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  Faroe Islands
(part of the Kingdom of Denmark)
 
Flag of Faroe Islands
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 Introduction
 Geography
 People
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This page was last updated on 18 January, 2007


Map of Faroe Islands



Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Faroe Islands Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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    Faroe Islands Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
62 00 N, 7 00 W
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Europe
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 1,399 sq km
land: 1,399 sq km
water: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams)
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
eight times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
0 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
1,117 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 3 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
fish, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 2.14%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 97.86% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
0 sq km
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
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    Faroe Islands Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
47,246 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 20.9% (male 4,940/female 4,952)
15-64 years: 65.1% (male 16,247/female 14,522)
65 years and over: 13.9% (male 2,976/female 3,609) (2006 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 35 years
male: 34.7 years
female: 35.5 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
0.58% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
14.05 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
8.7 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
0.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 6.12 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 7.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 79.35 years
male: 75.91 years
female: 82.8 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.17 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Faroese (singular and plural)
adjective: Faroese
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Scandinavian
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Evangelical Lutheran
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
note: probably 100%, the same as Denmark proper
   Government    Faroe Islands Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Faroe Islands
local long form: none
local short form: Foroyar
Dependency status:
Definition Field Listing
part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1948
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
name: Torshavn
geographic coordinates: 62 01 N, 6 46 W
time difference: UTC (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
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 34 municipalities
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Olaifest (Olavasoka), 29 July
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
Danish
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Birgit KLEIS, chief administrative officer (since 1 November 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Joannes EIDESGAARD (since 3 February 2004)
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 majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by the Faroese Parliament; election last held 20 January 2004 (next to be held no later than January 2008)
election results: Joannes EIDESGAARD elected prime minister; percent of parliamentary vote - NA
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
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 20 January 2004 (next to be held no later than January 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - Union Party 23.7%, Social Democratic Party 21.8%, Republican Party 21.7%, People's Party 20.6%, Center Party 5.2%, Independence Party 4.6%; seats by party - Union Party 7, Social Democratic Party 7, Republican Party 8, People's Party 7, Center Party 2, Independence Party 1
note: election of two seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on 8 February 2005 (next to be held February 2009); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 1, People's Party 1
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
none
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Center Party [Jenis A. RANA]; Independence Party [Kari P. HOJGAARD]; People's Party [Anfinn KALLSBERG]; Republican Party [Hogni HOYDAL]; Social Democratic Party [Joannes EIDESGAARD]; Union Party [Kaj Leo JOHANNESEN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
NA
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
Arctic Council, IMO (associate), NC, NIB, UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
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)
   Economy    Faroe Islands Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
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 minimal 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 have helped 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 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 lessen dependence on Danish economic assistance. Aided by a substantial annual subsidy (about 15% of GDP) from Denmark, the Faroese have a standard of living not far below the Danes and other Scandinavians.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1 billion (2001 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
NA
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
10% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$31,000 (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 27%
industry: 11%
services: 62% (1999)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
24,250 (October 2000)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 33%
industry: 33%
services: 34%
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1% (October 2000)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.1% (1999)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $488 million
expenditures: $484 million; including capital expenditures of $21 million (1999)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
milk, potatoes, vegetables; sheep; salmon, other fish
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
fishing, fish processing, small ship repair and refurbishment, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
8% (1999 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
292.6 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
272.1 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4,550 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2004 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$533 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
fish and fish products 94%, stamps, ships (1999)
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Denmark 38%, UK 29.4%, Nigeria 8.9%, Norway 6.1%, Netherlands 4.3% (2005)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$639 million c.i.f. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
consumer goods 36%, raw materials and semi-manufactures 32%, machinery and transport equipment 29%, fuels, fish, salt (1999)
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Denmark 47.4%, Norway 18.7%, Germany 8.4%, Spain 7.8%, Iceland 4.9% (2005)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$64 million (1999)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
$135 million (annual subsidy from Denmark) (1998)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
Danish krone (DKK)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
Danish kroner per US dollar - 5.93667 (2006), 5.9969 (2005), 5.9911 (2004), 6.5877 (2003), 7.8947 (2002)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
calendar year
   Communications    Faroe Islands Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
23,800 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
42,500 (2005)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
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: country code - 298; 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
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 1, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
3 (plus 43 low-power repeaters) (September 1995)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.fo
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6,915 (2006)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
33,000 (2005)
   Transportation    Faroe Islands Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 458 km
note: no roads between towns (2003)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 18 ships (1000 GRT or over) 19,265 GRT/9,171 DWT
by type: cargo 10, container 2, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 2
foreign-owned: 8 (Iceland 4, Norway 4) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Torshavn
   Military    Faroe Islands Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
no regular military forces
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 10,695 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 8,852 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 366 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing
defense is the responsibility of Denmark
   Transnational Issues    Faroe Islands Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
because anticipated offshore hydrocarbon resources have not been realized, earlier Faroese proposals for full independence have been deferred; Iceland disputes the Faroe Islands' fisheries median line boundary; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm

This page was last updated on 18 January, 2007


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