Name
The archipelago's name derives from the Old Norse "Faeroyar," meaning "sheep islands"; "faer" means "sheep," and "- oyar" means "islands".
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Country
Faroe Islands
Faeroe Islands · local name
62.19° N, 7.06° W
No land border at all — every neighbor is across water, along 1,117 km of coast, the 80th longest on Earth.
land borders 0 km · 164th/230 · coastline 1,117 km · 80th/229
CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · ranks computed across the countries in this atlas that carry the value
- Population
- 48,678
- Natural Earth population estimate.
- Area
- 1,393 km²
- Official total area (land + water) from the CIA World Factbook. Computed from the Natural Earth boundary: ≈ 1,041 km².
- Population density
- ≈ 47 / km²
- Population divided by the computed boundary area.
- ISO codes
- FO · FRO
- GDP (nominal)
- $3.91 billion
- Field “Economy → GDP (official exchange rate)” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- GDP per capita (PPP)
- $70,400
- Field “Economy → Real GDP per capita → Real GDP per capita 2023” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
Faroe Islands 1,393 km²São Tomé and Principe 964 km²
geometry: Natural Earth 1:50m · EPSG:6933 equal-area
Where Faroe Islands sits in the world
Each line is every country in this atlas that carries the value, ordered smallest to largest. The line down the middle is the world median; the mark on each line is this country.
- Median age37 years87th of 224 · median 32.6 years
- Life expectancy81.7 years42nd of 224 · median 76.2 years
- Fertility rate2.26 children per woman76th of 225 · median 1.92 children per woman
- Population48,678211th of 235 · median 5,454,073
- Total area1,393 km²178th of 228 · median 83,736 km²
- Coastline1,117 km80th of 229 · median 402 km
Overview
Background
Populated by about 500 CE, the islands had original settlers whose identity—Celtic, early Norse, or someone else—has yet to be determined. Viking settlers arrived in the 9th century, and the islands served as an important stepping stone for medieval Viking exploration of the North Atlantic. Political ties have connected the islands to Denmark since the 14th century, and they are now a self-governing dependency of Denmark.
The Home Rule Act of 1948 granted the Faroese a high degree of self-government, giving them 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.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Climate
Mild winters and cool summers meet usually overcast skies, fog, and wind. Strong winds and heavy rains can occur throughout the year.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Government
A parliamentary democracy through the Faroese Parliament, the Faroe Islands is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. The laws of Denmark apply in the Faroe Islands. The Danish Constitution of 5 June 1953, the Home Rule Act of 23 March 1948, and the Takeover Act of 24 June 2005 serve as the Faroe Islands' constitutional position in the Unity of the Realm. The Faroe Islands has no independence and is a self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark. Its national holiday is Olaifest (Olavsoka), on 29 July (1030).
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Flag and symbols
A white flag carries a red cross outlined in blue, extending to its edges and shifted toward the left in the style of the Dannebrog, the Danish flag. White represents waves breaking on the shore, while red and blue are traditional Faroese colors. The flag is called Merkid, meaning 'the banner' or 'the mark'; a group of students designed it in 1919, although it was officially adopted in 1940.
Source: CIA World Factbook · 2026-02-01 · text generated from this source, approved by a person
Key figures
CIA World Factbook
Economy
- GDP (nominal)
- $3.91 billion
- Field “Economy → GDP (official exchange rate)” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- GDP (PPP)
- $3.83 billion
- Field “Economy → Real GDP (purchasing power parity) → Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- GDP per capita (PPP)
- $70,400
- Field “Economy → Real GDP per capita → Real GDP per capita 2023” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- GDP growth
- +2.5%
- Field “Economy → Real GDP growth rate → Real GDP growth rate 2023” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Exports
- $2.26 billion
- Field “Economy → Exports → Exports 2023” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Imports
- $2.21 billion
- Field “Economy → Imports → Imports 2023” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
People
- Life expectancy
- 81.7 years
- Field “People and Society → Life expectancy at birth → total population” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Median age
- 37 years
- Field “People and Society → Median age → total” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Birth rate
- 14.76 per 1,000
- Field “People and Society → Birth rate” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Death rate
- 8.58 per 1,000
- Field “People and Society → Death rate” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Fertility rate
- 2.26 children per woman
- Field “People and Society → Total fertility rate” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Population growth
- +0.62% a year
- Field “People and Society → Population growth rate” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Urban population
- 43%
- Field “People and Society → Urbanization → urban population” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Languages
- Faroese93.8%
- Danish3.2%
- others3%
- Field “People and Society → Languages” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Religions
- Christian87%predominantly Evangelical Lutheran
- other8.9%
- Field “People and Society → Religions” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
Land
- Total area
- 1,393 km²Land 1,393 km² · Water 0 km²
- Field “Geography → Area → total” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Coastline
- 1,117 km
- Field “Geography → Coastline” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Land borders
- 0 km
- Field “Geography → Land boundaries → total” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
- Highest point
- 882 m Slaettaratindur
- Field “Geography → Elevation → highest point” in the CIA World Factbook archive (frozen 2026-02-01). Public domain. The Factbook stopped publishing in February 2026; the year shows when the value was estimated.
Values from the CIA World Factbook archive. Each carries the year it describes; open a year for the exact source field.
Connections
Within
Natural geography 2
Natural Earth outlines · features with a Wikidata ID