Faroe Islands
Country Guide

Explore Faroe Islands

Faroe Islands with its capital Torshavn is located in Europe (Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean). It covers some 1,394 square kilometers (eight times the size of Washington, DC) with 50,730 citizens. Faroese and Danish are the common languages used in Faroe Islands. Thiscountry has no land-based border with any other country.

The Faroe Islands are 18 islands in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of Scotland and halfway between Iceland and Norway. The Islands are a self-governing island territory of Denmark. With their volcanic origin the 18 islands are rugged and rocky. The Faroese tourist season is very short. It begins in May and ends by September. Most visitors come between July and August by far. If you would like to avoid the busiest season, it is best to visit the Faroes in late May or early June. The Faroese weather has its own temperament and is a lot like the weather in neighboring regions, just more unpredictable.

Popular Destinations in Faroe Islands

Administrative regions of Faroe Islands

• Eysturoyar sysla
• Nordoyar sysla
• Sandoyar Sysla
• Streymoyar Sysla
• Suduroyar sysla
• Vaga Sysla

About the country

The topography is rugged, rocky, some low peaks with cliffs along most of coast. The average density of population is about 36 per km². The climate in Faroe Islands can be described as mild winters, cool summersusually overcast, foggy, windy. Potential natural disasters are strong winds and heavy rains can occur throughout the year.

To reach someone Faroe Islands dial +298 prior to a number. The local cellular networks are operated on 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 3G. Websites typically end with the top level domain ".fo". If you want to bring electric appliances (e.g. battery chaarger), keep in min the local 230 V - 50 Hz (plugs: C, E, F, K). The sign for the locally used currency Krone is DKK.

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); referred to as Merkid, meaning "the banner" or "the mark," the flag resembles those of neighboring Iceland and Norway, and uses the same three colors - but in a different sequence; white represents the clear Faroese sky as well as the foam of the waves; red and blue are traditional Faroese colors.

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 granted the Faroese in 1948, who have autonomy over most internal affairs while Denmark is responsible for justice, defense, and foreign affairs. The Faroe Islands are not part of the European Union.

Geography

Area
Total (World Rank: 183)	1,393	sq km
Land (World Rank: 180)	1,393	sq km
Comparative	eight times the size of Washington, DC
Coastline
1117
Elevation
Highest point (World Rank: 175)	882	m
Agricultural land
Total (World Rank: 217)	2.10	%
Arable (World Rank: 181)	2.10	%
Map reference
Europe
Environment
Issues	- coastal erosion - flash flooding - landslides and rockfalls - oil spills - wind storms
Agreement party	Marine Dumping - associate member to the London Convention and Ship Pollution
Hazzards	strong winds and heavy rains can occur throughout the year
Location
Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about halfway between Iceland and Norway
Climate
mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy
Terrain
rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast

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People

Population
Total (World Rank: 209)	50,730
Deathrate (World Rank: 69)	0.88	%
Birthrate (World Rank: 133)	1.43	%
Growthrate (World Rank: 147)	0.60	%
Fertility rate (World Rank: 85)	2.35	%
Median age
Male (World Rank: 58)	37.10
Female (World Rank: 66)	38.40
Age structure
0 14 male (World Rank: 208)	5,214
0 14 female (World Rank: 208)	4,878
15 24 male (World Rank: 206)	3,738
15 24 female (World Rank: 209)	3,538
25 54 male (World Rank: 208)	10,252
25 54 female (World Rank: 210)	8,676
55 64 male (World Rank: 204)	3,054
55 64 female (World Rank: 206)	2,878
65 x male (World Rank: 196)	4,111
65 x female (World Rank: 197)	4,391
Health
Infant mortality rate (World Rank: 168)	0.55	%
Life expectancy total (World Rank: 39)	80	years
Life expectancy female (World Rank: 38)	83	years
Life expectancy male (World Rank: 38)	78	years
Physicians per 1000 (World Rank: 56)	2.63
Hospital bed per 1000 (World Rank: 35)	5.14

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Energy

Electricity
Production (World Rank: 177)	317,400,000	kWh
Consumption (World Rank: 184)	291,400,000	kWh
Source fossil (World Rank: 151)	50.10	%
Source nuclear (World Rank: 60)	33.50	%
Source renew (World Rank: 39)	16.40	%
Refined products
Consumption (World Rank: 178)	3,947	bbl / day
Import (World Rank: 170)	3,947	bbl / day
Carbon footprint
800000

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Economy

Gdp
Purchasing power parity (World Rank: 196)	2,001,000,000	USD
Real growth rate (World Rank: 29)	5.90	%
Per capita purchasing power parity (World Rank: 42)	40,000	USD
Source agriculture (World Rank: 55)	18.00	%
Source industry (World Rank: 28)	39.00	%
Source service (World Rank: 194)	43.00	%
Labourforce
Total (World Rank: 203)	28,900
In poverty (World Rank: 163)	4.20	%
Products
Industries	- fish processing - fishing - handicrafts - refurbishment - small ship repair - tourism
Agriculture	- fish - herring - mackerel - milk - potatoes - salmon - sheep - vegetables
Exports	- fish - fish products (97%)
Imports	- cars - fuels - goods for household consumption - machinery - raw materials - semi-manufactures - transport equipment

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Nation

Budget
Surplus (World Rank: 75)	-2	% of GDP
National symbol
ram
National colours
white
Adjective
Faroese
Noun
Faroese (singular and plural)
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 granted the Faroese in 1948, who have autonomy over most internal affairs while Denmark is responsible for justice, defense, and foreign affairs. The Faroe Islands are not part of the European Union.
Flag description
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); referred to as Merkid, meaning "the banner" or "the mark," the flag resembles those of neighboring Iceland and Norway, and uses the same three colors - but in a different sequence; white represents the clear Faroese sky as well as the foam of the waves; red and blue are traditional Faroese colors

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Communication

Phone
Landline total (World Rank: 169)	23,139
Landline per 100 (World Rank: 26)	46.00
Mobile per 100 (World Rank: 117)	108.00
Assessment	0
Internet
Users (World Rank: 193)	47,988
Population (World Rank: 13)	95.10	%

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Transport

Air
Airports paved (World Rank: 219)	1.00
Road
Total length (World Rank: 187)	960

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