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Faroe Islands

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Photo: Joe deSousa / Wikimedia Commons (resized) Image licenceCC0Photograph by Joe deSousa / Wikimedia Commons (resized). Display crop may differ from the original.

AT A GLANCE

Faroe Islands in facts

  • CapitalTórshavn
  • Population54,9002025
  • Area1,399 km²eight times the size of Washington, D.C
  • CurrencyFaroese króna
Map: Natural Earth (public domain) · Open in the world map
All geographic & statistical details (34)
Density
39 people per km²
Local name
Foroyar
World region
Europe · Northern Europe
Government
parliamentary democracy (Faroese Parliament); part of the Kingdom of Denmark
Official languages
Danish, Faroese
Founded
1948
Time zone
UTC+00:00
Calling code
+298
Drives on the
right
Land borders
None
Coastline
1,117 km
Topographic elevation profile
Slættaratindur 880 m
0 mAtlantic Ocean▲ 880 mSummit
Economy (GDP)
US$4.1 billion (2024)
Climate
Mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy
GDP per person
US$74,175 (2024)
Terrain
Rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast
Life expectancy
83.1 years (2024)
Land use
Agri 70.1%Forest 0.1%Other 29.8%
Median age
37 years (2025 est.)
Natural resources
fish, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas
Urban population
Urban 43%Rural 57%(2023)
Major urban areas
Torshavn (capital) (000)
Administrative subdivisions
6 first-order regions
Railways & airports
1 airports
Ethnic groups
Faroese 83.8% (Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon descent), Danish 8.3%, Filipino 1.2%, other Nordic 0.9%, other 4.5% (includes Polish and Romanian) (2024 est.)
Religions
Christian 87% (predominantly Evangelical Lutheran), other 0.9%, none 3.7%, unspecified 8.9% (2011 est.)
Plug types
Schuko, Europlug, Type K, Type E
Mains voltage
230 V
Emergency numbers
112
Internet domain
.fo
ISO & UN codes
FO · FRO · M49 234
Name origin
The archipelago's name derives from the Old Norse name Faeroyar, meaning "sheep islands;" faer means "sheep," and -oyar means "islands"
Names in other languages
Fær Øer, Färöer, Faeröer, フェロー諸島, Фарерские острова, جزر فارو
+ 22 moreShow lessফ্যারো দ্বীপপুঞ্জ, Islas Feroe, جزایر فارو, îles Féroé, ફરો દ્વિપ, फ़रो द्वीपसमूह, Kepulauan Faroe, ಫ್ಯಾರೋ ದ್ವೀಪಗಳು, 페로 제도, ഫറോ ദ്വീപുകൾ, फेरो द्वीपसमूह, ਫ਼ਰੋ ਦੀਪ ਸਮੂਹ, Wyspy Owcze, Ilhas Feroe, பரோயே தீவுகள், ఫారో దీవులు, หมู่เกาะแฟโร, Faroe Adaları, Фарерські острови, جزائرفارو, Quần đảo Faroe, 法罗群岛
Capital location
62.0°N, 6.8°W

Maritime & nearby neighbours (1 place)

Neighbours from Wikidata (land borders and some sea borders; only places with a page here).

Facts: Wikidata Q4628, World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0: population, economy, life expectancy) and the CIA World Factbook (public domain: geography, demographics, borders, coastline and symbols), retrieved 1 November 2026. Figures can change; check the source for the latest.

FLAG & SYMBOLS

The flag and symbols of Faroe Islands

The flag

White with a red cross outlined in blue that extends to the edges of the flag; the cross is shifted toward the left side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag).

What it means

White represents waves breaking on the shore; red and blue are traditional Faroese colors.

Coat of arms
Coat of arms or emblem of Faroe Islands

Image: Marmelad / Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

National animals and emblems
Ram
National anthem

"Mitt alfagra land" (My Fairest Land)
Simun av Skaroi/Peter Alberg

Recording: Wikijahnn / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

National day

Olaifest (Olavsoka), 29 July (1030)

Independence

none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Flag description and meaning, colours, symbols, anthem details, national day and independence: CIA World Factbook (public domain). Coat of arms, motto and recording: Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons (credited above). Flag artwork: flag-icons (MIT), retrieved 1 November 2026.

There is more to explore.Discover the regions of Faroe IslandsExplore regions
ON THE ATLAS · CHRONICLE IN PREPARATION

Discover Faroe Islands

This is a sourced directory entry. A researched regional chronicle and verified location photography are in preparation.

Self-governing territory

Kingdom of Denmark association: Denmark. Status & relationship source ↗

A CLOSER LOOK

Explore the regions

6 entries

Explore the first-order regions in this GeoNames snapshot. Local names and levels vary.

Names and immediate parent assignments: GeoNames, CC BY 4.0, 28 October 2026. Unspecified code 00 excluded. This is not an exhaustive list of districts, counties or municipalities. Photographs are credited individually beneath each image; one pictured place does not represent every landscape in its region.

FROM THE JOURNAL

Stories from Faroe Islands

Our editorial journey here is still ahead. No researched stories have been published for this place yet.

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Directory: UN M49 countries or areas, with 193 UN members, 2 observers and 53 other areas. Subdivisions: GeoNames, CC BY 4.0; filtered to this catalogue. Flags/symbols: flag-icons (MIT). Snapshot: 28 October 2026. Geographic groups are statistical. Associated-country links describe the cited relationship and do not settle sovereignty claims.

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