# The World Factbook (1982)/Faroe Islands
## FAROE ISLANDSFAROE ISLANDS

* (See reference map V)

### LANDLAND

1,340 km$^2$; less than 5% arable, of which only a fraction cultivated; archipelago consisting of 18 inhabited islands and a few uninhabited islets

### WATERWATER

Limits of territorial waters (claimed): 3 nm; fishing 200 nm
Coastline: 764 km

### PEOPLEPEOPLE

Population: 45,000 (July 1982), average annual growth rate 1.2% (current)
Nationality: noun—Faroese (sing., pl.); adjective—Faroese
Ethnic divisions: homogeneous white population
Religion: Evangelical Lutheran
Languages: Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish
Literacy: 99%
Labor force: 15,000; largely engaged in fishing, manufacturing, transportation, and commerce

### GOVERNMENTGOVERNMENT

Official name: Faroe Islands
Type: self-governing province within the Kingdom of Denmark; 2 representatives in Danish parliament
Capital: Torshavn on the island of Streymoy
Political subdivisions: 7 districts, 49 communes, 1 town
Legal system: based on Danish law; Home Rule Act enacted 1948
Branches: legislative authority rests jointly with Crown, acting through appointed High Commissioner,' and 32-members provincial parliament (Lagting) in matters of strictly Faroese concern; executive power vested in Crown, acting through High Commissioner, but exercised by provincial cabinet responsible to provincial parliament
​Government leaders: Queen MARGRETHE II; Lagmand (Chairman) Pauli ELLEFSEN; Danish Governor Leif GROTH
Suffrage: universal, but not compulsory, over age 21
Elections: held every four years; most recent, 8 November 1980
Political parties and leaders: Coalition, Pauli Effefsen; Peoples, Jogvan Sundstein; Republican, Erlendur Patursson; Home Rule, Tobjern Poulsen; Progressive and Fishermen's, Adolf Hansen; Social Democratic, Atli Dam
Voting strength (1980 election): Coalition, 23.8%; Social Democratic, 21.7%; Republican, 17.0%; Peoples, 17.9%; Home Rule, 8.4%; Progressive and Fishermen's, 8.2%
Communists: insignificant number
Member of: Nordic Council

### ECONOMYECONOMY

GDP: $420.8 million (1979), about $8,280 per capita
Agriculture: sheep and cattle grazing
Fishing: catch 261,800 metric tons (1979); exports, $131.6 million (1979 est.)
Major industry: fishing
Electric power: 48,000 kW capacity (1980); 90 million kWh produced (1980), 2,140 kWh per capita
Exports: $150.7 million (f.o.b., 1979); mostly fish and fish products
Imports: $205 8 million (c.i.f., 1979); machinery and transport equipment, petroleum and petroleum products, food products
Major trade partners: 48.1% Denmark, 8.9% US, 8.6% Norway, 8.1% UK (1978)
Budget: (FY78) expenditures $73.3 million, revenues $73.3 million
Monetary conversion rate: 5.261 Danish Kroner=US$1
Fiscal year: calendar year beginning 1 January 1979

### COMMUNICATIONSCOMMUNICATIONS

Railroads: none
Highways: 200 km
Ports: 1 minor
Civil air: no major transport aircraft
Airfields: 1 with permanent-surface runways 1,220-2,439m
Telecommunications: good international communications; fair domestic facilities; 15,000 telephones (35 per 100 popl.); 1 AM and 3 FM stations; 3 coaxial submarine cables

### DEFENSE FORCESDEFENSE FORCES

Military manpower: males 15-49 included with Denmark