Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands is a place of striking contrasts. A top performer in gdp per capita (#14), it falls behind in forest coverage. Explore the contradictions that define this area.
Faroe Islands is a country in Europe with a population of 52.9K and an area of 1,393 km². Life expectancy is 83.1 years.
At a Glance
The numbers that define this country
Internet Users (%)
98.0%The percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
GDP Per Capita (PPP)
81.9KGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
CO2 Per Capita
13.089How many tonnes of CO2 the average person produces per year.
GDP Per Capita
$70.4KGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
Life Expectancy
83.1 yearsHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
Life Expectancy
80.2 yearsHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
Where They Stand Out
Global rankings worth knowing
📡Internet Users (%)
98.0%The percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
🌱CO2 Per Capita
13.089How many tonnes of CO2 the average person produces per year.
💰GDP Per Capita (PPP)
81.9KGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
❤️Life Expectancy
83.1 yearsHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
👥Elderly Population (%)
17.7%The percentage of the population aged 65 and older.
Did You Know?
Facts that catch players off guard
Only ranks #208 in forest area
Forest Area: 0.80
Total forest area in square kilometers, including natural and planted trees at least 5 meters tall.
World Bank 2023Ranks #16 globally in internet users (%)
Internet Users (%): 98.0%
The percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
World Bank 2023Only ranks #217 in airports
Airports: 1.00
Total airports from CIA World Factbook.
Ranks #15 in co2 per capita (lower is better)
CO2 Per Capita: 13.089
How many tonnes of CO2 the average person produces per year.
Our World in Data 2023Ranks #14 globally in gdp per capita (ppp)
GDP Per Capita (PPP): 81.9K
GDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
World Bank 2023Surprised? See how you stack up.
Play NowHow Faroe Islands Compares
Country vs continent vs world averages
GDP per Capita
Above avgGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
World Bank 2023Life Expectancy
Above avgHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
World Bank 2023Internet Users
Above avgThe percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
World Bank 2023Think you can guess which countries rank higher?
Test Your IntuitionAbout Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands were already populated by about A.D. 500, but whether the original settlers were Celtic or early Norse (or someone else) has yet to be determined. Viking settlers arrived on the islands in the 9th century, and the islands served as an important stepping stone for medieval Viking exploration of the North Atlantic. The islands have been connected politically to Denmark since the 14th century, and today the Faroe Islands are a self-governing dependency of Denmark. The Home Rule Act of 1948 granted a high degree of self-government to the Faroese, who have autonomy over most internal affairs and external trade, while Denmark is responsible for justice, defense, and some foreign affairs. The Faroe Islands are not part of the European Union.
- 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
- Natural Resources
- fish, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas
- Natural Hazards
- strong winds and heavy rains can occur throughout the year
- Size Comparison
- eight times the size of Washington, D.C.
- Languages
- Faroese 93.8% (derived from Old Norse), Danish 3.2%, other 3% (2011 est.)
- Religions
- Christian 87% (predominantly Evangelical Lutheran), other 0.9%, none 3.7%, unspecified 8.9% (2011 est.)
- Ethnic Groups
- Faroese 83.8% (Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon descent), Danish 8.3%, Filipino 1.2%, other Nordic 0.9%, other 4.5% (includes Polish and Romanian) (2024 est.)
- Major Cities
- 21,000 TORSHAVN (capital) (2018)
- Government Type
- parliamentary democracy (Faroese Parliament); part of the Kingdom of Denmark
- Capital
- Torshavn
- Capital Coordinates
- 62 00 N, 6 46 W
- Capital Timezone
- UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Name Origin
- the archipelago's name derives from the Old Norse name Faeroyar, meaning "sheep islands;" faer means "sheep," and -oyar means "islands"
- Independence
- none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
- National Symbols
- ram
- National Anthem
- "Mitt alfagra land" (My Fairest Land)
- Overview
- high-income Danish territorial economy; party neither to the EU nor the Schengen Area; associate Nordic Council member; very low unemployment; unique foreign ownership allowance in fishing industry; known salmon exporter; growing IT industries
- Industries
- fishing, fish processing, tourism, small ship repair and refurbishment, handicrafts
- Agricultural Products
- milk, potatoes, lamb/mutton, sheepskins, sheep offal, beef, sheep fat, beef offal, cattle hides, beef suet (2023)
- Export Partners
- Russia 26.4%, UK 14.1%, Germany 8.4%, China 7.9%, Spain 6.8%, Denmark 6.2%, US 4.7%, Poland 4.4%, Norway 4.1% (2017)
- Export Commodities
- fish and fish products (2021)
- Import Partners
- Denmark 33%, China 10.7%, Germany 7.6%, Poland 6.8%, Norway 6.7%, Ireland 5%, Chile 4.3% (2017)
- Import Commodities
- goods for household consumption, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, raw materials and semi-manufactures, cars
- Military Forces
- no regular military forces or conscription
- Energy Mix
- fossil fuels: 53.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); wind: 18.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); hydroelectricity: 26.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); biomass and waste: 1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- Broadcast Media
- 1 publicly owned TV station; the Faroese telecommunications company distributes local and international channels through its digital terrestrial network; publicly owned radio station supplemented by 3 privately owned stations broadcasting over multiple frequencies
Deep Dive
36 of 41 metricsEvery stat we track, organized by category
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Isle of Man
Norway
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The percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
Frequently Asked Questions about Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands has a population of 52.9K, ranking #206 globally by population.
Faroe Islands is located in Europe. It has an area of 1,393 km².
Life expectancy in Faroe Islands is 83.1 years, ranking #19 globally.
Faroe Islands's GDP per capita (PPP) is 81.9K, ranking #14 globally.
Faroe Islands ranks particularly high in Internet Users (%) (#16), GDP Per Capita (PPP) (#14), CO2 Per Capita (#15).
Faroe Islands has a population density of 39.7 people per km², ranking #162 globally.
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