Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
35 (2022 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
19,000 (2022 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
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
Communications: Internet country code
.fo
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
97.58% (2017 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
28 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
15,000 (2021 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
106 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
57,146 (2022 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
milk, potatoes, lamb/mutton, sheepskins, sheep offal, beef, sheep fat, beef offal, cattle hides, beef suet (2023)
Economy: Exchange rates
6.8945 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
5.6163 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
5.6125 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
6.7279 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
6.7317 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
6.6029 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
6.3146 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
6.6694 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
6.5422 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
6.2871 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
7.0762 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
6.8897 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
6.8945 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
fish and fish products (2021)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$1.314 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$1.556 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$1.370 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$1.534 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$1.680 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$1.684 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$1.822 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$1.552 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$1.923 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$2.219 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$2.255 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$2.211 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
57.7% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
27.3% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
40.6% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-56.6% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
31% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
0% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
18.2% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
19.7% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
52% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$81,909 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$3.907 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$4.479 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
goods for household consumption, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, raw materials and semi-manufactures, cars
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$1.177 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$1.349 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$1.407 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$1.516 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$1.724 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$1.726 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$1.597 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$1.906 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$2.223 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$2.212 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$2.075 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$2.576 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$2.625 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$2.687 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$2.831 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$3.223 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$3.241 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$3.613 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$3.741 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$3.834 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$4.479 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
0.96% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
1.39% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
3.51% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
2.76% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
4.54% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-1.64% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
5.07% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
3.86% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
3.16% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
0.84% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$53,198 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$53,684 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$54,318 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$56,416 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$62,223 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$61,651 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$68,427 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$75,266 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$79,695 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
4.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
4.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
4.1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
1 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
100%
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
99.9%
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
53.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
26.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: wind
18.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
463.285 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
180,000 kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
25.115 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
742,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
742,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy
Environment: Environmental issues
coastal erosion, landslides and rockfalls, flash flooding, wind storms; oil spills
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
70.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 70.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
0.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
29.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
0.89% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
39.41% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
61,000 tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
67% (2012 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
eight times the size of Washington, D.C.
Geography: Area: land
1,393 sq km
Geography: Area: water
0 sq km (some lakes and streams)
Geography: Coastline
1,117 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Slaettaratindur 882 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
62 00 N, 7 00 W
Geography: Geography - note
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
Geography: Land boundaries: total
0 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
70.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 0.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 70.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
0.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
29.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Map references
Europe
Geography: Maritime claims: continental shelf
200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive fishing zone
200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
strong winds and heavy rains can occur throughout the year
Geography: Population distribution
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
Geography: Terrain
rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast
Government: Administrative divisions
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
Government: Capital: daylight saving time
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Government: Capital: etymology
the name means "Thor's harbor" in Danish
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
62 00 N, 6 46 W
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship
see Denmark
Government: Constitution: amendment process
see entry for Denmark
Government: Constitution: 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
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Faroe Islands
Government: Country name: etymology
the archipelago's name derives from the Old Norse name Faeroyar, meaning "sheep islands;" faer means "sheep," and - oyar means "islands"
Government: Country name: local long form
none
Government: Country name: local short form
Foroyar
Government: Dependency status
part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1948
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Landsstyri appointed by the prime minister
Government: Executive branch: 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)
Government: Executive branch: 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
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
2026
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Prime Minister Aksel V. JOHANNESEN (since 22 December 2022)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
8 December 2022
Government: Flag
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
Government: International organization participation
Arctic Council, IMO (associate), NC, NIB, UNESCO (associate), UPU
Government: Judicial branch: 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
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
Court of the First Instance or Tribunal de Première Instance; Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif; Mixed Commercial Court; Land Court
Government: Legal system
the laws of Denmark apply
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
proportional representation
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
2026
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Faroese Parliament (Logting)
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
12/8/2022
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
33 (directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch: parties elected and seats per party
JF (9); B (7); A (6); E (6); F (3); H (2)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
27.3%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
4 years
Government: National anthem(s): 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
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Simun av SKAROI/Peter ALBERG
Government: National holiday
Olaifest (Olavsoka), 29 July (1030)
Government: National symbol(s)
ram
Government: Political parties
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)
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: Background
The Faroe Islands were already populated by about A.D. 500, but whether the original settlers were Celtic or early Norse (or someone else) has yet to be determined. Viking settlers arrived on the islands in the 9th century, and the islands served as an important stepping stone for medieval Viking exploration of the North Atlantic. The islands have been connected politically to Denmark since the 14th century, and today the Faroe Islands are a self-governing dependency of Denmark. 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.
Military and Security: Military - note
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
Military and Security: Military and security forces
no regular military forces or conscription
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
20% (male 5,489/female 5,122)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
61.5% (male 17,188/female 15,346)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
18.5% (2024 est.) (male 4,723/female 5,065)
People and Society: Birth rate
14.76 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
52.3% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
8.58 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
30.1 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
3.3 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
62.7 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
32.6 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: NA
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: NA
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: NA
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: NA
People and Society: Education expenditure
7.6% of GDP (2019 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Faroese 83.8% (Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon descent), Danish 8.3%, Filipino 1.2%, other Nordic 0.9%, other 4.5% (includes Polish and Romanian) (2024 est.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
1.09 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
5.1 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
6.3 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
5.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
84.9 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
81.3 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
21,000 TORSHAVN (capital) (2018)
People and Society: Median age: female
36.8 years
People and Society: Median age: male
36.9 years
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Faroese
People and Society: Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Physician density
2.62 physicians/1,000 population (2016)
People and Society: Population
54,681 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
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
People and Society: Population growth rate
0.49% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
25,533
People and Society: Population: male
27,400
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.07 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
1.12 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.93 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.07 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
1.07 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
1.91 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
0.89% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
39.41% (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
1 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
OY-H
Transportation: Heliports
12 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
container ships 6, general cargo 45, other 40
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
91 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Fuglafjordur, Klaksvik, Kongshavn, Runavik, Sorvagur, Torshavn, Tvoroyri, Vagur, Vestmanna
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
0
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
5
Transportation: Ports: small
0
Transportation: Ports: total ports
9 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
9
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.