Map of Faroe Islands | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide19891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023 | More stats

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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 attained in 1948.


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Location

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 764 km

Maritime claims
Contiguous zone: 4 nm
Continental shelf: 200 meters or to depth of exploitation
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 3 nm

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

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

Elevation

Natural resources: fish

Land use: 2% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 98% other

Irrigated land

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography
Note: defense is the responsibility of Denmark


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Population: 47,283 (July 1989), growth rate 0.9% (1989)

Nationality: noun - Faroese (sing., pl.; adjective - Faroese

Ethnic groups: homogeneous Scandinavian population

Languages: Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish

Religions: Evangelical Lutheran

Demographic profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate

Birth rate: 17 births/1000 population (1989)

Death rate: 8 deaths/1000 population (1989)

Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1000 population (1989)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: precipitous terrain limits habitation to small coastal lowlands; archipelago of 18 inhabited islands and a few uninhabited islets

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 9 deaths/1000 live births (1989)

Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 81 years female (1989)

Total fertility rate: 2.2 children born/woman (1989)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy: 99%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name: conventional long form: none

Government type: part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division

Capital: Torshavn

Administrative divisions: none (overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Dependent areas

Independence: part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division

National holiday: Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)

Constitution: Danish

Legal system: Danish

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: universal, but not compulsory, over age 20

Executive branch: Chief of State - Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Bent KLINTE (since NA 19 ; Head of Government - Prime Minister Jogvan SUNDSTEIN (since 17 January 1989)

Legislative branch: legislative authority rests jointly with crown, acting through appointed high commissioner, and 32-member provincial parliament (Lagting) in matters of strictly Faroese concern; executive power vested in crown, acting through high commissioner, but exercised by provincial cabinet responsible to provincial parliament

Judicial branch

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: Nordic Council

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Flag description: white with a red cross outlined in blue that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: The Faroese enjoy a relatively high standard of living, with per capita GNP coming to $16,800 in 1986. Agricultural activities are limited to raising sheep and to potato and vegetable cultivation because of the cool summers. Fishing is the dominant economic activity. It employs over 25% of the labor force, accounts for about 25% of GNP, and contributes over 90% to export revenues. A handicraft industry employs about 20% of the labor force. The Faroes has a labor shortage, and immigrant workers accounted for 5% of the work force in 1987. Denmark annually subsidizes the economy; in 1986 the subsidy came to 15% of GDP.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate

Real gdp per capita ppp

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: sheep and cattle herding, potatoes, vegetables;

Industries: fishing, ship building, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: 17,585; largely engaged in fishing, manufacturing, transportation, and commerce

Unemployment rate: labor shortage Budget:revenues $176 million; expenditures $176 million, including capital expenditures of NA (FY86)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget

Public debt

Taxes and other revenues

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

Current account balance

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $267 million (f.o.b., 1986)
Commodities: fish and fish products 86%, animal feedstuffs, transport equipment
Partners: Denmark 18%, US 14%, FRG, France, UK, Canada

Imports: $363 million (c.i.f., 1986)
Commodities: machinery and transport equipment 38%, food and livestock 11%, fuels 10%, manufactures 10%, chemicals 5%
Commodities partners: Denmark 46%, FRG, Norway, Japan, UK

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $518 million (1986)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 - 7.085 (January 1989), 6.732 (1988), 6.840 (1987), 8.091 (1986), 10.596 (1985)


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Electricity access

Electricity production

Electricity consumption

Electricity exports

Electricity imports

Electricity installed generating capacity

Electricity transmission distribution losses

Electricity generation sources

Petroleum

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones fixed lines

Telephones mobile cellular

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet country code

Internet users

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runways 1,220-2,439 m

Airports with paved runways

Airports with unpaved runways

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 10,642 GRT/5,459 DWT; includes 1 short-sea passenger, 1 cargo, 1 roll-on/roll-off cargo

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs