The 2010 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency
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 ::Faroe Islands
Location:
Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, about half way between Iceland and Norway
Geographic coordinates:
62 00 N, 7 00 W
Map references:
Europe
Area:
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:
eight times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
0 km
Coastline:
1,117 km
Maritime claims:
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
Climate:
mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy
Terrain:
rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m
Natural resources:
fish, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas
Land use:
arable land: 2.14%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 97.86% (2005)
Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Marine Dumping - associate member to the London Convention and Ship Pollution
Geography - note:
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
People ::Faroe Islands
Population:
49,057 (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 208
Age structure:
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) (2010 est.)
Median age:
total: 37.1 years
male: 36.5 years
female: 37.9 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.424% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 158
Birth rate:
12.9 births/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 156
Death rate:
8.66 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 81
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 87
Urbanization:
urban population: 41% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2% annual rate of change (2005–10 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.069 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15–64 years: 1.15 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1.09 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.18 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 176 male: 6.43 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.58 years country comparison to the world: 33 male: 77.13 years
female: 82.21 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.43 children born/woman (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 97
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Faroese (singular and plural)
adjective: Faroese
Ethnic groups:
Scandinavian
Religions:
Evangelical Lutheran 83.8%, other and unspecified 16.2% (2006 census)
Languages:
Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish
Literacy:
NA; note - probably 99%, the same as Denmark proper
Government ::Faroe Islands
Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Faroe Islands
local long form: none
local short form: Foroyar
Dependency status:
part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1948
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: Torshavn
geographic coordinates: 62 01 N, 6 46 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard