Faroe Islands

NAIndependence none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark

Faroe Islands as the 2000 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 102 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 and the north Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Iceland to Norway

Populationas each edition published it

45,296 people July 2000 est. · 47,715 in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.83% 2000 est. · 0.67% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 35.1 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

78.43 years 2000 est. · 77.92 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.32 children per woman 2000 est. · 2.2 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

6.94 deaths per 1,000 live births 2000 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

Introduction

1 field

Background

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.

Geography

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

17 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

Geographic coordinates

62 00 N, 7 00 W

Map references

Europe

Climate

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

Terrain

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

Natural resources

fish, whales, hydropower

Natural hazards

Environment - current issues

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

45,296

(July 2000 est.)growth rate: 0.83% (2000 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2000 est.)

Birth

13.58Death

8.7Net migration

3.38

Age structure

0-14 years:: 23% (male 5,233; female 5,163)
15-64 years:: 63% (male 15,270; female 13,382)
65 years and over:: 14% (male 2,788; female 3,460) (2000 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 1.14 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population:: 1.06 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Infant mortality rate

6.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 78.43 years
male:: 74.96 years
female:: 81.92 years (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.32 children born/woman (2000 est.)

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: similar to Denmark proper

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

Presidential electionpercent of vote

23.8%

Republican Party 23.8%People's Party 21.3%Social Democratic Party 21.9%Coalition Party (Union Party, Labor Front, Home Rule Party) 18%last held 30 April 1998 (next to be held by NA July 2002)

Faroese Parliament or Logting, 32 seats, elected 30 April 1998one dot, one seat

Republican Party 8People's Party 8Social Democratic Party 7Coalition Party 6other parties 3

Percent of vote

Republican Party 23.8%People's Party 21.3%Social Democratic Party 21.9%Coalition Party (Union Party, Labor Front, Home Rule Party) 18%

Country name

conventional long form:: none
conventional short form:: Faroe Islands
local long form:: none
local short form:: Foroyar

Data code

Dependency status

part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1948

Government type

Capital

Torshavn

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)

National holiday

Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)

Constitution

5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)

Legal system

Danish

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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 - Republican Party 23.8%, People's Party 21.3%, Social Democratic Party 21.9%, Coalition Party (Union Party, Labor Front, Home Rule Party) 18%;
seats by party - Republican Party 8, People's Party 8, Social Democratic Party 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 Democratic Party 1,

People's Party 1

Judicial branch

none

Political parties and leaders

Center Party [Tordur NICLASEN];
Christian People's Party [Niels Pauli DANIELSEN];
Home Rule Party [Helena Dam A. NEYSTABO];
Labor Front [leader NA];
People's Party [Oli BRECKMANN];
Republican Party [Finnbogi ISAKSON];
Social Democratic Party [Joannes EIDESGAARD];
The Faroese Party [Olavur CHRISTIANSEN];
Union Party [Edmund JOENSEN]

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

Real growth rate

(1996 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

2.8%

(1996 est.)

Unemployment rate

(1998 est.)

Labor force

20,500

(1996 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(1996 est.)

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

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

31%

Denmark

33%

25%

Norway

18%

Germany

UK 8% Germany

France

Spain

Sweden

Exports $362 million (f.o.b., 1995)Imports $315.6 million (c.i.f., 1995)(1996)

Budget

Revenues

$467 millionExpenditures

$468 million (1996 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $11 million

Electricity

fossil fuel 53.76%hydro 45.7%other 0.54% (1998)nuclear 0%

Electricity production

186 million (1998)Electricity consumption

173 million (1998)

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 almost 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 area, which may lay the basis to sustained economic prosperity. The Faroese are supported by a substantial annual subsidy from Denmark.

GDP

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

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $16,000 (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Labor force - by occupation

largely engaged in fishing, manufacturing, transportation, commerce

Industries

fishing, shipbuilding, construction, handicrafts

Agriculture - products

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

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

2,558

(1995)

Fixed lines

22,000

(1995)

Telephone system

good international communications; good domestic facilities

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