of vote by party - JF 25.1%, Republic 20.7%, People's Party, 18.9%, Union Party 18.7%, Progressive Party 7%, Center Party 5.5%, Self-Government Party 4.1%; seats by party - JF 8, Republic 7, People's Party 6, Union Party 6, Center Party 2, Progressive Party 2, Self-Government Party 2 election for 2 seats in the Danish Parliament was last held on 18 June 2015 (next to be held no later than June 2019); percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Social Democratic Party 1, Republican Party 1

description

unicameral Faroese Parliament or Logting (33 seats; members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - JF 25.1%, Republic 20.7%, People's Party, 18.9%, Union Party 18.7%, Progressive Party 7%, Center Party 5.5%, Self-Government Party 4.1%; seats by party - JF 8, Republic 7, People's Party 6, Union Party 6, Center Party 2, Progressive Party 2, Self-Government Party 2

elections

last held on 1 September 2015 (next to be held no later than October 2019)

note

election for 2 seats in the Danish Parliament was last held on 18 June 2015 (next to be held no later than June 2019); percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Social Democratic Party 1, Republican Party 1

National anthem

"Mitt alfagra land" (My Fairest Land) Simun av SKAROI/Peter ALBERG adopted 1948; the anthem is also known as "Tu alfagra land mitt" (Thou Fairest Land of Mine); as a self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark, the Faroe Islands are permitted their own national anthem

lyrics/music

Simun av SKAROI/Peter ALBERG

name

"Mitt alfagra land" (My Fairest Land)

note

adopted 1948; the anthem is also known as "Tu alfagra land mitt" (Thou Fairest Land of Mine); as a self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark, the Faroe Islands are permitted their own national anthem

National holiday

Olaifest (Olavsoka) (commemorates the death in battle of King Olaf II of Norway, later St. Olaf), 29 July (1030)

National symbol(s)

ram; national colors: red, white, blue

ram; national colors

red, white, blue

Political parties and leaders

Center Party (Midflokkurin) [Jenis av RANA] New Self-Government Party (Nytt Sjalvstyri) [Jogvan SKORHEIM] (formerly Self-Govenment Party) (Sjalvstyrisflokkurin) People's Party (Folkaflokkurin) [Jorgen NICLASEN] Progressive Party (Framsokn) [Poul MICHELSEN] Republic (Tjodveldi) [Hogni HOYDAL] (formerly the Republican Party) Social Democratic Party (Javnadarflokkurin) or JF [Aksel V. JOHANNESEN] Union Party (Sambandsflokkurin) [Bardur a STEIG NIELSEN]

Political pressure groups and leaders

conservationists

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

milk, potatoes, vegetables, sheep, salmon, herring, mackerel and other fish

Budget

$835.6 million $883.8 million Denmark supplies the Faroe Islands with almost one-third of their public funds (2014)

expenditures

$883.8 million

note

Denmark supplies the Faroe Islands with almost one-third of their public funds (2014)

revenues

$835.6 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-1.7% of GDP (2014 est.)

Debt - external

$387.6 million (2012) $274.5 million (2010)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

22.7 (2013 est.) 21.6 (2011 est.)

Economy - overview

The Faroese economy has experienced a period of significant growth since 2011, due to higher fish prices and increased salmon farming and catches in the pelagic fisheries. Nominal GDP, measured in current prices, grew 8.0% in 2015 and 7.8% in 2016. The fisheries sector accounts for about 97% of exports and half of GDP. Dependence on fishing makes the economy vulnerable to price fluctuations. Unemployment is low, estimated at 2.5% in early 2017. Aided by an annual subsidy from Denmark, which amounts to about 4% of Faroese GDP, Faroese have a standard of living equal to that of Denmark. For the first time in 8 years, the Faroe Islands managed to generate a public budget surplus in 2016, a trend which is continuing in 2017. The local government intends to use this to reduce public debt, which reached 38% of GDP in 2015. Increasing public infrastructure investments are likely to lead to continued growth in the short term, but could contribute to overheating the economy. Signs of overheating led the Danish Central Bank in fall of 2016 to advise the Faroese local government to initiate measures to cool the economy, including postponing spending on infrastructure spending. The local government is planning to allocate part of the expected public surplus to a business-cycle-equalization fund.

Exchange rates

Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - 6.7309 (2016) 6.7269 (2015) 6.7236 (2014 est.) 5.6125 (2013 est.) 5.79 (2012 est.)

Exports

$1.184 billion (2016 est.) $1.019 billion (2015 est.)

Exports - commodities

fish and fish products (97%) (2017 est.)

Exports - partners

UK 17.8%, Russia 17.3%, Germany 9.8%, China 9.2%, Denmark 6.5%, US 6%, Spain 4.8%, Poland 4.3% (2016)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

18% 39% 43% (2013 est.)

agriculture

18%

industry

39%

services

43% (2013 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$40,000 (2014 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

5.9% (2014 est.) 7.5% (2013 est.) 2.4% (2013 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.765 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$2.001 billion (2014 est.) $1.89 billion (2013 est.) $1.608 billion (2013 est.)

Gross national saving

25.7% of GDP (2012 est.) 25.2% of GDP (2011 est.) 25.9% of GDP (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

NA% NA%

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$978.4 million (2016 est.) $906.1 million (2015 est.)

Imports - commodities

goods for household consumption, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, raw materials and semi-manufactures, cars

Imports - partners

Denmark 26.6%, Germany 10.7%, China 10.6%, Norway 10.2%, Poland 6.2%, Ireland 5%, Chile 4.2% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate

3.4% (2009 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-0.3% (2016) -1.7% (2015)

Labor force

28,900 (2015 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

15% 15% 70% (December 2016 est)

agriculture

15%

industry

15%

services

70% (December 2016 est)

Population below poverty line

4.2% (2012 est.)

Public debt

35% of GDP (2014 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

30.2% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

2.8% (2016 est.) 2.9% (2015 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

800,000 Mt (2013 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2017 es)

Electricity - consumption

291.4 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

50.1% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

33.5% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

16.4% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

128,000 kW (2015 est.)

Electricity - production

317.4 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity access

100% (2016)

electrification - total population

100% (2016)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2016 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2016 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

3,947 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

3,947 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2016 est.)

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 3 privately owned stations broadcasting over multiple frequencies (2015)

Internet country code

.fo

Internet users

47,988 95.1% (July 2016 est.)

percent of population

95.1% (July 2016 est.)

total

47,988

Telephone system

good international communications; good domestic facilities conversion to digital system completed in 1998; both NMT (analog) and GSM (digital) mobile telephone systems are installed 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 (2015)

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 (2015)

Telephones - fixed lines

23,139 46 (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

46 (July 2016 est.)

total subscriptions

23,139

Telephones - mobile cellular

54,487 108 (July 2016 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

108 (July 2016 est.)

total

54,487

Airports

1 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2017)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2017)

total

1

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

OY-H (2016)

Merchant marine

cargo 20, chemical tanker 7, container 2, passenger/cargo 3, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 2 28 (Iceland 4, Norway 13, Sweden 11) (2010)

by type

cargo 20, chemical tanker 7, container 2, passenger/cargo 3, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 2

foreign-owned

28 (Iceland 4, Norway 13, Sweden 11) (2010)

total

37

National air transport system

1 (registered in Denmark) 3 (registered in Denmark) (2015)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

3 (registered in Denmark) (2015)

number of registered air carriers

1 (registered in Denmark)

Ports and terminals

Fuglafjordur, Torshavn, Vagur

major seaport(s)

Fuglafjordur, Torshavn, Vagur

Roadways

960 km those islands not commected by roads (bridges or tunnels) are connected by seven different ferry links operated by the nationally owned company SSL (2017)

note

those islands not commected by roads (bridges or tunnels) are connected by seven different ferry links operated by the nationally owned company SSL (2017)

total

960 km

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of Denmark

Military branches

no regular military forces or conscription; the Government of Denmark has responsibility for defense; as such, the Danish military’s Joint Arctic Command in Nuuk, Greenland is responsible for territorial defense of the Faroe Islands; the Joint Arctic Command has a contact element in the capital of Torshavn (2017)

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 to UNCLOS that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm