ARCHIVE // FO // 2000

Faroe Islands

2000 Edition — territory

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Communications
Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]
NA
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
AM 1, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios [time series]
26,000 (1997)
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
good international communications; good domestic facilities domestic: digitalization was to have been completed in 1998 international: satellite earth stations - 1 Orion; 1 fiber-optic submarine cable linking the Faroe Islands with Denmark and Iceland
Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]
22,000 (1995)
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
2,558 (1995)
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
7 (plus 51 low-power repeaters) (September 1995)
Televisions [time series]
15,000 (1997)
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
milk, potatoes, vegetables; sheep; salmon, other fish
Budget [time series]
revenues: $467 million expenditures: $468 million, including capital expenditures of $11 million (1996 est.)
Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]
1 Danish krone (DKr) = 100 oere
Debt - external [time series]
$767 million (1995 est.)
Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]
$150 million (annual subsidy from Denmark) (1995)
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
After the severe economic troubles of the early 1990s, brought on by a drop in the vital fish catch, the Faroe Islands have come back in the last few years, with unemployment down to 5% in mid-1998. Nevertheless, the almost total dependence on fishing means the economy remains extremely vulnerable. The Faroese hope to broaden their economic base by building new fish-processing plants. Oil finds close to the Faroese area give hope for deposits in the immediate area, which may lay the basis to sustained economic prosperity. The Faroese are supported by a substantial annual subsidy from Denmark.
Electricity - consumption [time series]
173 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - exports [time series]
0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - imports [time series]
0 kWh (1998)
Electricity - production [time series]
186 million kWh (1998)
Electricity - production by source [time series]
fossil fuel: 53.76% hydro: 45.7% nuclear: 0% other: 0.54% (1998)
Exchange rates [time series]
Danish kroner (DKr) per US$1 - 7.336 (January 2000), 6.976 (1999), 6.701 (1998), 6.604 (1997), 5.799 (1966), 5.602 (1995)
Exports [time series]
$362 million (f.o.b., 1995)
Exports - commodities [time series]
fish and fish products 92%, animal feedstuffs, transport equipment (ships)
Exports - partners [time series]
Denmark 31%, UK 25%, Germany 9%, France 7%, Spain 6%, US 2% (1996)
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]
purchasing power parity - $700 million (1996 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]
agriculture: 20% industry: 16% services: 64% (1996 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]
purchasing power parity - $16,000 (1996 est.)
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
6% (1996 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports [time series]
$315.6 million (c.i.f., 1995)
Imports - commodities [time series]
machinery and transport equipment 17.0%, consumer goods 33%, raw materials and semi-manufactures 26.9%, fuels 11.4%, fish and salt 6.7%
Imports - partners [time series]
Denmark 33%, Norway 18%, UK 8% Germany 9%, Sweden 5%, US 2% (1996)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
NA%
Industries [time series]
fishing, shipbuilding, construction, handicrafts
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
2.8% (1996 est.)
Labor force [time series]
20,500 (1996 est.)
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
largely engaged in fishing, manufacturing, transportation, commerce
Population below poverty line [time series]
NA%
Unemployment rate [time series]
5% (1998 est.)
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 1,399 sq km land: 1,399 sq km water: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams)
Area - comparative [time series]
eight times the size of Washington, DC
Climate [time series]
mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy
Coastline [time series]
1,117 km
Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m
Environment - current issues [time series]
NA
Geographic coordinates [time series]
62 00 N, 7 00 W
Geography - note [time series]
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 [time series]
0 sq km
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 6% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 0% forests and woodland: 0% other: 94% (1996)
Location [time series]
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 [time series]
Europe
Maritime claims [time series]
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 3 nm
Natural hazards [time series]
NA
Natural resources [time series]
fish, whales, hydropower
Terrain [time series]
rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Capital [time series]
Torshavn
Constitution [time series]
5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)
Country name [time series]
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Faroe Islands local long form: none local short form: Foroyar
Data code [time series]
FO
Dependency status [time series]
part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1948
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Bente KLINTE, chief administrative officer (since NA) head of government: Prime Minister Anfinn KALLSBERG (since 9 May 1998) cabinet: Landsstyri elected by the Faroese Parliament 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 NA 2002) election results: Anfinn KALLSBERG elected prime minister; percent of parliamentary vote - NA
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
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 [time series]
NA
Independence [time series]
none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
International organization participation [time series]
NC, NIB
Judicial branch [time series]
none
Legal system [time series]
Danish
Legislative branch [time series]
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 by NA July 2002) election results: percent of vote by party - Republican Party 23.8%, People's Party 21.3%, Social Democratic Party 21.9%, Coalition Party (Union Party, Labor Front, Home Rule Party) 18%; seats by party - Republican Party 8, People's Party 8, Social Democratic Party 7, Coalition Party 6, other parties 3 note: election of 2 seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on 11 March 1998 (next to be held by NA 2002); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Social Democratic Party 1, People's Party 1
National holiday [time series]
Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
Center Party [Tordur NICLASEN]; Christian People's Party [Niels Pauli DANIELSEN]; Home Rule Party [Helena Dam A. NEYSTABO]; Labor Front [leader NA]; People's Party [Oli BRECKMANN]; Republican Party [Finnbogi ISAKSON]; Social Democratic Party [Joannes EIDESGAARD]; The Faroese Party [Olavur CHRISTIANSEN]; Union Party [Edmund JOENSEN]
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background [time series]
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
Military - note [time series]
defense is the responsibility of Denmark
Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
no organized native military forces; only a small Police Force and Coast Guard are maintained
Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]
$NA
Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]
NA%
People
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 23% (male 5,233; female 5,163) 15-64 years: 63% (male 15,270; female 13,382) 65 years and over: 14% (male 2,788; female 3,460) (2000 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
13.58 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate [time series]
8.7 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Ethnic groups [time series]
Scandinavian
Infant mortality rate [time series]
6.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Languages [time series]
Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 78.43 years male: 74.96 years female: 81.92 years (2000 est.)
Literacy [time series]
definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA% note: similar to Denmark proper
Nationality [time series]
noun: Faroese (singular and plural) adjective: Faroese
Net migration rate [time series]
3.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Population [time series]
45,296 (July 2000 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
0.83% (2000 est.)
Religions [time series]
Evangelical Lutheran
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.05 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 (2000 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
2.32 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
none [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]
Transportation
Airports [time series]
1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)
Roadways (Highways) [time series]
total: 458 km paved: 450 km unpaved: 8 km (1995 est.)
Merchant marine [time series]
total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 22,853 GRT/13,481 DWT ships by type: cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll-on/roll-off 1, short-sea passenger 1 (1999 est.)
Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]
Torshavn, Klaksvik, Tvoroyri, Runavik, Fuglafjorour
Railways [time series]
0 km