Main page Compare countries Index countries Index fields

Query:
##ciekawa_strona##

Compare Faroe Islands (2006) - Iceland (2006)

Compare Faroe Islands (2006) z Iceland (2006)

 Faroe Islands (2006)Iceland (2006)
 Faroe IslandsIceland
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 8 regions; Austurland, Hofudhborgarsvaedhi, Nordhurland Eystra, Nordhurland Vestra, Sudhurland, Sudhurnes, Vestfirdhir, Vesturland
Age structure 0-14 years: 20.9% (male 4,940/female 4,952)


15-64 years: 65.1% (male 16,247/female 14,522)


65 years and over: 13.9% (male 2,976/female 3,609) (2006 est.)
0-14 years: 21.7% (male 33,021/female 32,021)


15-64 years: 66.5% (male 100,944/female 98,239)


65 years and over: 11.7% (male 15,876/female 19,287) (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products milk, potatoes, vegetables; sheep; salmon, other fish potatoes, green vegetables; mutton, dairy products; fish
Airports 1 (2006) 98 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
total: 5


over 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 3


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 93


1,524 to 2,437 m: 3


914 to 1,523 m: 29


under 914 m: 61 (2006)
Area total: 1,399 sq km


land: 1,399 sq km


water: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams)
total: 103,000 sq km


land: 100,250 sq km


water: 2,750 sq km
Area - comparative eight times the size of Washington, DC slightly smaller than Kentucky
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. Settled by Norwegian and Celtic (Scottish and Irish) immigrants during the late 9th and 10th centuries A.D., Iceland boasts the world's oldest functioning legislative assembly, the Althing, established in 930. Independent for over 300 years, Iceland was subsequently ruled by Norway and Denmark. Fallout from the Askja volcano of 1875 devastated the Icelandic economy and caused widespread famine. Over the next quarter century, 20% of the island's population emigrated, mostly to Canada and the US. Limited home rule from Denmark was granted in 1874 and complete independence attained in 1944. Literacy, longevity, income, and social cohesion are first-rate by world standards.
Birth rate 14.05 births/1,000 population (2006 est.) 13.64 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Budget revenues: $488 million


expenditures: $484 million; including capital expenditures of $21 million (1999)
revenues: $6.995 billion


expenditures: $6.761 billion; including capital expenditures of $467 million (2005 est.)
Capital name: Torshavn


geographic coordinates: 62 01 N, 6 46 W


time difference: UTC (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)


daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
name: Reykjavik


geographic coordinates: 64 09 N, 21 57 W


time difference: UTC (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Climate mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers
Coastline 1,117 km 4,970 km
Constitution 5 June 1953 (Danish constitution) 16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944; amended many times
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Faroe Islands


local long form: none


local short form: Foroyar
conventional long form: Republic of Iceland


conventional short form: Iceland


local long form: Lydveldid Island


local short form: Island
Death rate 8.7 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.) 6.72 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Debt - external $64 million (1999) $3.073 billion (2002)
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 Carol VAN VOORST


embassy: Laufasvegur 21, 101 Reykjavik


mailing address: US Department of State, 5640 Reykjavik Place, Washington, D.C. 20521-5640


telephone: [354] 562-9100


FAX: [354] 562-9118
Diplomatic representation in the US none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) chief of mission: Ambassador Helgi AGUSTSSON


chancery: Suite 1200, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005-1704


telephone: [1] (202) 265-6653


FAX: [1] (202) 265-6656


consulate(s) general: New York
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 Iceland disputes Denmark's alignment of the Faroe Islands' fisheries median line; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm
Economic aid - donor - $6.7 million $NA
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 have helped 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 (about 15% of GDP) from Denmark, the Faroese have a standard of living not far below the Danes and other Scandinavians. Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is basically capitalistic, yet with an extensive welfare system (including generous housing subsidies), low unemployment, and remarkably even distribution of income. In the absence of other natural resources (except for abundant geothermal power), the economy depends heavily on the fishing industry, which provides 70% of export earnings and employs 4% of the work force. The economy remains sensitive to declining fish stocks as well as to fluctuations in world prices for its main exports: fish and fish products, aluminum, and ferrosilicon. Government policies include reducing the current account deficit, limiting foreign borrowing, containing inflation, revising agricultural and fishing policies, and diversifying the economy. The government remains opposed to EU membership, primarily because of Icelanders' concern about losing control over their fishing resources. Iceland's economy has been diversifying into manufacturing and service industries in the last decade, and new developments in software production, biotechnology, and financial services are taking place. The tourism sector is also expanding, with the recent trends in ecotourism and whale watching. Growth had been remarkably steady in 1996-2001 at 3%-5%, but could not be sustained in 2002 in an environment of global recession. Growth resumed in 2003, and estimates call for strong growth until 2007, slowly dropping until the end of the decade.
Electricity - consumption 242 million kWh (2003) 8.619 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2003) 0 kWh (2003)
Electricity - production 260.2 million kWh (2003) 8.619 billion kWh (2004)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Hvannadalshnukur 2,110 m (at Vatnajokull glacier)
Environment - current issues NA water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewater treatment
Environment - international agreements - party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Transboundary Air Pollution, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation
Ethnic groups Scandinavian homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norse and Celts 94%, population of foreign origin 6%
Exchange rates Danish kroner per US dollar - 5.9969 (2005), 5.9911 (2004), 6.5877 (2003), 7.8947 (2002), 8.3228 (2001) Icelandic kronur per US dollar - 62.982 (2005), 70.192 (2004), 76.709 (2003), 91.662 (2002), 97.425 (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
chief of state: President Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON (since 1 August 1996)


head of government: Prime Minister Geir H. HAARDE (since 7 June 2006)


cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister


elections: president, largely a ceremonial post, is elected by popular vote for a four-year term (no term limits); election last held 26 June 2004 (next to be held June 2008); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually the prime minister


election results: Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON 85.6%, Baldur AGUSTSSON 12.5%, Astthor MAGNUSSON 1.9%
Exports NA bbl/day 0 bbl/day (2001)
Exports - commodities fish and fish products 94%, stamps, ships (1999) fish and fish products 70%, aluminum, animal products, ferrosilicon, diatomite
Exports - partners Denmark 38.2%, UK 29.6%, Nigeria 8.9%, Norway 6.1%, Netherlands 4.3% (2005) UK 17.9%, Germany 16.4%, Netherlands 13%, US 8.1%, Spain 7.7%, Denmark 4.3% (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) blue with a red cross outlined in white extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 27%


industry: 11%


services: 62% (1999)
agriculture: 8.6%


industry: 15%


services: 76.5% (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 10% (2001 est.) 5.6% (2005 est.)
Geographic coordinates 62 00 N, 7 00 W 65 00 N, 18 00 W
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 strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost European country; Reykjavik is the northernmost national capital in the world; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Imports NA bbl/day 15,470 bbl/day (2001)
Imports - commodities consumer goods 36%, raw materials and semi-manufactures 32%, machinery and transport equipment 29%, fuels, fish, salt (1999) machinery and equipment, petroleum products, foodstuffs, textiles
Imports - partners Denmark 46.2%, Norway 18.2%, Germany 8.2%, Spain 7.5%, Iceland 4.8% (2005) Germany 13.4%, US 9.1%, Sweden 8.6%, Denmark 7.3%, Norway 7.2%, UK 5.9%, China 5.3%, Netherlands 5%, Japan 4.7% (2005)
Independence none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark) 1 December 1918 (became a sovereign state under the Danish Crown); 17 June 1944 (from Denmark)
Industrial production growth rate 8% (1999 est.) 14.2% (2005 est.)
Industries fishing, fish processing, small ship repair and refurbishment, handicrafts fish processing; aluminum smelting, ferrosilicon production; geothermal power, tourism
Infant mortality rate total: 6.12 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 7.4 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 4.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
total: 3.29 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 3.43 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 3.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 5.1% (1999) 4% (2005 est.)
International organization participation Arctic Council, IMO (associate), NC, NIB, UPU Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Irrigated land 0 sq km NA
Judicial branch none Supreme Court or Haestirettur (justices are appointed for life by the Minister of Justice); eight district courts (justices are appointed for life by the Minister of Justice)
Labor force 24,250 (October 2000) 165,900 (2005 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture: 33%


industry: 33%


services: 34%
agriculture: 10.3%


industry: 18.3%


services: 71.4% (2003)
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: 2.14%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 97.86% (2005)
arable land: 0.07%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 99.93% (2005)
Languages Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish Icelandic, English, Nordic languages, German widely spoken
Legal system Danish civil law system based on Danish law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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 Democratic Party 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 Democratic Party 7, Republican Party 8, People's Party 7, Center Party 2, Independence Party 1


note: election of two 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
unicameral Parliament or Althing (63 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 10 May 2003 (next to be held by May 2007)


election results: percent of vote by party - Independence Party 33.7%, Social Democratic Alliance 31%, Progressive Party 17.7%, Left-Green Movement 8.8%, Liberal Party 7.4%; seats by party - Independence Party 22, Social Democratic Alliance 20, Progressive Party 12, Left-Green Alliance 5, Liberal Party 4
Life expectancy at birth total population: 79.35 years


male: 75.91 years


female: 82.8 years (2006 est.)
total population: 80.31 years


male: 78.23 years


female: 82.48 years (2006 est.)
Literacy definition: NA


total population: NA%


male: NA%


female: NA%


note: probably 100%, 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 Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK
Map references Europe Arctic Region
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
territorial sea: 12 nm


exclusive economic zone: 200 nm


continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Merchant marine total: 18 ships (1000 GRT or over) 19,265 GRT/9,171 DWT


by type: cargo 10, container 2, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 2


foreign-owned: 8 (Iceland 4, Norway 4) (2006)
total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 3,354 GRT/480 DWT


by type: passenger/cargo 1


registered in other countries: 34 (Antigua and Barbuda 8, Bahamas 1, Belize 2, Faroe Islands 4, Gibraltar 1, Malta 4, Norway 4, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 10) (2006)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of Denmark under a 1951 bilateral agreement, Iceland's defense was provided by a US-manned Icelandic Defense Force (IDF) headquartered in Keflavik; in October 2006, all US military forces in Iceland were withdrawn; nonetheless, the US and Iceland signed a Joint Understanding to strengthen their bilateral defense relationship, including regular security consultations, military communications in the event of national emergencies, annual bilateral exercises on Icelandic territory, and future bilateral and NATO support to four Iceland Air Defense System (IADS) radar sites
Military branches no regular military forces no regular armed forces; Icelandic National Police, Icelandic Coast Guard (Islenska Landhelgisgaeslan) subordinate to Ministry of Justice, Icelandic Crisis Response Unit (2006)
Military expenditures - dollar figure NA 0
Military expenditures - percent of GDP NA 0%
National holiday Olaifest (Olavasoka), 29 July Independence Day, 17 June (1944)
Nationality noun: Faroese (singular and plural)


adjective: Faroese
noun: Icelander(s)


adjective: Icelandic
Natural hazards NA earthquakes and volcanic activity
Natural resources fish, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite
Net migration rate 0.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.) 1.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
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 Leo JOHANNESEN] Independence Party or IP [Geir HAARDE]; Left-Green Movement or LGM [Steingrimur SIGFUSSON]; Liberal Party or LP [Gudjon KRISTJANSSON]; Progressive Party or PP [Halldor ASGRIMSSON - will step down in August 2006]; Social Democratic Alliance (includes People's Alliance or PA, Social Democratic Party or SDP, Women's List) or SDA [Ingibjorg Solrun GISLADOTTIR]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 47,246 (July 2006 est.) 299,388 (July 2006 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 0.58% (2006 est.) 0.87% (2006 est.)
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 3, FM about 70 (including repeaters), shortwave 1 (1998)
Religions Evangelical Lutheran Lutheran Church of Iceland 85.5%, Reykjavik Free Church 2.1%, Roman Catholic Church 2%, Hafnarfjorour Free Church 1.5%, other Christian 2.7%, other or unspecified 3.8%, unaffiliated 2.4% (2004)
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: 0.83 male(s)/female


total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female


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


total population: 1 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: extensive domestic service


domestic: the trunk network consists of coaxial and fiber-optic cables and microwave radio relay links


international: country code - 354; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Iceland shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden)
Telephones - main lines in use 23,800 (2005) 193,900 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular 42,500 (2005) 304,000 (2005)
Television broadcast stations 3 (plus 43 low-power repeaters) (September 1995) 14 (plus 156 low-power repeaters) (1997)
Terrain rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords
Total fertility rate 2.17 children born/woman (2006 est.) 1.92 children born/woman (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate 1% (October 2000) 2.1% (2005 est.)
Sitemap: Compare countries listing (map site) | Country listing (map site)
Links: Add to favorites | Information about this website | Stats | Polityka prywatnosci
This page was generated in ##czas## s. Size this page: ##rozmiar_strony## kB.