2023 Edition

Background

The Faroe Islands were already populated by ca. A.D. 500, but whether the settlers were Celtic or early Norse (or someone else) has yet to be determined. The islands served as an important stepping stone for Medieval Viking exploration of the North Atlantic and Viking settlers arrived on the islands in the 9th century. 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, DC

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 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

total

0 km

Land use

agricultural land

2.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 2.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest

0.1% (2018 est.)

other

97.8% (2018 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

19.9% (male 5,415/female 5,053)

15-64 years

61.94% (male 17,211/female 15,367)

65 years and over

18.16% (2023 est.) (male 4,621/female 4,933)

Birth rate

14.9 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current health expenditure

NA

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

34.8% (2023 est.)

Death rate

8.6 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

29.1

potential support ratio

3.4 (2021)

total dependency ratio

62.8

youth dependency ratio

33.6

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: NA

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: NA

unimproved: rural

rural: NA

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020)

unimproved: urban

urban: NA

Education expenditures

7.6% of GDP (2019 est.)

Ethnic groups

Faroese 85.3% (Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon descent), Danish 8.3%, other Nordic 1.4%, other 4.5% (includes Filipino, Poland, Romanian) (2022 est.)

note

note: data represent respondents by country of birth

Gross reproduction rate

1.1 (2023 est.)

Hospital bed density

4.2 beds/1,000 population (2016)

Infant mortality rate

female

5.2 deaths/1,000 live births

male

6.5 deaths/1,000 live births

total

5.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)

Languages

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

note

note:  data represent population by primary language

Life expectancy at birth

female

84.2 years

male

79 years

total population

81.5 years (2023 est.)

Literacy

female

NA

male

NA

total population

NA

Major urban areas - population

21,000 TORSHAVN (capital) (2018)

Median age

female

36.8 years

male

36.8 years

total

36.8 years (2023 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Faroese

noun

Faroese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Physicians density

2.62 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

Population

52,600 (2023 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

0.63% (2023 est.)

Religions

Christian 89.3% (predominantly Evangelical Lutheran), other 1%, none 3.8%, unspecified 6% (2011 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: NA

improved: total

total: NA

improved: urban

urban: NA

unimproved: rural

rural: NA

unimproved: total

total: NA

unimproved: urban

urban: NA

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.07 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.12 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 (2023 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.28 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

43% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark; there are 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 meaning in Danish is "Thor's harbor"

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

amendments

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 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

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

Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Lene Moyell JOHANSEN, chief administrative officer (since 15 May 2017)

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 8 December 2022 (next to be held in 2026)

head of government

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

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

note

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

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 apply where applicable

Legislative branch

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)the Faroe Islands elect 2 members to the Danish Parliament to serve 4-year terms

election results

Faroese Parliament percent of vote by party - JF 26.6%, B 20%, A 18.9%, E 17.7%, F 7.5%, H 6.6%, seats by party - JF 9, B 7, A 6, E 6, F 3, H 2; composition - men 27, women 6; percent of women 18.2% Faroese seats in Danish Parliament - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - JF 1, B 1; composition - men 22019: Faroese Parliament percent of vote by party - People's Party 24.2%, JF 21.2%, Union Party 21.2%, Republic 18.2%, Center Party 6%, Progress Party 6%, Self-Government Party 3%, seats by party - People's Party 8, JF 7, Union Party 7, Republic 6, Center Party 2, Progress Party 2, Self-Government Party 1, composition - men 25, women 8; percent of women 24.2% Faroese seats in Danish Parliament - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - JF 1, Republic 1; composition - men 2

elections

Faroese Parliament - last held on 8 December 2022 (next to be held in 2026)Faroese seats in the Danish Parliament last held on 31 October 2022 (next to be held no later than 31 October 2026)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Simun av SKAROI/Peter ALBERG

name

"Mitt alfagra land" (My Fairest Land)

note

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

Political parties and leaders

Center Party or H (Midflokkurin) [Jenis av RANA]People's Party or A (Folkaflokkurin) [Benir JOHANNESEN]Progress Party or F (Framsokn) [Ruth VANG]Republic or E (Tjodveldi) [Hogni HOYDAL] (formerly the Republican Party)Self-Government Party or D (Sjalvstyri or Sjalvstyrisflokkurin) [Samal Peter I GRUND]Social Democratic Party or JF (Javnadarflokkurin) or JF [Aksel V. JOHANNESEN]Union Party or B (Sambandsflokkurin) [Bardur A STEIG NIELSEN]

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

potatoes, mutton, sheep skins, sheep offals, beef, sheep fat, cattle offals, cattle hides, cattle fat

Budget

expenditures

$883.8 million (2014)

note

note: Denmark supplies the Faroe Islands with almost one-third of its public funds

revenues

$835.6 million (2014 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-1.7% (of GDP) (2014 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2010

$274.5 million (2010)

Debt - external 2012

$387.6 million (2012)

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 2017

6.603 (2017 est.)

Exchange rates 2018

6.315 (2018 est.)

Exchange rates 2019

6.669 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

6.542 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

6.287 (2021 est.)

Exports

Exports 2015

$1.019 billion (2015 est.)

Exports 2016

$1.184 billion (2016 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)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

government consumption

29.6% (2013)

household consumption

52% (2013)

investment in fixed capital

18.4% (2013)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

18% (2013 est.)

industry

39% (2013 est.)

services

43% (2013 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.765 billion (2014 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2013

22.7 (2013 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA

lowest 10%

NA

Imports

Imports 2015

$906.1 million (2015 est.)

Imports 2016

$978.4 million (2016 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)

Industrial production growth rate

3.4% (2009 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015

-1.7% (2015)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016

-0.3% (2016)

Labor force

27,540 (2017 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

15%

industry

15%

services

70% (December 2016 est.)

Population below poverty line

10% (2015 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2014

35% of GDP (2014 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2012

$1.608 billion (2012 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2013

$1.89 billion (2013 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014

$2.001 billion (2014 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2015

2.4% (2015 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2016

7.5% (2016 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2017

5.9% (2017 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2014

$40,000 (2014 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

30.2% (of GDP) (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2016

3.4% (2016 est.)

Unemployment rate 2017

2.2% (2017 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas

0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

870,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

total emissions

870,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Coal

consumption

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

exports

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

imports

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

production

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves

0 metric tons (2019 est.)

Electricity

consumption

358.64 million kWh (2019 est.)

exports

0 kWh (2020 est.)

imports

0 kWh (2020 est.)

installed generating capacity

128,000 kW (2020 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

23.16 million kWh (2019 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2021)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

fossil fuels

58.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

geothermal

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

hydroelectricity

26% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

nuclear

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

solar

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

tide and wave

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

wind

15.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2019

0 Btu/person (2019 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

exports

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

imports

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

production

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

proven reserves

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil and lease condensate exports

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate imports

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves

0 barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

5,500 bbl/day (2019 est.)

total petroleum production

0 bbl/day (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

4,555 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

38 (2020 est.)

total

18,443 (2020 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

97.6% (2021 est.)

total

51,728 (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

29 per 100 teledensity for fixed-line and nearly 110 per 100 for mobile-cellular (2021)

general assessment

the Faroe Islands have a highly developed communication network, which covers the whole country; from telecommunication and mobile phones to the internet and media, the Faroe Islands are at the forefront of modern communications technology; working within the special geographic circumstances of the Faroe Islands; companies have become world experts in providing digital communication solutions to remote and sparsely populated areas (2022)

international

country code - 298; landing points for the SHEFA-2, FARICE-1, and CANTAT-3 fiber-optic submarine cables from the Faroe Islands, to Denmark, Germany, UK and Iceland; satellite earth stations - 1 Orion; (2019)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

29 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

15,000 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

110 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

59,000 (2021 est.)

Airports

1 (2021)

Airports - with paved runways

1

note

note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

OY-H

Merchant marine

by type

container ships 6, general cargo 43, other 42

total

91 (2022)

National air transport system

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

3 (registered in Denmark)

number of registered air carriers

1 (2020) (registered in Denmark)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Fuglafjordur, Torshavn, Vagur

Roadways

note

note: those islands not connected by roads (bridges or tunnels) are connected by seven different ferry links operated by the nationally owned company SSL; 28 km of tunnels

paved

500 km (2017)

total

960 km (2017)

unpaved

460 km (2017)

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

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

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

0.63 megatons (2016 est.)

Climate

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

Environment - current issues

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

Land use

agricultural land

2.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 2.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)

forest

0.1% (2018 est.)

other

97.8% (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

0% of GDP (2017 est.)

Total renewable water resources

0 cubic meters (2017 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

43% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

61,000 tons (2014 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

40,870 tons (2012 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

67% (2012 est.)