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.

Geographic coordinates: 62 00 N 7 00 W

Map reference: Europe

Area
Total: 1,399 km²
Land: 1,399 km²
Water: 0 km² (some lakes and streams)
Comparative: eight times the size of Washington DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 1117 km

Maritime claims
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

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

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

Elevation
Extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m

Natural resources: fish whales hydropower possible oil and gas

Land use
Arable land: 2.14%
Permanent crops: 0%
Other: 97.86% (2005)

Irrigated land: 0 km²

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

Population: 47,246 (July 2006 est.)
Growth rate: 0.58% (2006 est.)

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

Ethnic groups: Scandinavian

Languages: Faroese (derived from Old Norse) Danish

Religions: Evangelical Lutheran

Age structure
0-14 years: 20.9% (male 4,940/female 4,952)
15-64 years: 65.1% (male 16,247/female 14,522)
65 years and over: 13.9% (male 2,976/female 3,609) (2006 est.)

Median age
Total: 35 years
Male: 34.7 years
Female: 35.5 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.58% (2006 est.)

Birth rate: 14.05 births/1000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate: 8.7 deaths/1000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.47 migrant(s)/1000 population (2006 est.)

Environment
Current issues: NA

Sex ratio
At birth: 1 male/female
Under 15 years: 1 male/female
15-64 years: 1.12 male/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male/female
Total population: 1.05 male/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 6.12 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 7.4 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 4.85 deaths/1000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 79.35 years
Male: 75.91 years
Female: 82.8 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.17 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: NA
People living with hivaids: NA
Deaths: NA

Literacy
Definition: NA
Total population: NA%
Male: NA%
Female: NA%
Note: probably 100%, the same as Denmark proper

Country name
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Faroe Islands
Local long form: none
Local short form: Foroyar

Government type: NA

Capital
Name: Torshavn
Geographic coordinates: 62 01 N, 6 46 W
Time difference: UTC (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Administrative divisions: 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 49 municipalities

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

National holiday: Olaifest (Olavasoka) 29 July

Constitution: 5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)

Legal system: Danish

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Birgit KLEIS, chief administrative officer (since 1 November 2001)
Head of government: Prime Minister Joannes EIDESGAARD (since 3 February 2004)
Cabinet: Landsstyri appointed by the prime minister
Elections: the monarch 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 20 January 2004 (next to be held no later than January 2008)
Election results: Joannes EIDESGAARD elected prime minister; percent of parliamentary vote - NA

Legislative branch
Elections: last held 20 January 2004 (next to be held no later than January 2008)
Election results: percent of vote by party - Union Party 23.7%, Social Democratic Party 21.8%, Republican Party 21.7%, People's Party 20.6%, Center Party 5.2%, Independence Party 4.6%; seats by party - Union Party 7, Social Democratic Party 7, Republican Party 8, People's Party 7, Center Party 2, Independence Party 1
Note: election of two seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on 8 February 2005 (next to be held February 2009); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 1, People's Party 1

Judicial branch: none

Political parties and leaders: Center Party [Jenis A. RANA]; Independence Party [Kari P. HOJGAARD]; People's Party [Anfinn KALLSBERG]; Republican Party [Hogni HOYDAL]; Social Democratic Party [Joannes EIDESGAARD]; Union Party [Kaj Leo JOHANNESEN]

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

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 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)