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Faroe Islands: Quick Facts

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Facts

Also Known As Føroyar Islands • Færøerne Islands • Faeroe Islands
Heads Of Government High Commissioner (for Denmark): Lene Moyell Johansen; Prime Minister (for Faroe Islands): Bárdur á Steig Nielsen
Capital Tórshavn (Thorshavn)
Population (2026 est.) 55,400
Head Of State Danish Monarch: Frederik X
Official Languages Faroese; Danish
Official Religion Faroese Lutheran2
Official Name Føroyar (Faroese); Færøerne (Danish) (Faroe Islands1)
Total Area (Sq Km) 1,396
Total Area (Sq Mi) 539
Monetary Unit Danish krone3 (DKK)
Population Rank (2026) 211
Population Projection 2030 54,300
Density: Persons Per Sq Mi (2026) 102.8
Density: Persons Per Sq Km (2026) 39.7
Urban-Rural Population Urban: (2024) 43.2% • Rural: (2024) 56.8%
Life Expectancy At Birth Male: (2023–2024) 83.8 years • Female: (2023–2024) 81.3 years
Gni (U.S.$ ’000,000) (2024) 3,995
Gni Per Capita (U.S.$) (2024) 73,070
Political Status self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark with one legislative house (Løgting, or Parliament [33])
1English-language alternative spelling is Faeroe Islands. 2Formally independent of the national Danish Lutheran church from July 2007.3The local currency, the Faroese króna (plural krónur), is equivalent to the Danish krone. Banknotes used are Faroese or Danish; coins are Danish.

Photos

Faroe Islands
Map showing the Faroe Islands, an archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean between Iceland, Norway, and the United Kingdom. Major islands such as Streymoy, Eysturoy, Vagar, Sandoy, Bordoy, Svinoy, and Su?uroy are labeled, with the capital Torshavn marked. An inset map displays the Faroe Islands' location relative to northern Europe.
Faroe Islands
Map showing the location of the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of Scotland and between Iceland and Norway. The map highlights the islands' position relative to nearby countries, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland, with Torshavn marked as the capital.
Three Atlantic Puffins stand on a grassy cliff edge on Mykines Island, Faeroe Islands, with blurred houses visible in the background.
Harbor view of Torshavn, Faroe Islands, showing red wooden buildings with grass roofs along the waterfront and colorful houses on the hillside behind.
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Tórshavn
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Faroe Islands
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