Background: The Faroe Islands were already populated by about A.D. 500, but whether the original settlers were Celtic or early Norse (or someone else) has yet to be determined. Viking settlers arrived on the islands in the 9th century, and the islands served as an important stepping stone for medieval Viking exploration of the North Atlantic. 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.

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

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

Land use
Agricultural land: 70.1% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
Permanent pasture: 70.1% (2023 est.)
Forest: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Other: 29.8% (2023 est.)

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

Geography
Note: archipelago of 17 inhabited islands, 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
Total: 52,933 (2024 est.)
Male: 27,400
Female: 25,533
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
Growth rate: 0.63% (2024 est.)

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

Religions: Christian 87% (predominantly Evangelical Lutheran), other 0.9%, none 3.7%, unspecified 8.9% (2011 est.)

Age structure
0-14 years: 20% (male 5,489/female 5,122)
15-64 years: 61.5% (male 17,188/female 15,346)
65 years and over: 18.5% (2024 est.) (male 4,723/female 5,065)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 62.7 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 32.6 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 30.1 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 3.3 (2024 est.)

Median age
Total: 36.8 years (2024 est.)
Male: 36.9 years
Female: 36.8 years

Population growth rate: 0.63% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 14.9 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 8.6 deaths/1,000 population (2024 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)

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: 0.93 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 5.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 6.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 81.7 years (2024 est.)
Male: 79.2 years
Female: 84.4 years

Total fertility rate: 2.27 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Drinking water source
Urban: NA
Rural: NA
Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

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 name means 'Thor's harbor' in Danish

Administrative divisions: 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

Legal system: the laws of Denmark apply

Executive branch
Chief of state: King FREDERIK X of Denmark (since 14 January 2024), represented by High Commissioner Lene Moyell JOHANSEN, chief administrative officer (since 15 May 2017) (2024)
Head of government: Prime Minister Aksel V. JOHANNESEN (since 22 December 2022)
Cabinet: Landsstyri appointed by the prime minister
Election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the Parliament usually elects the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as the prime minister
Most recent election date: 8 December 2022
Expected date of next election: 2026

Legislative branch
Legislature name: Faroese Parliament (Logting)
Legislative structure: unicameral
Number of seats: 33 (directly elected)
Electoral system: proportional representation
Scope of elections: full renewal
Term in office: 4 years
Most recent election date: 12/8/2022
Parties elected and seats per party: JF (9); B (7); A (6); E (6); F (3); H (2)
Percentage of women in chamber: 27.3%
Expected date of next election: 2026
Note: the Faroe Islands elect 2 members to the Danish Parliament to serve 4-year terms

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

National anthem
Title: 'Mitt alfagra land' (My Fairest Land)
Lyrics/music: Simun av SKAROI/Peter ALBERG
History: 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 to have their own national anthem

Real gdp growth rate: 2.5% (2023 est.); 3.6% (2022 est.); 5.5% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 2.5% (2023 est.); 3.6% (2022 est.); 5.5% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 40.6% (2023 est.)
Government consumption: 27.3% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 31% (2023 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0% (2023 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 57.7% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -56.6% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 18.2% (2023 est.)
Industry: 19.7% (2023 est.)
Services: 52% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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

Exports: $2.255 billion (2023 est.); $2.219 billion (2022 est.); $1.923 billion (2021 est.)
Note: GDP expenditure basis - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: fish and fish products (2021)

Imports: $2.212 billion (2023 est.); $2.223 billion (2022 est.); $1.906 billion (2021 est.)
Note: GDP expenditure basis - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: goods for household consumption, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, raw materials and semi-manufactures, cars

Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 180,000 kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 463.285 million kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 25.115 million kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Access electrification - urban areas: 99.9%
Access electrification - rural areas: 100%
Generation sources fossil fuels: 53.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources wind: 18.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 26.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Imports: 1 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Refined petroleum consumption: 5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 742,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 742,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 15,000 (2021 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 28 (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 59,000 (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 112 (2021 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 98% (2017 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 19,000 (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 35 (2022 est.)

Airports: 1 (2025)

Heliports: 12 (2025)

Merchant marine
Total: 91 (2023)
By type: container ships 6, general cargo 45, other 40