Landscape of Faroe Islands
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Faroe Islands

Europe

The Faroe Islands are a self governing branch of the Danish Realm. Home to about 50,000 people, the Faroes an archipelago in the Northern Atlantic that are known for their fisheries and wildlife.1 The Faroes experience large amounts of emigration to mainland Europe each year, but they are still committed to balancing their ancient traditions with modern society.2 1 https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/fo.html
2 http://www.faroeislands.fo/people-society/society/

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About Faroe Islands

The Faroe Islands are a self governing branch of the Danish Realm. Home to about 50,000 people, the Faroes an archipelago in the Northern Atlantic that are known for their fisheries and wildlife.1 The Faroes experience large amounts of emigration to mainland Europe each year, but they are still committed to balancing their ancient traditions with modern society.2 1 https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/fo.html
2 http://www.faroeislands.fo/people-society/society/

Quick Facts

ISO Code
FO
Continent
Europe
Active Causes
12
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Causes in Faroe Islands

Environment

The Faroe Islands take preserving the environment very seriously as their livelihoods depend on healthy populations of fish and wildlife. The Faroes produce 45% of their electricity through renewable sources and have numerous regulations in place to protect natural resources and environments.1

Family

The Faroes have one of the largest female participation rates in the labor market at 84% and also the highest fertility rate in Europe at 2.4 children per family.1

Human Rights

As the Faroes have been given more autonomy, human rights protections have slipped through the cracks. There are no institutions specifically in place to advocate for human rights.1

Education

Many villages only have education facilities up until secondary education, which requires students to move to larger towns to continue their education.1 They follow the Danish system of schooling closely with primary, lower secondary, and secondary education facilities.2 Education is compulsory for children aged 6-16.3

Poverty

The unemployment rate is 3% in the Faroe Islands.1

Religion

Most people are Evangelical Lutheran Christians with a small minority practicing Catholicism, or atheism.1 As a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, there is a Danish bishop located in the territory, and there are 62 churches and 9 houses of prayer.2

Clean Water

Clean drinking water is accessible to nearly all residents.1

Economy

Over 90% of exports are from fisheries, which makes up over half of their GDP.1 Because of this, their economy is highly volatile depending on fish prices. The Faroese government has indicated they have an interest in increased foreign investment to diversify the economy.2

Government

As a self governing territory of Denmark, the Faroe Islands have two representatives in the Danish parliament. They also have independent government institutions that have power over all affairs except foreign and financial policy.1 The Greenlandic government has faced allegations of corruption in the past for forcing government officials to resign, but the Danish government has had no reports of corruption in recent years.2

Health

The Faroe Islands’ life expectancy is 82. One major health concern on the islands is genetic diseases caused by a small and closely connected gene pool. The Faroes have the highest genomic deficiency prevalence in the world.1

Children

Youth mix together their traditional practices with modern culture and have high levels of independence from a young age to act as contributing members of society.1 Extended families often live near each other and play an influential role in raising children.

Animals

In the Faroe Islands, there are over 300 bird species found, largely due to its strategic location as a migration hub from the arctic to continental Europe.1 Other common animals are hares, puffins, sheep, and whales. Although none of these species are endangered, there have been concerns recently that the hare and whale populations are being over hunted, so animal activists are pushing for legislation and harsher regulations regarding hunting of these animals.2

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