Faroe Islands

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.

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

62 00 N, 7 00 W

Europe

eight times the size of Washington, D.C.

1,117 km

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

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

fish, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas

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

strong winds and heavy rains can occur throughout the year

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

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.)

Faroese 93.8% (derived from Old Norse), Danish 3.2%, other 3% (2011 est.)

Christian 87% (predominantly Evangelical Lutheran), other 0.9%, none 3.7%, unspecified 8.9% (2011 est.)

0.62% (2025 est.)

14.76 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

8.58 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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

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

21,000 TORSHAVN (capital) (2018)

2.26 children born/woman (2025 est.)

1.09 (2025 est.)

2.62 physicians/1,000 population (2016)

52.3% (2021 est.)

7.6% of GDP (2019 est.)

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

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

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

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

29 first-order municipalities (<em>kommunur</em>, singular - <em>kommuna</em>) 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

the laws of Denmark apply&nbsp;

see Denmark

18 years of age; universal

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

none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

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

none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Olaifest (Olavsoka), 29 July (1030)

<strong>description:</strong> 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)<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> white represents waves breaking on the shore; red and blue are traditional Faroese colors<br><br><strong>history:</strong> 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

ram

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

$3.907 billion (2023 est.)

milk, potatoes, lamb/mutton, sheepskins, sheep offal, beef, sheep fat, beef offal, cattle hides, beef suet (2023)

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

Russia 26.4%, UK 14.1%, Germany 8.4%, China 7.9%, Spain 6.8%, Denmark 6.2%, US 4.7%, Poland 4.4%, Norway 4.1% (2017)

fish and fish products (2021)

Denmark 33%, China 10.7%, Germany 7.6%, Poland 6.8%, Norway 6.7%, Ireland 5%, Chile 4.3% (2017)

goods for household consumption, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, raw materials and semi-manufactures, cars

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

OY-H

1 (2025)

12 (2025)

no regular military forces or conscription

the Government of Denmark has responsibility for defense; as such, the Danish military&rsquo;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