Faroe Islands

part of the Danish realmIndependence none (part of the Danish realm

Faroe Islands as the 1994 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 109 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalTorshavn

LocationNordic States, Northern Europe in the north Atlantic Ocean, located

Populationas each edition published it

48,427 people July 1994 est. · 47,715 in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.83% 1994 est. · 0.67% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 35.1 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

Not in this edition 77.92 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.47 children per woman 1994 est. · 2.2 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

8.1 deaths per 1,000 live births 1994 est. · 9 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$14,000 1989 est. · $14,000 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

3% 1989 est. · 3% in 1993

Geography

Nordic States, Northern Europe in the north Atlantic Ocean, located | half way between Norway and Iceland

23 fields

Coastline

764km

land boundaries: 0 km

Location

Nordic States, Northern Europe in the north Atlantic Ocean, located half way between Norway and Iceland

total area

1,400 sq km

land area

1,400 sq km

comparative area

slightly less than eight times the size of Washington, DC

exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

territorial sea

3 nm

Climate

mild winters, cool summers;
usually overcast;
foggy, windy

Terrain

rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast

arable land

permanent crops

meadows and pastures

forest and woodland

other

98%

current issues

natural hazards

international agreements

Note

archipelago of 18 inhabited islands and a few uninhabited islets;
strategically located along important sea lanes in northeastern Atlantic;
precipitous terrain limits habitation to small coastal lowlands

People

20 fields

Population

48,427

(July 1994 est.)growth rate: 0.83% (1994 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1994 est.)

Birth

17.97Death

7.56Net migration

-2.09

Labor force

17,585

Infant mortality rate

8.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

total population

78.1 years

male

74.71 years

female

81.62 years (1994 est.)

noun

Faroese (singular and plural)

adjective

Faroese

Languages

Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish

total population

NA%

male

NA%

female

NA%

by occupation

largely engaged in fishing, manufacturing, transportation, and commerce

Government

Part of the Danish realm

26 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

27.4%

Social Democratic 27.4%People's Party 21.9%Cooperation Coalition Party 18.9%Republican Party 14.7%Home Rule 8.8%PFIP-CPP 5.9%other 2.4%

Legislature, 32 seatsone dot, one seat

two-party coalition (Social Democratic 10, People's Party 7) 17Cooperation Coalition Party 6Republican Party 4Home Rule 3PFIP-CPP 2

Legislature, 2 seatsone dot, one seat

Social Democratic 1People's Party 1

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Faroe Islands

local long form

none

local short form

Foroyar

Type

part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark

Administrative divisions

none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Independence

none (part of the Danish realm; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

chief of state

Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Bent KLINTE (since NA)

head of government

Prime Minister Marita PETERSEN (since 18 January 1993)

cabinet

Landsstyri; elected by the local legislature

Faroese Parliament (Lgting)

elections last held 17 November 1990 (next to be held November 1994);
results - Social Democratic 27.4%, People's Party 21.9%, Cooperation Coalition Party 18.9%, Republican Party 14.7%, Home Rule 8.8%, PFIP-CPP 5.9%, other 2.4%;
seats - (32 total) two-party coalition 17 (Social Democratic 10, People's Party 7), Cooperation Coalition Party 6, Republican Party 4, Home Rule 3, PFIP-CPP 2

Danish Parliament

elections last held on 12 December 1990 (next to be held by December 1994);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (2 total) Social Democratic 1, People's Party 1;
note - the Faroe Islands elects two representatives to the Danish Parliament

three-party ruling coalition

Social Democratic Party, Marita PETERSEN;
Republican Party, Signer HANSEN;
Home Rule Party, Hilmar KASS

opposition

Cooperation Coalition Party, Pauli ELLEFSEN;
Progressive and Fishing Industry Party-Christian People's Party (PFIP-CPP), leader NA;
Progress Party, leader NA;
People's Party, Jogvan SUND-STEIN

Diplomatic representation in US

none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

US diplomatic representation

none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Flag

white with a red cross outlined in blue that extends to the edges of the flag;
the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the DANNEBROG (Danish flag)

Economy

25 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$14,000

(1989 est.)

Real growth rate

(1989 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

(1988)

Unemployment rate

2.5%

(1993 est)

The Faroese, who have long enjoyed the affluent living standards of the Danes and other Scandinavians, now must cope with the decline of the all-important fishing industry and one of the world's heaviest per capita external debts of nearly $30,000. When the nations of the world extended their fishing zones to 200 nautical miles in the early 1970s, the Faroese no longer could continue their traditional long-distance fishing and subsequently depleted their own nearby fishing areas.

The government's tight controls on fish stocks and its austerity measures have caused a recession, and subsidy cuts will force nationalization in the fishing industry, which has already been plagued with bankruptcies. Copenhagen has threatened to withhold its annual subsidy of $130 million - roughly one-third of the islands' budget revenues - unless the Faroese make significant efforts to balance their budget.

To this extent the Faroe government is expected to continue its tough policies, including introducing a 20% value-added tax (VAT) in 1993, and has agreed to an IMF economic-political stabilization plan. In addition to its annual subsidy, the Danish government has bailed out the second largest Faroe bank to the tune of $140 million since October 1992.

National product

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $662 million (1989 est.)

revenues

$425 million

expenditures

$480 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1991 est.)

Exports

$386 million (f.o.b., 1990 est.)

commodities

fish and fish products 88%, animal feedstuffs, transport equipment (ships) (1989)

partners

Denmark 20%, Germany 18.3%, UK 14.2%, France 11.2%, Spain 7.9%, US 4.5%

Imports

$322 million (c.i.f., 1990 est.)

commodities

machinery and transport equipment 24.4%, manufactures 24%, food and livestock 19%, fuels 12%, chemicals 6.5%

partners

Denmark 43.8%, Norway 19.8%, Sweden 4.9%, Germany 4.2%, US 1.3%

External debt

$1.3 billion (1991)

capacity

80,000 kW

production

280 million kWh

consumption per capita

5,760 kWh (1992)

Industries

fishing, shipbuilding, handicrafts

Agriculture

accounts for 27% of GDP and employs 27% of labor force;
principal crops - potatoes and vegetables;
livestock - sheep;
annual fish catch about 360,000 metric tons

recipient

receives an annual subsidy from Denmark of about $130 million

Currency

1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 oere

Exchange rates

Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 - 6.771 (January 1994), 6.484 (1993), 6.036 (1992), 6.396 (1991), 6.189 (1990), 7.310 (1989)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

Communications

13 fields

total

200 km

paved

unpaved

Ports

Torshavn, Tvoroyri

Merchant marine

7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 19,943 GRT/18,399 DWT, cargo 5, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea passenger 1

note

a subset of the Danish register

total

usable

with permanent-surface runways

with runways over 3,659 m

with runways 2,440-3,659 m

with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications

good international communications;
fair domestic facilities;
27,900 telephones;
broadcast stations - 1 AM, 3 (10 repeaters) FM, 3 (29 repeaters) TV;
3 coaxial submarine cables

Defense Forces

Small Police Force, no organized native military forces

2 fields

Branches

small Police Force, no organized native military forces

Note

defense is the responsibility of Denmark

Central Intelligence Agency. “Faroe Islands.” The World Factbook 1994. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/faroe-islands/1994.

How to cite ← 1993 edition 1995 edition →

Geography

total area

land area

comparative area

exclusive fishing zone

territorial sea

arable land

permanent crops

meadows and pastures

forest and woodland

other

current issues

natural hazards

international agreements

People

total population

male

female

noun

adjective

total population

male

female

by occupation

Government

conventional long form

conventional short form

local long form

local short form

chief of state

head of government

cabinet

three-party ruling coalition

opposition

Economy

revenues

expenditures

commodities

partners

commodities

partners

capacity

production

consumption per capita

recipient

Communications

total

paved

unpaved

note

total

usable

with permanent-surface runways

with runways over 3,659 m

with runways 2,440-3,659 m

with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Defense Forces

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