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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.fo

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

8,833 (2009) country comparison to the world: 120

Internet users [time series]

37,500 (2008) country comparison to the world: 175

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 1, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)

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: country code - 298; 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]

21,800 (2008) country comparison to the world: 192

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

54,900 (2008) country comparison to the world: 192

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

3 (plus 43 repeaters) (September 1995)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $588 million expenditures: $623 million (2005)

Debt - external [time series]

$64 million (1999) country comparison to the world: 192

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

The Faroese economy is dependent on fishing, which makes the economy vulnerable to price swings. The sector accounts for 95% of exports and nearly half of GDP. Since 2003 the Faroese economy has picked up as a result of higher prices for fish and for housing. Unemployment is minimal and government finances are relatively sound. Oil finds close to the Islands give hope for economically recoverable deposits, which could eventually lay the basis for a more diversified economy and lessen dependence on Danish economic assistance. Aided by a substantial annual subsidy (about 15% of GDP) from Denmark, the Faroese have a standard of living not far below the Danes and other Scandinavians.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

226.6 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 176

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

243.7 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 173

Exchange rates [time series]

Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - 5.0236 (2008 est.), 5.4797 (2007), 5.9468 (2006), 5.9969 (2005), 5.9911 (2004)

Exports [time series]

$634 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 160

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

Denmark 27.3%, UK 18.6%, Croatia 12%, Norway 11.7%, Nigeria 10%, Netherlands 5.5% (2008)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$1.7 billion (2005 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]

$1 billion (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 199

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 (PPP)) [time series]

$31,000 (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 43

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

2.4% (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 148

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$751 million (2006) country comparison to the world: 180

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

Denmark 50.4%, Norway 20.2%, Sweden 6.4%, UK 4.2%, Iceland 4.1% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

8% (1999 est.) country comparison to the world: 21

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1.8% (2005) country comparison to the world: 14

Labor force [time series]

24,250 (October 2000) country comparison to the world: 199

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 11.2% industry: 21.9% services: 66.9% (2007)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 184

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 56

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 181

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 180

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 179

Oil - consumption [time series]

5,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 165

Oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 178

Oil - imports [time series]

4,922 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 157

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 174

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 168

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

1.4% (2007) country comparison to the world: 7 2.1% (2006)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 1,393 sq km country comparison to the world: 182 land: 1,393 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]

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Marine Dumping - associate member to the London Convention and Ship Pollution

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: 2.14% permanent crops: 0% other: 97.86% (2005)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Europe

Maritime claims [time series]

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

Natural hazards [time series]

Natural resources [time series]

fish, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas

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 34 municipalities

Capital [time series]

name: Torshavn geographic coordinates: 62 01 N, 6 46 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

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

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) head of government: Prime Minister Kaj Leo JOHANNESSEN (since 26 September 2008) 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 majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by the Faroese Parliament; election last held 19 January 2008 (next to be held no later than January 2012) election results: Joannes EIDESGAARD elected prime minister; governing coalition collapses in September 2008, Kaj Leo JOHANNESSEN becomes 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); the flag resembles those of neighboring Iceland and Norway, and uses the same three colors - but in a different sequence

Government type [time series]

Independence [time series]

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

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

none

Legal system [time series]

the laws of Denmark, where applicable, apply

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Faroese Parliament or Logting (33 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis from the seven constituencies to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 19 January 2008 (next to be held no later than January 2012) election results: percent of vote by party - Union Party 21%, Social Democratic Party 19.4%, Republican Party 23.3%, People's Party 20.1%, Center Party 8.4%, Self-Government Party 7.2%, other 0.6%; seats by party - Republican Party 8, Union Party 7, Social Democratic Party 6, People's Party 7, Center Party 3, Independence Party 2 note: election of two seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on 13 November 2007 (next to be held no later than November 2011); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 1, Union Party 1

National holiday [time series]

Olaifest (Olavasoka), 29 July

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Center Party [Jenis A. RANA]; Independence Party [Kari P. HOJGAARD]; People's Party [Jorgen NICLASEN]; Republican Party [Hogni HOYDAL]; Social Democratic Party [Joannes EIDESGAARD]; Self-Government Party [Kari P. HOJGAARD]; Union Party [Kaj Leo JOHANNESEN]

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

Sea Shepard [Paul WATSON] (preservation of small whales) other: conservationists

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

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 11,725 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 9,759 females age 16-49: 8,311 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 386 female: 375 (2009 est.)

Military - note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of Denmark

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

no regular military forces

Military expenditures [time series]

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 21.6% (male 5,451/female 5,108) 15-64 years: 64% (male 16,708/female 14,544) 65 years and over: 14.4% (male 3,324/female 3,721) (2009 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

13.04 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 156

Death rate [time series]

8.66 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

Ethnic groups [time series]

Scandinavian

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 6.32 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 179 male: 6.56 deaths/1,000 live births female: 6.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages [time series]

Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 79.44 years country comparison to the world: 28 male: 77 years female: 82.05 years (2009 est.)

Literacy [time series]

NA; note - probably 99%, the same as Denmark proper

Median age [time series]

total: 36.9 years male: 36.3 years female: 37.7 years (2009 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Faroese (singular and plural) adjective: Faroese

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

Population [time series]

48,856 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 208

Population growth rate [time series]

0.397% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 164

Religions [time series]

Evangelical Lutheran 83.8%, other and unspecified 16.2% (2006 administrative data)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.15 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female total population: 1.09 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.44 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 101

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 41% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 2% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

because anticipated offshore hydrocarbon resources have not been realized, earlier Faroese proposals for full independence have been deferred; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm

Transportation

Airports [time series]

1 (2009) country comparison to the world: 233

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2009)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 12 country comparison to the world: 110 by type: cargo 9, passenger/cargo 3 foreign-owned: 5 (Iceland 1, Norway 4) (2008)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Torshavn, Vagur

Roadways [time series]

total: 463 km (2006) country comparison to the world: 192