Faroe Islands

NAIndependence none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark

Faroe Islands as the 1999 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 100 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

Position62 00 N, 7 00 W

Area1,399 sq km

LocationNorthern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea

Populationas each edition published it

41,059 people July 1999 est. · 47,715 in 1990

Population growth% a year

-2.03% 1999 est. · 0.67% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 35.1 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

78.56 years 1999 est. · 77.92 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.36 children per woman 1999 est. · 2.2 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

10.26 deaths per 1,000 live births 1999 est. · 9 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$16,000 1996 est. · $14,000 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

6% 1996 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

18 fields

Land useshare of 1,399 sq km

arable land 6%forests and woodland 0%other 94% (1996)permanent crops 0% in all · permanent pastures 0% in all · irrigated 0 sq km

Area

1,399sq km

land: 1,399 sq kmwater: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams)eight times the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

1,117km

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

Highest point

882m

Slaettaratindurlowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

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--international agreements

party to:: NA
signed, but not ratified:: NA

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

People

15 fields

Population

41,059

(July 1999 est.)growth rate: -2.03% (1999 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1999 est.)

Birth

12.54Death

9.08Net migration

-23.72

Age structure

0-14 years:: 23% (male 4,819; female 4,629)
15-64 years:: 62% (male 13,600; female 11,811)
65 years and over:: 15% (male 2,786; female 3,414) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 1.15 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population:: 1.07 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate

10.26 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 78.56 years
male:: 75.66 years
female:: 81.58 years (1999 est.)

Nationality

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

Languages

Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish

Government

NA; Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Bente KLINTE, chief administrative officer (since NA); Prime Minister Anfinn KALLSBERG (since 9 May 1998)

19 fields

Legislature, 32 seats, elected 30 April 1998one dot, one seat

-Republicans 8People's Party 8Social Democrats 7Coalition Party 6other parties 3

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

Administrative divisions

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

Independence

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

Executive branch

chief of state:: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Bente KLINTE, chief administrative officer (since NA)
head of government:: Prime Minister Anfinn KALLSBERG (since 9 May 1998)
cabinet:: Landsstyri elected by the Faroese Parliament
elections:: the monarch is hereditary;
high commissioner appointed by the monarch;
following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats is usually elected prime minister by the Faroese Parliament;
election last held 30 April 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)
election results:: Anfinn KALLSBERG 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 30 April 1998 (next to be held by NA July 2002)
election results:: percent of vote by party--Republicans 23.8%, People's Party 21.3%, Social Democrats 21.9%, Coalition Party (Union Party, Labor Front, Home Rule Party) 15%;
seats by party--Republicans 8, People's Party 8, Social Democrats 7, Coalition Party 6, other parties 3

note: election of 2 seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on 11 March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002); results--percent of vote by party--NA; seats by party--Social Democrats 1, Conservatives 1

Judicial branch

none

Political parties and leaders

Social Democratic Party [Joannes KALLSBERG]

International organization participation

NC, NIB

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 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

After the severe economic troubles of the early | 1990s, brought on by a drop in the vital fish catch, the Faroe | Islands have come back in the last few years, with unemployment down | to 5% in mid-1998.

31 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$16,000

purchasing power parity? · (1996 est.)

Real growth rate

(1996 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

2.8%

(1996 est.)

Unemployment rate

(1998 est.)

GDP--composition by sector(1996 est.)

agriculture 20%industry 16%services 64% (1996 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

22.2%

Denmark

34.5%

25.8%

6.2%

Norway

15.9%

9.7%

Germany

8.3%

France

UK 8.4% Germany

7.8%

Sweden

5.8%

2.0%

1.5%

Exports $362 million (f.o.b., 1995)Imports $315.6 (c.i.f., 1995)

Budget

Revenues

$467 millionExpenditures

$468 million (1996 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $11 million

Electricity

fossil fuel 52.94%hydro 47.06%nuclear 0% · other 0%

Electricity production

170 million (1996)Electricity consumption

170 million (1996)

Economy--overview

After the severe economic troubles of the early 1990s, brought on by a drop in the vital fish catch, the Faroe Islands have come back in the last few years, with unemployment down to 5% in mid-1998. Nevertheless the total dependence on fishing means the economy remains extremely vulnerable.

The Faroese hope to broaden their economic base by building new fish-processing plants. Oil finds close to the Faroese area give hope for deposits in the immediate Faroese area, which may lay the basis for sustained economic prosperity. The Faroese are supported by a substantial annual subsidy from Denmark.

GDP

purchasing power parity--$700 million (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Labor force

20,345 (1995 est.)

Labor force--by occupation

largely engaged in fishing, manufacturing, transportation, and commerce

Industries

fishing, shipbuilding, construction, handicrafts

Agriculture--products

milk, potatoes, vegetables;
sheep;
salmon, other fish

Exports

$362 million (f.o.b., 1995)

Exports--commodities

fish and fish products 92%, animal feedstuffs, transport equipment (ships)

Imports

$315.6 (c.i.f., 1995)

Imports--commodities

machinery and transport equipment 17.0%, consumer goods 33%, raw materials and semi-manufactures 26.9%, fuels 11.4%, fish and salt 6.7%

Debt--external

$767 million (1995 est.)

Economic aid--recipient

$150 million (annual subsidy from Denmark) (1995)

Currency

1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 oere

Exchange rates

Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1--6.408 (January 1999), 6.701 (1998), 6.604 (1997), 5.799 (1966), 5.602 (1995), 6.361 (1994)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

6 fields

Fixed lines

22,500

(3,500 cellular telephone subscribers) (1996)

Telephone system

good international communications; good domestic facilities

domestic:: digitalization was to hve been completed in 1998
international:: satellite earth stations--1 Orion; 1 fiber-optic submarine cable linking the Faroe Islands with Denmark and Iceland

Transportation

6 fields

Merchant marine, 6 ships by typeone square, one ship · (1998 est.)

cargo 2oil tanker 1refrigerated cargo 1roll-on/roll-off cargo 1short-sea passenger 1

Networkskm

Highways

458Railways

Highways: paved: 450 km · unpaved: 8 km (1995 est.)

Highways

total:: 458 km
paved:: 450 km
unpaved:: 8 km (1995 est.)

Military

No organized native military forces; only a | small Police Force and Coast Guard are maintained

4 fields

Transnational Issues

1 field

Disputes--international