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 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.

Geographic coordinates: 62 00 N, 7 00 W

Map reference: Europe

Area
Total: 1393 km²
Land: 1393 km²
Water: 0 km²
Note: (some lakes and streams)
Rank: 183
Comparative: eight times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 1117 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Continental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
Exclusive fishing zone: 200
Note: 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: 0 m
Note: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean

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

Land use
Agricultural land: 2.1% (2011 est.)
Forest: 0.1% (2011 est.)
Other: 97.8% (2011 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

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: 51,018 (July 2018 est.)
Rank: 210
Growth rate: 0.58% (2018 est.)
Growth rate rank: 149
Below poverty line: 10% (2015 est.)

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

Ethnic groups:

Languages:

Religions: Christian 89.3% (predominantly Evangelical Lutheran), other 0.7%, more than one religion 0.2%, none 3.8%, unspecified 6% (2011 est.)

Age structure
0-14 years: 19.79% (male 5,220 /female 4,878)
15-24 years: 14.17% (male 3,714 /female 3,515)
25-54 years: 37.24% (male 10,280 /female 8,718)
55-64 years: 11.82% (male 3,094 /female 2,934)
65 years and over: 16.98% (male 4,194 /female 4,471) (2018 est.)

Median age
Total: 37.6 years
Male: 37.1 years
Female: 38.2 years (2018 est.)
Rank: 66

Population growth rate: 0.58% (2018 est.)
Rank: 149

Birth rate: 14.5 births/1000 population (2018 est.)
Rank: 131

Death rate: 8.8 deaths/1000 population (2018 est.)
Rank: 68

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (2017 est.)
Rank: 83

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: 42.1% of total population
Note: (2015-20 est.)
Rate of urbanization: 0.74% annual rate of change

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

Environment
Current issues: coastal erosion, landslides and rockfalls, flash flooding, wind storms; oil spills
International agreements party to: Marine Dumping - associate member to the London Convention and Ship Pollution

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.07 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
15-24 years: 1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
25-54 years: 1.18 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
55-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
Total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 5.3 deaths/1000 live births (2018 est.)
Male: 5.6 deaths/1000 live births (2018 est.)
Female: 5 deaths/1000 live births (2018 est.)
Rank: 173

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 80.6 years (2018 est.)
Male: 78.1 years (2018 est.)
Female: 83.3 years (2018 est.)
Rank: 42

Total fertility rate: 2.34 children born/woman (2018 est.)
Rank: 85

Physicians density: 2.63 physicians/1000 population (2014)

Hospital bed density: 4.1 beds/1000 population (2015)

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

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

Administrative divisions: part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark; there are 29 first-order municipalities (kommunur, singular - kommuna) Eidhis, Eystur, Famjins, Fuglafjardhar, Fugloyar, Hovs, Husavikar, Hvalbiar, Hvannasunds, Klaksvikar, Kunoyar, Kvivik, Nes, Porkeris, Runavikar, Sands, Sjovar, Skalavikar, Skopunar, Skuvoyar, Sorvags, Sumbiar, Sunda, Torshavnar, Tvoroyrar, Vaga, Vags, Vestmanna, Vidhareidhis

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 (2016)
Amendments: see entry for Denmark (2016)

Legal system: the laws of Denmark, where applicable, apply

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 Dan Michael KNUDSEN, chief administrative officer (since 1 January 2008)
Head of government: Prime Minister Aksel V. JOHANNESEN (since 15 September 2015)
Cabinet: Landsstyri appointed by the prime minister
Electionsappointments: 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 1 September 2015 (next to be held in 2019)
Election results: Aksel V. JOHANNESEN elected prime minister; Parliament vote - NA

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral Faroese Parliament or Logting (33 seats; members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)
Elections: last held on 1 September 2015 (next to be held no later than October 2019)
Election results: percent of vote by party - JF 25.1%, Republic 20.7%, Peoples Party, 18.9%, Union Party 18.7%, Progressive Party 7%, Center Party 5.5%, New Self-Government Party 4.1%; seats by party - JF 8, Republic 7, Peoples Party 6, Union Party 6, Center Party 2, Progressive Party 2, New Self-Government Party 2; composition - men 23, women 10, percent of women 30.3%: note: election for 2 seats in the Danish Parliament was last held on 18 June 2015 (next to be held no later than June 2019); percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Social Democratic Party 1, Republican Party 1

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: Center Party (Midflokkurin) [Jenis av RANA]New Self-Government Party (Nytt Sjalvstyri) [Jogvan SKORHEIM] (formerly Self-Government Party) (Sjalvstyrisflokkurin)People's Party (Folkaflokkurin) [Jorgen NICLASEN]Progressive Party (Framsokn) [Poul MICHELSEN]Republic (Tjodveldi) [Hogni HOYDAL] (formerly the Republican Party)Social Democratic Party (Javnadarflokkurin) or JF [Aksel V. JOHANNESEN]Union Party (Sambandsflokkurin) [Bardur a STEIG NIELSEN]

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: none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Flag description:

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

National anthem
Name: Mitt alfagra land (My Fairest Land)
Lyricsmusic: 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

Economy overview: The Faroese economy has experienced a period of significant growth since 2011, due to higher fish prices and increased salmon farming and catches in the pelagic fisheries. Fishing has been the main source of income for the Faroe Islands since the late 19th century, but dependence on fishing makes the economy vulnerable to price fluctuations. Nominal GDP, measured in current prices, grew 5.6% in 2015 and 6.8% in 2016. GDP growth was forecast at 6.2% in 2017, slowing to 0.5% in 2018, due to lower fisheries quotas, higher oil prices and fewer farmed salmon combined with lower salmon prices. The fisheries sector accounts for about 97% of exports, and half of GDP. Unemployment is low, estimated at 2.1% in early 2018. Aided by an annual subsidy from Denmark, which amounts to about 11% of Faroese GDP , Faroese have a standard of living equal to that of Denmark. The Faroe Islands have bilateral free trade agreements with the EU, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Turkey.For the first time in 8 years, the Faroe Islands managed to generate a public budget surplus in 2016, a trend which continued in 2017. The local government intends to use this to reduce public debt, which reached 38% of GDP in 2015. A fiscal sustainability analysis of the Faroese economy shows that a long-term tightening of fiscal policy of 5% of GDP is required for fiscal sustainability.Increasing public infrastructure investments are likely to lead to continued growth in the short term, and the Faroese economy is becoming somewhat more diversified. Growing industries include financial services, petroleum-related businesses, shipping, maritime manufacturing services, civil aviation, IT, telecommunications, and tourism.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 197

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 35

Real gdp per capita: $40,000 (2014 est.)
Rank: 45

Gross national saving:
Rank: 53

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: milk, potatoes, vegetables, sheep, salmon, herring, mackerel and other fish

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

Industrial production growth rate: 3.4% (2009 est.)
Rank: 91

Labor force: 27,540 (2017 est.)
Rank: 206
By occupation agriculture: 15%
By occupation industry: 15%
By occupation services: 70% (December 2016 est.)

Unemployment rate:
Rank: 20

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

Distribution of family income gini index:
Rank: 157

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.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 95

Taxes and other revenues: 30.2% (of GDP) (2014 est.)
Rank: 76

Public debt: 35% of GDP (2014 est.)
Rank: 152

Fiscal year: calendar year

Inflation rate consumer prices:
Rank: 8

Exports:
Rank: 153
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 (97%) (2017 est.)

Imports:
Rank: 185
Commodities: goods for household consumption, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, raw materials and semi-manufactures, cars
Partners: Denmark 33%, China 10.7%, Germany 7.6%, Poland 6.8%, Norway 6.7%, Ireland 5%, Chile 4.3% (2017)

Debt external:
Rank: 182

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: NA

Exchange rates:

Electricity
Access electrification total population: 100% (2016)
Production: 307 million kWh (2016 est.)
Production rank: 180
Consumption: 285.5 million kWh (2016 est.)
Consumption rank: 185
Exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Exports rank: 134
Imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Imports rank: 148
Installed generating capacity: 128,300 kW (2016 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 176
Generation sources fossil fuels: 54% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 142
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 90
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 31% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 66
Generation sources other renewable sources: 16% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 52

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 135
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 123
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 127
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 131

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products production rank: 145
Products consumption: 4,600 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Products consumption rank: 180
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products exports rank: 155
Products imports: 4,555 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products imports rank: 174

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Production rank: 132
Consumption: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Consumption rank: 146
Exports: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Exports rank: 104
Imports: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Imports rank: 125
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2014 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 135

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 739,300 Mt (2017 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 176

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 20,193 (July 2016 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 46 (July 2016 est.)
Fixed lines rank: 177
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 54,487 (July 2016 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 107 (July 2016 est.)
Mobile cellular rank: 200

Telephone system
General assessment: good international communications; good domestic facilities (2015)
Domestic: conversion to digital system completed in 1998; both NMT (analog) and GSM (digital) mobile telephone systems are installed (2015)
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 (2015)

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 (2015)

Internet
Country code: .fo
Users total: 47,988 (July 2016 est.)
Users percent of population: 95.1% (July 2016 est.)
Users rank: 196

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 17,973 (2017 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (2017 est.)
Rank: 153

National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 1
Note: (registered in Denmark) (2015)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 3

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: OY-H (2016)

Airports: 1 (2013)
Rank: 220
With paved runways total: 1 (2017)
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1 (2017)

Roadways
Total: 960 km (2017): note: those islands not commected by roads (bridges or tunnels) are connected by seven different ferry links operated by the nationally owned company SSL
Rank: 187

Merchant marine
Total: 96 (2017)
By type: container ship 2, general cargo 41, oil tanker 1, other 52 (2017)
Rank: 88

Ports and terminals
Major seaport: Fuglafjordur, Torshavn, Vagur

Disputes international: because anticipated offshore hydrocarbon resources have not been realized, earlier Faroese proposals for full independence have been deferredIceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim to UNCLOS that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm