Tórshavn, Faroe Islands

QUICK FACTS

Name: The Faroe Islands (Føroyar)

Location: In the middle of the Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic at 62º00’N and 06º47’W, halfway between Scotland and Iceland

Neighbouring countries: Closest land is North Rona, part of Scotland’s Outer Hebrides, 257km (139 nautical miles) to the south

Total land area: 1,399km2 (540 square miles)

Total marine area: 247,000km2 (105,792 square miles)

Area: Faroese archipelago, 113km (70 miles) long and 75km (47 miles) wide. The total coastline of 1,100km (687 miles). No point in the Faroe Islands is further than 5km (3 miles) from the sea.

Islands: 18 volcanic islands separated by narrow sounds and fjords arranged roughly in the form of an arrowhead. All but one are inhabited.

Heights: Highest peak 880m (2,887ft); average height above sea level 300m (980ft)

Climate: Average 3º-11ºC, winter-summer

Population: 54,362 (as of May ’23)

Capital: Tórshavn (population 23,113 as of May ’23)

KEY FIGURES


GDP (2023): 26 bn DKK
GDP per capita (2021): 431.000
National budget (2023): 7.275 bn DKK (Block subsidy from Denmark 616.8 mill = 2.4% of GDP)
Public sector surplus (2021): 138 mill or 0.01% of GDP
Balance of trade (exports – imports) (2022): 570 mill (12.7 – 12.1) bn
Government Debt (2022): 3.5 bn (35.7% of GDP)
Unemployment rate (May 2023): 0.7%
Female % of total population (2023): 48.1%
Fertility Rate (2022): 2.050

These and other statistics can be found by visiting Hagstova Føroya‘s website.

Anthem: "Tú alfagra land mítt"

Status: Self-governing region within the Kingdom of Denmark

Language: Faroese. Danish has equal status in all official affairs

Religion: Evangelical Lutheran

Government: Parliamentary democracy

Prime Minister: Aksel V. Johannesen (Social Democratic Party, Javnaðarflokkurin)

Main industries: Fishing and aquaculture, shipping and offshore services, tourism and prospects for petroleum in the Faroese area

Currency: Faroese króna (DKK)

Exchange rate: £1 = 8.55kr, US$1 = 6.89kr, €1 = 7.44kr (May 2023)

International telephone code: +298

Internet TLD: .fo

Time: GMT (winter); GMT+1 (summer)

Electrical voltage: 220V; European two-pin plugs

Weights and measures: Metric

Flag: Red cross fringed with blue on white background

Public holidays: New Year’s Day 1 January, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday, Flag Day 25 April, Common Prayers’ Day (May), Ascension Day, Whit Sunday, Whit Monday, Ólavsøka 28-29 July, Christmas 24-26 December, New Year’s Eve 31 December

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Image of a flower, with a stunning ocean backdrop of The Faroe Islands. Taken by Harriet Olafsdóttir av Gørðum / @byolafsdottir

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The Faroe Islands
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