Faroe Islands
none conventional short form: Faroe Islands local long form: none local short form: Foroyar
NAIndependence none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark
Faroe Islands as the 2001 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 109 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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 fieldsLocation
Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Iceland to Norway
Land use
arable land: 6% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 94% (1996)
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
18 fieldsPer 1,000 population(2001 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 22.62% (male 5,193; female 5,136) 15-64 years: 63.64% (male 15,463; female 13,596) 65 years and over: 13.74% (male 2,802; female 3,471) (2001 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1 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 (2001 est.)
Government
NA
19 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Faroese Parliament or Logting, 2 seatsone dot, one seat
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);
- there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 49 municipalities
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 Ms. Vibeke LARSEN, chief administrative officer (since NA) head of government: Prime Minister Anfinn KALLSBERG (since 15 May 1998) cabinet: Landsstyri appointed by the prime minister 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 no later than April 2002) election results: Anfinn KALLSBERG elected prime minister;
- percent of parliamentary vote - 52.8% note: coalition of People's Party, Republican Party and Home Rule Party
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 not later than April 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - Republican Party 23.8%, People's Party 21.3%, Social Democratic Party 21.9%, Union Party 18%, Home Rue Party 7.7%, Center Party 4.1%;
- seats by party - Republican Party 8, People's Party 8, Social Democratic Party 7, Union Party 6, Home Rule Party 2, Center Party 1 note: election of 2 seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on 11 March 1998 (next to be held not later than March 2002);
- results - percent of vote by party - NA;
- seats by party - Social Democratic Party 1, People's Party 1
Political parties and leaders
- Center Party [Jenis A. RANA];
- Home Rule Party [Helena Dam a NEYSTABO];
- People's Party [Oli BRECKMANN];
- Republican Party [Hogni HOYDAL];
- Social Democratic Party [Joannes EIDESGAARD];
- Union Party [Edmund JOENSEN]
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
The Faroese economy has had a strong performance since 1994, mostly as a result of increasing fish landings and high and stable export prices.
32 fieldsElectricity
Economy - overview
The Faroese economy has had a strong performance since 1994, mostly as a result of increasing fish landings and high and stable export prices. Unemployment is falling and there are signs of labor shortages in several sectors. The positive economic development has helped the Faroese Home Rule Government produce increasing budget surpluses which in turn help to reduce the large public debt, most of it owed to Denmark.
However, the total dependence on fishing makes the Faroese economy extremely vulnerable, and the present fishing efforts appear in excess of what is required to ensure a sustainable level of fishing in the long term. Oil finds close to the Faroese area give hope for deposits in the immediate Faroese area, which may eventually lay the basis for a more diversified economy and thus less dependence on Denmark and Danish economic assistance.
Aided by a substantial annual subsidy (15% of GDP) from Denmark, the Faroese have a standard of living not far below the Danes and other Scandinavians.
Labor force - by occupation
fishing, fish processing, and manufacturing 33%, construction and private services 33%, public services 34%
Budget
revenues: $488 million expenditures: $484 million, including capital expenditures of $21 million (1999)
Imports - commodities
machinery and transport equipment 29%, consumer goods 36%, raw materials and semi-manufactures 32%, fuels, fish and salt (1999)
Exchange rates
Danish kroner per US dollar - 7.951 (January 2001), 8.093 (2000), 6.976 (1999), 6.701 (1998), 6.604 (1997), 5.799 (1966)
Communications
10 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- good international communications;
- good domestic facilities domestic: digitalization was completed in 1998;
- both NMT (analog) and GSM (digital) mobile telephone systems are installed international: satellite earth stations - 1 Orion;
- 1 fiber-optic submarine cable to the Shetland Islands, linking the Faroe Islands with Denmark and Iceland;
- fiber-optic submarine cable connection to Canada-Europe cable
Transportation
7 fieldsMerchant marine
total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 23,247 GRT/11,736 DWT ships by type: cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1, short-sea passenger 1 (2000 est.)
Military
Defense is the responsibility of Denmark; no organized native military forces; only a small Police Force and Coast Guard are maintained
4 fieldsMilitary branches
- defense is the responsibility of Denmark;
- no organized native military forces;
- only a small Police Force and Coast Guard are maintained
Transnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Faroe Islands.” The World Factbook 2001. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/faroe-islands/2001.