The 2001 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

      @Faroe Islands

      Faroe Islands Introduction

      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 attained in 1948.

      Faroe Islands Geography

      Location: Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Iceland to Norway

      Geographic coordinates: 62 00 N, 7 00 W

      Map references: Europe

      Area: total: 1,399 sq km

      land: 1,399 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: continental shelf: 200 NM or agreed boundaries or median line

      exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM or agreed boundaries or median line

      territorial sea: 3 NM

      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

      Land use: arable land: 6%

      permanent crops: 0%

      permanent pastures: 0%

      forests and woodland: 0%

      other: 94% (1996)

      Irrigated land: 0 sq km

      Natural hazards: NA

      Environment - current issues: NA

      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

      Faroe Islands People

      Population: 45,661 (July 2001 est.)

      Age structure: 0–14 years: 22.62% (male 5,193; female 5,136)

      15–64 years: 63.64% (male 15,463; female 13,596)

      65 years and over: 13.74% (male 2,802; female 3,471) (2001 est.)

      Population growth rate: 0.78% (2001 est.)

      Birth rate: 13.64 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

      Death rate: 8.69 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

      Net migration rate: 2.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

      Sex ratio: at birth: 1 male(s)/female

      under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

      15–64 years: 1.14 male(s)/female

      65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female

      total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

      Infant mortality rate: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

      Life expectancy at birth: total population: 78.59 years

      male: 75.12 years

      female: 82.06 years

      Total fertility rate: 2.3 children born/woman (2001 est.)

      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

      Languages: Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish

      Literacy: definition: NA

      total population: NA%

      male: NA%

      female: NA%

      note: similar to Denmark proper

      Faroe Islands Government

      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: Torshavn

      Administrative divisions: 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 49 municipalities

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

      National holiday: Olaifest, 29 July

      Constitution: 5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)

      Legal system: Danish

      Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

      Executive branch: chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Ms. Vibeke LARSEN, chief administrative officer (since NA)

      head of government: Prime Minister Anfinn KALLSBERG (since 15 May 1998)

      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 party that wins the most seats is usually elected prime minister by the Faroese Parliament; election last held 30 April 1998 (next to be held no later than April 2002)

      election results: Anfinn KALLSBERG elected prime minister; percent of parliamentary vote - 52.8%

      note: coalition of People's Party, Republican Party and Home Rule Party

      Legislative branch: unicameral Faroese Parliament or Logting (32 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis from the seven constituencies to serve four-year terms)

      elections: last held 30 April 1998 (next to be held not later than April 2002)

      election results: percent of vote by party - Republican Party 23.8%, People's Party 21.3%, Social Democratic Party 21.9%, Union Party 18%, Home Rue Party 7.7%, Center Party 4.1%; seats by party - Republican Party 8, People's Party 8, Social Democratic Party 7, Union Party 6, Home Rule Party 2, Center Party 1

      note: election of 2 seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on 11 March 1998 (next to be held not later than March 2002); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Social Democratic Party 1, People's Party 1

      Judicial branch: none

      Political parties and leaders: Center Party [Jenis A. RANA]; Home

       Rule Party [Helena Dam a NEYSTABO]; People's Party [Oli BRECKMANN];

       Republican Party [Hogni HOYDAL]; Social Democratic Party [Joannes

       EIDESGAARD]; Union Party [Edmund JOENSEN]

      Political