Country Profile: Faroe Islands

The Faroe Islands, an archipelago located between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, are noted for their rugged terrain and mild, often overcast climate. With a population of approximately 52,933, they are predominantly of Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon descent, reflecting their Viking heritage. The economy, characterized as a high-income Danish territorial economy, relies heavily on fishing and fish processing, while also developing IT industries. Politically, the islands are a self-governing dependency of Denmark, enjoying autonomy over many internal affairs since the Home Rule Act of 1948.

Geography

The Faroe Islands are located in Northern Europe, consisting of 17 inhabited islands along with a few uninhabited islets. The terrain is rugged and rocky, with cliffs dominating much of the coastline. The islands experience a mild climate, typically overcast and windy, with strong winds and heavy rain prevalent throughout the year.

1,393 sq km total area.
1,117 km of coastline.
12 nm territorial sea.
200 nm exclusive fishing zone.
882 m highest point: Slaettaratindur.

People and Society

The population of the Faroe Islands is about 52,933 as of 2024, with a median age of 36.8 years. The majority of the population identifies as Faroese, with a notable presence of Danish and other ethnic groups. Faroese, derived from Old Norse, is the predominant language. The society is predominantly Christian, with a significant percentage practicing Evangelical Lutheranism.

43% urban population (2023).
14.9 births/1,000 population birth rate (2024).
81.7 years life expectancy at birth (2024).
0.63% population growth rate (2024).
62.7 total dependency ratio (2024).

Economy

The economy of the Faroe Islands is a high-income territory, especially noted for its fishing industry. In 2023, the Real GDP (purchasing power parity) was approximately $3.834 billion, with significant contributions from both fishing and IT sectors. The islands are not part of the EU but maintain a unique foreign ownership allowance in their fishing industry.

2.5% Real GDP growth rate (2023).
$70,400 Real GDP per capita (2023).
57.7% of GDP from exports (2023).
$2.255 billion in exports (2023).
$2.212 billion in imports (2023).

Government

The Faroe Islands function as a parliamentary democracy and are a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. Their governance structure includes a unicameral Faroese Parliament (Logting) with 33 seats, and they hold elections every four years. The Prime Minister serves as the head of government, while the Danish monarch acts as the head of state.

Capital: Torshavn.
Suffrage: Universal at age 18.
Next election expected: 2026.
27.3% representation of women in Parliament.
High Commissioner: Lene Moyell Johansen (since 2017).

Military and Security

The Faroe Islands do not have regular military forces or conscription, with defense responsibilities falling under the Danish military's Joint Arctic Command, which coordinates defense operations for the islands.

No regular military forces.
Danish military responsible for defense.
Joint Arctic Command has a presence in Torshavn.

Energy

Electricity in the Faroe Islands is generated from a mix of fossil fuels, wind, and hydropower. As of 2023, electricity access is universal, and the islands are taking steps toward sustainable energy production to reduce emissions.

100% of the population has electricity access (2022).
180,000 kW installed generating capacity (2023).
463.285 million kWh electricity consumption (2023).
742,000 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions (2023) from petroleum.
53.7% electricity from fossil fuels (2023).

Transportation

Transportation in the Faroe Islands includes a robust network of marine and air services, featuring small airports and numerous ports. The merchant marine fleet plays a crucial role in trade, while local transport is facilitated through an extensive ferry system.

1 airport (2025).
12 heliports (2025).
91 merchant marine vessels (2023).
9 ports total (2024) with oil terminals.
Fuglafjordur and Klaksvik are key ports.

Communications

The Faroe Islands boast high levels of telecommunications access, with nearly universal internet usage and a well-established mobile network. This connectivity supports both personal communication and business, particularly in the growing IT sector.

98% internet usage (2017).
59,000 mobile cellular subscriptions (2021).
15,000 fixed-line subscriptions (2021).
35 broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants (2022).

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	52,933	2024 estimate
Area	1,393 sq km	Total land area
GDP	$3.834 billion	2023 estimate (PPP)
GDP per capita	$70,400	2023 estimate (PPP)
Energy consumption	463.285 million kWh	2023 estimate
Birth rate	14.9 births/1,000 population	2024 estimate
Unemployment rate	Very low	General economic condition
Life expectancy	81.7 years	2024 estimate
Urban population	43%	Percentage of total population (2023)
CO2 emissions	742,000 metric tonnes	2023 estimate