Faroe Islands

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

2 (2000)

Internet country code

.fo

Internet users

3,000 (2000)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

26,000 (1997)

Telephone system

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: 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

Telephones - main lines in use

24,851 (1999)

Telephones - mobile cellular

10,761 (1999)

Television broadcast stations

3 (plus 43 low-power repeaters) (September 1995)

Televisions

15,000 (1997)

Agriculture - products

milk, potatoes, vegetables; sheep; salmon, other fish

Budget

revenues: $488 million expenditures: $484 million, including capital expenditures of $21 million (1999)

Currency

Danish krone (DKK)

Currency code

DKK

Debt - external

$64 million (1999)

Economic aid - recipient

$135 million (annual subsidy from Denmark) (1999)

Economy - overview

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 falling 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 help to 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 required to ensure 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 less dependence on Denmark and Danish economic assistance. Aided by a substantial annual subsidy (15% of GDP) from Denmark, the Faroese have a standard of living not far below the Danes and other Scandinavians.

Electricity - consumption

158.1 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - production

170 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 58.82% hydro: 41.18% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)

Exchange rates

Danish kroner per US dollar - 7.951 (January 2001), 8.093 (2000), 6.976 (1999), 6.701 (1998), 6.604 (1997), 5.799 (1966)

Exports

$471 million (f.o.b., 1999)

Exports - commodities

fish and fish products 94%, stamps, ships (1999)

Exports - partners

Denmark 32%, UK 21%, France 9%, Germany 7%, Iceland 5%, US 5% (1996)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $910 million (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 27% industry: 11% services: 62% (1999)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $20,000 (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

5% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$469 million (c.i.f., 1999)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment 29%, consumer goods 36%, raw materials and semi-manufactures 32%, fuels, fish and salt (1999)

Imports - partners

Denmark 28%, Norway 26%, Germany 7%, UK 6% Sweden 5%, Iceland 4%, US (1999)

Industrial production growth rate

8% (1999 est.)

Industries

fishing, fish processing, shipbuilding, construction, handicrafts

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

5.1% (1999)

Labor force

24,250 (October 2000)

Labor force - by occupation

fishing, fish processing, and manufacturing 33%, construction and private services 33%, public services 34%

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

1% (October 2000)

Area

total: 1,399 sq km land: 1,399 sq km water: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams)

Area - comparative

eight times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

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

Coastline

1,117 km

Elevation extremes

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

Environment - current issues

NA

Geographic coordinates

62 00 N, 7 00 W

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

Irrigated land

0 sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 6% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 94% (1996)

Location

Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Iceland to Norway

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

continental shelf: 200 NM or agreed boundaries or median line exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM or agreed boundaries or median line territorial sea: 3 NM

Natural hazards

NA

Natural resources

fish, whales, hydropower

Terrain

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

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 49 municipalities

Capital

Torshavn

Constitution

5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Ms. Vibeke LARSEN, chief administrative officer (since NA) head of government: Prime Minister Anfinn KALLSBERG (since 15 May 1998) 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 party that wins the most seats is usually elected prime minister by the Faroese Parliament; election last held 30 April 1998 (next to be held no later than April 2002) election results: Anfinn KALLSBERG elected prime minister; percent of parliamentary vote - 52.8% note: coalition of People's Party, Republican Party and Home Rule Party

Flag description

white with a red cross outlined in blue that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Government type

NA

Independence

none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

International organization participation

NC, NIB

Judicial branch

none

Legal system

Danish

Legislative branch

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 30 April 1998 (next to be held not later than April 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - Republican Party 23.8%, People's Party 21.3%, Social Democratic Party 21.9%, Union Party 18%, Home Rue Party 7.7%, Center Party 4.1%; seats by party - Republican Party 8, People's Party 8, Social Democratic Party 7, Union Party 6, Home Rule Party 2, Center Party 1 note: election of 2 seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on 11 March 1998 (next to be held not later than March 2002); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Social Democratic Party 1, People's Party 1

National holiday

Olaifest, 29 July

Political parties and leaders

Center Party [Jenis A. RANA]; Home Rule Party [Helena Dam a NEYSTABO]; People's Party [Oli BRECKMANN]; Republican Party [Hogni HOYDAL]; Social Democratic Party [Joannes EIDESGAARD]; Union Party [Edmund JOENSEN]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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 attained in 1948.

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of Denmark

Military branches

defense is the responsibility of Denmark; no organized native military forces; only a small Police Force and Coast Guard are maintained

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

NA%

Age structure

0-14 years: 22.62% (male 5,193; female 5,136) 15-64 years: 63.64% (male 15,463; female 13,596) 65 years and over: 13.74% (male 2,802; female 3,471) (2001 est.)

Birth rate

13.64 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate

8.69 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Ethnic groups

Scandinavian

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA%

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

6.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Languages

Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 78.59 years male: 75.12 years female: 82.06 years

Literacy

definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% note: similar to Denmark proper

Nationality

noun: Faroese (singular and plural) adjective: Faroese

Net migration rate

2.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Population

45,661 (July 2001 est.)

Population growth rate

0.78% (2001 est.)

Religions

Evangelical Lutheran

Sex ratio

at birth: 1 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.14 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.3 children born/woman (2001 est.)

Disputes - international

Faroese are considering proposals for full independence

Airports

1 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Highways

total: 463 km paved: 454 km unpaved: 9 km (1999)

Merchant marine

total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 23,247 GRT/11,736 DWT ships by type: cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1, short-sea passenger 1 (2000 est.)

Ports and harbors

Torshavn, Klaksvik, Tvoroyri, Runavik, Fuglafjorour

Railways

0 km

Waterways

none