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

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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.


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Location: Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about halfway between Iceland and Norway

Geographic coordinates: 62 00 N, 7 00 W

Map reference: Europe

Area
Total: 1,393 km²
Land: 1,393 km²
Water: 0 km² (some lakes and streams)
Comparative: eight times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries
Total: 0 km

Coastline: 1,117 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Continental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line

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

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

Elevation
Highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m
Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Natural resources: fish, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas

Land use
Agricultural land: 2.1% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 2.1% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
Forest: 0.1% (2018 est.)
Other: 97.8% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources: 0 cubic meters (2017 est.)

Natural hazards: strong winds and heavy rains can occur throughout the year

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


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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: 52,600 (2023 est.)
Growth rate: 0.63% (2023 est.)
Below poverty line: 10% (2015 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Faroese (singular and plural)
Adjective: Faroese

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: data represent respondents by country of birth

Languages: Faroese 93.8% (derived from Old Norse), Danish 3.2%, other 3% (2011 est.)
Note: data represent population by primary language

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

Demographic profile

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)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 62.8
Youth dependency ratio: 33.6
Elderly dependency ratio: 29.1
Potential support ratio: 3.4 (2021)

Median age
Total: 36.8 years (2023 est.)
Male: 36.8 years
Female: 36.8 years

Population growth rate: 0.63% (2023 est.)

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

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

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (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

Urbanization
Urban population: 43% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.89% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 21,000 TORSHAVN (capital) (2018)

Environment
Current issues: coastal erosion, landslides and rockfalls, flash flooding, wind storms; oil spills

Air pollutants
Carbon dioxide emissions: 0.63 megatons (2016 est.)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
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
Total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 5.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
Male: 6.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 5.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 81.5 years (2023 est.)
Male: 79 years
Female: 84.2 years

Total fertility rate: 2.28 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA

Drinking water source
Improved urban: NA
Improved rural: NA
Improved total: 100% of population
Unimproved urban: NA
Unimproved rural: NA
Unimproved total: 0% of population (2020)

Current health expenditure: NA

Physicians density: 2.62 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

Hospital bed density: 4.2 beds/1,000 population (2016)

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban:
Unimproved urban:

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA

Education expenditures: 7.6% of GDP (2019 est.)

Literacy
Total population: NA
Male: NA
Female: NA

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Faroe Islands
Local long form: none
Local short form: Foroyar
Etymology: the archipelago's name may derive from the Old Norse word "faer," meaning sheep

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

Capital
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
Etymology: the meaning in Danish is "Thor's harbor"

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

Dependent areas

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

National holiday: Olaifest (Olavsoka) (commemorates the death in battle of King OLAF II of Norway, later St. OLAF), 29 July (1030)

Constitution
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
Amendments: see entry for Denmark

Legal system: the laws of Denmark apply where applicable

International law organization participation

Citizenship: see Denmark

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
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)
Head of government: Prime Minister Aksel V. JOHANNESEN (since 22 December 2022)
Cabinet: Landsstyri appointed by the prime minister
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 2,026)

Legislative branch
Description:
Elections:
Election results:

Judicial branch
Highest courts: 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

Political parties and leaders:

International organization participation: Arctic Council, IMO (associate), NC, NIB, UNESCO (associate), UPU

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

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: the blue on the flag is a lighter blue (azure) than that found on the flags of Iceland or Norway

National symbols: ram; national colors: red, white, blue

National anthem
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 a self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark, the Faroe Islands are permitted their own national anthem

National heritage


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Economy 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

Real gdp purchasing power parity:

Real gdp growth rate:

Real gdp per capita: $40,000 (2014 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 52% (2013)
Government consumption: 29.6% (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.)

Agriculture products: potatoes, mutton, sheep skins, sheep offals, beef, sheep fat, cattle offals, cattle hides, cattle fat

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

Industrial production growth rate: 3.4% (2009 est.)

Labor force: 27,540 (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate:

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: 10% (2015 est.)

Gini index
Coefficient distribution of family income: 22.7 (2013 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10%: NA
Highest 10%: NA

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $835.6 million (2014 est.)
Expenditures: $883.8 million (2014)
Note: Denmark supplies the Faroe Islands with almost one-third of its public funds
Surplus  or deficit: -1.7% (of GDP) (2014 est.)

Taxes and other revenues: 30.2% (of GDP) (2014 est.)

Public debt: 35% of GDP (2014 est.)

Revenue
From forest resources: 0% of GDP (2017 est.)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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:
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)
Commodities: fish and fish products (2021)

Imports:
Partners: Denmark 33%, China 10.7%, Germany 7.6%, Poland 6.8%, Norway 6.7%, Ireland 5%, Chile 4.3% (2017)
Commodities: goods for household consumption, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, raw materials and semi-manufactures, cars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external:

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Access electrification-total population: 100% (2021)
Installed generating capacity: 128,000 kW (2020 est.)
Consumption: 358.64 million kWh (2019 est.)
Exports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
Imports: 0 kWh (2020 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 23.16 million kWh (2019 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 58.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources solar: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources wind: 15.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 26% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Coal
Production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 5,500 bbl/day (2019 est.)
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.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products imports: 4,555 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 870,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 870,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 0 Btu/person (2019 est.)


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 15,341 (2021 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 29 (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 59,000 (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 110 (2021 est.)

Telephone system

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
Users total: 51,728 (2021 est.)
Users percent of population: 97.6% (2021 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 18,443 (2020 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 38 (2020 est.)


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Military expenditures

Military and security forces: no regular military forces or conscription

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) (registered in Denmark)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 3 (registered in Denmark)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: OY-H

Airports: 1 (2021)
With paved runways: 1
With paved runways 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.)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways
Total: 960 km (2017)
Paved: 500 km (2017)
Unpaved: 460 km (2017)
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

Waterways

Merchant marine
Total: 91 (2022)
By type: container ships 6, general cargo 43, other 42

Ports and terminals
Major seaports: Fuglafjordur, Torshavn, Vagur


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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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs