Faroe Islands

The population of the Faroe Islands, a self-governing dependency of Denmark, is largely descended from Viking settlers who arrived in the 9th century. The islands have been connected politically to Denmark since the 14th century. The Home Rule Act of 1948 granted a high degree of self-Government to the Faroese, who have autonomy over most internal affairs and external trade, while Denmark is responsible for justice, defense, and some foreign affairs. The Faroe Islands are not part of the European Union.

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

• the island of Streymoy is by far the most populous with over 40% of the population;
• it has approximately twice as many inhabitants as Eysturoy, the second most populous island;
• seven of the inhabited islands have fewer than 100 people

• 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

noun:

Faroese (singular and plural)

adjective:

Faroese

• the island of Streymoy is by far the most populous with over 40% of the population;
• it has approximately twice as many inhabitants as Eysturoy, the second most populous island;
• seven of the inhabited islands have fewer than 100 people

at birth:

1.07 male(s)/female

0-14 years:

1.07 male(s)/female

15-24 years:

1.07 male(s)/female

25-54 years:

1.16 male(s)/female

55-64 years:

1.07 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.94 male(s)/female

total population:

1.08 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

improved:

total: 99% of population

unimproved:

total: 0% of population (2017 est.)

improved:

total: 100% of population

unimproved:

total: 1% of population (2017)

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

urban population:

42.6% of total population (2021)

rate of urbanization:

0.89% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually:

61,000 tons (2014 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually:

40,870 tons (2012 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled:

67% (2012 est.)

conventional long form:

none

conventional short form:

Faroe Islands

local long form:

none

local short form:

Foroyar

etymology:

the archipelago's name may derive from the Old Norse word "faer," meaning sheep

name:

Torshavn

geographic coordinates:

62 00 N, 6 46 W

time difference:

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

daylight saving time:

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

etymology:

the meaning in Danish is Thor's harbor

• part of the Kingdom of Denmark;
• self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark;
• there are 29 first-order municipalities (kommunur, singular - kommuna) Eidhi, Eystur, Famjin, Fuglafjordhur, Fugloy, Hov, Husavik, Hvalba, Hvannasund, Klaksvik, Kunoy, Kvivik, Nes, Porkeri, Runavik, Sandur, Sjovar, Skalavik, Skopun, Skuvoy, Sorvagur, Sumba, Sunda, Torshavn, Tvoroyri, Vagar, Vagur, Vestmanna, Vidhareidhi

history:

5 June 1953 (Danish Constitution), 23 March 1948 (Home Rule Act), and 24 June 2005 (Takeover Act) serve as the Faroe Islands' constitutional position in the Unity of the Realm

amendments:

see entry for Denmark

chief of state:

Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Lene Moyell JOHANSEN, chief administrative officer (since 15 May 2017)

head of government:

Prime Minister Bardur A STEIG NIELSEN (since 16 September 2019)

cabinet:

Landsstyri appointed by the prime minister

elections/appointments:

• the monarchy is hereditary;
• high commissioner appointed by the monarch;
• following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually elected prime minister by the Faroese Parliament;
• election last held on 31 August 2019 (next to be held in 2023)

election results:

Bardur A STEIGNIELSEN elected prime minister; Parliament vote - NA

highest courts:

Faroese Court or Raett (Rett - Danish) decides both civil and criminal cases; the Court is part of the Danish legal system

subordinate courts:

• Court of the First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance;
• Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif;
• Mixed Commercial Court;
• Land Court

• Center Party (Midflokkurin) [Jenis av RANA]
• People's Party (Folkaflokkurin) [Jorgen NICLASEN]
• Progress Party (Framsokn) [Poul MICHELSEN]
• Republic (Tjodveldi) [Hogni HOYDAL] (formerly the Republican Party)
• Self-Government Party (Sjalvstyri or Sjalvstyrisflokkurin) [Jogvan SKORHEIM]
• Social Democratic Party (Javnadarflokkurin) or JF [Aksel V. JOHANNESEN]
• Union Party (Sambandsflokkurin) [Bardur A STEIG NIELSEN]

• white with a red cross outlined in blue extending to the edges of the flag;
• the vertical part of the cross is shifted toward the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag);
• referred to as Merkid, meaning "the banner" or "the mark," the flag resembles those of neighboring Iceland and Norway, and uses the same three colors - but in a different sequence;
• white represents the clear Faroese sky, as well as the foam of the waves;
• red and blue are traditional Faroese colors

note: the blue on the flag is a lighter blue (azure) than that found on the flags of Iceland or Norway

agriculture:

15%

industry:

15%

services:

70% (December 2016 est.)

lowest 10%:

NA

highest 10%:

NA

• 1 publicly owned TV station;
• the Faroese telecommunications company distributes local and international channels through its digital terrestrial network;
• publicly owned radio station supplemented by 3 privately owned stations broadcasting over multiple frequencies

total:

960 km (2017)

paved:

500 km (2017)

unpaved:

460 km (2017)

note: those islands not connected by roads (bridges or tunnels) are connected by seven different ferry links operated by the nationally owned company SSL; 28 km of tunnels

• the Government of Denmark has responsibility for defense;
• as such, the Danish military’s Joint Arctic Command in Nuuk, Greenland is responsible for territorial defense of the Faroe Islands;
• the Joint Arctic Command has a contact element in the capital of Torshavn

• because anticipated offshore hydrocarbon resources have not been realized, earlier Faroese proposals for full independence have been deferred;
• Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim to UNCLOS that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm