Map of Faroe Islands | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | More stats

top of page


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.


top of page


Location: Northern Europe island group between the Norwegian Sea and the north Atlantic Ocean about one-half of the way from Iceland to Norway

Geographic coordinates: 62 00 N 7 00 W

Map reference: Europe

Area
Comparative: eight times the size of Washington DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 1117 km

Maritime claims

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

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

Elevation

Natural resources: fish whales hydropower

Land use

Irrigated land: 0 km²

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: NA

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


top of page


Population: 45,296 (July 2000 est.)
Growth rate: 0.83% (2000 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%

Nationality

Ethnic groups: Scandinavian

Languages: Faroese (derived from Old Norse) Danish

Religions: Evangelical Lutheran

Demographic profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 0.83% (2000 est.)

Birth rate: 13.58 births/1000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate: 8.7 deaths/1000 population (2000 est.)

Net migration rate: 3.38 migrant(s)/1000 population (2000 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: NA

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 6.94 deaths/1000 live births (2000 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

Total fertility rate: 2.32 children born/woman (2000 est.)

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

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


top of page


Country name

Government type: NA

Capital: Torshavn

Administrative divisions: none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Dependent areas

Independence: none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

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

Constitution: 5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)

Legal system: Danish

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

Legislative branch: unicameral Faroese Parliament or Logting (32 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis from the seven constituencies to serve four-year terms)

Judicial branch: none

Political parties and leaders: Center Party [Tordur NICLASEN]; Christian People's Party [Niels Pauli DANIELSEN]; Home Rule Party [Helena Dam A. NEYSTABO]; Labor Front [leader NA]; People's Party [Oli BRECKMANN]; Republican Party [Finnbogi ISAKSON]; Social Democratic Party [Joannes EIDESGAARD]; The Faroese Party [Olavur CHRISTIANSEN]; Union Party [Edmund JOENSEN]

International organization participation: NC NIB

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


top of page


Economy overview: After the severe economic troubles of the early 1990s brought on by a drop in the vital fish catch the Faroe Islands have come back in the last few years with unemployment down to 5% in mid-1998. Nevertheless the almost total dependence on fishing means the economy remains extremely vulnerable. The Faroese hope to broaden their economic base by building new fish-processing plants. Oil finds close to the Faroese area give hope for deposits in the immediate area which may lay the basis to sustained economic prosperity. The Faroese are supported by a substantial annual subsidy from Denmark.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 6% (1996 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $16,000 (1996 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: milk potatoes vegetables; sheep; salmon other fish

Industries: fishing shipbuilding construction handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: 20,500 (1996 est.)
By occupation: largely engaged in fishing manufacturing transportation commerce

Unemployment rate: 5% (1998 est.)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: NA%

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 2.8% (1996 est.)

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: $362 million (f.o.b. 1995)
Commodities: fish and fish products 92% animal feedstuffs transport equipment (ships)
Partners: Denmark 31% UK 25% Germany 9% France 7% Spain 6% US 2% (1996)

Imports: $315.6 million (c.i.f. 1995)
Commodities: machinery and transport equipment 17.0% consumer goods 33% raw materials and semi-manufactures 26.9% fuels 11.4% fish and salt 6.7%
Partners: Denmark 33% Norway 18% UK 8% Germany 9% Sweden 5% US 2% (1996)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $767 million (1995 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 - 7.336 (January 2000) 6.976 (1999) 6.701 (1998) 6.604 (1997) 5.799 (1966) 5.602 (1995)


top of page


Electricity
Production: 186 million kWh (1998)
Consumption: 173 million kWh (1998)
Exports: 0 kWh (1998)
Imports: 0 kWh (1998)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


top of page


Telephones
Main lines in use: 22,000 (1995)
Mobile cellular: 2,558 (1995)

Telephone system: good international communications; good domestic facilities

Broadcast media

Internet
Service providers isps: NA

Broadband fixed subscriptions


top of page


Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $N/A
Percent of gdp: NA%

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


top of page


National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 1 (1999 est.)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways: 0 km

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


top of page


Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs