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Compare Virgin Islands (2002) - Faroe Islands (2002)

Compare Virgin Islands (2002) z Faroe Islands (2002)

 Virgin Islands (2002)Faroe Islands (2002)
 Virgin IslandsFaroe Islands
Administrative divisions none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three islands at the second order; Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas 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: 26.7% (male 16,926; female 16,012)


15-64 years: 64.2% (male 35,801; female 43,443)


65 years and over: 9.1% (male 4,851; female 6,465) (2002 est.)
0-14 years: 22.3% (male 5,149; female 5,110)


15-64 years: 64% (male 15,650; female 13,801)


65 years and over: 13.7% (male 2,818; female 3,483) (2002 est.)
Agriculture - products fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle milk, potatoes, vegetables; sheep; salmon, other fish
Airports 2 (2001) 1 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways total: 2


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2002)
total: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Area total: 352 sq km


land: 349 sq km


water: 3 sq km
total: 1,399 sq km


land: 1,399 sq km


water: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams)
Area - comparative twice the size of Washington, DC eight times the size of Washington, DC
Background During the 17th century, the archipelago was divided into two territorial units, one English and the other Danish. Sugarcane, produced by slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish portion, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of slavery in 1848. 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 15.85 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) 13.74 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Budget revenues: $364.4 million


expenditures: $364.4 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1990 est.)
revenues: $488 million


expenditures: $484 million, including capital expenditures of $21 million (1999)
Capital Charlotte Amalie Torshavn
Climate subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season May to November mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy
Coastline 188 km 1,117 km
Constitution Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954 5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)
Country name conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands


conventional short form: Virgin Islands


former: Danish West Indies
conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Faroe Islands


local long form: none


local short form: Foroyar
Currency US dollar (USD) Danish krone (DKK)
Death rate 5.58 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) 8.69 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Debt - external $NA $64 million (1999)
Dependency status organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations between the Virgin Islands and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1948
Diplomatic representation from the US none (territory of the US) none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Diplomatic representation in the US none (territory of the US) 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 over the Faroe Islands continental shelf boundary outside 200 NM
Economic aid - recipient $NA $135 million (annual subsidy from Denmark) (1999)
Economy - overview Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for more than 70% of GDP and 70% of employment. The islands normally host 2 million visitors a year. The manufacturing sector consists of petroleum refining, textiles, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and watch assembly. The agricultural sector is small, with most food being imported. International business and financial services are a small but growing component of the economy. One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix. The islands are subject to substantial damage from storms. The government is working to improve fiscal discipline, support construction projects in the private sector, expand tourist facilities, reduce crime, and protect the environment. 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 Denmark and 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 948.6 million kWh (1999) 153.45 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (1999) 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - production 1.02 billion kWh (1999) 165 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (1999)
fossil fuel: 61%


hydro: 39%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m
Environment - current issues lack of natural freshwater resources NA
Ethnic groups black 80%, white 15%, other 5%


note: West Indian (45% born in the Virgin Islands and 29% born elsewhere in the West Indies) 74%, US mainland 13%, Puerto Rican 5%, other 8%
Scandinavian
Exchange rates the US dollar is used Danish kroner per US dollar - 8.418 (January 2002), 8.323 (2001), 8.083 (2000), 6.976 (1999), 6.701 (1998), 6.604 (1997)
Executive branch chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (Since 20 January 2001)


head of government: Governor Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (since 5 January 1999) and Lieutenant Governor Gererd LUZ James II (since 5 January 1999)


cabinet: NA


elections: US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 5 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2006)


election results: Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL reelected governor; percent of vote - Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (Democrat) 50.5%, John de Jongh 24.4%
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 Anfinn KALLSBERG (since 15 May 1998)


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 30 April 1998 (next to be held no later than April 2002)


election results: Anfinn KALLSBERG elected prime minister; percent of parliamentary vote - 52.8%


note: coalition of People's Party, Republican Party, and Home Rule Party
Exports $NA $471 million f.o.b. (1999)
Exports - commodities refined petroleum products fish and fish products 94%, stamps, ships (1999)
Exports - partners US, Puerto Rico Denmark 32%, UK 21%, France 9%, Germany 7%, Iceland 5%, US 5% (1996)
Fiscal year 1 October - 30 September calendar year
Flag description white, with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows a yellow eagle holding an olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the other with a superimposed shield of vertical red and white stripes below a blue panel 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 - $1.8 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $910 million (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: NA%
agriculture: 27%


industry: 11%


services: 62% (1999)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $15,000 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $20,000 (2000 est.)
GDP - real growth rate NA% 5% (2000 est.)
Geographic coordinates 18 20 N, 64 50 W 62 00 N, 7 00 W
Geography - note important location along the Anegada Passage - a key shipping lane for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the Caribbean 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: 856 km


paved: NA km


unpaved: NA km


note: the only US posession where driving on the left side of the road is practiced (2000)
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%
Imports $NA $469 million c.i.f. (1999)
Imports - commodities crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials machinery and transport equipment 29%, consumer goods 36%, raw materials and semi-manufactures 32%, fuels, fish and salt (1999)
Imports - partners US, Puerto Rico Denmark 28%, Norway 26%, Germany 7%, UK 6% Sweden 5%, Iceland 4%, US (1999)
Independence - none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 8% (1999 est.)
Industries tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics fishing, fish processing, shipbuilding, construction, handicrafts
Infant mortality rate 9.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) 6.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) NA% 5.1% (1999)
International organization participation ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC NC, NIB
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 50 (2000) 2 (2000)
Irrigated land NA sq km 0 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch US District Court of the Virgin Islands (under Third Circuit jurisdiction); Territorial Court (judges appointed by the governor for 10-year terms) none
Labor force 48,356 24,250 (October 2000 )
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 1%, industry 20%, services 79% (1990 est.) fishing, fish processing, and manufacturing 33%, construction and private services 33%, public services 34%
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: 15%


permanent crops: 6%


other: 79% (1998 est.)
arable land: 2.14%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 97.86% (1998 est.)
Languages English (official), Spanish, Creole Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish
Legal system based on US laws Danish
Legislative branch unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)


elections: last held 6 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2004)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Democratic Party 8, ICM NA, no party affiliation NA


note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held 6 November 2002 (next to be held NA November 2004); results - Donna M. CHRISTIAN-CHRISTENSON (Democrat) reelected
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 30 April 2002 (next to be held no later than April 2006)


election results: percent of vote by party - Union Party 26%, Republican Party 23.7%, Social Democrats 20.9%, People's Party 20.8% Independence Party 4.4%, Center Party 4.2%; seats by party - Union Party 8, Republican Party 8, Social Democrats 7, People's Party 7, Independence Party 1, Center Party 1


note: election of 2 seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on 20 November 2001 (next to be held no later than November 2005); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 1, Union Party 1
Life expectancy at birth total population: 78.43 years


male: 74.55 years


female: 82.53 years (2002 est.)
total population: 78.74 years


male: 75.28 years


female: 82.21 years (2002 est.)
Literacy definition: NA


total population: NA%


male: NA%


female: NA%
definition: NA


total population: NA%


male: NA%


female: NA%


note: similar to Denmark proper
Location Caribbean, islands 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 exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200 NM or agreed boundaries or median line


exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM or agreed boundaries or median line


territorial sea: 3 NM
Merchant marine none (2002 est.) total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 100,951 GRT/139,396 DWT


ships by type: cargo 2, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1, short-sea passenger 1


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Denmark 3, Norway 1, United Kingdom 1 (2002 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the US defense is the responsibility of Denmark
Military branches - no regular indigenous military forces; small Police Force and Coast Guard are maintained
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - NA%
National holiday Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917) Olaifest, 29 July
Nationality noun: Virgin Islander(s)


adjective: Virgin Islander
noun: Faroese (singular and plural)


adjective: Faroese
Natural hazards several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes NA
Natural resources sun, sand, sea, surf fish, whales, hydropower
Net migration rate 0.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) 2.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)
Political parties and leaders Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE] Center Party [Tordur NICALSEN]; Home Rule Party [Helena Dam a NEYSTABO]; Independence Party [leader NA]; People's Party [Oli BRECKMANN]; Republican Party [Finnabogi ISAKSON]; Social Democratic Party [Joannes EIDESGAARD]; Union Party [Edmund JOENSEN]
Political pressure groups and leaders NA NA
Population 123,498 (July 2002 est.) 46,011 (July 2002 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 1.04% (2002 est.) 0.74% (2002 est.)
Ports and harbors Charlotte Amalie, Christiansted, Cruz Bay, Port Alucroix Torshavn, Klaksvik, Tvoroyri, Runavik, Fuglafjordhur
Radio broadcast stations AM 5, FM 11, shortwave 0 (2002) AM 1, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios 107,000 (1997) 26,000 (1997)
Railways 0 km 0 km
Religions Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7% Evangelical Lutheran
Sex ratio at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.82 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female


total population: 0.87 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
at birth: 1 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.13 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female


total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal; note - indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: NA


domestic: modern, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay


international: submarine cable and satellite communications; satellite earth stations - NA
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: 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 62,000 (1997) 24,851 (1999)
Telephones - mobile cellular 2,000 (1992) 10,761 (1999)
Television broadcast stations 2 (2002) 3 (plus 43 low-power repeaters) (September 1995)
Terrain mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast
Total fertility rate 2.24 children born/woman (2002 est.) 2.27 children born/woman (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate 4.9% (March 1999) 1% (October 2000 )
Waterways none none
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