Compare British Virgin Islands (2008) - Faroe Islands (2004)

Compare British Virgin Islands (2008) z Faroe Islands (2004)

	British Virgin Islands (2008)	Faroe Islands (2004)

Administrative divisions	none (overseas territory of the UK)	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 49 municipalities
Age structure	0-14 years: 20.2% (male 2,410/female 2,337) 15-64 years: 74.5% (male 9,004/female 8,534) 65 years and over: 5.4% (male 665/female 602) (2007 est.)	0-14 years: 21.6% (male 5,056; female 5,041) 15-64 years: 64.6% (male 15,975; female 14,187) 65 years and over: 13.7% (male 2,877; female 3,526) (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products	fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish	milk, potatoes, vegetables; sheep; salmon, other fish
Airports	3 (2007)	1 (2003 est.)
Airports - with paved runways	total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2007)	total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways	total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)	-
Area	total: 153 sq km land: 153 sq km water: 0 sq km note: comprised of 16 inhabited and more than 20 uninhabited islands; includes the islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda, Jost van Dyke	total: 1,399 sq km land: 1,399 sq km water: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams)
Area - comparative	about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC	eight times the size of Washington, DC
Background	First inhabited by Arawak and later by Carib Indians, the Virgin Islands were settled by the Dutch in 1648 and then annexed by the English in 1672. The islands were part of the British colony of the Leeward Islands from 1872-1960; they were granted autonomy in 1967. The economy is closely tied to the larger and more populous US Virgin Islands to the west; the US dollar is the legal currency.	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 attained in 1948.
Birth rate	14.82 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)	13.89 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Budget	revenues: $204.7 million expenditures: $180.4 million (2004)	revenues: $488 million expenditures: $484 million, including capital expenditures of $21 million (1999)
Capital	name: Road Town geographic coordinates: 18 27 N, 64 37 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)	Torshavn
Climate	subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds	mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy
Coastline	80 km	1,117 km
Constitution	13 June 2007	5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)
Country name	conventional long form: none conventional short form: British Virgin Islands abbreviation: BVI	conventional long form: none conventional short form: Faroe Islands local long form: none local short form: Foroyar
Currency	-	Danish krone (DKK)
Death rate	4.42 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)	8.68 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Debt - external	$36.1 million (1997)	$64 million (1999)
Dependency status	overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing	part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1948
Diplomatic representation from the US	none (overseas territory of the UK)	none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Diplomatic representation in the US	none (overseas territory of the UK)	none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Disputes - international	none	Faroese are considering proposals for full independence; Denmark dispute with Iceland over the Faroe Islands fisheries median line boundary of 200 nm; Denmark disputes with Iceland, the UK, and Ireland the Faroe Islands claim extending its continental shelf boundary beyond 200 nm
Economic aid - recipient	$NA	$135 million (annual subsidy from Denmark) (1998)
Economy - overview	The economy, one of the most stable and prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, generating an estimated 45% of the national income. An estimated 820,000 tourists, mainly from the US, visited the islands in 2005. In the mid-1980s, the government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. Roughly 400,000 companies were on the offshore registry by yearend 2000. The adoption of a comprehensive insurance law in late 1994, which provides a blanket of confidentiality with regulated statutory gateways for investigation of criminal offenses, made the British Virgin Islands even more attractive to international business. Livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meet domestic food requirements. Because of traditionally close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used the US dollar as its currency since 1959.	The Faroese economy has had a strong performance since 1994, mostly as a result of increasing fish landings and high and stable export prices. Unemployment is falling and there are signs of labor shortages in several sectors. The positive economic development has helped the Faroese Home Rule Government produce increasing budget surpluses, which in turn help to reduce the large public debt, most of it owed to Denmark. However, the total dependence on fishing makes the Faroese economy extremely vulnerable, and the present fishing efforts appear in excess of what is a sustainable level of fishing in the long term. Oil finds close to the Faroese area give hope for deposits in the immediate Faroese area, which may eventually lay the basis for a more diversified economy and thus lessen dependence on Danish economic assistance. Aided by a substantial annual subsidy (15% of GDP) from Denmark, the Faroese have a standard of living not far below the Danes and other Scandinavians.
Electricity - consumption	41.85 million kWh (2005)	149.1 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports	0 kWh (2005)	0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports	0 kWh (2005)	0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production	45 million kWh (2005)	160.4 million kWh (2001)
Elevation extremes	lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Sage 521 m	lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m
Environment - current issues	limited natural fresh water resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchments)	NA
Ethnic groups	black 83%, other 17% (includes white, Indian, Asian and mixed)	Scandinavian
Exchange rates	the US dollar is used	Danish kroner per US dollar - 6.5877 (2003), 7.89 (2002), 8.323 (2001), 8.083 (2000), 6.976 (1999)
Executive branch	chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor David PEAREY (since 18 April 2006) head of government: Premier Ralph T. O'NEAL (since 23 August 2007) cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the House of Assembly elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed premier by the governor	chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Birgit KLEIS, chief administrative officer (since 1 November 2001) head of government: Prime Minister Joannes EIDESGAARD (since 3 February 2004) cabinet: Landsstyri appointed by the prime minister elections: the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by the Faroese Parliament; election last held 20 January 2004 (next to be held no later than January 2008) election results: Joannes EIDESGAARD elected prime minister; percent of parliamentary vote - NA% note: coalition of Social Democrats, Union Party, and People's Party
Exports	0 bbl/day (2004)	NA (2001)
Exports - commodities	rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand	fish and fish products 94%, stamps, ships (1999)
Exports - partners	Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US (2006)	Denmark 36.7%, UK 32.1%, Netherlands 6.1%, Nigeria 5.6%, Norway 5.4% (2003)
Fiscal year	1 April - 31 March	calendar year
Flag description	blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful)	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)
GDP	-	purchasing power parity - $1 billion (2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector	agriculture: 1.8% industry: 6.2% services: 92% (1996 est.)	agriculture: 27% industry: 11% services: 62% (1999)
GDP - per capita	-	purchasing power parity - $22,000 (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate	1% (2002 est.)	10% (2001 est.)
Geographic coordinates	18 30 N, 64 30 W	62 00 N, 7 00 W
Geography - note	strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico	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
Highways	-	total: 463 km paved: 454 km unpaved: 9 km (1999)
Household income or consumption by percentage share	lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%	lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA
Illicit drugs	transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe; large offshore financial center makes it vulnerable to money laundering	-
Imports	604.3 bbl/day (2004)	NA (2001)
Imports - commodities	building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery	machinery and transport equipment 29%, consumer goods 36%, raw materials and semi-manufactures 32%, fuels, fish and salt (1999)
Imports - partners	Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US (2006)	Denmark 52.7%, Norway 22.5%, Iceland 4.7%, Germany 4.2%, UK 4% (2003)
Independence	none (overseas territory of the UK)	none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Industrial production growth rate	NA%	8% (1999 est.)
Industries	tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore financial center	fishing, fish processing, shipbuilding, construction, handicrafts
Infant mortality rate	total: 16.13 deaths/1,000 live births male: 18.82 deaths/1,000 live births female: 13.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)	total: 6.38 deaths/1,000 live births male: 7.72 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)	2% (2005)	5.1% (1999)
International organization participation	Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS, UNESCO (associate), UPU	IMO (associate), NC, NIB, UPU
Irrigated land	NA	0 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch	Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal (one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High Court); Magistrate's Court; Juvenile Court; Court of Summary Jurisdiction	none
Labor force	12,770 (2004)	24,250 (October 2000)
Labor force - by occupation	agriculture: 0.6% industry: 40% services: 59.4% (2005)	fishing, fish processing, and manufacturing 33%, construction and private services 33%, public services 34%
Land boundaries	0 km	0 km
Land use	arable land: 20% permanent crops: 6.67% other: 73.33% (2005)	arable land: 2.14% permanent crops: 0% other: 97.86% (2001)
Languages	English (official)	Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish
Legal system	English law	Danish
Legislative branch	unicameral House of Assembly (13 elected seats and 1 non-voting ex officio member in the attorney general; members are elected by direct popular vote, 1 member from each of nine electoral districts, 4 at-large members; to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 20 August 2007 (next to be held in 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - VIP 45.2%, NDP 39.6%, independent 15.2%; seats by party - VIP 10, NDP 2, independent 1	unicameral Faroese Parliament or Logting (32 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis from the seven constituencies to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 20 January 2004 (next to be held no later than January 2008) election results: percent of vote by party - Union Party 23.7%, Social Democrats 21.8%, Republican Party 21.7%, People's Party 20.6%, Center Party 5.2%, Independence Party 4.6%; seats by party - Union Party 7, Social Democrats 7, Republican Party 8, People's Party 7, Center Party 2, Independence Party 1 note: election of 2 seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on 20 November 2001 (next to be held 8 February 2005); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 1, Union Party 1
Life expectancy at birth	total population: 76.86 years male: 75.71 years female: 78.07 years (2007 est.)	total population: 79.05 years male: 75.6 years female: 82.51 years (2004 est.)
Literacy	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.8% (1991 est.) male: NA% female: NA%	definition: NA total population: NA male: NA female: NA note: probably the same as Denmark proper
Location	Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico	Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Iceland to Norway
Map references	Central America and the Caribbean	Europe
Maritime claims	territorial sea: 3 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm	territorial sea: 3 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
Merchant marine	-	total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 24,051 GRT/11,998 DWT by type: cargo 3, container 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1, short-sea/passenger 1 foreign-owned: Denmark 2, Norway 1, United Kingdom 1 registered in other countries: 1 (2004 est.)
Military - note	defense is the responsibility of the UK	defense is the responsibility of Denmark
Military branches	-	no regular military forces
Military expenditures - dollar figure	-	NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP	-	NA
National holiday	Territory Day, 1 July (1956)	Olaifest, 29 July
Nationality	noun: British Virgin Islander(s) adjective: British Virgin Islander	noun: Faroese (singular and plural) adjective: Faroese
Natural hazards	hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)	NA
Natural resources	NEGL	fish, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas
Net migration rate	8.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)	1.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Political parties and leaders	Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Ethlyn SMITH]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Orlando SMITH]; United Party or UP [Gregory MADURO]; Virgin Islands Party or VIP [Ralph T. O'NEAL]	Center Party [Jenis A. RANA]; Independence Party [Helena Dam a NEYSTABO]; People's Party [Anfinn KALLSBERG]; Republican Party [Hogni HOYDAL]; Social Democratic Party [Joannes EIDESGAARD]; Union Party [Lisbeth PETERSEN]
Political pressure groups and leaders	NA	NA
Population	23,552 (July 2007 est.)	46,662 (July 2004 est.)
Population below poverty line	NA%	NA
Population growth rate	1.923% (2007 est.)	0.66% (2004 est.)
Ports and harbors	-	Torshavn, Klaksvik, Tvoroyri, Runavik, Fuglafjordhur
Radio broadcast stations	AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2004)	AM 1, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)
Religions	Protestant 86% (Methodist 33%, Anglican 17%, Church of God 9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 15%), Roman Catholic 10%, other 2%, none 2% (1991)	Evangelical Lutheran
Sex ratio	at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.031 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.055 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.105 male(s)/female total population: 1.053 male(s)/female (2007 est.)	at birth: 1 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.13 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Suffrage	18 years of age; universal	18 years of age; universal
Telephone system	general assessment: worldwide telephone service domestic: NA international: country code - 1-284; connected via submarine cable to Bermuda; the East Caribbean Fiber System (ECFS) optic submarine cable provides connectivity to 13 other islands in the eastern Caribbean (2007)	general assessment: good international communications; good domestic facilities domestic: digitalization was completed in 1998; both NMT (analog) and GSM (digital) mobile telephone systems are installed international: 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
Telephones - main lines in use	11,700 (2002)	23,000 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular	8,000 (2002)	30,700 (2002)
Television broadcast stations	1 (plus 1 cable company) (1997)	3 (plus 43 low-power repeaters) (September 1995)
Terrain	coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly	rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast
Total fertility rate	1.72 children born/woman (2007 est.)	2.22 children born/woman (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate	3.6% (1997)	1% (October 2000)

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