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Compare Faroe Islands (2005) - Switzerland (2006)

Compare Faroe Islands (2005) z Switzerland (2006)

 Faroe Islands (2005)Switzerland (2006)
 Faroe IslandsSwitzerland
Administrative divisions 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 26 cantons (cantons, singular - canton in French; cantoni, singular - cantone in Italian; kantone, singular - kanton in German); Aargau, Appenzell Ausser-Rhoden, Appenzell Inner-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneve, Glarus, Graubunden, Jura, Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zurich
Age structure 0-14 years: 21.3% (male 4,997/female 4,999)


15-64 years: 64.9% (male 16,120/female 14,360)


65 years and over: 13.8% (male 2,923/female 3,563) (2005 est.)
0-14 years: 16.3% (male 637,585/female 591,297)


15-64 years: 68.1% (male 2,585,062/female 2,539,345)


65 years and over: 15.6% (male 480,198/female 690,447) (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products milk, potatoes, vegetables; sheep; salmon, other fish grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs
Airports 1 (2004 est.) 65 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
total: 42


over 3,047 m: 3


2,438 to 3,047 m: 4


1,524 to 2,437 m: 11


914 to 1,523 m: 8


under 914 m: 16 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 23


under 914 m: 23 (2006)
Area total: 1,399 sq km


land: 1,399 sq km


water: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams)
total: 41,290 sq km


land: 39,770 sq km


water: 1,520 sq km
Area - comparative eight times the size of Washington, DC slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey
Background 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. The Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291 as a defensive alliance among three cantons. In succeeding years, other localities joined the original three. The Swiss Confederation secured its independence from the Holy Roman Empire in 1499. Switzerland's sovereignty and neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers, and the country was not involved in either of the two World Wars. The political and economic integration of Europe over the past half century, as well as Switzerland's role in many UN and international organizations, has strengthened Switzerland's ties with its neighbors. However, the country did not officially become a UN member until 2002. Switzerland remains active in many UN and international organizations, but retains a strong commitment to neutrality.
Birth rate 13.97 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) 9.71 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Budget revenues: $488 million


expenditures: $484 million, including capital expenditures of $21 million (1999)
revenues: $138.1 billion


expenditures: $143.6 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2005 est.)
Capital Torshavn name: Bern


geographic coordinates: 46 57 N, 7 26 E


time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)


daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Climate mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers
Coastline 1,117 km 0 km (landlocked)
Constitution 5 June 1953 (Danish constitution) revision of Constitution of 1874 approved by the Federal Parliament 18 December 1998, adopted by referendum 18 April 1999, officially entered into force 1 January 2000
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Faroe Islands


local long form: none


local short form: Foroyar
conventional long form: Swiss Confederation


conventional short form: Switzerland


local long form: Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (German); Confederation Suisse (French); Confederazione Svizzera (Italian)


local short form: Schweiz (German); Suisse (French); Svizzera (Italian)
Death rate 8.69 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) 8.49 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Debt - external $64 million (1999) $856 billion (30 June 2005)
Dependency status part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1948 -
Diplomatic representation from the US none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) chief of mission: Ambassador Peter R. CONEWAY


embassy: Jubilaumsstrasse 93, CH-3005 Bern


mailing address: use embassy street address


telephone: [41] (031) 357 70 11


FAX: [41] (031) 357 73 44
Diplomatic representation in the US none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) chief of mission: Ambassador Urs ZISWILER


chancery: 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 745-7900


FAX: [1] (202) 387-2564


consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco


consulate(s): Boston
Disputes - international because anticipated offshore hydrocarbon resources have not been realized, earlier Faroese proposals for full independence have been deferred; Iceland disputes the Faroe Islands' fisheries median line boundary; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm none
Economic aid - donor - ODA, $1.1 billion (1995)
Economic aid - recipient $135 million (annual subsidy from Denmark) (1998) -
Economy - overview 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 minimal 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 has helped 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. Switzerland is a peaceful, prosperous, and stable modern market economy with low unemployment, a highly skilled labor force, and a per capita GDP larger than that of the big Western European economies. The Swiss in recent years have brought their economic practices largely into conformity with the EU's to enhance their international competitiveness. Switzerland remains a safehaven for investors, because it has maintained a degree of bank secrecy and has kept up the franc's long-term external value. Reflecting the anemic economic conditions of Europe, GDP growth dropped in 2001 to about 0.8%, to 0.2% in 2002, and to -0.3% in 2003, with a small rise to 1.8% in 2004-05. Even so, unemployment has remained at less than half the EU average.
Electricity - consumption 204.6 million kWh (2002) 55.86 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2002) 33.2 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2002) 30.1 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity - production 220 million kWh (2002) 63.4 billion kWh (2003)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m
lowest point: Lake Maggiore 195 m


highest point: Dufourspitze 4,634 m
Environment - current issues NA air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity
Environment - international agreements - party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling


signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Ethnic groups Scandinavian German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6%
Exchange rates Danish kroner per US dollar - 5.9911 (2004), 6.5877 (2003), 7.8947 (2002), 8.3228 (2001), 8.0831 (2000) Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.2452 (2005), 1.2435 (2004), 1.3467 (2003), 1.5586 (2002), 1.6876 (2001)
Executive branch 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
chief of state: President Moritz LEUENBERGER (since 8 January 2006); Vice President Micheline CALMY-REY (since 8 January 2006); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


head of government: President Moritz LEUENBERGER (since 8 January 2006); Vice President Micheline CALMY-REY (since 8 January 2006)


cabinet: Federal Council or Bundesrat (in German), Conseil Federal (in French), Consiglio Federale (in Italian) elected by the Federal Assembly usually from among its own members for a four-year term


elections: president and vice president elected by the Federal Assembly from among the members of the Federal Council for a one-year term (they may not serve consecutive terms); election last held 7 December 2005 (next to be held December 2006)


election results: Moritz LUENBERGER elected president; percent of Federal Assembly vote - NA; Micheline CALMY-REY elected vice president; percent of legislative vote - NA
Exports NA 10,420 bbl/day (2001)
Exports - commodities fish and fish products 94%, stamps, ships (1999) machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products
Exports - partners Denmark 33.5%, UK 29.7%, Norway 8.4%, Nigeria 7.2% (2004) Germany 19.4%, US 10.9%, Italy 9.1%, France 8.7%, UK 5.4%, Spain 4.1% (2005)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description 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) red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 27%


industry: 11%


services: 62% (1999)
agriculture: 1.5%


industry: 34%


services: 64.5% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $22,000 (2001 est.) -
GDP - real growth rate 10% (2001 est.) 1.9% (2005 est.)
Geographic coordinates 62 00 N, 7 00 W 47 00 N, 8 00 E
Geography - note 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 landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with southeastern France, northern Italy, and southwestern Austria, has the highest elevations in the Alps
Heliports - 2 (2006)
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%: 2.6%


highest 10%: 25.2% (1992)
Illicit drugs - a major international financial center vulnerable to the layering and integration stages of money laundering; despite significant legislation and reporting requirements, secrecy rules persist and nonresidents are permitted to conduct business through offshore entities and various intermediaries; transit country for and consumer of South American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin
Imports NA 289,500 bbl/day (2001)
Imports - commodities machinery and transport equipment 29%, consumer goods 36%, raw materials and semi-manufactures 32%, fuels, fish and salt (1999) machinery, chemicals, vehicles, metals; agricultural products, textiles
Imports - partners Denmark 52.8%, Norway 18.3%, Iceland 4.4%, Sweden 4.2% (2004) Germany 31.6%, Italy 10.5%, France 10%, US 5.6%, Netherlands 4.8%, Austria 4.6%, UK 4.4% (2005)
Independence none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) 1 August 1291 (founding of the Swiss Confederation)
Industrial production growth rate 8% (1999 est.) 3% (2005 est.)
Industries fishing, fish processing, small ship repair and refurbishment, handicrafts machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments
Infant mortality rate total: 6.24 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 7.54 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 4.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
total: 4.34 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 4.84 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 3.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 5.1% (1999) 1.2% (2005 est.)
International organization participation IMO (associate), NC, NIB, UPU ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC
Irrigated land 0 sq km (1998 est.) 250 sq km (2003)
Judicial branch none Federal Supreme Court (judges elected for six-year terms by the Federal Assembly)
Labor force 24,250 (October 2000) 3.8 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation fishing, fish processing, and manufacturing 33%, construction and private services 33%, public services 34% agriculture: 4.6%


industry: 26.3%


services: 69.1% (1998)
Land boundaries 0 km total: 1,852 km


border countries: Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km, Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km
Land use arable land: 2.14%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 97.86% (2001)
arable land: 9.91%


permanent crops: 0.58%


other: 89.51% (2005)
Languages Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish German (official) 63.7%, French (official) 20.4%, Italian (official) 6.5%, Serbo-Croatian 1.5%, Albanian 1.3%, Portuguese 1.2%, Spanish 1.1%, English 1%, Romansch 0.5%, other 2.8% (2000 census)


note: German, French, Italian, and Romansch are all national languages, but only the first three are official languages
Legal system Danish civil law system influenced by customary law; judicial review of legislative acts, except with respect to federal decrees of general obligatory character; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Legislative branch 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 8 February 2005 (next to be held February 2009); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 1, People's Party 1
bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung (in German), Assemblee Federale (in French), Assemblea Federale (in Italian) consists of the Council of States or Standerat (in German), Conseil des Etats (in French), Consiglio degli Stati (in Italian) (46 seats - consists of two representatives from each canton and one from each half canton; members serve four-year terms) and the National Council or Nationalrat (in German), Conseil National (in French), Consiglio Nazionale (in Italian) (200 seats - members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)


elections: Council of States - last held in most cantons 19 October 2003 (each canton determines when the next election will be held); National Council - last held 19 October 2003 (next to be held October 2007)


election results: Council of States - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CVP 15, FDP 14, SVP 8, SPS 6, other 3; National Council - percent of vote by party - SVP 26.6%, SPS 23.3%, FDP 17.3%, CVP 14.4%, Greens 7.4%, other small parties all under 5%; seats by party - SVP 55, SPS 54, FDP 36, CVP 28, Green Party 13, other small parties 14
Life expectancy at birth total population: 79.21 years


male: 75.77 years


female: 82.67 years (2005 est.)
total population: 80.51 years


male: 77.69 years


female: 83.48 years (2006 est.)
Literacy definition: NA


total population: NA%


male: NA%


female: NA%


note: probably the same as Denmark proper
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 99%


male: 99%


female: 99% (2003 est.)
Location Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Iceland to Norway Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy
Map references Europe Europe
Maritime claims 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
none (landlocked)
Merchant marine total: 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 24,051 GRT/11,998 DWT


by type: cargo 6, container 1, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 2


foreign-owned: 8 (Denmark 2, Germany 1, Iceland 2, Norway 2, United Kingdom 1) (2005)
total: 27 ships (1000 GRT or over) 492,434 GRT/810,559 DWT


by type: bulk carrier 9, cargo 10, chemical tanker 3, container 4, specialized tanker 1


foreign-owned: 2 (Monaco 2)


registered in other countries: 320 (Antigua and Barbuda 4, Bahamas 2, Belize 1, Bermuda 2, Cyprus 4, France 2, French Southern and Antarctic Lands 1, Germany 1, Indonesia 3, Liberia 7, Malta 21, Marshall Islands 13, Mauritius 2, Morocco 1, Panama 226, Portugal 3, Russia 7, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 13, Tonga 1, Turkey 1, UK 3, Vanuatu 2) (2006)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of Denmark -
Military branches no regular military forces Swiss Armed Forces: Land Forces, Swiss Air Force (Schweizer Luftwaffe); Switzerland has no navy, but maintains a fleet of military patrol boats to patrol Swiss borders (2006)
Military expenditures - dollar figure $NA $2.548 billion (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP NA 1% (FY01)
National holiday Olaifest (Olavasoka), 29 July Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291)
Nationality noun: Faroese (singular and plural)


adjective: Faroese
noun: Swiss (singular and plural)


adjective: Swiss
Natural hazards NA avalanches, landslides, flash floods
Natural resources fish, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas hydropower potential, timber, salt
Net migration rate 0.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) 3.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Pipelines - gas 1,831 km; oil 94 km; refined products 7 km (2006)
Political parties and leaders Center Party [Jenis A. RANA]; Independence Party [Kari P. HOJGAARD]; People's Party [Anfinn KALLSBERG]; Republican Party [Hogni HOYDAL]; Social Democratic Party [Joannes EIDESGAARD]; Union Party [Kaj Oeo JOHANNESEN] Green Party (Grune Partei der Schweiz or Grune, Parti Ecologiste Suisse or Les Verts, Partito Ecologista Svizzero or I Verdi, Partida Ecologica Svizra or La Verda) [Ruth GENNER]; Christian Democratic People's Party (Christichdemokratische Volkspartei der Schweiz or CVP, Parti Democrate-Chretien Suisse or PDC, Partito Democratico-Cristiano Popolare Svizzero or PDC, Partida Cristiandemocratica dalla Svizra or PCD) [Doris LEUTHARD, president]; Radical Free Democratic Party (Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei der Schweiz or FDP, Parti Radical-Democratique Suisse or PRD, Partitio Liberal-Radicale Svizzero or PLR) [Marianne KLEINER-SCHLAEPFER, president]; Social Democratic Party (Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz or SPS, Parti Socialist Suisse or PSS, Partito Socialista Svizzero or PSS, Partida Socialdemocratica de la Svizra or PSS) [Hans-Juerg FEHR, president]; Swiss People's Party (Schweizerische Volkspartei or SVP, Union Democratique du Centre or UDC, Unione Democratica de Centro or UDC, Uniun Democratica dal Center or UDC) [Ueli MAURER, president]; and other minor parties
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 46,962 (July 2005 est.) 7,523,934 (July 2006 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 0.62% (2005 est.) 0.43% (2006 est.)
Ports and harbors Torshavn -
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 4, FM 113 (plus many low power stations), shortwave 2 (1998)
Railways - total: 4,583 km


standard gauge: 3,234 km 1.435-m gauge (3,223 km electrified)


narrow gauge: 1,339 km 1.000-m gauge (1,338 km electrified); 10 km 0.800-m gauge (10 km electrified) (2005)
Religions Evangelical Lutheran Roman Catholic 41.8%, Protestant 35.3%, Orthodox 1.8%, other Christian 0.4%, Muslim 4.3%, other 1%, unspecified 4.3%, none 11.1% (2000 census)
Sex ratio at birth: 1 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female


total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female


total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system 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
general assessment: excellent domestic and international services


domestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay networks


international: country code - 41; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use 23,000 (2002) 5.123 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular 30,700 (2002) 6.847 million (2005)
Television broadcast stations 3 (plus 43 low-power repeaters) (September 1995) 115 (plus 1,919 repeaters) (1995)
Terrain rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes
Total fertility rate 2.2 children born/woman (2005 est.) 1.43 children born/woman (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate 1% (October 2000) 3.8% (2005 est.)
Waterways - 65 km (Rhine River between Basel-Rheinfelden and Schaffhausen-Bodensee) (2003)
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