Page last updated on January 7, 2014
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.
Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about half way between Iceland and Norway
total: 1,393 sq km
country comparison to the world: 183
land: 1,393 sq km
water: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams)
eight times the size of Washington, DC
territorial sea: 3 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy
rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m
fish, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas
arable land: 2.15%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 97.85% (2011)
party to: Marine Dumping - associate member to the London Convention and Ship Pollution
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
noun: Faroese (singular and plural)
adjective: Faroese
Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish
Evangelical Lutheran 83.8%, other and unspecified 16.2% (2006 census)
49,709 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 211
0-14 years: 20.4% (male 5,269/female 4,882)
15-24 years: 15.6% (male 4,003/female 3,738)
25-54 years: 36.8% (male 9,892/female 8,414)
55-64 years: 11.8% (male 3,018/female 2,832)
65 years and over: 15.4% (male 3,712/female 3,949) (2013 est.)
total: 37.6 years
male: 37 years
female: 38.3 years (2013 est.)
0.47% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
13.36 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 150
8.67 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
urban population: 40% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 0.9% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.18 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
total population: 1.09 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
total: 5.82 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 175
male: 6.08 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
total population: 79.98 years
country comparison to the world: 35
male: 77.49 years
female: 82.64 years (2013 est.)
2.39 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
NA; note - probably 99%, the same as Denmark proper
total: 9.4%
country comparison to the world: 112
male: 6.9%
female: 12.5% (2005)
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Faroe Islands
local long form: none
local short form: Foroyar
part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1948
name: Torshavn
geographic coordinates: 62 00 N, 6 46 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
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
none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Olaifest (Olavsoka), 29 July
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 (2013)
the laws of Denmark, where applicable, apply
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Dan Michael KNUDSEN, chief administrative officer (since 2008)
head of government: Prime Minister Kaj Leo JOHANNESSEN (since 26 September 2008)
cabinet: Landsstyri appointed by the 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 14 November 2011 (next to be held no later than November 2015)
election results: Kaj Leo JOHANNESSEN reelected prime minister in 2011
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)
elections: last held on 29 October 2011 (next to be held no later than October 2015)
election results: percent of vote by party - Union Party 24.7%, People's Party 22.5%, Republican Party 18.3%, Social Democratic Party 17.7%, Progressive Party 6.3%, Center Party 6.2%, Independence Party 4.2%, other 0.1%; seats by party - Union Party 8, People's Party 8, Republican Party 6, Social Democratic Party 6, Progressive Party 2, Center Party 2, Independence Party 1
note: election of two seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on 15 September 2011 (next to be held no later than September 2015); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Social Democratic Party 1, Union Party 1
the Faroese Court or Raett (Rett - Danish) decides both civil and criminal cases; the Court is part of the Danish legal system
Center Party (Midflokkurin) [Jenis av RANA]
Arctic Council, IMO (associate), NC, NIB, UNESCO (associate), UPU
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
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
name: "Mitt alfagra land" (My Fairest Land)
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
The Faroese economy is dependent on fishing, which makes the economy vulnerable to price fluctuations. The sector normally 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. 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 June 2008 at 1.1%. The Faroese Home Rule Government produced increasing budget surpluses in that period, which helped to reduce the large public debt, most of it to Denmark. However, total dependence on fishing and salmon farming make the Faroese economy vulnerable to fluctuations in world demand. 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 3% of Faroese GDP, the Faroese have a standard of living almost equal to that of Denmark and Greenland. The Faroese Government ran relatively large deficits from 2008 to 2010 and budget deficits are forecast for several years ahead. At year-end 2010 the gross debt had reached approximately US$900 million.
$1.471 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
$2.32 billion (2010 est.)
2.9% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
$30,500 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
agriculture: 16%
industry: 29%
services: 55% (2007 est.)
milk, potatoes, vegetables; sheep; salmon, other fish
fishing, fish processing, small ship repair and refurbishment, handicrafts
3.4% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
34,710 (November 2010)
country comparison to the world: 203
agriculture: 10.7%
industry: 18.9%
services: 70.3% (November 2010)
6.8% (2011)
country comparison to the world: 72
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
revenues: $1.025 billion
expenditures: $1.301 billion
note: Denmark supplies the Faroe Islands with almost one-third of their public funds (2010)
44.2% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
-11.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 206
2.3% (2011)
country comparison to the world: 54
$824 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 164
fish and fish products 94%, stamps, ships
Denmark 23.4%, UK 21%, Nigeria 13.4%, US 8.9%, Netherlands 8.4%, Russia 7%, China 4.4% (2012)
$776 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 186
goods for household consumption 24%, machinery and transport equipment 23.5%, fuels 21.4%, raw materials and semi-manufactures, salt
Denmark 42%, Norway 32%, Germany 8.7%, Iceland 5.3% (2012)
$888.8 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 164
Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar -
261 million kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
249 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
100,100 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171
64.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
31% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
4.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 132
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
4,871 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
4,661 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 139
785,300 Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
24,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 182
61,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 199
general assessment: good international communications; good domestic facilities
domestic: conversion to digital system completed in 1998; both NMT (analog) and GSM (digital) mobile telephone systems are installed
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 (2011)
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)
7,575 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 140
37,500 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 176
1 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 215
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
total: 463 km (2006)
country comparison to the world: 196
total: 37
country comparison to the world: 79
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)
major seaport(s): Fuglafjordur, Torshavn, Vagur
no regular military forces (2012)
males age 16-49: 11,831 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 9,827
females age 16-49: 8,418 (2010 est.)
male: 372
female: 373 (2010 est.)
defense is the responsibility of Denmark
