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.
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 references
Europe
Area
total
1,399 sq km
land
1,399 sq km
water
0 sq km (some lakes and streams)
Area - comparative
eight times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries
0 km
Coastline
1,117 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
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 sq km
Natural hazards
NA
Environment - current issues
NA
Environment - international agreements
party to: Marine Dumping -associate member to the London Convention and Ship Pollution
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
47,511 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
20.6% (male 4,882/female 4,904)
15-64 years
65.3% (male 16,353/female 14,668)
65 years and over
14.1% (male 3,041/female 3,663) (2007 est.)
Median age
total
35 years
male
34.8 years
female
35.3 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate
0.543% (2007 est.)
Birth rate
14.12 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate
8.69 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth
1 male(s)/female
under 15 years
0.996 male(s)/female
15-64 years
1.115 male(s)/female
65 years and over
0.83 male(s)/female
total population
1.045 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total
6.01 deaths/1,000 live births
male
7.25 deaths/1,000 live births
female
4.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population
79.49 years
male
76.06 years
female
82.93 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate
2.15 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
Nationality
noun
Faroese (singular and plural)
adjective
Faroese
Ethnic groups
Scandinavian
Religions
Evangelical Lutheran
Languages
Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish
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
Dependency status
part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1948
Government type
NA
Capital
name
Torshavn
geographic coordinates
62 01 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
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 34 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
the laws of Denmark, where applicable, apply
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
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)
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%, other 2.4%; seats by party - Republican Party 8, Union Party 7, Social Democratic Party 7, 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 in 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]
Political pressure groups and leaders
NA
International organization participation
Arctic Council, IMO (associate), NC, NIB, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Diplomatic representation 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)
Economy - overview
The Faroese economy is dependent on fishing, which makes the economy vulnerable to price swings. Since 2003 the Faroese economy has picked up as a result of higher prices for fish and for housing. Unemployment is minimal and government finances are relatively sound. Oil finds close to the Islands give hope for economically recoverable deposits, which could eventually lay the basis for a more diversified economy and lessen dependence on Danish economic assistance. Aided by a substantial annual subsidy (about 15% of GDP) from Denmark, the Faroese have a standard of living not far below the Danes and other Scandinavians.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$1 billion (2001 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$1.7 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
2.4% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$31,000 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture
27%
industry
11%
services
62% (1999)
Labor force
24,250 (October 2000)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture
33%
industry
33%
services
34%
Unemployment rate
2.1% (2006)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
NA%
highest 10%
NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
1.8% (2005)
Budget
revenues
$588 million
expenditures
$623 million; including capital expenditures of $34 million (2005)
Agriculture - products
Industries
fishing, fish processing, small ship repair and refurbishment, handicrafts
consumer goods 36%, raw materials and semi-manufactures 32%, machinery and transport equipment 29%, fuels, fish, salt (1999)
Imports - partners
Denmark 52.4%, Norway 20.4%, Iceland 5.9%, Sweden 4.2% (2006)
Debt - external
$64 million (1999)
Economic aid - recipient
$105 million; note - annual subsidy from Denmark (2005)
Currency (code)
Danish krone (DKK)
Currency code
DKK
Exchange rates
Danish kroner per US dollar - 5.9468 (2006), 5.9969 (2005), 5.9911 (2004), 6.5877 (2003), 7.8947 (2002)
Fiscal year
calendar year
Telephones - main lines in use
23,800 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular
42,500 (2005)
Telephone system
general assessment
good international communications; good domestic facilities
domestic
digitalization was completed in 1998; both NMT (analog) and GSM (digital) mobile telephone systems are installed
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
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 that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm
