Faroe Islands

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

Faroe Islands as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 78 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

Area1,400 sq km

LocationNorthern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and

Populationas each edition published it

48,871 people July 1995 est. · 47,715 in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.99% 1995 est. · 0.67% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 35.1 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

78.29 years 1995 est. · 77.92 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.42 children per woman 1995 est. · 2.2 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

7.9 deaths per 1,000 live births 1995 est. · 9 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$14,000 1989 est. · $14,000 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

-10.8% 1993 est. · 3% in 1993

Geography

Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and | the north Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Iceland to | Norway

14 fields

Land useshare of 1,400 sq km

arable land 2%forest and woodland 0%other 98%permanent crops 0% in all · meadows and pastures 0% in all

Area

1,400sq km

land area: 1,400 sq kmcomparative area: slightly less than eight times the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

764km

land boundaries: 0 kmexclusive fishing zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 3 nm

Location

Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the north Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Iceland to Norway

Climate

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

Terrain

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

Environment

current issues:: NA
natural hazards:: NA
international agreements:: NA

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

15 fields

Population

48,871

(July 1995 est.)growth rate: 0.99% (1995 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1995 est.)

Birth

17.54Death

7.59Net migration

Labor force

17,585

by occupation: largely engaged in fishing, manufacturing, transportation, and commerce

Age structure

0-14 years:: 24% (female 5,673; male 6,119)
15-64 years:: 63% (female 14,164; male 16,835)
65 years and over:: 13% (female 3,335; male 2,745) (July 1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate

7.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 78.29 years
male:: 74.91 years
female:: 81.8 years (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Faroese (singular and plural)
adjective:: Faroese

Languages

Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish

Government

Part of the Danish realm; Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Bent KLINTE (since NA); Prime Minister Edmund JOENSEN (since 15 September 1994)

20 fields

Legislature, 32 seatsone dot, one seat

Liberal Party 8People's Party 6Social Democrats 5Republicans 4Workers' Party 3Christian Democrats 2Center Party 2Home Rule Party 2

Legislature, 2 seatsone dot, one seat

Liberals 2

Names

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)

Executive branch

chief of state:: Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Bent KLINTE (since NA)
head of government:: Prime Minister Edmund JOENSEN (since 15 September 1994)
cabinet:: Landsstyri; elected by the local legislature

Faroese Parliament (Logting)

elections last held 8 July 1994 (next to be held by July 1998);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (32 total) Liberal Party 8, People's Party 6, Social Democrats 5, Republicans 4, Workers' Party 3, Christian Democrats 2, Center Party 2, Home Rule Party 2

Danish Parliament

elections last held on 21 September 1994 (next to be held by September 1998);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (2 total) Liberals 2

Political parties and leaders

Social Democratic Party, Marita PETERSEN;
Workers Front, Oli JACOBSEN;
Home Rule Party, Helena Dam A NEYSTABOE;
The 'Coalition Party', Edmund JOENSEN;
Republican Party, Finnbogir ESAKSON;
Centrist Party, Tordur NICLASEN;
Christian People's Party, Niels Pauli DANIELSEN;
People's Party, Arnfinn KALLSBERG;
Liberal Party;
Christian Democratic Party

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

18 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$14,000

(1989 est.)

Real growth rate

-10.8%

(1993 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

6.8%

(1993 est.)

Unemployment rate

23%

(1993)

Budget

Revenues

$407.2 millionExpenditures

$482.7 million (1993 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Installed generating capacity, 90,000 kW

Electricity production

200 millionElectricity consumption per capita

3,953 (1992)

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 about $25,000. 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 parity - $662 million (1989 est.)

Exports

$345.3 million (f.o.b., 1993 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

$234.4 million (c.i.f., 1993 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%