ARCHIVE // FO // 2002

Faroe Islands

2002 Edition — territory

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Communications
Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]
2 (2000)
Internet country code [time series]
.fo
Internet users [time series]
3,000 (2000)
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]
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 - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]
24,851 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
10,761 (1999)
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
3 (plus 43 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: $488 million expenditures: $484 million, including capital expenditures of $21 million (1999)
Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]
Danish krone (DKK)
Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]
DKK
Debt - external [time series]
$64 million (1999)
Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]
$135 million (annual subsidy from Denmark) (1999)
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
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 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 lessen 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 [time series]
153.45 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports [time series]
0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports [time series]
0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - production [time series]
165 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source [time series]
fossil fuel: 61% hydro: 39% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%
Exchange rates [time series]
Danish kroner per US dollar - 8.418 (January 2002), 8.323 (2001), 8.083 (2000), 6.976 (1999), 6.701 (1998), 6.604 (1997)
Exports [time series]
$471 million f.o.b. (1999)
Exports - commodities [time series]
fish and fish products 94%, stamps, ships (1999)
Exports - partners [time series]
Denmark 32%, UK 21%, France 9%, Germany 7%, Iceland 5%, US 5% (1996)
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]
purchasing power parity - $910 million (2000 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]
agriculture: 27% industry: 11% services: 62% (1999)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]
purchasing power parity - $20,000 (2000 est.)
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
5% (2000 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports [time series]
$469 million c.i.f. (1999)
Imports - commodities [time series]
machinery and transport equipment 29%, consumer goods 36%, raw materials and semi-manufactures 32%, fuels, fish and salt (1999)
Imports - partners [time series]
Denmark 28%, Norway 26%, Germany 7%, UK 6% Sweden 5%, Iceland 4%, US (1999)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
8% (1999 est.)
Industries [time series]
fishing, fish processing, shipbuilding, construction, handicrafts
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
5.1% (1999)
Labor force [time series]
24,250 (October 2000 )
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
fishing, fish processing, and manufacturing 33%, construction and private services 33%, public services 34%
Population below poverty line [time series]
NA%
Unemployment rate [time series]
1% (October 2000 )
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 1,399 sq km water: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams) land: 1,399 sq km
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 (1998 est.)
Land boundaries [time series]
0 km
Land use [time series]
arable land: 2.14% permanent crops: 0% other: 97.86% (1998 est.)
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]
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 [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); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 49 municipalities
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 short form: Foroyar local long form: none
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 Birgit KLEIS, chief administrative officer (since 1 November 2001) 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 elections: the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by the Faroese Parliament; election last held 30 April 1998 (next to be held no later than April 2002) head of government: Prime Minister Anfinn KALLSBERG (since 15 May 1998) cabinet: Landsstyri appointed by the prime minister
Flag (Flag description) [time series]
white with a red cross outlined in blue extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted toward 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) election results: percent of vote by party - Union Party 26%, Republican Party 23.7%, Social Democrats 20.9%, People's Party 20.8% Independence Party 4.4%, Center Party 4.2%; seats by party - Union Party 8, Republican Party 8, Social Democrats 7, People's Party 7, Independence Party 1, Center Party 1 note: election of 2 seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on 20 November 2001 (next to be held no later than November 2005); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 1, Union Party 1 elections: last held 30 April 2002 (next to be held no later than April 2006)
National holiday [time series]
Olaifest, 29 July
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
Center Party [Tordur NICALSEN]; Home Rule Party [Helena Dam a NEYSTABO]; Independence Party [leader NA]; People's Party [Oli BRECKMANN]; Republican Party [Finnabogi ISAKSON]; Social Democratic Party [Joannes EIDESGAARD]; Union Party [Edmund JOENSEN]
Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
NA
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 regular indigenous military forces; 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: 22.3% (male 5,149; female 5,110) 15-64 years: 64% (male 15,650; female 13,801) 65 years and over: 13.7% (male 2,818; female 3,483) (2002 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
13.74 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Death rate [time series]
8.69 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Ethnic groups [time series]
Scandinavian
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]
NA%
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
NA
Infant mortality rate [time series]
6.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Languages [time series]
Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 78.74 years female: 82.21 years (2002 est.) male: 75.28 years
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]
2.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Population [time series]
46,011 (July 2002 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
0.74% (2002 est.)
Religions [time series]
Evangelical Lutheran
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.13 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
2.27 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
Faroese are considering proposals for full independence; Denmark dispute with Iceland over the Faroe Islands fisheries median line boundary of 200 NM; Denmark disputes with Iceland, the UK, and Ireland over the Faroe Islands continental shelf boundary outside 200 NM
Transportation
Airports [time series]
1 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Roadways (Highways) [time series]
total: 463 km paved: 454 km unpaved: 9 km (1999)
Merchant marine [time series]
total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 100,951 GRT/139,396 DWT note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Denmark 3, Norway 1, United Kingdom 1 (2002 est.) ships by type: cargo 2, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1, short-sea passenger 1
Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]
Torshavn, Klaksvik, Tvoroyri, Runavik, Fuglafjordhur
Railways [time series]
0 km
Waterways [time series]
none