2020 Edition

Background

The Faroe Islands were already populated by about A.D. 500, but whether the original settlers were Celtic or early Norse (or someone else) has yet to be determined. Viking settlers arrived on the islands in the 9th century, and the islands served as an important stepping stone for medieval Viking exploration of the North Atlantic. The islands have been connected politically to Denmark since the 14th century, and today the Faroe Islands are a self-governing dependency of Denmark. The Home Rule Act of 1948 granted a high degree of self-government to the Faroese, who have autonomy over most internal affairs and external trade, while Denmark is responsible for justice, defense, and some 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, D.C.

Climate

mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy

Coastline

1,117 km

Elevation

highest point

Slaettaratindur 882 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Geographic coordinates

62 00 N, 7 00 W

Geography - note

archipelago of 17 inhabited islands, 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

total

0 km

Land use

agricultural land

70.1% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0.1% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 70.1% (2023 est.)

forest

0.1% (2023 est.)

other

29.8% (2023 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

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

0-14 years

20% (male 5,489/female 5,122)

15-64 years

61.5% (male 17,188/female 15,346)

65 years and over

18.5% (2024 est.) (male 4,723/female 5,065)

Birth rate

14.76 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

52.3% (2021 est.)

Death rate

8.58 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

30.1 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio

3.3 (2024 est.)

total dependency ratio

62.7 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio

32.6 (2024 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: NA

improved: total

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: NA

unimproved: rural

rural: NA

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: NA

Education expenditure

7.6% of GDP (2019 est.)

Ethnic groups

Faroese 83.8% (Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon descent), Danish 8.3%, Filipino 1.2%, other Nordic 0.9%, other 4.5% (includes Polish and Romanian) (2024 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.09 (2025 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

5.1 deaths/1,000 live births

male

6.3 deaths/1,000 live births

total

5.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

84.4 years

male

79.2 years

total population

81.7 years (2024 est.)

Major urban areas - population

21,000 TORSHAVN (capital) (2018)

Median age

female

36.8 years

male

36.9 years

total

37 years (2025 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Faroese

noun

Faroese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Physician density

2.62 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

Population

female

25,533

male

27,400

total

52,933 (2024 est.)

Population growth rate

0.62% (2025 est.)

Religions

Christian 87% (predominantly Evangelical Lutheran), other 0.9%, none 3.7%, unspecified 8.9% (2011 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.07 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.12 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.93 male(s)/female

at birth

1.07 male(s)/female

total population

1.07 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.26 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.89% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

43% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

29 first-order municipalities (kommunur, singular - kommuna) Eidhi, Eystur, Famjin, Fuglafjordhur, Fugloy, Hov, Husavik, Hvalba, Hvannasund, Klaksvik, Kunoy, Kvivik, Nes, Porkeri, Runavik, Sandur, Sjovar, Skalavik, Skopun, Skuvoy, Sorvagur, Sumba, Sunda, Torshavn, Tvoroyri, Vagar, Vagur, Vestmanna, Vidhareidhi

Capital

daylight saving time

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

etymology

the name means "Thor's harbor" in Danish

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

amendment process

see entry for Denmark

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

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Faroe Islands

etymology

the archipelago's name derives from the Old Norse name Faeroyar, meaning "sheep islands;" faer means "sheep," and -oyar means "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

embassy

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

chief of state

King FREDERIK X of Denmark (since 14 January 2024), represented by High Commissioner Lene Moyell JOHANSEN, chief administrative officer (since 15 May 2017) (2024)

election/appointment process

the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the Parliament usually elects the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as the prime minister

expected date of next election

2026

head of government

Prime Minister Aksel V. JOHANNESEN (since 22 December 2022)

most recent election date

8 December 2022

Flag

description: white with a red cross outlined in blue that extends to the edges of the flag; the cross is shifted toward the left side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) meaning: white represents waves breaking on the shore; red and blue are traditional Faroese colors history: the flag is referred to as Merkid, meaning "the banner" or "the mark;" a group of students designed it in 1919, although it wasn't officially adopted until 1940

Government type

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

Independence

none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Faroese Court or Raett (Rett in 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 Première Instance; Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif; Mixed Commercial Court; Land Court

Legal system

the laws of Denmark apply

Legislative branch

electoral system

proportional representation

expected date of next election

2026

legislative structure

unicameral

legislature name

Faroese Parliament (Logting)

most recent election date

12/8/2022

number of seats

33 (directly elected)

parties elected and seats per party

JF (9); B (7); A (6); E (6); F (3); H (2)

percentage of women in chamber

27.3%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

4 years

National anthem(s)

history

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 to have their own national anthem

lyrics/music

Simun av SKAROI/Peter ALBERG

title

"Mitt alfagra land" (My Fairest Land)

National holiday

Olaifest (Olavsoka), 29 July (1030)

National symbol(s)

ram

Political parties

Center Party or H (Midflokkurin)  People's Party or A (Folkaflokkurin)  Progress Party or F (Framsokn)  Republic or E (Tjodveldi)  (formerly the Republican Party) Social Democratic Party or JF (Javnadarflokkurin) or JF  Union Party or B (Sambandsflokkurin)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

milk, potatoes, lamb/mutton, sheepskins, sheep offal, beef, sheep fat, beef offal, cattle hides, beef suet (2023)

Economic overview

high-income Danish territorial economy; party neither to the EU nor the Schengen Area; associate Nordic Council member; very low unemployment; unique foreign ownership allowance in fishing industry; known salmon exporter; growing IT industries

Exchange rates

Currency

Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

6.542 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

6.287 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

7.076 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

6.89 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

6.894 (2024 est.)

Exports

Exports 2021

$1.923 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$2.219 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$2.255 billion (2023 est.)

Exports - commodities

fish and fish products (2021)

Exports - partners

Russia 26.4%, UK 14.1%, Germany 8.4%, China 7.9%, Spain 6.8%, Denmark 6.2%, US 4.7%, Poland 4.4%, Norway 4.1% (2017)

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

57.7% (2023 est.)

government consumption

27.3% (2023 est.)

household consumption

40.6% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-56.6% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

31% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

0% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

18.2% (2023 est.)

industry

19.7% (2023 est.)

services

52% (2023 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$3.907 billion (2023 est.)

Imports

Imports 2021

$1.906 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$2.223 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$2.212 billion (2023 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Denmark 33%, China 10.7%, Germany 7.6%, Poland 6.8%, Norway 6.7%, Ireland 5%, Chile 4.3% (2017)

Industries

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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$3.613 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$3.741 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$3.834 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2021

5.5% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

3.6% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

2.5% (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2021

$67,800 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$69,400 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$70,400 (2023 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2021

4.3% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

4.4% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

4.1% of GDP (2023 est.)

Coal

imports

1 metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

consumption

463.285 million kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

180,000 kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

25.115 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - rural areas

100%

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

electrification - urban areas

99.9%

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

fossil fuels

53.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectricity

26.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

wind

18.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

35 (2022 est.)

total

19,000 (2022 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

Internet country code

.fo

Internet users

percent of population

98% (2017 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

28 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

15,000 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

106 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

57,146 (2022 est.)

Airports

1 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

OY-H

Heliports

12 (2025)

Merchant marine

by type

container ships 6, general cargo 45, other 40

total

91 (2023)

Ports

key ports

Fuglafjordur, Klaksvik, Kongshavn, Runavik, Sorvagur, Torshavn, Tvoroyri, Vagur, Vestmanna

large

0

medium

0

ports with oil terminals

5

small

0

total ports

9 (2024)

very small

9

Military - note

the Government of Denmark has responsibility for defense; as such, the Danish military’s Joint Arctic Command in Nuuk, Greenland is responsible for coordinating the defense of the Faroe Islands; the Joint Arctic Command has a contact element in the capital of Torshavn

Military and security forces

no regular military forces or conscription

Carbon dioxide emissions

from petroleum and other liquids

742,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total emissions

742,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

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

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

61,000 tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

67% (2012 est.)