Faroe Islands

1,117 km

archipelago of 17 inhabited islands, 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

total: 0 km

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

Europe

territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line

strong winds and heavy rains can occur throughout the year

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

52.3% (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio: 63.8 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 33.1 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 30.7 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 3.3 (2025 est.)

1.09 (2025 est.)

total: 5.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 6.3 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births

total population: 81.7 years (2024 est.) male: 79.2 years female: 84.4 years

21,000 TORSHAVN (capital) (2018)

total: 37 years (2025 est.) male: 36.9 years female: 36.8 years

noun: Faroese (singular and plural) adjective: Faroese

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

2.62 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

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

breakdown

{"male":{"value":27551,"unit":"people","formatted":"27,551","name":"Male Population"},"female":{"value":25713,"unit":"people","formatted":"25,713","name":"Female Population"}}

meta

{"year":2025}

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

2.26 children born/woman (2025 est.)

742,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 742,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

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

coastal erosion, landslides and rockfalls, flash flooding, wind storms; oil spills

agricultural land: 70.1% (2023 est.) arable land: 0.1% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.) permanent pasture: 70.1% (2023 est.) forest: 0.1% (2023 est.) other: 29.8% (2023 est.)

urban population: 43% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.89% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually: 61,000 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 67% (2012 est.)

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

name

Torshavn

geo

{"lat":62,"lng":-6.7667}

timezone

{"difference":"UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)","note":null,"dst":"+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October"}

meta

{}

see Denmark

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 amendment process: see entry for Denmark

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Faroe Islands local long form: none local short form: Foroyar etymology: the archipelago's name derives from the Old Norse name Faeroyar, meaning "sheep islands;" faer means "sheep," and -oyar means "islands"

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

chief of state: King FREDERIK X of Denmark (since 14 January 2024), represented by High Commissioner Lene Moyell JOHANSEN, chief administrative officer (since 15 May 2017) (2024) head of government: Prime Minister Aksel V. JOHANNESEN (since 22 December 2022) cabinet: Landsstyri appointed by the prime minister election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the Parliament usually elects the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as the prime minister most recent election date: 8 December 2022 expected date of next election: 2026

description: white with a red cross outlined in blue that extends to the edges of the flag; the cross is shifted toward the left side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) meaning: white represents waves breaking on the shore; red and blue are traditional Faroese colors history: the flag is referred to as Merkid, meaning "the banner" or "the mark;" a group of students designed it in 1919, although it wasn't officially adopted until 1940 note: resembles the flags of Iceland and Norway; uses the same three colors in a different sequence and with a lighter blue

parliamentary democracy (Faroese Parliament); part of the Kingdom of Denmark

highest court(s): Faroese Court or Raett (Rett in 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 Première Instance; Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif; Mixed Commercial Court; Land Court

the laws of Denmark apply

legislature name: Faroese Parliament (Logting) legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 33 (directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 12/8/2022 parties elected and seats per party: JF (9); B (7); A (6); E (6); F (3); H (2) percentage of women in chamber: 27.3% expected date of next election: 2026 note: the Faroe Islands elect 2 members to the Danish Parliament to serve 4-year terms

title: "Mitt alfagra land" (My Fairest Land) lyrics/music: Simun av SKAROI/Peter ALBERG history: adopted 1948; the anthem is also known as "Tu alfagra land mitt" (Thou Fairest Land of Mine); as a self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark, the Faroe Islands are permitted to have their own national anthem

ram

Center Party or H (Midflokkurin) People's Party or A (Folkaflokkurin) Progress Party or F (Framsokn) Republic or E (Tjodveldi) (formerly the Republican Party) Social Democratic Party or JF (Javnadarflokkurin) or JF Union Party or B (Sambandsflokkurin)

18 years of age; universal

high-income Danish territorial economy; party neither to the EU nor the Schengen Area; associate Nordic Council member; very low unemployment; unique foreign ownership allowance in fishing industry; known salmon exporter; growing IT industries

Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 6.894 (2024 est.) 6.89 (2023 est.) 7.076 (2022 est.) 6.287 (2021 est.) 6.542 (2020 est.)

2.5% (2023 est.) 3.6% (2022 est.) 5.5% (2021 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

$3.834 billion (2023 est.) $3.741 billion (2022 est.) $3.613 billion (2021 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

4.1% of GDP (2023 est.) 4.4% of GDP (2022 est.) 4.3% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

imports: 1 metric tons (2023 est.)

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 99.9% electrification - rural areas: 100%

installed generating capacity: 180,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 463.285 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 25.115 million kWh (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

35 (2022 est.)

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

.fo

percent of population: 98% (2017 est.)

total subscriptions: 57,100 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 106 (2022 est.)

1 (2025)

OY-H

12 (2025)

total: 91 (2023) by type: container ships 6, general cargo 45, other 40

total ports: 9 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 0 very small: 9 ports with oil terminals: 5 key ports: Fuglafjordur, Klaksvik, Kongshavn, Runavik, Sorvagur, Torshavn, Tvoroyri, Vagur, Vestmanna

no regular military forces or conscription

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