{
  "Introduction": {
    "Background": {
      "text": "The population of the Faroe Islands is largely descended from Viking settlers who arrived in the 9th century. The islands have been connected politically to Denmark since the 14th century. A high degree of self-government was granted the Faroese in 1948, who have autonomy over most internal affairs while Denmark is responsible for justice, defense, and foreign affairs. The Faroe Islands are not part of the European Union."
    }
  },
  "Geography": {
    "Location": {
      "text": "Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about halfway between Iceland and Norway"
    },
    "Geographic coordinates": {
      "text": "62 00 N, 7 00 W"
    },
    "Map references": {
      "text": "Europe"
    },
    "Area": {
      "total": {
        "text": "1,393 sq km"
      },
      "land": {
        "text": "1,393 sq km"
      },
      "water": {
        "text": "0 sq km (some lakes and streams)"
      }
    },
    "Area - comparative": {
      "text": "eight times the size of Washington, DC"
    },
    "Land boundaries": {
      "text": "0 km"
    },
    "Coastline": {
      "text": "1,117 km"
    },
    "Maritime claims": {
      "territorial sea": {
        "text": "3 nm"
      },
      "continental shelf": {
        "text": "200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line"
      },
      "exclusive fishing zone": {
        "text": "200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy"
    },
    "Terrain": {
      "text": "rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast"
    },
    "Elevation": {
      "mean elevation": {
        "text": "NA"
      },
      "elevation extremes": {
        "text": "lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m ++ highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m"
      }
    },
    "Natural resources": {
      "text": "fish, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "2.1% ++ arable land 2.1%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 0%"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "0.1%"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "97.8% (2011 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Population - distribution": {
      "text": "the island of Streymoy is by far the most populous with over 40% of the population; it has approximately twice as many inhabitants as Eysturoy, the second most populous island; seven of the inhabited islands have less than 100 people"
    },
    "Natural hazards": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "Environment - current issues": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "Environment - international agreements": {
      "party to": {
        "text": "Marine Dumping - associate member to the London Convention and Ship Pollution"
      }
    },
    "Geography - note": {
      "text": "archipelago of 17 inhabited islands and one uninhabited island, and a few uninhabited islets; strategically located along important sea lanes in northeastern Atlantic; precipitous terrain limits habitation to small coastal lowlands"
    }
  },
  "People and Society": {
    "Population": {
      "text": "50,456 (July 2016 est.)"
    },
    "Nationality": {
      "noun": {
        "text": "Faroese (singular and plural)"
      },
      "adjective": {
        "text": "Faroese"
      }
    },
    "Ethnic groups": {
      "text": "Faroese 89.2% (Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon descent), Danish 7.1%, other 3.7% (includes Icelander, Norwegian, Greenlander, Filipino, Thai, British)",
      "note": {
        "text": "data represent respondents by country of birth (2011 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Languages": {
      "text": "Faroese 93.8% (derived from Old Norse), Danish 3.2%, other 3% (2011 est.)"
    },
    "Religions": {
      "text": "Christian 89.3% (predominantly Evangelical Lutheran), other 0.7%, more than one religion 0.2%, none 3.8%, unspecified 6% (2011 est.)"
    },
    "Age structure": {
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "19.98% (male 5,212/female 4,870)"
      },
      "15-24 years": {
        "text": "14.62% (male 3,784/female 3,592)"
      },
      "25-54 years": {
        "text": "37.25% (male 10,191/female 8,605)"
      },
      "55-64 years": {
        "text": "11.66% (male 3,032/female 2,851)"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "16.49% (male 4,023/female 4,296) (2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Median age": {
      "total": {
        "text": "37.7 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "37.1 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "38.4 years (2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Population growth rate": {
      "text": "0.53% (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Birth rate": {
      "text": "14 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Death rate": {
      "text": "8.7 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Net migration rate": {
      "text": "0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Population distribution": {
      "text": "the island of Streymoy is by far the most populous with over 40% of the population; it has approximately twice as many inhabitants as Eysturoy, the second most populous island; seven of the inhabited islands have less than 100 people"
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "42% of total population (2015)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "0.47% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major urban areas - population": {
      "text": "TORSHAVN (capital) 21,000 (2014)"
    },
    "Sex ratio": {
      "at birth": {
        "text": "1.07 male(s)/female"
      },
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "1.07 male(s)/female"
      },
      "15-24 years": {
        "text": "1.05 male(s)/female"
      },
      "25-54 years": {
        "text": "1.18 male(s)/female"
      },
      "55-64 years": {
        "text": "1.06 male(s)/female"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "0.94 male(s)/female"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "1.08 male(s)/female (2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Infant mortality rate": {
      "total": {
        "text": "5.5 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "5.8 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "5.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Life expectancy at birth": {
      "total population": {
        "text": "80.4 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "77.8 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "83.1 years (2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total fertility rate": {
      "text": "2.36 children born/woman (2016 est.)"
    },
    "Hospital bed density": {
      "text": "4.7 beds/1,000 population (2012)"
    },
    "HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "HIV/AIDS - deaths": {
      "text": "NA"
    }
  },
  "Government": {
    "Country name": {
      "conventional long form": {
        "text": "none"
      },
      "conventional short form": {
        "text": "Faroe Islands"
      },
      "local long form": {
        "text": "none"
      },
      "local short form": {
        "text": "Foroyar"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "the archipelgo's name may derive from the Old Norse word \"faer,\" meaning sheep"
      }
    },
    "Dependency status": {
      "text": "part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1948"
    },
    "Government type": {
      "text": "parliamentary democracy (Faroese Parliament); part of the Kingdom of Denmark"
    },
    "Capital": {
      "name": {
        "text": "Torshavn"
      },
      "geographic coordinates": {
        "text": "62 00 N, 6 46 W"
      },
      "time difference": {
        "text": "UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)"
      },
      "daylight saving time": {
        "text": "+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October"
      }
    },
    "Administrative divisions": {
      "text": "none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 30 municipalities"
    },
    "Independence": {
      "text": "none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)"
    },
    "National holiday": {
      "text": "Olaifest (Olavsoka), 29 July"
    },
    "Constitution": {
      "history": {
        "text": "5 June 1953 (Danish Constitution), 23 March 1948 (Home Rule Act), and 24 June 2005 (Takeover Act) serve as the Faroe Islands constitutional position in the Unity of the Realm"
      },
      "amendments": {
        "text": "see entry for Denmark (2016)"
      }
    },
    "Legal system": {
      "text": "the laws of Denmark, where applicable, apply"
    },
    "Citizenship": {
      "text": "see Denmark"
    },
    "Suffrage": {
      "text": "18 years of age; universal"
    },
    "Executive branch": {
      "chief of state": {
        "text": "Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Dan Michael KNUDSEN, chief administrative officer (since 1 January 2008)"
      },
      "head of government": {
        "text": "Prime Minister Aksel V. JOHANNESEN (since 15 September 2015)"
      },
      "cabinet": {
        "text": "Landsstyri appointed by the prime minister"
      },
      "elections/appointments": {
        "text": "the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually elected prime minister by the Faroese Parliament; election last held on 1 September 2015"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "Aksel V. JOHANNESEN elected prime minister; Parliament vote - NA"
      }
    },
    "Legislative branch": {
      "description": {
        "text": "unicameral Faroese Parliament or Logting (33 seats; members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms)"
      },
      "note": {
        "text": "election of 2 seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on 18 June 2015 (next to be held no later than June 2019); percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Social Democratic Party 1, Republic 1"
      },
      "elections": {
        "text": "last held on 1 September 2015 (next to be held no later than October 2019)"
      },
      "election results": {
        "text": "percent of vote by party - Social Democratic Party 25.1%, Republic 20.7%, People's Party, 18.9%, Union Party 18.7%, Progressive Party 7.0%, Center Party 5.5%, Self-Government Party 4.1%; seats by party - Social Democratic Party 8, Republic 7, People's Party 6, Union Party 6, Center Party 2, Progressive Party 2, Self-Government Party 2"
      }
    },
    "Judicial branch": {
      "highest court(s)": {
        "text": "Faroese Court or Raett (Rett - Danish) decides both civil and criminal cases; the Court is part of the Danish legal system"
      },
      "subordinate courts": {
        "text": "Court of the First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif; Mixed Commercial Court; Land Court - expected to begin in 2016"
      }
    },
    "Political parties and leaders": {
      "text": "Center Party (Midflokkurin) [Jenis av RANA] ++ Independence (or Self-Govenment) Party (Sjalvstyrisflokkurin) [Jogvan SKORHEIM] ++ People's Party (Folkaflokkurin) [Jorgen NICLASEN] ++ Progressive Party (Framsokn) [Poul MICHELSEN] ++ Republic (Tjodveldi) (formerly the Republican Party) [Hogni HOYDAL] ++ Social Democratic Party (Javnadarflokkurin) [Aksel V. JOHANNESEN] ++ Union Party (Sambandsflokkurin) [Bardur a STEIG NIELSEN]"
    },
    "Political pressure groups and leaders": {
      "other": {
        "text": "conservationists"
      }
    },
    "International organization participation": {
      "text": "Arctic Council, IMO (associate), NC, NIB, UNESCO (associate), UPU"
    },
    "Diplomatic representation in the US": {
      "text": "none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)"
    },
    "Diplomatic representation from the US": {
      "text": "none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)"
    },
    "Flag description": {
      "text": "white with a red cross outlined in blue extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted toward the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag); referred to as Merkid, meaning \"the banner\" or \"the mark,\" the flag resembles those of neighboring Iceland and Norway, and uses the same three colors - but in a different sequence; white represents the clear Faroese sky as well as the foam of the waves; red and blue are traditional Faroese colors"
    },
    "National symbol(s)": {
      "text": "ram; national colors: red, white, blue"
    },
    "National anthem": {
      "name": {
        "text": "\"Mitt alfagra land\" (My Fairest Land)"
      },
      "lyrics/music": {
        "text": "Simun av SKAROI/Peter ALBERG"
      },
      "note": {
        "text": "adopted 1948; the anthem is also known as \"Tu alfagra land mitt\" (Thou Fairest Land of Mine); as a self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark, the Faroe Islands are permitted their own national anthem"
      }
    }
  },
  "Economy": {
    "Economy - overview": {
      "text": "The Faroese economy has experienced a period of significant growth since 2011, due to increases in fish prices, salmon farming, and catches in the pelagic fisheries. Nominal GDP growth was an estimated 7.5% in 2013 and 5.9% in 2014. The fisheries sector accounts for about 95% of exports and half of GDP. Unemployment is low, estimated at 2.9% in mid-2015. ++  ++ The public budget has exhibited deficits since 2008, which were financed through increased borrowing. Public debt reached 38% of GDP in 2015. Aided by an annual subsidy from Denmark amounting to about 4% of Faroese GDP, the Faroese have a standard of living equal to that of Denmark. ++  ++ Dependence on fishing makes the economy vulnerable to price fluctuations. Projections for fish prices are favorable and increasing public infrastructure investments are likely to lead to continued growth in the short term."
    },
    "GDP (purchasing power parity)": {
      "text": "$1.831 billion (2014 est.) ++ $1.729 billion (2013 est.) ++ $1.471 billion (2013 est.)"
    },
    "GDP (official exchange rate)": {
      "text": "$2.32 billion (2010 est.)"
    },
    "GDP - real growth rate": {
      "text": "5.9% (2014 est.) ++ 7.5% (2013 est.) ++ 2.9% (2013 est.)"
    },
    "GDP - per capita (PPP)": {
      "text": "$36,600 (2014 est.)"
    },
    "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "16%"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "29%"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "55% (2007 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Agriculture - products": {
      "text": "milk, potatoes, vegetables; sheep; salmon, herring, mackerel and other fish"
    },
    "Industries": {
      "text": "fishing, fish processing, tourism, small ship repair and refurbishment, handicrafts"
    },
    "Industrial production growth rate": {
      "text": "3.4% (2009 est.)"
    },
    "Labor force": {
      "text": "25,000 (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Labor force - by occupation": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "10.7%"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "18.9%"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "70.3% (November 2010)"
      }
    },
    "Unemployment rate": {
      "text": "2.9% (2015 est.) ++ 3.1% (2014)"
    },
    "Population below poverty line": {
      "text": "NA%"
    },
    "Household income or consumption by percentage share": {
      "lowest 10%": {
        "text": "NA%"
      },
      "highest 10%": {
        "text": "NA%"
      }
    },
    "Budget": {
      "revenues": {
        "text": "$1.025 billion"
      },
      "expenditures": {
        "text": "$1.301 billion"
      },
      "note": {
        "text": "Denmark supplies the Faroe Islands with almost one-third of their public funds (2010 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Taxes and other revenues": {
      "text": "44.2% of GDP (2010 est.)"
    },
    "Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)": {
      "text": "-11.9% of GDP (2010 est.)"
    },
    "Fiscal year": {
      "text": "calendar year"
    },
    "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": {
      "text": "2.3% (2011) ++ 0.4% (2010)"
    },
    "Exports": {
      "text": "$824 million (2010) ++ $767 million (2009)"
    },
    "Exports - commodities": {
      "text": "fish and fish products 95%, ships (2009 est.)"
    },
    "Exports - partners": {
      "text": "Russia 20.2%, UK 16.6%, Denmark 16.3%, Nigeria 11.6%, China 9.3%, US 7.2%, Netherlands 5.6%, Norway 4% (2015)"
    },
    "Imports": {
      "text": "$776 million (2010) ++ $786 million (2009)"
    },
    "Imports - commodities": {
      "text": "goods for household consumption, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, raw materials and semi-manufactures, cars"
    },
    "Imports - partners": {
      "text": "Denmark 43.9%, Turkey 12.3%, Norway 10%, China 6.2%, Netherlands 4.9%, Germany 4.4% (2015)"
    },
    "Debt - external": {
      "text": "$888.8 million (2010) ++ $68.1 million (2006)"
    },
    "Exchange rates": {
      "text": "Danish kroner (DKK) per US dollar - ++ 6.865 (2016 est.) ++ 6.7236 (2015 est.) ++ 5.6183 (2014 est.) ++ 5.6125 (2013 est.) ++ 5.79 (2012 est.)"
    }
  },
  "Energy": {
    "Electricity - production": {
      "text": "300 million kWh (2014 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - consumption": {
      "text": "300 million kWh (2014 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - exports": {
      "text": "0 kWh (2013 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - imports": {
      "text": "0 kWh (2013 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - installed generating capacity": {
      "text": "100,000 kW (2014 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from fossil fuels": {
      "text": "60.1% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from nuclear fuels": {
      "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from hydroelectric plants": {
      "text": "36.1% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)"
    },
    "Electricity - from other renewable sources": {
      "text": "3.8% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - production": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - exports": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2013 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - imports": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2013 est.)"
    },
    "Crude oil - proved reserves": {
      "text": "0 bbl (1 January 2016 es)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - production": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2013 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - consumption": {
      "text": "4,400 bbl/day (2014 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - exports": {
      "text": "0 bbl/day (2013 est.)"
    },
    "Refined petroleum products - imports": {
      "text": "4,295 bbl/day (2013 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - production": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2013 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - consumption": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2013 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - exports": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2013 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - imports": {
      "text": "0 cu m (2013 est.)"
    },
    "Natural gas - proved reserves": {
      "text": "0 cu m (1 January 2014 es)"
    },
    "Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy": {
      "text": "800,000 Mt (2013 est.)"
    }
  },
  "Communications": {
    "Telephones - fixed lines": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "17,000"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "34 (July 2015 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telephones - mobile cellular": {
      "total": {
        "text": "63,000"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "126 (July 2015 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telephone system": {
      "general assessment": {
        "text": "good international communications; good domestic facilities"
      },
      "domestic": {
        "text": "conversion to digital system completed in 1998; both NMT (analog) and GSM (digital) mobile telephone systems are installed"
      },
      "international": {
        "text": "country code - 298; satellite earth stations - 1 Orion; 1 fiber-optic submarine cable to the Shetland Islands, linking the Faroe Islands with Denmark and Iceland; fiber-optic submarine cable connection to Canada-Europe cable (2015)"
      }
    },
    "Broadcast media": {
      "text": "1 publicly owned TV station; the Faroese telecommunications company distributes local and international channels through its digital terrestrial network; publicly owned radio station supplemented by 3 privately owned stations broadcasting over multiple fr (2015)"
    },
    "Internet country code": {
      "text": ".fo"
    },
    "Internet users": {
      "total": {
        "text": "47,000"
      },
      "percent of population": {
        "text": "94.2% (July 2015 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Transportation": {
    "National air transport system": {
      "number of registered air carriers": {
        "text": "1 (registered in Denmark)"
      },
      "inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers": {
        "text": "3 (registered in Denmark) (2015)"
      }
    },
    "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": {
      "text": "OY-H (2016)"
    },
    "Airports": {
      "text": "1 (2013)"
    },
    "Airports - with paved runways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "1"
      },
      "1,524 to 2,437 m": {
        "text": "1 (2013)"
      }
    },
    "Roadways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "960 km (2015)"
      }
    },
    "Merchant marine": {
      "total": {
        "text": "37"
      },
      "by type": {
        "text": "cargo 20, chemical tanker 7, container 2, passenger/cargo 3, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 2"
      },
      "foreign-owned": {
        "text": "28 (Iceland 4, Norway 13, Sweden 11) (2010)"
      }
    },
    "Ports and terminals": {
      "major seaport(s)": {
        "text": "Fuglafjordur, Torshavn, Vagur"
      }
    }
  },
  "Military and Security": {
    "Military branches": {
      "text": "no regular military forces; the Government of Denmark has responsibility for defense; as such, the Danish military’s Joint Arctic Command is responsible for territorial defense of the Faroe Islands (2016)"
    },
    "Military - note": {
      "text": "defense is the responsibility of Denmark"
    }
  },
  "Transnational Issues": {
    "Disputes - international": {
      "text": "because anticipated offshore hydrocarbon resources have not been realized, earlier Faroese proposals for full independence have been deferred; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm"
    }
  }
}