Faroe Islands

Faroe Islands

Introduction

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 granted the Faroese in 1948, who have autonomy over most internal affairs while Denmark is responsible for justice, defense, and foreign affairs. The Faroe Islands are not part of the European Union.

Geography

Location

Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about half way between Iceland and Norway

Geographic coordinates

62 00 N, 7 00 W

Map references

Europe

Area

total: 1,393 sq km
country comparison to the world: 183 land:1,393 sq km
water:0 sq km (some lakes and streams)

Area – comparative

eight times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries

0 km

Coastline

1,117 km

Maritime claims

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

mild winters, cool summers

usually overcast

foggy, windy

Terrain

rugged, rocky, some low peaks

cliffs along most of coast

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point:Slaettaratindur 882 m

Natural resources

fish, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas

Land use

arable land: 2.14%
permanent crops:0%
other:97.86% (2005)

Irrigated land

0 sq km

Natural hazards

NA

Environment – current issues

NA

Environment – international agreements

party to: Marine Dumping – associate member to the London Convention and Ship Pollution

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 and Society

Nationality

noun: Faroese (singular and plural)
adjective:Faroese

Ethnic groups

Scandinavian

Languages

Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish

Religions

Evangelical Lutheran 83.8%, other and unspecified 16.2% (2006 census)

Population

49,267 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 208

Age structure

0-14 years: 21% (male 5,362/female 4,975)
15-64 years:64.2% (male 16,837/female 14,788)
65 years and over:14.8% (male 3,487/female 3,818) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 37.3 years
male:36.6 years
female:38.1 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

0.428% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155

Birth rate

12.95 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153

Death rate

8.67 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85

Urbanization

urban population: 40% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:0.9% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.071 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years:1.15 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.9 male(s)/female
total population:1.09 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 6.06 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 175 male:6.31 deaths/1,000 live births
female:5.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 79.72 years
country comparison to the world: 33 male:77.25 years
female:82.35 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.42 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

HIV/AIDS – deaths

NA

Education expenditures

NA

Literacy

NA

note – probably 99%, the same as Denmark proper

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

NA

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 9.4%
country comparison to the world: 105 male:6.9%
female:12.5% (2005)

Government

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

Government type

NA

Capital

name: Torshavn
geographic coordinates:62 01 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

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 34 municipalities

Independence

none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark

self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

National holiday

Olaifest (Olavsoka ), 29 July

Constitution

5 June 1953 (Danish Constitution)

Legal system

the laws of Denmark, where applicable, apply

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Dan Michael KNUDSEN, chief administrative officer (since 2008)
head of government:Prime Minister Kaj Leo JOHANNESSEN (since 26 September 2008)
cabinet:Landsstyri appointed by the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:the monarchy 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 on 19 January 2008 (next to be held no later than January 2012)
election results:Joannes EIDESGAARD elected prime minister in 2008

governing coalition collapses in September 2008, Kaj Leo JOHANNESSEN becomes prime minister

Legislative branch

unicameral Faroese Parliament or Logting (33 seats

members elected by popular vote on a proportional basis from the seven constituencies to serve four-year terms)
elections:last held on 29 October 2011 (next to be held no later than October 2015)
election results:percent of vote by party – Union Party 24.7%, People’s Party 22.5%, Republican Party 18.3%, Social Democratic Party 17.7%, Progressive Party 6.3%, Center Party 6.2%, Self-Government Party 4.2%, other 0.1%

seats by party – Union Party 8, People’s Party 8, Republican Party 6, Social Democratic Party 6, Progressive Party 2, Center Party 2, Self-Government Party 1
note:election of two seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on 13 November 2007 (next to be held no later than November 2011)

results – percent of vote by party – NA

seats by party – Republican Party 1, Union Party 1

Judicial branch

none

Political parties and leaders

Center Party [Jenis av RANA]

Independence Party [Kari P. HOJGAARD]

People’s Party [Jorgen NICLASEN]

Republican Party [Hogni HOYDAL]

Social Democratic Party [Joannes EIDESGAARD]

Union Party [Kaj Leo JOHANNESEN]

Political pressure groups and leaders

conservationists

International organization participation

Arctic Council, IMO (associate), NC, NIB, UNESCO (associate), UPU

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 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

National symbol(s)

ram

National anthem

name: “Mitt alfagra land” (My Fairest Land)
lyrics/music:Simun av SKAROI/Peter ALBERG
note:adopted 1948

the anthem is also known as “Tu alfagra land mitt” (Thou Fairest Land of Mine)

as an autonomous overseas division of Denmark, the Faroe Islands are permitted their own national anthem

Economy

Economy – overview

The Faroese economy is dependent on fishing, which makes the economy vulnerable to price swings. The sector accounts for about 95% of exports and nearly half of GDP. In early 2008 the Faroese economy began to slow as a result of smaller catches and historically high oil prices that continue to trouble the economy. Reduced catches, especially of cod and haddock, have continued to strain the Faroese economy. GDP grew 0.5% in 2008-09. The slowdown in the Faroese economy followed a strong performance since the mid-1990s with annual growth rates averaging close to 6%, mostly a result of increased fish landings and salmon farming, and high export prices. Unemployment reached its lowest level in the first half of 2008, but increased to 3.9% in 2009 and is rising. The Faroese Home Rule Government produced increasing budget surpluses that helped to reduce the large public debt, most of it to Denmark. However, total dependence on fishing and salmon farming make the Faroese economy very vulnerable to fluctuations in world demand. In addition, budget surpluses turned to deficits in 2008-09, and the economy at both the country and local level is running large deficits. Initial discoveries of oil in the Faroese area give hope for eventual oil production, which may provide a foundation for a more diversified economy and less dependence on Danish economic assistance. Aided by an annual subsidy from Denmark amounting to about 6% of Faroese GDP, the Faroese have a standard of living almost equal to that of Denmark and Greenland.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.59 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.45 billion (2008 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

0.5% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$32,900 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 16%
industry:29%
services:55% (2007 est.)

Labor force

34,680 (November 2008)
country comparison to the world: 200

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 10.2%
industry:20.5%
services:69.2% (2008)

Unemployment rate

3.9% (2009)
country comparison to the world: 34 1.2% (2008)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%:NA%

Budget

revenues: $1.163 billion
expenditures:$1.139 billion
note:Denmark supplies the Faroe Islands with almost one-third of their public funds (2006)

Taxes and other revenues

47.5% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 21

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

1% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 31

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-1.1% (2009)
country comparison to the world: 4 6.4% (2008)

Agriculture – products

milk, potatoes, vegetables

sheep

salmon, other fish

Industries

fishing, fish processing, small ship repair and refurbishment, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate

8% (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42

Electricity – production

251.9 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174

Electricity – consumption

234.3 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172

Oil – consumption

5,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170

Oil – exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172

Oil – imports

4,776 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159

Oil – proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133

Natural gas – production

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184

Natural gas – consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 177

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121

Natural gas – proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138

Exports

$848 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 158 $634 million (2006)

Exports – commodities

fish and fish products 94%, stamps, ships

Exports – partners

Denmark 33%, UK 19.8%, Nigeria 12.5%, US 10%, Netherlands 5.4%, Norway 4.8% (2010)

Imports

$983 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 171 $751 million (2006)

Imports – commodities

consumer goods 36%, raw materials and semi-manufactures 32%, machinery and transport equipment 29%, fuels, fish, salt

Imports – partners

Denmark 51.1%, Norway 22.4%, Sweden 6.7%, UK 4.2%, Iceland 4.1% (2010)

Debt – external

$68.1 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 189

Exchange rates

Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar -
5.624 (2009)
5.0236 (2008)
5.4797 (2007)
5.9468 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

1 (2010)
country comparison to the world:217

Airports – with paved runways

total: 1
914 to 1,523 m:1 (2010)

Roadways

total: 463 km (2006)
country comparison to the world: 195

Merchant marine

total: 26
country comparison to the world: 90 by type:cargo 11, chemical tanker 6, container 2, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 3, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned:11 (Norway 6, Sweden 5) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Fuglafjordur, Torshavn, Vagur

Military

Military branches

no regular military forces

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 11,831 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 9,827
females age 16-49:8,418 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 372
female:373 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

NA

Military – note

defense is the responsibility of Denmark

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

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 that the Faroe Islands’ continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm