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Europe
Page last updated: July 25, 2023
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.
Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about halfway between Iceland and Norway
62 00 N, 7 00 W
Europe
Total: 1,393 sq km
Land: 1,393 sq km
Water: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams)
Eight times the size of Washington, DC
Total: 0 km
1,117 km
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
Mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy
Rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast
Highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m
Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Fish, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas
Agricultural land: 2.1% (2018 est.)
Arable land: 2.1% (2018 est.)
Permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
Permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
Forest: 0.1% (2018 est.)
Other: 97.8% (2018 est.)
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
Strong winds and heavy rains can occur throughout the year
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
52,600 (2023 est.)
Noun: Faroese (singular and plural)
Adjective: Faroese
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
Faroese 93.8% (derived from Old Norse), Danish 3.2%, other 3% (2011 est.)
Note: data represent population by primary language
Christian 89.3% (predominantly Evangelical Lutheran), other 1%, none 3.8%, unspecified 6% (2011 est.)
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)
2023 population pyramid:
Total dependency ratio: 62.8
Youth dependency ratio: 33.6
Elderly dependency ratio: 29.1
Potential support ratio: 3.4 (2021)
Total: 37.2 years
Male: 36.9 years
Female: 37.7 years (2020 est.)
0.63% (2023 est.)
14.94 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)
8.61 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)
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
Urban population: 43% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.89% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
21,000 TORSHAVN (capital) (2018)
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: 1.07 male(s)/female (2023 est.)
Total: 5.86 deaths/1,000 live births
Male: 6.48 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 5.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
Total population: 81.47 years
Male: 78.96 years
Female: 84.17 years (2023 est.)
2.28 children born/woman (2023 est.)
1.1 (2023 est.)
NA
Improved: urban: NA
Rural: NA
Total: 100% of population
Unimproved: urban: NA
Rural: NA
Total: 0% of population (2020)
NA
2.62 physicians/1,000 population (2016)
4.2 beds/1,000 population (2016)
Improved: urban: NA
Rural: NA
Total: NA
Unimproved: urban: NA
Rural: NA
Total: NA
NA
34.8% (2023 est.)
7.6% of GDP (2019 est.)
Total population: NA
Male: NA
Female: NA
Coastal erosion, landslides and rockfalls, flash flooding, wind storms; oil spills
Mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy
Agricultural land: 2.1% (2018 est.)
Arable land: 2.1% (2018 est.)
Permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
Permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)
Forest: 0.1% (2018 est.)
Other: 97.8% (2018 est.)
Urban population: 43% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 0.89% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
0% of GDP (2017 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 0.63 megatons (2016 est.)
Municipal solid waste generated annually: 61,000 tons (2014 est.)
Municipal solid waste recycled annually: 40,870 tons (2012 est.)
Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 67% (2012 est.)
0 cubic meters (2017 est.)
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
Parliamentary democracy (Faroese Parliament); part of the Kingdom of Denmark
Part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1948
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"
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
None (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Olaifest (Olavsoka) (commemorates the death in battle of King OLAF II of Norway, later St. OLAF), 29 July (1030)
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
The laws of Denmark apply where applicable
See Denmark
18 years of age; universal
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 31 August 2019 (next to be held in 2023)
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)
The Faroe Islands elect 2 members to the Danish Parliament to serve 4-year terms
Elections: Faroese Parliament - last held on 8 December 2022 (next to be held in 2023)
Faroese seats in the Danish Parliament last held on 5 June 2019 (next to be held no later than June 2023)
Election results: Faroese Parliament percent of vote by party - JF 27.3%, B 21.2%, A 18.2%, E 18.2%, F 9.1%, H 6.0%, seats by party - JF 9, B 7, A 6, E 6, F 3, H 2; composition - men 27, women 6; percent of women 18.2%
Faroese seats in Danish Parliament - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - JF 1, B 1; composition - men 2
2019: Faroese Parliament percent of vote by party - People's Party 24.2%, JF 21.2%, Union Party 21.2%, Republic 18.2%, Center Party 6%, Progress Party 6%, Self-Government Party 3%, seats by party - People's Party 8, JF 7, Union Party 7, Republic 6, Center Party 2, Progress Party 2, Self-Government Party 1, composition - men 25, women 8; percent of women 24.2%
Faroese seats in Danish Parliament - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - JF 1, Republic 1; composition - men 2
Highest court(s): 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
Center Party or H (Midflokkurin) [Jenis av RANA]
People's Party or A (Folkaflokkurin) [Benir JOHANNESEN]
Progress Party or F (Framsokn) [Ruth VANG]
Republic or E (Tjodveldi) [Hogni HOYDAL] (formerly the Republican Party)
Self-Government Party or D (Sjalvstyri or Sjalvstyrisflokkurin) [Samal Peter I GRUND]
Social Democratic Party or JF (Javnadarflokkurin) or JF [Aksel V. JOHANNESEN]
Union Party or B (Sambandsflokkurin) [Bardur A STEIG NIELSEN]
Arctic Council, IMO (associate), NC, NIB, UNESCO (associate), UPU
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
Ram; national colors: red, white, blue
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
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
$2.001 billion (2014 est.)
$1.89 billion (2013 est.)
$1.608 billion (2012 est.)
5.9% (2017 est.)
7.5% (2016 est.)
2.4% (2015 est.)
$40,000 (2014 est.)
$2.765 billion (2014 est.)
-0.3% (2016)
-1.7% (2015)
Agriculture: 18% (2013 est.)
Industry: 39% (2013 est.)
Services: 43% (2013 est.)
Comparison rankings: agriculture 53; industry 36; services 201
Household consumption: 52% (2013)
Government consumption: 29.6% (2013)
Investment in fixed capital: 18.4% (2013)
Potatoes, mutton, sheep skins, sheep offals, beef, sheep fat, cattle offals, cattle hides, cattle fat
Fishing, fish processing, tourism, small ship repair and refurbishment, handicrafts
3.4% (2009 est.)
27,540 (2017 est.)
Agriculture: 15%
Industry: 15%
Services: 70% (December 2016 est.)
2.2% (2017 est.)
3.4% (2016 est.)
10% (2015 est.)
22.7 (2013 est.)
Lowest 10%: NA
Highest 10%: NA
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
-1.7% (of GDP) (2014 est.)
35% of GDP (2014 est.)
30.2% (of GDP) (2014 est.)
Calendar year
$1.184 billion (2016 est.)
$1.019 billion (2015 est.)
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)
Fish and fish products (2021)
$978.4 million (2016 est.)
$906.1 million (2015 est.)
Denmark 33%, China 10.7%, Germany 7.6%, Poland 6.8%, Norway 6.7%, Ireland 5%, Chile 4.3% (2017)
Goods for household consumption, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, raw materials and semi-manufactures, cars
$387.6 million (2012)
$274.5 million (2010)
Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar -
6.287 (2021 est.)
6.542 (2020 est.)
6.669 (2019 est.)
6.315 (2018 est.)
6.603 (2017 est.)
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.)
Comparison rankings: installed generating capacity 180; consumption 177; exports 149; imports 162; transmission/distribution losses 182
Fossil fuels: 58.9% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Solar: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Wind: 15.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Hydroelectricity: 26% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
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.)
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.)
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
4,555 bbl/day (2015 est.)
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.)
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.)
0 Btu/person (2019 est.)
Total subscriptions: 15,000 (2021 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 29 (2021 est.)
Total subscriptions: 59,000 (2021 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 110 (2021 est.)
General assessment: the Faroe Islands have a highly developed communication network, which covers the whole country; from telecommunication and mobile phones to the internet and media, the Faroe Islands are at the forefront of modern communications technology; working within the special geographic circumstances of the Faroe Islands; companies have become world experts in providing digital communication solutions to remote and sparsely populated areas (2022)
Domestic: 29 per 100 teledensity for fixed-line and nearly 110 per 100 for mobile-cellular (2021)
International: country code - 298; landing points for the SHEFA-2, FARICE-1, and CANTAT-3 fiber-optic submarine cables from the Faroe Islands, to Denmark, Germany, UK and Iceland; satellite earth stations - 1 Orion; (2019)
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
.fo
Total: 51,728 (2021 est.)
Percent of population: 97.6% (2021 est.)
Total: 18,443 (2020 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 38 (2020 est.)
Number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) (registered in Denmark)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 3 (registered in Denmark)
OY-H
1 (2021)
1
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.)
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
Total: 91
By type: container ships 6, general cargo 43, other 42 (2022)
Major seaport(s): Fuglafjordur, Torshavn, Vagur
No regular military forces or conscription
The Government of Denmark has responsibility for defense; as such, the Danish military’s Joint Arctic Command in Nuuk, Greenland is responsible for coordinating the defense of the Faroe Islands; the Joint Arctic Command has a contact element in the capital of Torshavn
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