"text":"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":{
"Location":{
"text":"Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about halfway between Iceland and Norway"
},
"Geographic coordinates":{
"text":"62 00 N, 7 00 W"
},
"Map references":{
"text":"Europe"
},
"Area":{
"total":{
"text":"1,393 sq km"
},
"land":{
"text":"1,393 sq km"
},
"water":{
"text":"0 sq km (some lakes and streams)"
}
},
"Area - comparative":{
"text":"eight times the size of Washington, DC"
},
"Land boundaries":{
"text":"0 km"
},
"Coastline":{
"text":"1,117 km"
},
"Maritime claims":{
"territorial sea":{
"text":"3 nm"
},
"continental shelf":{
"text":"200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line"
},
"exclusive fishing zone":{
"text":"200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line"
}
},
"Climate":{
"text":"mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy"
},
"Terrain":{
"text":"rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast"
"text":"the island of Streymoy is by far the most populous with over 40% of the population; it has approximately twice as many inhabitants as Eysturoy, the second most populous island; seven of the inhabited islands have less than 100 people"
"text":"Marine Dumping - associate member to the London Convention and Ship Pollution"
}
},
"Geography - note":{
"text":"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"
"text":"0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)"
},
"Population distribution":{
"text":"the island of Streymoy is by far the most populous with over 40% of the population; it has approximately twice as many inhabitants as Eysturoy, the second most populous island; seven of the inhabited islands have less than 100 people"
"text":"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 30 municipalities"
"text":"5 June 1953 (Danish Constitution), 23 March 1948 (Home Rule Act), and 24 June 2005 (Takeover Act) serve as the Faroe Islands constitutional position in the Unity of the Realm (2016)"
"text":"Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Dan Michael KNUDSEN, chief administrative officer (since 1 January 2008)"
"text":"the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually elected prime minister by the Faroese Parliament; election last held on 1 September 2015"
"text":"unicameral Faroese Parliament or Logting (33 seats; members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)"
"text":"election of 2 seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on 18 June 2015 (next to be held no later than June 2019); percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Social Democratic Party 1, Republic 1"
"text":"percent of vote by party - Social Democratic Party 25.1%, Republic 20.7%, People's Party, 18.9%, Union Party 18.7%, Progressive Party 7.0%, Center Party 5.5%, Self-Government Party 4.1%; seats by party - Social Democratic Party 8, Republic 7, People's Party 6, Union Party 6, Center Party 2, Progressive Party 2, Self-Government Party 2"
"text":"Faroese Court or Raett (Rett - Danish) decides both civil and criminal cases; the Court is part of the Danish legal system"
},
"subordinate courts":{
"text":"Court of the First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif; Mixed Commercial Court; Land Court - expected to begin in 2016"
"text":"Center Party (Midflokkurin) [Jenis av RANA] ++ Independence (or Self-Govenment) Party (Sjalvstyrisflokkurin) [Jogvan SKORHEIM] ++ People's Party (Folkaflokkurin) [Jorgen NICLASEN] ++ Progressive Party (Framsokn) [Poul MICHELSEN] ++ Republic (Tjodveldi) (formerly the Republican Party) [Hogni HOYDAL] ++ Social Democratic Party (Javnadarflokkurin) [Aksel V. JOHANNESEN] ++ Union Party (Sambandsflokkurin) [Bardur a STEIG NIELSEN]"
"text":"Arctic Council, IMO (associate), NC, NIB, UNESCO (associate), UPU"
},
"Diplomatic representation in the US":{
"text":"none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)"
},
"Diplomatic representation from the US":{
"text":"none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)"
},
"Flag description":{
"text":"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"
"text":"adopted 1948; the anthem is also known as \"Tu alfagra land mitt\" (Thou Fairest Land of Mine); as a self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark, the Faroe Islands are permitted their own national anthem"
"text":"The Faroese economy has experienced a period of significant growth since 2011, due to increases in fish prices, salmon farming, and catches in the pelagic fisheries. Nominal GDP growth was an estimated 7.5% in 2013 and 5.9% in 2014. The fisheries sector accounts for about 95% of exports and half of GDP. Unemployment is low, estimated at 2.9% in mid-2015. ++ ++ The public budget has exhibited deficits since 2008, which were financed through increased borrowing. Public debt reached 38% of GDP in 2015. Aided by an annual subsidy from Denmark amounting to about 4% of Faroese GDP, the Faroese have a standard of living equal to that of Denmark. ++ ++ Dependence on fishing makes the economy vulnerable to price fluctuations. Projections for fish prices are favorable and increasing public infrastructure investments are likely to lead to continued growth in the short term."
"text":"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 (2015)"
"text":"no regular military forces; the Government of Denmark has responsibility for defense; as such, the Danish military’s Joint Arctic Command is responsible for territorial defense of the Faroe Islands (2016)"
"text":"because anticipated offshore hydrocarbon resources have not been realized, earlier Faroese proposals for full independence have been deferred; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm"
