{{short description|Autonomous territory of Denmark}}
{{redirect|Faroe|the 17th century ship|HDMS Færøe|the pony breed|Faroe pony|the sheep breed|Faroe sheep}}
{{pp-move|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2026}}
{{Infobox dependency
| name = Faroe Islands
| native_name = {{nobold|{{native name|fo|Føroyar}}}}<br />{{nobold|{{native name|da|Færøerne}}}}
| type = [[Danish Realm|Autonomous territory in the Kingdom of Denmark]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.government.fo/en/foreign-relations/about-the-faroe-islands|title=About the Faroe Islands|website=Government.fo|access-date=3 June 2026}}</ref>
| linking_name = the Faroe Islands
| image_flag = Flag of the Faroe Islands.svg
| flag_size = 125px
| flag_link = Flag of the Faroe Islands
| image_seal = Coat of arms of the Faroe Islands.svg
| seal_size = 80px
| seal_type = Coat of arms
| seal_link = Coat of arms of the Faroe Islands
| nickname =
| nickname_link =
| motto_link =
| motto =
| anthem_link =
| anthem = {{native name|fo|"[[Tú alfagra land mítt]]"|italics=off}}<br />({{Langx|en|"Thou, fairest land of mine"}})<div style="display:inline-block;margin-top:0.4em;">{{center|}}</div><br />{{center|[[File:Tú alfagra land mítt.ogg]]}}
| song_type = '''Royal anthems'''
| song = {{native name|da|[[Der er et yndigt land]]|link=on}}<br />({{langx|en|"There is a lovely country"}})<div style="display:inline-block;margin-top:0.4em;">{{center|[[File:United States Navy Band - Der er et yndigt land.ogg]]}}</div><br />{{native name|da|[[Kong Christian stod ved højen mast]]|link=on}}<br />({{langx|en|"King Christian stood by the lofty mast"}})<br /><div style="display:inline-block;margin-top:0.4em;">{{center|[[File:United States Navy Band - Kong Kristian stod ved højen mast.ogg]]}}</div>
| image_map = Europe-Faroe Islands.svg
| map_caption = {{map caption |countryprefix=the |location_color=green |region=Europe |region_color=green and dark grey}}
| map_size = 290px
| image_map2 = Faroe Islands in the Kingdom of Denmark (globe zoom).svg
| map_caption2 = {{map caption |countryprefix=the |location_color=red; circled |region=the [[Kingdom of Denmark]] |region_color=light yellow}}
| map_size2 = 290px
| subdivision_type = [[Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_name = {{Flag|Kingdom of Denmark}}
| established_title = [[History of the Faroe Islands|Settlement]]
| established_date = Early 9th century
| established_title2 = [[Kalmar Union]]
| established_date2 = 1397–1523
| established_title3 = [[Denmark-Norway]]
| established_date3 = 1523–1814
| established_title4 = [[Treaty of Kiel|Unification with Denmark]]
| established_date4 = 14 January 1814
| official_languages = {{hlist|[[Faroese language|Faroese]]|[[Danish language|Danish]]{{efn|The national language of the Faroe Islands is Faroese. Danish is the official second language.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Language of the Faroe Islands |url=https://visitfaroeislands.com/about/people-society/language/ |access-date=28 November 2020 |website=Visit Faroe Islands |archive-date=3 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203064359/https://visitfaroeislands.com/about/people-society/language/ }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.faroeislands.fo/arts-culture/language/ |title=The Faroese Language |website=faroeislands.fo |access-date=27 June 2021 |archive-date=16 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816183723/https://www.faroeislands.fo/arts-culture/language/ }}</ref>}}}}
| capital = [[Tórshavn]]
| coordinates = {{Coord|62|00|N|06|47|W|type:city}}
| largest_city = capital
| ethnic_groups = [[Faroe Islanders]]
| religion = [[Christianity]] ([[Church of the Faroe Islands]])
| demonym = {{hlist|Faroe Islander|Faroese|}}
| government_type = [[Devolution|Devolved governments]] within a parliamentary [[constitutional monarchy]]
| leader_title1 = [[Monarchy of Denmark|Monarch]]
| leader_name1 = [[Frederik X]]
| leader_title2 = [[Prime Minister of Denmark]]
| leader_name2 = [[Mette Frederiksen]]
| leader_title3 = [[List of Danish High Commissioners in the Faroe Islands|High Commissioner]]
| leader_name3 = [[Lene Moyell Johansen]]
| leader_title4 = [[List of lawmen and prime ministers of the Faroe Islands|Faroese Prime Minister]]
| leader_name4 = [[Beinir Johannesen]]
| leader_title5 = [[List of deputy prime ministers of the Faroe Islands|Faroese Deputy Prime Minister]]
| leader_name5 = [[Bárður á Steig Nielsen]]
| legislature = [[Folketing]]et <small>(Realm legislature)</small><br />
''[[Løgting]]'' <small>(Local legislature)</small>
| national_representation_type1 = ''[[Folketing]]''
| national_representation1 = [[List of members of the Folketing, 2022–present|2 members]]
| upper_house =
| lower_house =
| area_km2 = 1,393<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/faroe-islands/ |title=Faroe Islands |work=The CIA World Factbook |date=6 December 2023 |access-date=7 December 2023 |archive-date=10 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110004755/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/faroe-islands |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| area_rank = not ranked<!-- Area rank should match [[List of countries and dependencies by area]];should not be any here -->
| area_sq_mi = 540<!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
| percent_water = 0.5
| elevation_max_ft =
| elevation_max_m = 882
| population_estimate = 56,210<ref name="Faroe Islands in figures">{{cite web |title=Heim &#124; Hagstova Føroya |url=https://hagstova.fo/ |website=hagstova.fo |access-date=12 November 2019 |archive-date=13 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191113141915/https://hagstova.fo/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| population_estimate_year = September 2025
| population_estimate_rank = 214th
| population_census = 48,346
| population_census_year = 2011
| population_density_km2 = 39.2
| population_density_sq_mi = 100 <!--Do not remove per [[WP:MOSNUM]]-->
| population_density_rank =
| GDP_PPP = {{USD|4.478[[1,000,000,000|B]]|link=yes}}
| GDP_PPP_year = 2024
| GDP_PPP_rank = not ranked
| GDP_PPP_per_capita = {{USD|81,908}}
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = not ranked
| GDP_nominal = {{USD|4.052B}}<ref>{{cite web|title=Faroe Islands {{!}} Data|url=https://data.worldbank.org/country/FO|access-date=January 19, 2026|website=World Bank Open Data|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250306114055/https://data.worldbank.org/country/FO|archive-date=March 6, 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>
| GDP_nominal_year = 2024
| GDP_nominal_rank = not ranked
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = {{USD|74,119}}
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = not ranked
| Gini = 22.71 <!--number only-->
| Gini_year = 2018
| Gini_change = increase <!--increase/decrease/steady-->
| Gini_ref = <ref>{{cite web |title=PX-Web – Vel talvu |url=https://hagstova.fo/en/news/income-distribution-unchanged |website=statbank.hagstova.fo |access-date=25 December 2022 |archive-date=25 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221225181518/https://hagstova.fo/en/news/income-distribution-unchanged |url-status=live }}</ref>
| Gini_rank = Not ranked
| HDI = 0.950 <!--number only-->
| HDI_year = 2008
| HDI_change = <!--increase/decrease/steady-->
| HDI_ref = <ref name="UN Escap">{{cite web|url=http://www.unescap.org/pdd/publications/workingpaper/wp_09_02.pdf|title=Filling Gaps in the Human Development Index|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005100501/http://www.unescap.org/pdd/publications/workingpaper/wp_09_02.pdf |archive-date=5 October 2011|website=United Nations ESCAP|date=February 2009}}</ref>
| HDI_rank =
| currency = {{Unbulleted list|[[Faroese króna]]|[[Danish krone]]<ref>"[https://visitfaroeislands.com/en/plan-your-stay/before-you-arrive-in-the-faroe-islands/money] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230726093927/https://visitfaroeislands.com/en/plan-your-stay/before-you-arrive-in-the-faroe-islands/money |date=26 July 2023 }}." visitfaroeislands.com. Retrieved on 26 July 2023. "Before you arrive in the Faroe Islands."</ref>}}
| currency_code = DKK
| time_zone = [[Western European Time|WET]]
| utc_offset = ±00:00
| time_zone_DST = [[Western European Summer Time|WEST]]
| utc_offset_DST = +01:00
| drives_on = right
| calling_code = [[+298]]
| postal_code_type = [[Postal codes in the Faroe Islands|Postal code]]
| iso_code = [[ISO 3166-2:FO|FO]]
| postal_code = FO-xxx
| cctld = [[.fo]]
| established_title1={{nowrap|[[Kingdom of Norway (872–1397)|Union with Norway]]}}
| established_date1={{circa|1035}}
| established_date5=14 September 1946
| established_date6=23 March 1948
| established_title7=Further autonomy
| established_date7=29 July 2005<ref>{{cite web |title=Den færøske selvstyreordning, about the ''Overtagelsesloven'' (Takeover Act) |url=http://www.stm.dk/_a_2565.html |access-date=14 March 2014 |publisher=Stm.dk |archive-date=22 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222161051/http://www.stm.dk/_a_2565.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| established_title5=[[1946 Faroese independence referendum|Independence referendum]]
| established_title6=[[Home rule]]
| website =
}}

The '''Faroe Islands'''{{Efn|({{langx|fo|Føroyar}}'','' {{IPA|fo|ˈfœɹjaɹ|pron|Fo-Foroyar.ogg}}; {{langx|da|Færøerne}} {{IPA|da|ˈfeɐ̯ˌøˀɐnə|}})}} ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|f|ɛəɹ|oʊ}} {{respell|FAIR|oh}}), also known as the '''Faroes''', are an [[archipelago]] in the North [[Atlantic Ocean]] and a {{lang |da |rigsdel}} ({{gloss |[[autonomous territory]]}}) of the [[Kingdom of Denmark]]. Located between [[Iceland]], [[Norway]], and the [[Hebrides]] and [[Shetland]] isles of [[Scotland]], the islands have a population of 54,870 {{as of|2025|11|lc=y}} and a land area of {{cvt|1393|km2}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Population {{!}} Statistics Faroe Islands |url=https://hagstova.fo/en/population/population/population-0 |access-date=12 December 2023 |website=hagstova.fo |archive-date=19 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119115956/https://hagstova.fo/en/population/population/population-0 |url-status=live }}</ref> The official language is [[Faroese language|Faroese]], which is partially mutually intelligible with [[Icelandic language|Icelandic]]. The terrain is rugged, dominated by [[fjord]]s and cliffs with sparse vegetation and few trees. As a result of their proximity to the [[Arctic Circle]], the islands experience perpetual [[Twilight|civil twilight]] during summer nights and very short winter days; nevertheless, they experience a [[subpolar oceanic climate]] and mild temperatures year-round due to the [[Gulf Stream]].<ref>{{cite web |date=19 December 2018 |title=The unpredictable Faroe Islands weather |url=https://www.guidetofaroeislands.fo/travel-information/the-weather-in-the-faroe-islands |website=Guide to Faroe Islands |access-date=3 October 2019 |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002043028/https://guidetofaroeislands.fo/travel-information/the-weather-in-the-faroe-islands |url-status=live }}</ref> The capital, [[Tórshavn]], receives the fewest recorded hours of sunshine of any city in the world at only 840 per year.<ref>TORSHAVN Climate Normals 1961–1990. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 15&nbsp;November 2012.</ref>

''[[Færeyinga saga]]'' and the writings of [[Dicuil]] date initial Norse settlement in the early 9th century, with [[Grímur Kamban]] recorded as the first permanent settler.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Viking history: 825 – Grímur Kamban arrived at Faroe islands |url=https://vikinghistorytales.blogspot.com/2013/10/825-peace.html |access-date=12 December 2023 |website=Viking history |archive-date=4 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804112128/https://vikinghistorytales.blogspot.com/2013/10/825-peace.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Dahl |first=Sverri |date=1970 |title=The Norse Settlement Of The Faroe Islands |journal=Medieval Archaeology |volume=14 |pages=60–62 |doi=10.5284/1071511 |doi-access=free |via=Archaeology Data Service}}</ref> As with the subsequent [[settlement of Iceland]], the islands were said to be mainly settled by [[Norwegians]] and [[Norse-Gaels]] who also brought [[thrall]]s (i.e. slaves or [[serfs]]) of [[Gaels|Gaelic]] origin. However, a 2024 study found that Viking colonizers of the Faroe Islands and nearby Iceland had different origins.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Mann |first1=Allison E. |last2=Magnussen |first2=Eyðfinn |last3=Tillquist |first3=Christopher R. |date=2024 |title=Genetic evidence points to distinct paternal settlers of the Faroe Islands and Iceland |journal=Frontiers in Genetics |volume=15 |article-number=1462736 |doi=10.3389/fgene.2024.1462736 |doi-access=free |pmc=11625576 |pmid=39655223}}</ref>

Initially governed as an independent commonwealth under the {{lang |fo |[[Løgting]]}}, the islands came under Norwegian rule in the early 11th century after the introduction of Christianity by [[Sigmundur Brestisson]]. The Faroe Islands followed Norway's integration into the [[Kalmar Union]] in 1397 and came under ''{{linktext |de facto}}'' Danish rule following that union's dissolution in 1523. Following the introduction of [[Lutheranism]] in 1538, the Faroese language was banned in public institutions and disappeared from writing for more than three centuries. The islands were formally ceded to Denmark in 1814 by the [[Treaty of Kiel]] along with [[Greenland]] and Iceland, and the {{lang |fo |Løgting}} was subsequently replaced by a Danish judiciary.

Following the re-establishment of the {{lang |fo |Løgting}} and an official [[Faroese orthography]], the [[Faroese language conflict]] saw Danish being gradually displaced by Faroese as the language of the church, public education, and law in the first half of the 20th century. The islands were occupied by [[British occupation of the Faroe Islands|the British during the Second World War]], who refrained from governing Faroese internal affairs: inspired by this period of relative self-government and the [[1944 Icelandic constitutional referendum|declaration of Iceland as a republic in 1944]], the islands held a [[1946 Faroese independence referendum|referendum in 1946]] that resulted in a narrow majority for independence. The results were annulled by [[Christian X|King Christian X]], and subsequent negotiations led to the Faroe Islands being granted home rule in 1948.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Faroe Islands |url=https://denmark.dk/people-and-culture/the-faroe-islands |access-date=28 December 2020 |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark |quote=Home Rule was established in 1948 [...] |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002042546/https://denmark.dk/people-and-culture/the-faroe-islands |url-status=live }}</ref>

Within the [[Kingdom of Denmark]] the Faroe Islands are self-governing apart from [[Danish Defence|defence]], [[Police of Denmark|policing]], [[Justice Minister of Denmark|justice]] and [[currency]], with partial control over [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Denmark)|foreign affairs]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Lov om de færøske myndigheders overtagelse af sager og sagsområder (Also called: Overtagelsesloven) |url=https://www.retsinformation.dk/Forms/R0710.aspx?id=20991 |website=Retsinformation.dk |language=da |access-date=3 February 2014 |archive-date=20 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120224148/https://www.retsinformation.dk/Forms/R0710.aspx?id=20991 |url-status=live }}</ref> Because the Faroe Islands are not part of the same [[customs area]] as Denmark, they have an independent [[trade policy]] and can establish their own trade agreements. The islands have an extensive bilateral free trade agreement with Iceland, known as the ''[[Hoyvík Agreement]]''. In certain sports, the Faroe Islands field their own national teams. In the [[Nordic Council]] and [[Council of Europe]], they are represented as part of the Danish delegation.

The islands' fishing industry accounts for around 90% of their exports, with tourism becoming increasingly prominent since the 2010s. They did not become a part of the [[European Economic Community]] (EEC) in 1973, instead keeping [[autonomy]] over their own fishing waters; as a result, the Faroe Islands are not a part of the [[European Union]] (EU) today. The {{lang |fo |Løgting}}, although it was suspended between 1816 and 1852, claims to be one of the oldest continuously running parliaments in the world.

==Etymology==
The islands' endonym {{lang|fo|Føroyar}}, as well as the English exonym {{Lang|en|Faroe Islands|italic=yes}} (alt. {{Lang|en|Faeroe|italic=yes}} or {{Lang|en|the Faroes|italic=yes}}), derive from the [[Old Norse]] {{Lang|non|Færeyjar|italic=yes}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Collins Dictionary online |url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/faroes |access-date=8 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Faroe Islands |url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/faroe+islands |access-date=20 March 2015 |website=Merriam-Webster Dictionary |archive-date=7 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707145247/https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/faroe+islands |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Faeroe Islands |url=http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Faeroe%20Islands |access-date=20 March 2015 |website=[[Dictionary.com]] |archive-date=26 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926193258/http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/faeroe%20islands |url-status=live }}</ref> The second element {{lang|fo|oyar}} ({{gloss |islands}}) is a holdover from [[Faroese language#Old Faroese|Old Faroese]]; sound changes have rendered the word's modern form as {{lang|fo|oyggjar}}. Names for individual islands (such as [[Sandoy|Kalsoy]] and [[Suðuroy]]) also preserve the old form.

The name's etymological origin has been subject to dispute. The most widely held theory, first attested in [[Færeyinga saga|Færeyinga Saga]], interprets {{Lang|non|Færeyjar|italic=yes}} as a straightforward compound of {{lang|non|fær}} ({{gloss |sheep}}) and {{Lang|non|eyjar|italic=yes}} ({{gloss |islands}}), meaning {{gloss |sheep islands}} in reference to their abundance on the archipelago. Clergymen [[Peder Claussøn Friis|Peder Clausson]] and [[Lucas Debes]] began casting doubt on this theory in the 16th and 17th centuries, arguing that the West Norse-speaking settlers, whose word for sheep was {{Lang|non|sauðr|italic=yes}} instead of the East Norse {{Lang|fo|fær|italic=yes}}, could not have coined it from this exact origin. Debes surmised that it could have derived from {{Lang|non|fjær|italic=yes}} ({{gloss |far}}), while [[Venceslaus Ulricus Hammershaimb|Hammershaimb]] leaned towards {{Lang|non|fara|italic=yes}} ({{gloss |to go}}, {{gloss |to travel}}).<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Brøgger |first=Anton Wilhelm |url=https://www.nb.no/items/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2014111908018 |title=Hvussu Føroyar vórðu Bygdar: Inngongd til Løgtingssøgu Føroya |publisher=Føroya Løgting |year=1937 |location=Tórshavn |pages=21–23, 37–45 |language=fo |translator-last=Patursson |translator-first=Jóannes |trans-title=How the Faroe Islands were Built: Introduction to the History of the Løgting |author-link=Anton Wilhelm Brøgger |translator-link=Jóannes Patursson |archive-date=24 February 2024 |access-date=24 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224153136/https://www.nb.no/items/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2014111908018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Others have theorised an [[Old Irish]] origin: relating it to the etymologies of neighbouring [[Orkney]] and [[Shetland]], Scottish writers James Currie and [[William J. Watson]] suggested the words {{Lang|gd|feur|italic=yes}} ({{gloss |pasture}}, {{gloss |eaten-up outfield}}) and {{Lang|gd|fearann|italic=yes}} ({{gloss |land}}, {{gloss |territory}}) as possible derivations, arguing that the original Celtic attestations of the islands made this more likely.<ref name=":2" /> Archaeologist [[Anton Wilhelm Brøgger]] concurred, elaborating on Watson's theory by positing that the Norse, having first learned of the islands from Scottish and Irish accounts as a {{Lang|gd|fearann|italic=yes}}, could have coined {{Lang|non|Færeyjar}} as a [[homophonic translation]].<ref name=":2" />

==History==
{{Main|History of the Faroe Islands}}

Archaeological studies from 2021 found evidence of settlement on the islands before the arrival of Norse settlers, uncovering burnt grains of domesticated [[barley]] and [[peat]] ash deposited in two phases: the first dated between the mid-fourth and mid-sixth centuries, and another between the late-sixth and late-eighth centuries.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Church |first1=M. J. |last2=Arge |first2=S. M. V. |last3=Edwards |first3=K. J. |last4=Ascough |first4=P. L. |last5=Bond |first5=J. M. |last6=Cook |first6=G. T. |last7=Dockrill |first7=S. J. |last8=Dugmore |first8=A. J. |last9=McGovern |first9=T. H. |last10=Nesbitt |first10=C. |last11=Simpson |first11=I. A. |year=2013 |title=The Vikings were not the first colonizers of the Faroe Islands |url=http://dro.dur.ac.uk/19329/1/19329.pdf |journal=Quaternary Science Reviews |volume=77 |pages=228–232 |bibcode=2013QSRv...77..228C |doi=10.1016/j.quascirev.2013.06.011 |archive-date=7 June 2023 |access-date=2 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607131932/https://dro.dur.ac.uk/19329/1/19329.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>[http://www.sciencenordic.com/new-signs-pre-viking-life-faroe-islands New signs of pre-Viking life on the Faroe Islands] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208051346/http://sciencenordic.com/new-signs-pre-viking-life-faroe-islands |date=8 February 2013 }}, Science Nordic 28 January 2013</ref> Researchers have also found sheep DNA in lake-bed sediments dating to the year 500.<ref name=":4" /> Barley and sheep had to have been brought to the islands by humans; as Scandinavians did not begin using [[sail]]s until about 750, it is unlikely they could have reached the Faroes before then, leading to the study concluding that the settlers were more likely to originate from Scotland or Ireland.<ref name=":4">Curtin, L., D'Andrea, W.J., Balascio, N.L. et al. "[https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-021-00318-0 Sedimentary DNA and molecular evidence for early human occupation of the Faroe Islands] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122095457/https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-021-00318-0 |date=22 November 2022 }}". ''[[Commun Earth Environ]]'' 2, 253 (2021).</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Rincon |first1=Paul |title=British or Irish reached remote Faroe Islands before Vikings |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-59683287 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=16 December 2021 |archive-date=20 December 2021 |access-date=29 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211220135150/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-59683287? |url-status=live }}</ref>

Irish monk [[Dicuil]] described a group of islands north of Scotland of very similar character to the Faroe Islands in his work ''{{langr |la |De mensura orbis terrae}}''. In this text, Dicuil describes a group of small islands separated by narrow stretches of water that was always deserted since the beginning of time<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Radzin |first=Hilda |date=1978 |title=The Names of Islands in the Old Norse Faereyinga Saga and Orkeyinga Saga |url=https://soar.suny.edu/handle/20.500.12648/2953 |journal=Literary Onomastics Studies |volume=5 |page=60 |via=SUNY Open Access Repository}}</ref> and previously populated by "[[Papar|hermits]] from our land of Ireland/Scotland" for almost a hundred years before being displaced by the arrival of Norse pirates.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Dicuil {{!}} biography - Irish monk, grammarian, and geographer |url=http://www.britannica.com/biography/Dicuil |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151110070128/http://www.britannica.com/biography/Dicuil |archive-date=2015-11-10 |access-date=2026-04-09 |work=Encyclopedia Britannica |language=en}}</ref> <blockquote>There are many other islands in the ocean to the north of Britain which can be reached from the northern islands of Britain in a direct voyage of two days and nights with sails filled with a continuously favourable wind. A devout priest told me that in two summer days and the intervening night he sailed in a two-benched boat and entered one of them.

There is another set of small islands, nearly all separated by narrow stretches of water; in these for nearly a hundred years hermits sailing from our country, Ireland, have lived. But just as they were always deserted from the beginning of the world, so now because of the Northman pirates they are emptied of [[anchorite]]s, and filled with countless sheep and very many diverse kinds of sea-birds. I have never found these islands mentioned in the authorities.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Tierney |first=J.J. |title=Dicuili Liber de mensura orbis terrae |date=1967 |publisher=Dublin Institute for Advances Studies |location=Dublin |pages=75–77|ol=16308328M }}</ref></blockquote>It has been argued that these were likely the eremitic [[Papar]] that had similarly resided in parts of Iceland and Scotland in the same period,<ref>{{cite web |title=Chapter 7.2 |url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/L/Roman/Texts/Dicuil/De_mensura_orbis_terrae/text*.html |access-date=14 March 2014 |publisher=Penelope.uchicago.edu |archive-date=26 May 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120526074859/http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/L/Roman/Texts/Dicuil/De_mensura_orbis_terrae/text*.html |url-status=live }}</ref> with these Papar also being the ones to bring sheep to the islands.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> A [[Immram|voyage tale]], recorded in the ninth-century, concerning Irish saint [[Brendan the Navigator|Brendan]], who proceeded Dicuil by 3 centuries, details him visiting an unnamed northern group of islands; this has also been argued to be referring to the Faroe Islands, though not nearly as conclusively.<ref>{{cite web |title=Navigatio Sancti Brendani Abbatis |url=http://www.hs-augsburg.de/~harsch/Chronologia/Lspost10/Brendanus/bre_navi.html |access-date=28 April 2013 |archive-date=17 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017194919/http://www.hs-augsburg.de/~harsch/Chronologia/Lspost10/Brendanus/bre_navi.html |url-status=live }} See translation: {{cite web |title=Nauigatio sancti Brendani abbatis [the Voyage of St Brendan the Abbot] chapter XI, edition by Archbishop P. F. Moran, tr. Denis O'Donoghue, Brendaniana, 1893 |url=http://markjberry.blogs.com/StBrendan.pdf |access-date=28 April 2013 |archive-date=10 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150110192228/http://markjberry.blogs.com/StBrendan.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Some toponyms around the islands refer to the Papar and the Irish, such as Paparøkur near [[Vestmanna]] and Papurshílsur near [[Saksun]]. Vestmanna is itself short for {{Lang|fo|Vestmannahøvn|italic=yes}} ({{gloss |harbour of the [[Vestmenn|Westmen]]}}). Tombstones in a churchyard on [[Skúvoy]] display a possible Gaelic origin or influence.<ref>Schei, Liv Kjørsvik & Moberg, Gunnie (2003) ''The Faroe Islands''. Birlinn.</ref>
[[File:Faroe stamps 515-517 everyday life in the viking age.jpg|thumb|400px|Everyday life in the Viking Age]]
Old Norse-speaking settlers arrived in the early 9th century, and their Old West Norse dialect would later evolve into the modern [[Faroese language]]. A number of the settlers were [[Norse–Gaels]] who did not come directly from Scandinavia, but rather from Norse communities that spanned the [[Irish Sea]], [[Northern Isles]], and [[Outer Hebrides]] of [[Scotland]], including the [[Shetland]] and [[Orkney]] islands; these settlers also brought thralls of [[Gaels|Gaelic]] origin with them, and this admixture is reflected today in the Faroese genetic makeup and many loanwords from Old Irish. According to ''[[Færeyinga saga]]'', many of the Norwegian settlers in particular were spurred by their disapproval of the monarchy of [[Harald Fairhair]], whose rule was also seen as an inciting factor for the [[Settlement of Iceland]].

The founding date of the [[Løgting]] is not historically documented. However, the saga implies that it was a well-established institution by the middle of the 10th century, when a legal dispute between chieftains Havgrímur and Einar Suðuroyingur, resulting in the [[exile]] of Eldjárn Kambhøttur, is recounted in detail.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Færeyinga saga – heimskringla.no |url=https://www.heimskringla.no/wiki/F%C3%A6reyinga_saga |access-date=28 March 2024 |website=Heimskringla.no}}</ref>

Christianity was introduced to the islands in the late 10th and early 11th centuries by chieftain [[Sigmundur Brestisson]].<ref name=":3">{{cite web |title=The Faroe Islands, Faroese History – A part of Randburg |url=http://www.randburg.com/fa/general/general_5.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120907123238/http://www.randburg.com/fa/general/general_5.html |archive-date=7 September 2012 |publisher=Randburg.com }}</ref> Baptised as an adult by then-[[monarchy of Norway|King of Norway]] [[Olaf Tryggvason]], his mission to introduce Christianity was part of a greater plan to seize the islands on behalf of the Norwegian crown.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Faeroe|volume=10|pages=123–124}}</ref> While Christianity arrived at the same time as in [[Christianization of Iceland|Iceland]], the process was met with much more conflict and violence, and was defined particularly by Sigmundur's conflict with rival chieftain [[Tróndur í Gøtu]], the latter of whom was converted under threat of decapitation. Although their conflict resulted in Sigmundur's murder, the Islands fell firmly under Norwegian rule following Tróndur's death in 1035.<ref name=":3" />

===14th century onwards===
[[File:Faroe Islands, 1767, as seen by Yves de Kerguelen Trémarec.PNG|thumb|upright=1.35|The Faroe Islands as seen by the Breton navigator [[Yves-Joseph de Kerguelen-Trémarec]] in 1767]]

In 1380, the Faroe Islands entered a union with [[Denmark]] through the unification of Denmark and Norway, marking the beginning of a prolonged period under Danish influence.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |date=21 November 2012 |title=Faroe Islands profile – Timeline |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-20427188 |access-date=9 April 2025 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB |archive-date=7 October 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251007032801/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-20427188 |url-status=live }}</ref> This transition led to significant changes, including the introduction of [[Lutheranism]] in 1538, which had profound effects on the islands' religious practices and cultural identity.

The Faroe Islands were subjected to repeated [[Barbary slave trade|slave raids]] by the [[Barbary corsairs]] between the 16th and 18th centuries.<ref>Liisberg,&nbsp;H.&nbsp;C.&nbsp;B.&nbsp;(2020).&nbsp;Danmarks søfart og søhandel. Bind 1.&nbsp;Danmark:&nbsp;SAGA Egmont.</ref> The most famous slave raid on the Faroe Islands was the [[slave raid of Suðuroy]] in the summer of 1629.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Niels Andreas Christian Andersen |url=http://archive.org/details/faererne00andegoog |title=Faerøerne, 1600–1709 |date=1895 |publisher=G. E. C. Gad |others=New York Public Library |pages=234–254 |language=Danish}}</ref>

The 17th century brought economic challenges as Denmark imposed a trade monopoly, restricting the Faroese economy and limiting their commercial interactions with other nations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 9, 2026 |title=Faroe Islands {{!}} History, Population, Capital, Map, & Facts {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Faroe-Islands-Atlantic-Ocean |url-status=live |access-date=April 8, 2026 |website=Encyclopædia Britannica}}</ref> This monopoly was eventually lifted in 1856, allowing the islands to develop a modern fishing industry and revitalise their economy.<ref>{{cite web |title=CIDOB – Secession and Counter-secession. An International Relations Perspective |url=https://www.cidob.org/en/publications/publication_series/monographs/monographs/secession_and_counter_secession_an_international_relations_perspective |access-date=19 May 2018 |website=CIDOB |page=69 |archive-date=27 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127014249/https://www.cidob.org/en/publications/publication_series/monographs/monographs/secession_and_counter_secession_an_international_relations_perspective |url-status=live }}</ref>

The 19th century was a pivotal era for Faroese cultural and political revival. Lutheran minister [[Venceslaus Ulricus Hammershaimb]] introduced an official orthography for the Faroese language in 1846, reaffirming its cultural significance after centuries of suppression. This linguistic renaissance fuelled the growth of a national movement, leading to the reinstatement of the Løgting in 1852 as an advisory body.
[[File:Engelske tropper ankommer til Thorshavn (FHM-17412).jpg|thumb|British troops arrive in [[Tórshavn]], 1940]]

The early 20th century saw the emergence of political parties advocating for greater autonomy. The Union Party favoured maintaining ties with Denmark, while the Self-Government Party pushed for full independence. 

In the first year of the [[Second World War]], on 12 April 1940, [[British occupation of the Faroe Islands|British troops occupied the Faroe Islands in Operation Valentine]]. [[Nazi Germany]] had invaded Denmark and commenced the invasion of Norway on 9 April 1940 under [[Operation Weserübung]]. In 1942–1943, the British [[Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers|Royal Engineers]], under the command of Lieutenant Colonel William Law, built the first and only airport in the Faroe Islands, [[Vágar Airport]]. The British refrained from governing Faroese internal affairs, and the islands became effectively self-governing during the war. After the war ended and the British army left, this period and [[Iceland]]'s declaration as a republic in 1944 served as a precedent and a model in the mind of many Faroe Islanders.

Independence debates culminated in a 1946 referendum where a slim majority voted for independence; however, the Danish government annulled the results, and the islands remained under Danish sovereignty.
The Løgting held an independence referendum on [[1946 Faroese independence referendum|14 September 1946]], resulting in a very narrow majority for independence; 50.73% voted in favour and 49.27% against; the margin was only 161 votes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sudd.ch/event.php?lang=en&id=fo011946|title=Faroe Islands, 14 September 1946: Status|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021014332/http://www.sudd.ch/event.php?lang=en&id=fo011946 |archive-date=21 October 2020|website=Database and Search Engine for Direct Democracy|date=14 September 1946 |language=de}}</ref> The Løgting subsequently declared independence on 18 September 1946; this declaration was annulled by Denmark on 20 September, arguing that the number of invalid votes (481) being greater than the narrow margin in favour made the result invalid. As a result, [[Christian X of Denmark|King Christian X of Denmark]] ordered that the Faroese Løgting be dissolved on 24 September, with new elections held that November.{{sfnp |Steining |1953 |p=187}} The [[1946 Faroese parliamentary election|Faroese parliamentary election of 1946]] resulted in a majority for parties opposed to independence:{{sfnp |Steining |1953 |p=188}} following protracted negotiations, Denmark granted [[home rule]] to the Faroe Islands on 30 March 1948. This agreement granted the islands a high degree of autonomy, and Faroese finally became the official language in all public spheres.<ref name="britannica">{{cite news|title=Faroe Islands|newspaper=Encyclopedia Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Faroe-Islands-Atlantic-Ocean|publisher=[[Britannica]]|access-date=19 April 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210419122910/https://www.britannica.com/place/Faroe-Islands-Atlantic-Ocean|archive-date=19 April 2021}}</ref>

In 1973, the Faroe Islands declined to join Denmark in entering the [[European Economic Community]] (EEC); as a result, the islands are not part of the European Union (EU) today (although, as Danish citizens, Faroe Islanders are still considered EU citizens).<ref name=":5" /> Following the collapse of the fishing industry in the early 1990s, the Faroes experienced considerable economic difficulties.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Hamilton |first1=Lawrence C. |last2=Colocousis |first2=Chris R. |last3=Johansen |first3=Sámal T. F. |date=May 2004 |title=Migration from Resource Depletion: The Case of the Faroe Islands|journal=Society & Natural Resources |volume=17 |issue=5 |pages=443–453 |doi=10.1080/08941920490430232 |bibcode=2004SNatR..17..443H }}</ref>

Today, the Faroe Islands are a [[Self-governance|self-governing territory]] within the [[Danish Realm|Kingdom of Denmark]], proud of their cultural heritage, fishing industry, and political autonomy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Travel |first=Times |date=28 February 2019 |title=Best things to do in the Faroe Islands |url=https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/europe-travel/denmark/faroe-islands/things-to-do-in-the-faroe-islands-rl8m9pnwb?region=global |access-date=9 April 2025 |website=Thetimes.com |language=en |archive-date=25 April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250425121347/https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/europe-travel/denmark/faroe-islands/things-to-do-in-the-faroe-islands-rl8m9pnwb?region=global |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Geography==
{{Main|Geography of the Faroe Islands}}

[[File:Faroe Islands by Sentinel-2.jpg|thumb|Satellite image of the Faroe Islands]]

The Faroe Islands are an island group consisting of [[List of islands of the Faroe Islands|18 major islands]] (and a total of 779 islands, [[islet]]s, and [[skerry|skerries]]) about {{convert|655|km}} off the coast of Northern Europe, between the [[Norwegian Sea]] and the [[North Atlantic Ocean]], about halfway between [[Iceland]] and [[Norway]], the closest neighbours being the [[Northern Isles]] and the [[Outer Hebrides]] of the [[United Kingdom]]. Its coordinates are {{coord|62|00|N|06|47|W}}.

Distance from the Faroe Islands to:
* [[North Rona|Rona]] (uninhabited), United Kingdom: {{convert|260|km|mi}}
* [[Shetland]] ([[Foula]]), United Kingdom: {{convert|285|km|mi}}
* [[Orkney]] ([[Westray]]), United Kingdom: {{convert|300|km|mi}}
* [[United Kingdom]] (mainland): {{convert|320|km|mi}}
* [[Iceland]]: {{convert|450|km|mi}}
* [[Norway]]: {{convert|580|km|mi}}
* [[Ireland]]: {{convert|670|km|mi}}
* [[Denmark]]: {{convert|990|km|mi}}

The islands cover an area of 1,399 square kilometres (540&nbsp;sq.&nbsp;mi) and have [[List of lakes of the Faroe Islands|small lakes]] and rivers, but no major ones. There are {{convert|1117|km|mi}} of coastline.<ref name="CIA Factbook">{{cite web |title=Faroe Islands |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/faroe-islands/ |access-date=6 August 2016 |website=[[The World Factbook]] |publisher=[[CIA]] |archive-date=10 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110004755/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/faroe-islands |url-status=dead }}</ref> The only significant uninhabited island is [[Lítla Dímun]].

The islands are rugged and rocky with some low peaks; the coasts are mostly cliffs. The highest point is [[Slættaratindur]] in northern [[Eysturoy]], {{convert|882|m|ft}} [[above sea level]].

The Faroe Islands are made up of an approximately six-kilometres-thick succession of mostly [[basalt]]ic [[lava]] that was part of the great [[North Atlantic Igneous Province]] during the [[Paleogene]] period.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Geoffroy |first1=Laurent |last2=Bergerat |first2=Francoise |last3=Angelier |first3=Jacques |year=1996 |title=Brittle tectonism in relation to the Palaeogene evolution of the Thulean/NE Atlantic domain: A study in Ulster |journal=Geological Journal |volume=31 |issue=3 |pages=259–269 |doi=10.1002/(SICI)1099-1034(199609)31:3<259::AID-GJ711>3.0.CO;2-8|bibcode=1996GeolJ..31..259G }}</ref> The lavas erupted during the opening of the [[North Atlantic Ocean]], which began about 60 million years ago, and what is today the Faroe Islands was then attached to Greenland.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Dahrén |first=Börje |date=2016 |title=Magma plumbing architecture in Indonesia and the North Atlantic Igneous Province |url=http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-267764|website=Urn.kb.se}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Jolley |first1=David W. |last2=Bell |first2=Brian R. |date=2002 |title=The evolution of the North Atlantic Igneous Province and the opening of the NE Atlantic rift |journal=Geological Society, London, Special Publications |volume=197 |issue=1 |pages=1–13 |bibcode=2002GSLSP.197....1J |doi=10.1144/GSL.SP.2002.197.01.01 }}</ref> The lavas are underlain by circa 30&nbsp;km of unidentified ancient continental crust.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Richardson |first1=K.R |last2=Smallwood |first2=J.R |last3=White |first3=R.S |last4=Snyder |first4=D.B |last5=Maguire |first5=P.K.H |date=December 1998 |title=Crustal structure beneath the Faroe Islands and the Faroe–Iceland Ridge |journal=Tectonophysics |volume=300 |issue=1–4 |pages=159–180 |bibcode=1998Tectp.300..159R |doi=10.1016/S0040-1951(98)00239-X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Harland |first1=K. E. |last2=White |first2=R. S. |last3=Soosalu |first3=H. |date=April 2009 |title=Crustal structure beneath the Faroe Islands from teleseismic receiver functions |journal=Geophysical Journal International |volume=177 |issue=1 |pages=115–124 |bibcode=2009GeoJI.177..115H |doi=10.1111/j.1365-246X.2008.04018.x |doi-access=free}}</ref>

===Climate===
{{See also|Geography of the Faroe Islands#Climate}}[[File:Faroe Islands, Eysturoy, Skipanes and Undir Gøtueiði.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|The village of [[Skipanes]] on [[Eysturoy]], with murkier weather in the distance]]

The climate is classed as [[subpolar oceanic climate]] according to the [[Köppen climate classification]]: [[Oceanic climate|Cfc]], with areas having a [[tundra]] climate, especially in the mountains, although some coastal or low-lying areas may have very mild-winter versions of a tundra climate. The overall character of the climate of the islands is influenced by the strong warming influence of the Atlantic Ocean, which produces the [[North Atlantic Current]]. This, together with the remoteness of any source of landmass-induced warm or cold airflows, ensures that winters are mild (mean temperature 3.0 to 4.0&nbsp;°C or 37 to 39&nbsp;°F) while summers are cool (mean temperature 9.5 to 11.2&nbsp;°C or 49 to 52&nbsp;°F).

The islands are windy, cloudy, and cool throughout the year, with an average of 210 rainy or snowy days per year. The islands lie in the path of depressions moving northeast, making strong winds and heavy rain possible at all times of the year. Sunny days are rare, and overcast days are common. [[Hurricane Faith]] struck the Faroe Islands on 5 September 1966 with sustained winds over 100&nbsp;mph (160&nbsp;km/h), and only then did the storm cease to be a tropical system.<ref>GHCN Climate data, Thorshavn series 1881 to 2007</ref>

The climate varies greatly over small distances due to the altitude, ocean currents, topography, and winds. Precipitation varies considerably throughout the archipelago. In some highland areas, snow cover may last for months, with snowfalls possible for the greater part of the year (on the highest peaks, summer snowfall is by no means rare), while in some sheltered coastal locations, several years pass without any snowfall whatsoever. Tórshavn receives frosts more often than other areas just a short distance to the south. Snow is also seen at a much higher frequency than on outlying islands nearby. The area receives on average 49 frosts a year.<ref name="DMI" />

The collection of meteorological data on the Faroe Islands began in 1867.<ref>{{cite web |title=Plant production on a Faeroese farm 1813–1892, related to climatic fluctuations |url=http://rdgs.dk/djg/pdfs/101/1/06.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317115552/http://rdgs.dk/djg/pdfs/101/1/06.pdf |archive-date=17 March 2012 |access-date=25 August 2013 }}</ref> Winter recording began in 1891, and the warmest winter occurred in 2016–17 with an average temperature of 6.1&nbsp;°C (43&nbsp;°F).<ref>{{cite web |date=3 March 2017 |title=Rekordvarm vinter på Færøerne |url=http://www.dmi.dk/nyheder/arkiv/nyheder-2017/marts/rekordvarm-vinter-paa-faeroeerne/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307183257/http://www.dmi.dk/nyheder/arkiv/nyheder-2017/marts/rekordvarm-vinter-paa-faeroeerne |archive-date=7 March 2017 |access-date=7 March 2017 |publisher=[[Danish Meteorological Institute]]}}</ref>

{{Weather box|width=auto
|location = Tórshavn (1981–2010 normals, extremes 1961–2010)
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|Jan record high C = 11.6
|Feb record high C = 12.0
|Mar record high C = 12.3
|Apr record high C = 18.3
|May record high C = 19.7
|Jun record high C = 20.0
|Jul record high C = 20.2
|Aug record high C = 22.0
|Sep record high C = 19.5
|Oct record high C = 15.2
|Nov record high C = 14.7
|Dec record high C = 13.2
|year record high C = 22.0
|Jan high C = 5.8
|Feb high C = 5.6
|Mar high C = 6.0
|Apr high C = 7.3
|May high C = 9.2
|Jun high C = 11.1
|Jul high C = 12.8
|Aug high C = 13.1
|Sep high C = 11.5
|Oct high C = 9.3
|Nov high C = 7.2
|Dec high C = 6.2
|year high C = 8.8
|Jan mean C = 4.0
|Feb mean C = 3.6
|Mar mean C = 4.0
|Apr mean C = 5.2
|May mean C = 7.0
|Jun mean C = 9.0
|Jul mean C = 10.7
|Aug mean C = 11.0
|Sep mean C = 9.6
|Oct mean C = 7.5
|Nov mean C = 5.5
|Dec mean C = 4.3
|year mean C = 6.8
|Jan low C = 1.7
|Feb low C = 1.3
|Mar low C = 1.7
|Apr low C = 3.0
|May low C = 5.1
|Jun low C = 7.1
|Jul low C = 9.0
|Aug low C = 9.2
|Sep low C = 7.6
|Oct low C = 5.4
|Nov low C = 3.4
|Dec low C = 2.1
|year low C = 4.7
|Jan record low C = -8.8
|Feb record low C = -11.0
|Mar record low C = -9.2
|Apr record low C = -9.9
|May record low C = -3.0
|Jun record low C = 0.0
|Jul record low C = 1.5
|Aug record low C = 1.5
|Sep record low C = -0.6
|Oct record low C = -4.5
|Nov record low C = -7.2
|Dec record low C = -10.5
|year record low C = -11.0
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 157.7
|Feb precipitation mm = 115.2
|Mar precipitation mm = 131.6
|Apr precipitation mm = 89.5
|May precipitation mm = 63.3
|Jun precipitation mm = 57.5
|Jul precipitation mm = 74.3
|Aug precipitation mm = 96.0
|Sep precipitation mm = 119.5
|Oct precipitation mm = 147.4
|Nov precipitation mm = 139.3
|Dec precipitation mm = 135.3
|year precipitation mm = 1321.3
|humidity colour =
|Jan humidity = 89
|Feb humidity = 88
|Mar humidity = 88
|Apr humidity = 87
|May humidity = 87
|Jun humidity = 88
|Jul humidity = 89
|Aug humidity = 90
|Sep humidity = 89
|Oct humidity = 89
|Nov humidity = 88
|Dec humidity = 89
|year humidity = 88
|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 26
|Feb precipitation days = 23
|Mar precipitation days = 26
|Apr precipitation days = 22
|May precipitation days = 19
|Jun precipitation days = 18
|Jul precipitation days = 19
|Aug precipitation days = 20
|Sep precipitation days = 23
|Oct precipitation days = 26
|Nov precipitation days = 26
|Dec precipitation days = 27
|year precipitation days = 273
|Jan snow days = 8.3
|Feb snow days = 6.6
|Mar snow days = 8.0
|Apr snow days = 4.4
|May snow days = 1.5
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.1
|Oct snow days = 1.4
|Nov snow days = 5.5
|Dec snow days = 8.2
|year snow days = 44.0
|Jan sun = 14.5
|Feb sun = 36.7
|Mar sun = 72.8
|Apr sun = 108.6
|May sun = 137.8
|Jun sun = 128.6
|Jul sun = 103.6
|Aug sun = 100.9
|Sep sun = 82.7
|Oct sun = 53.4
|Nov sun = 21.1
|Dec sun = 7.8
|year sun = 868.2
|source 1 = [[Danish Meteorological Institute]] (humidity 1961–1990, precipitation days 1961–1990, snowy days 1961–1990)<ref name="DMI">
{{cite web
|title=Monthly means and extremes 1961–1990 and 1981–2010 for air temperature, atmospheric pressure, hours of bright sunshine and precipitation–Denmark, The Faroe Islands and Greenland |url=http://www.dmi.dk/fileadmin/Rapporter/TR/tr11-20.pdf
|access-date=18 January 2015
|publisher=Danish Meteorological Institute
|pages=16–19
|archive-date=18 January 2015
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150118104640/http://www.dmi.dk/fileadmin/Rapporter/TR/tr11-20.pdf
|url-status=live
}}
</ref><ref name="DMI2">
{{cite web
|title=DMI Report 18–19: Climatological Standard Normals 1981–2010 Denmark, The Faroe Islands and Greenland Based on Data Published in DMI Reports 18–08, 18–04 and 18–05 |url=https://www.dmi.dk/fileadmin/user_upload/Rapporter/TR/2019/DMIRep18-19.pdf
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190210040507/https://www.dmi.dk/fileadmin/user_upload/Rapporter/TR/2019/DMIRep18-19.pdf
|archive-date=10 February 2019
|access-date=9 February 2019
|publisher=Danish Meteorological Institute
}}
</ref><ref name="DMI3">
{{cite web
|title=The Climate of The Faroe Islands with Climatological Standard Normals, 1961–1990 |url=https://www.dmi.dk/fileadmin/user_upload/Rapporter/TR/1998/tr98-14.pdf
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190210162510/https://www.dmi.dk/fileadmin/user_upload/Rapporter/TR/1998/tr98-14.pdf
|archive-date=10 February 2019
|access-date=10 February 2019
|publisher=Danish Meteorological Institute
}}
</ref>
}}

===Flora===
{{Main|Flora of the Faroe Islands}}

[[File:Myrisolja.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Marsh marigold (''[[Caltha palustris]]'') is common in the Faroe Islands during May and June.]]

The Faroes belong to the [[Faroe Islands boreal grasslands]] ecoregion.<ref name="DinersteinOlson2017">{{cite journal |last1=Dinerstein |first1=Eric |last2=Olson |first2=David |last3=Joshi |first3=Anup |last4=Vynne |first4=Carly |last5=Burgess |first5=Neil D. |last6=Wikramanayake |first6=Eric |last7=Hahn |first7=Nathan |last8=Palminteri |first8=Suzanne |last9=Hedao |first9=Prashant |last10=Noss |first10=Reed |last11=Hansen |first11=Matt |last12=Locke |first12=Harvey |last13=Ellis |first13=Erle C |last14=Jones |first14=Benjamin |last15=Barber |first15=Charles Victor |last16=Hayes |first16=Randy |last17=Kormos |first17=Cyril |last18=Martin |first18=Vance |last19=Crist |first19=Eileen |last20=Sechrest |first20=Wes |last21=Price |first21=Lori |last22=Baillie |first22=Jonathan E. M. |last23=Weeden |first23=Don |last24=Suckling |first24=Kierán |last25=Davis |first25=Crystal |last26=Sizer |first26=Nigel |last27=Moore |first27=Rebecca |last28=Thau |first28=David |last29=Birch |first29=Tanya |last30=Potapov |first30=Peter |last31=Turubanova |first31=Svetlana |last32=Tyukavina |first32=Alexandra |last33=de Souza |first33=Nadia |last34=Pintea |first34=Lilian |last35=Brito |first35=José C. |last36=Llewellyn |first36=Othman A. |last37=Miller |first37=Anthony G. |last38=Patzelt |first38=Annette |last39=Ghazanfar |first39=Shahina A. |last40=Timberlake |first40=Jonathan |last41=Klöser |first41=Heinz |last42=Shennan-Farpón |first42=Yara |last43=Kindt |first43=Roeland |last44=Lillesø |first44=Jens-Peter Barnekow |last45=van Breugel |first45=Paulo |last46=Graudal |first46=Lars |last47=Voge |first47=Maianna |last48=Al-Shammari |first48=Khalaf F. |last49=Saleem |first49=Muhammad |title=An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm |journal=BioScience |date=June 2017 |volume=67 |issue=6 |pages=534–545 |doi=10.1093/biosci/bix014 |pmid=28608869 |pmc=5451287 |doi-access=free }}</ref> The natural vegetation of the Faroe Islands is dominated by arctic-alpine plants, wildflowers, grasses, moss, and lichen. Most of the lowland area is grassland, and some are heath, dominated by shrubby heathers, mainly [[Calluna|''Calluna vulgaris'']]. Among the herbaceous flora that occurs in the Faroe Islands is the cosmopolitan marsh thistle, ''[[Cirsium palustre]]''.<ref>Hogan, C. Michael (2009) [http://www.globaltwitcher.com/artspec_information.asp?thingid=48639 ''Marsh Thistle: Cirsium palustre'', GlobalTwitcher, ed. N. Stromberg] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121213144520/http://www.globaltwitcher.com/artspec_information.asp?thingid=48639 |date=13 December 2012 }}</ref>

Although it is often asserted that the islands are naturally treeless, several tree species, among them shrubby willows (''salix''), junipers (''Juniperus''), and stunted birches, colonised the island after the Ice Age but disappeared later – apparently as a result of grazing impacts, possibly aggravated by a shift to relatively wetter cooler climatic conditions about the same time.<ref name="Olsen et al 2010">{{cite journal |last1=Olsen |first1=Jesper |last2=Björck |first2=Svante |last3=Leng |first3=Melanie J. |last4=Gudmundsdóttir |first4=Esther Ruth |last5=Odgaard |first5=Bent V. |last6=Lutz |first6=Christina M. |last7=Kendrick |first7=Chris P. |last8=Andersen |first8=Thorbjørn J. |last9=Seidenkrantz |first9=Marit-Solveig |title=Lacustrine evidence of Holocene environmental change from three Faroese lakes: a multiproxy XRF and stable isotope study |journal=Quaternary Science Reviews |date=September 2010 |volume=29 |issue=19 |page=2765 |doi=10.1016/j.quascirev.2010.06.029 |bibcode=2010QSRv...29.2764O }}</ref> A limited number of species have been successfully introduced to the region, in particular, trees from the [[Magellanic subpolar forests]] region of Chile. Conditions in the Magellanic subpolar forests are similar to those in the Faroe Islands, with cold summers and near-continuous subpolar winds. The following species from [[Tierra del Fuego]], ''[[Drimys winteri]]'', ''[[Nothofagus antarctica]]'', ''[[Nothofagus pumilio]]'', and ''[[Nothofagus betuloides]]'', have been successfully introduced to the Faroe Islands. A non-Chilean species that has been introduced is the [[Populus trichocarpa#Distribution|black cottonwood]], also known as the California poplar (''Populus trichocarpa'').{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

===Fauna===
{{Main|Fauna of the Faroe Islands}}

{{further|List of birds of the Faroe Islands|List of mammals of the Faroe Islands|List of Lepidoptera of the Faroe Islands}}
[[File:Dreierprofil.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|left|[[Atlantic puffin]]s are very common and a part of the local cuisine: [[Faroese puffin]].]]
The [[List of birds of the Faroe Islands|bird fauna of the Faroe Islands]] is dominated by [[seabird]]s and birds attracted to open land such as [[Calluna|heather]], probably because of the lack of woodland and other suitable habitats. Many species have developed special Faroese sub-species such as the [[common eider]],<ref name=unepwcmcboreal>{{cite web|url=https://www.oneearth.org/ecoregions/faroe-islands-boreal-grasslands/|title=Faroe Islands Boreal Grasslands|website=One Earth|access-date=1 September 2024|author=((UNEP-WCMC Author Team))|date=15 February 2022|archive-date=5 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240905153246/https://www.oneearth.org/ecoregions/faroe-islands-boreal-grasslands/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[common starling]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.birdmigrationatlas.dk/uk/species/starling|website=The Faroese Bird Migration Atlas|title=Starling ''Sturnus vulgaris'' Stær Stari|access-date=1 September 2024|year=2024|orig-date=Originally published 2014 by Fróðskapur – Faroe University Press|last1=Hammer|first1=Sjúrður|last2=Madsen|first2=Jadsen J.|last3=Jensen|first3=Jens-Kjeld|last4=Pedersen|first4=Kjeld T.|last5=Bloch|first5=Dorete|last6=Thorup|first6=Kasper}}</ref> [[Eurasian wren]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eurasian_Wren/id|title=Eurasian Wren: Regional Differences|website=All About Birds|publisher=CornellLab of Ornithology, Cornell University|access-date=1 September 2024|archive-date=2 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240902040635/https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eurasian_Wren/id|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[black guillemot]].<ref name=unepwcmcboreal/><ref>{{cite web |title=The Faroese Fauna|url=http://www.mundofree.com/islasferoe/thefaroesefauna.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080228060832/http://www.mundofree.com/islasferoe/thefaroesefauna.html|archive-date=28 February 2008|publisher=Mundofree.com}}</ref> The [[pied raven]], a colour morph of the North Atlantic subspecies of the [[common raven]], was [[endemism|endemic]] to the Faroe Islands, but now has become extinct;<ref>{{Cite journal |last=van Grouw |first=Hein |date=2014 |title=Some black-and-white facts about the Faeroese white-speckled Common Raven Corvus corax varius |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/252797#page/6/mode/1up |journal=Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club |volume=134 |issue=1 |pages=4–13 |archive-date=6 May 2025 |access-date=22 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250506183702/https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/252797#page/6/mode/1up |url-status=live }}</ref> the ordinary, all-black morph remains fairly widespread in the archipelago.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

Only a few species of wild land mammals are found in the Faroe Islands today, all introduced by humans. Three species are thriving on the islands today: [[mountain hare]] (''Lepus timidus''), [[brown rat]] (''Rattus norvegicus''), and the [[house mouse]] (''Mus musculus''). Recent DNA studies have reveal three independent introductions of the brown rat to the Faroe Islands<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Puckett |first1=Emily E. |last2=Magnussen |first2=Eyðfinn |last3=Khlyap |first3=Liudmila A. |last4=Strand |first4=Tanja M. |last5=Lundkvist |first5=Åke |last6=Munshi-South |first6=Jason |date=2020 |title=Genomic analyses reveal three independent introductions of the invasive brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) to the Faroe Islands |journal=Heredity |language=en |volume=124 |issue=1 |pages=15–27 |doi=10.1038/s41437-019-0255-6 |pmc=6906366 |pmid=31399718 |bibcode=2020Hered.124...15P }}</ref>

The [[Faroe Islands domestic animals|domestic animals of the Faroe Islands]] are a result of 1,200 years of isolated breeding. As a result, many of the islands' domestic animals are found nowhere else in the world. Faroese domestic breeds include [[Faroe pony]], [[Faroe Islands domestic animals#Faroese cow|Faroe cow]], Faroe sheep, [[Faroese goose]], and [[Faroe Islands domestic animals#Faroese duck|Faroese duck]].  The [[Faroe sheep]] is depicted on the [[Coat of arms of the Faroe Islands|coat of arms]]; there once was a variety of [[feral animal|feral sheep]], which survived on [[Lítla Dímun]] until the mid-nineteenth century.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ryder |first=M. L. |year=1981 |title=A survey of European primitive breeds of sheep |journal=Ann. Génét. Sél. Anim. |volume=13 |issue=4 |pages=381–418 [p. 400] |doi=10.1186/1297-9686-13-4-381 |pmc=2718014 |pmid=22896215 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

[[File:Faroese sheep Sumba 1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|[[Faroe sheep]] with the town of [[Sumba, Faroe Islands|Sumba]] in the background]]

[[Grey seal]]s (''Halichoerus grypus'') are common around the shorelines, away from human habitations.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Haug |first1=Tore |last2=Hammil |first2=Mike |last3=Olafsdottir |first3=Droplaug |title=Grey Seals in the North Atlantic and the Baltic |journal=NAAMCO Scientific Publications |date=23 October 2013 |volume=6 |url=https://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/nammcosp/issue/view/NSP6 |access-date=5 June 2023 |archive-date=6 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230606054410/https://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/nammcosp/issue/view/NSP6 |url-status=live }}</ref> Several species of [[cetacea]] live in the waters around the Faroe Islands. Best known are the [[long-finned pilot whale]]s (''Globicephala melaena''), which still are hunted by the islanders under longstanding local tradition<ref>{{cite web | last=Rogers | first=Stephanie | title=Pilot Whales Brutally Slaughtered Annually in the Faroe Islands |url=http://earthfirst.com/pilot-whales-brutally-slaughtered-annually-in-the-faroe-islands |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120522015403/http://earthfirst.com/pilot-whales-brutally-slaughtered-annually-in-the-faroe-islands |archive-date=22 May 2012 |access-date=28 June 2010}}</ref> (see [[#Whaling|Whaling]], below). [[Orca]]s (''Orcinus orca'') are regular visitors around the islands.

===Geology===
{{Main|Geology of the Faroe Islands}}

[[File:Suðuroy.FaroeIslands.2.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Beinisvørð, on the west coast of Suðuroy]]

The islands were formed during a period of high volcanic activity in the Early [[Paleogene]], around 50–60 million years ago. The islands are built up in layers of different lava flows (basalt) alternating with thin layers of volcanic ash (tuff). The soft ash and the hard basalt thus lie layer upon layer in narrow and thick strips. The soft tuff or ash zones erode relatively quickly, and the hard lump of basalt above the eroded tuff falls away, forming the first terrace.

Volcanic activity has varied over millions of years, with periods of quiescence and various periods of quiet eruptive fissures and explosive volcanism. In a few places, mainly on Suðuroy, thin layers of coal are present, which are the remains of swamp forests from the time between volcanic eruptions. The plateau has, therefore, been divided into different basalt series according to the course of volcanism and the age sequence of the layers.

There are major differences in the shapes of the islands' terraces. The lowest and oldest series are thick lava deposits that can be seen on the southern part of Suðuroy, Mykines, Tindhólmur, and the western side of Vágar. The basalts of the lower basalt series are often pillared, which is shown by elongated, angular, and regular pillars in the mountainside. Very regular vertical columns are found on northern Mykines, where they can be up to {{convert|30|m|ft|-1}} high.

The middle basalt series consists of thin lava flows with a highly porous interlayer. This series has very little resistance to crumbling and weathering. As these erosion processes are more severe at higher altitudes than lower down, the lowlands are filled with weathering material from the heights, often resulting in a characteristic curved landscape shape. This can be seen in Vágar, the northernmost part of Streymoy, and the northwestern part of Eysturoy.

Glacial activity has reduced plateau surfaces, especially on the northern islands, where the surfaces have been reduced to a series of narrower or wider zig-zag rows along the length of the islands: especially on the islands of Kunoy, Kalsoy, and Borðoy, where an eastward and a westward ice mass have eroded the intervening mountain range into a narrow ridge.

=== Topography ===
The Faroe Islands have a predominantly mountainous terrain, with elevations rising steeply from the coastline on most islands. The landscape features a series of basaltic plateaus intersected by valleys and fjords, resulting in numerous summits across the archipelago. The highest elevations are located on the larger northern islands, particularly [[Eysturoy]], [[Viðoy]] and [[Kunoy]].

'''The five highest mountain peaks in the Faroe Islands are:'''

# [[Slættaratindur]] (Eysturoy) – 880 m<ref>{{Cite web |last=PeakVisor |title=Faroe Islands Mountains |url=https://peakvisor.com/adm/faroe-islands.html |access-date=13 November 2025 |website=PeakVisor |language=en |archive-date=27 November 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251127122358/https://peakvisor.com/adm/faroe-islands.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
# [[Gráfelli]] (Eysturoy) – 856 m<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gráfelli - Peakbagger.com |url=https://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=31028 |access-date=13 November 2025 |website=Peakbagger.com}}</ref>
# Villingadalsfjall (Viðoy) – 841 m<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fyllgraf |first=Mads |title=Mount Villingadalsfjall • Towering Summit |url=https://guidetofaroeislands.fo/travel-faroe-islands/drive/villingadalsfjall/ |access-date=13 November 2025 |website=Guide to Faroe Islands |language=en-US |archive-date=16 January 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260116141757/https://guidetofaroeislands.fo/travel-faroe-islands/drive/villingadalsfjall/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
# Kúvingafjall (Kunoy) – 830 m<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kúvingafjall |url=https://peakery.com/kuvingafjall-faroe-islands/ |access-date=13 November 2025 |website=peakery.com |language=en |archive-date=6 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006101031/https://peakery.com/kuvingafjall-faroe-islands/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
# Teigafjall (Kunoy) – 825 m<ref>{{Cite web |title=Teigafjall - Peakbagger.com |url=https://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=123347 |access-date=13 November 2025 |website=Peakbagger.com |archive-date=27 November 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251127122359/https://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=123347 |url-status=live }}</ref>

''See more at Wikipedia page: [[List of mountains of the Faroe Islands]]''

==Government and politics==
{{Main|Politics of the Faroe Islands}}

{{multiple image
| align       = vertical
| total_width = 420
| width1      = 140
| image1      = King Frederik X in 2025.jpg
| caption1    = [[Frederik X]],<br /> [[Monarchy of Denmark|King of Denmark]] since 2024
| image2      = Mette Frederiksen by Christian Ursilva (2026).jpg
| caption2    = [[Mette Frederiksen]],<br /> [[Prime Minister of Denmark|Danish Prime Minister]] since 2019
| image3      = 2025 Aksel Johannesen - (cropped).jpg
| caption3    = [[Aksel V. Johannesen]],<br /> [[List of Lawmen and Prime Ministers of the Faroe Islands|Faroese Prime Minister]] since 2022
| direction   = 
| alt1        = 
}}

The Faroe Islands are a self-governing country under the external sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About the Faroe Islands |url=https://www.government.fo/en/foreign-relations/about-the-faroe-islands/ |access-date=8 October 2022 |website=Government.fo |language=en |archive-date=8 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008215710/https://www.government.fo/en/foreign-relations/about-the-faroe-islands/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The Faroese government holds [[Executive (government)|executive power]] in local government affairs. The head of the government is called the ''[[Løgmaður]]'' ("Chief Justice") and serves as Prime Minister and head of the Faroese Government. Any other member of the cabinet is called a Minister of the Faroese Government (''{{lang|fo|landsstýrismaður/ráðharri}}'' if male, ''{{lang|fo|landsstýriskvinna/ráðfrú}}'' if female). The Faroese parliament – the ''[[Løgting]]'' ("Law [[Thing (assembly)|Thing]]") – dates back to the early days of settlement and claims to be one of the longest functioning parliaments in the world, alongside the Icelandic [[Althing]] and the [[Isle of Man|Manx]] [[Tynwald]]. The parliament currently has 33 members.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tingmenn |url=http://www.logting.fo/parliamentmember/list.gebs?menuChanged=31 |access-date=14 March 2014 |publisher=Logting.fo |language=fo |archive-date=10 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080210094445/http://www.logting.fo/parliamentmember/list.gebs?menuChanged=31 }}</ref>

[[File:Tinganes.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|[[Tinganes]] in [[Tórshavn]], seat of a part of the Faroese government]]

Elections are held at municipal and national levels, additionally electing two members ([[North Atlantic mandates]]) to the [[Folketing]]. Until 2007, there were seven electoral districts, which were abolished on 25 October of that year in favour of a single nationwide district.

===Administrative divisions===
{{Main|Regions of the Faroe Islands|Municipalities of the Faroe Islands}}

[[File:Map of the Faroe Islands en.svg|thumb|upright=1.3|Relief map of the Faroe Islands]]

Administratively, the islands are divided into 29 [[Municipalities of the Faroe Islands|municipalities]] ({{Lang|fo|kommunur|italic=yes}}) within which there are 120 or so [[list of towns in the Faroe Islands|settlements]].{{cn|date=November 2024}}

There are also the six traditional [[Regions of the Faroe Islands|s''ýslur'']]: [[Norðoyar]], [[Eysturoy]], [[Streymoy]], [[Vágar]], [[Sandoy]], and [[Suðuroy]]. While no longer of any legal significance, the term is still commonly used to indicate a geographical region. In earlier times, each ''{{lang|fo|sýsla}}'' had its own [[Thing (assembly)|assembly]], the so-called ''{{lang|fo|várting}}'' ("spring assembly").{{cn|date=November 2024}}

===Relationship with Denmark===
{{See also|Faroe Islands (Folketing constituency)}}
The Faroe Islands have been under Norwegian-Danish control since 1388. The 1814 [[Treaty of Kiel]] terminated the [[Denmark–Norway|Danish–Norwegian]] union, and Norway came under the rule of the [[King of Sweden]], while the Faroe Islands, Iceland, and [[Greenland]] remained Danish possessions. From ancient times the Faroe Islands had a parliament (''Løgting''), which was abolished in 1816, and the Faroe Islands were to be governed as an ordinary [[Counties of Denmark|Danish amt]] (county), with the [[Prefect|Amtmand]] as its head of government. In 1851, the ''Løgting'' was reinstated, but, until 1948, it served mainly as an advisory body.

The islands are home to an [[Faroese independence|independence movement]] that has seen an increase in popular support within recent decades. At the end of [[World War II]], some of the population favoured independence from Denmark, and on 14 September 1946, [[1946 Faroese independence referendum|an independence referendum]] was held on the question of [[secession]]. It was a consultative referendum, the parliament not being bound to follow the people's vote. This was the first time that the Faroese people had been asked whether they favoured independence or wanted to continue within the [[Danish kingdom]].

[[File:Suðuroy.Vágur.8.jpg|thumb|left|Queen [[Margrethe II of Denmark|Margrethe II]] during a visit to [[Vágur]] in 2005]]
The result of the vote was only a slight majority in favour of secession. The Speaker of the Løgting, together with the majority, initiated the process of becoming an independent state. The minority of the Løgting left in protest, regarding these actions as illegal. One parliament member, Jákup í Jákupsstovu, was shunned by his own party, the Social Democratic Party, for having joined the majority of the Løgting.

The Speaker of the Løgting declared the Faroe Islands independent on 18 September 1946.

On 25 September 1946, a Danish prefect announced to the Løgting that the king, rejecting the majority vote, had dissolved the parliament and ordered new elections.

A parliamentary election was held a few months later, in which the political parties that favoured remaining in the Danish kingdom increased their share of the vote and formed a coalition. Based on this, they chose to reject secession. Instead, a compromise was reached, and the [[Folketing]] passed a home-rule law that went into effect in 1948. The Faroe Islands' status as a Danish {{lang|da|amt}} was thereby brought to an end; the Faroe Islands were given a high degree of self-governance, supported by a financial [[subsidy]] from Denmark to recompense expenses the islands have on Danish services.

In protest against the new Home Rule Act, [[Republic (Faroe Islands)|Republic (Tjóðveldi)]] was founded.
[[File:Nordic Prime Ministers' Summer Meeting at in Finland on 26 May 2025 - 85.jpg|thumb|V. Johannesen meeting with Mette Frederiksen and Jens-Frederik Nielsen, 2025]]
As of 2021, the islanders were evenly split between those favouring independence and those who preferred to continue as a part of the Kingdom of Denmark.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/304909325.pdf |title=Færøerne: Nation eller stat? |last=Østergård |first=Uffe |date= |website= |publisher= |access-date=31 May 2021 |archive-date=22 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231222150119/https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/304909325.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Within both camps, there is a wide range of opinions. Of those who favour independence, some are in favour of an immediate [[unilateral declaration of independence]]. Others see independence as something to be attained gradually and with the full consent of the Danish government and the [[Danish nation]]. In the unionist camp, many foresee and welcome a gradual increase in autonomy even while strong ties with Denmark are maintained.

Two attempts have been made to draft a separate Faroese constitution. The first time was in 2011, when the then prime minister [[Lars Løkke Rasmussen]] denounced it as incompatible with Denmark's constitution, stating that if the Faroe Islands wished to continue with the move, they must declare independence.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.icenews.is/index.php/2011/07/06/denmark-and-faroe-islands-in-constitutional-clash/|title=Denmark and Faroe Islands in constitutional clash|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707041022/http://www.icenews.is/index.php/2011/07/06/denmark-and-faroe-islands-in-constitutional-clash/ |archive-date=7 July 2011|website=IceNews|date=6 July 2011}}</ref> A second attempt was made in 2015, facing similar criticisms<ref>{{cite web|title=Lars Løkke Rasmussen ávarar føroyingar|url=http://www.in.fo/news-detail/lars-loekke-rasmussen-avarar-foeroyingar|access-date=27 December 2021|website=In.fo|date=10 October 2015|language=fo-FO|archive-date=18 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240518011427/https://www.in.fo/news-detail/lars-loekke-rasmussen-avarar-foeroyingar|url-status=live}}</ref> before eventually being withdrawn without a vote.<ref>{{cite web|title=LM-019/2017: Uppskot til løgtingslóg um Stjórnarskipan Føroya|url=https://www.logting.fo/mal/mal/?id=8590|access-date=27 December 2021|website=Løgtingið|archive-date=2 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002042414/https://www.logting.fo/mal/mal/?id=8590|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Relationship with the European Union===
{{Main|Faroe Islands and the European Union}}
As explicitly asserted by both [[treaties of the European Union]], the Faroe Islands are not part of the [[European Union]]. The Faroes are not grouped with the EU when it comes to international trade; for instance, when the EU and Russia imposed reciprocal trade sanctions on each other over the [[War in Donbas (2014–2022)|war in Donbas]] in 2014, the Faroes began exporting significant amounts of fresh [[salmon]] to Russia.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Troianovski|first=Anton|author-link=Anton Troianovski|date=21 February 2015|title=Faeroe Islands Boom by Selling Salmon to Russia|newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/faeroe-islands-boom-by-selling-salmon-to-russia-1424483776|archive-date=9 July 2017|access-date=7 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709174520/https://www.wsj.com/articles/faeroe-islands-boom-by-selling-salmon-to-russia-1424483776|url-status=live}}</ref> Moreover, a [[special member state territories and the European Union#Faroe Islands|protocol]] to the treaty of accession of Denmark to the European Communities stipulates that Danish nationals residing in the Faroe Islands are not considered Danish nationals within the meaning of the treaties. Hence, Danish people living in the Faroes are not [[citizenship of the European Union|citizens of the European Union]] (though other EU nationals living there remain EU citizens). The Faroes are not covered by the [[Schengen Agreement]], but there are no border checks when travelling between the Faroes and any Schengen country (the Faroes have been part of the [[Nordic Passport Union]] since 1966, and since 2001 there have been no permanent border checks between the Nordic countries and the rest of the [[Schengen Area]] as part of the Schengen agreement).<ref>{{cite web |title=Implementation of Schengen convention by the prime minister as approved by the Løgting |url=http://www.tinganes.fo/logir/Rikislogartilmaeli/2001Schengen.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721114619/http://www.tinganes.fo/logir/Rikislogartilmaeli/2001Schengen.htm |archive-date=21 July 2011 |access-date=25 August 2013 |publisher=Tinganes.fo}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Brandtjen |first=Roland |date=May 2022 |title=The impact of Brexit on the identity of small British-European nations |url=https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/94162 |journal=[[Small States & Territories Journal]] |language=en |volume=5 |issue=1 |pages=13–30 |archive-date=14 October 2023 |access-date=3 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014232331/https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/94162 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Brandtjen |first=Roland |title=Europeanized separatism and micro-nations: secession to gain full EU-membership?: an analysis of the Isle of Man and the Faroe Islands |date=2019 |publisher=Verlag Dr. Kovač |others=Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen |isbn=978-3-339-10954-5 |series=Schriftenreihe Schriften zur Europapolitik |location=Hamburg}}</ref>

===Relationship with international organisations===
{{See also|Arctic Policy of the Faroe Islands}}

The Faroe Islands are not fully independent, but they do have political relations directly with other countries through an agreement with Denmark. The Faroe Islands is a member of some international organisations as though they were an independent country. The Faroes have associate membership in the [[Nordic Council]] but have expressed wishes for full membership.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Faroe Islands apply for membership in the Nordic Council and Nordic Council of Ministers |url=https://www.norden.org/en/news/faroe-islands-apply-membership-nordic-council-and-nordic-council-ministers |website=Nordic cooperation |access-date=28 November 2020 |archive-date=11 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111041909/https://www.norden.org/en/news/faroe-islands-apply-membership-nordic-council-and-nordic-council-ministers |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Faroe Islands are a member of several international sports federations like [[UEFA]], [[FIFA]] in [[association football|football]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Member Association – Faroe Islands |url=https://www.fifa.com/associations/association=fro/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140920204344/http://www.fifa.com/associations/association=fro/|archive-date=20 September 2014}}</ref> and [[FINA]] in swimming<ref>{{cite web |title=fina.org FAR – Faroe Islands – Europe |url=http://www.fina.org/H2O/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=588:far-faroe-islands&catid=94:europe&Itemid=638 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908152156/http://www.fina.org/H2O/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=588%3Afar-faroe-islands&catid=94%3Aeurope&Itemid=638 |archive-date=8 September 2015}}</ref> and [[European Handball Federation|EHF]] in [[handball]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eurohandball.com/en/who-we-are/ehf-federations/details/far/faroe+islands|title=Hondbóltssamband Føroya (FAR) – Handball Faroe Islands &#124; EHF|website=Eurohandball.com|access-date=15 September 2022|archive-date=15 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220915110614/https://www.eurohandball.com/en/who-we-are/ehf-federations/details/far/faroe+islands|url-status=live}}</ref> and have their own national teams. They also have their own telephone country code, [[+298]], Internet country code top-level domain, [[.fo]], banking code FO, and [[Postal codes in the Faroe Islands|postal code system]].

The Faroe Islands make their own agreements with other countries regarding trade and commerce. When the [[European Union]] imposed sanctions against the [[Russia|Russian Federation]] in 2014, the Faroe Islands were not a part of the embargo because they are not a part of EU, and the islands had just themselves experienced a year of [[Faroe Islands and the European Union#EU boycott against the Faroe Islands|embargo from the EU]] including Denmark against the islands; the Faroese prime minister [[Kaj Leo Johannesen]] went to [[Moscow]] to negotiate the trade between Russia and the Faroe Islands.<ref name="Embargo2014">{{cite web |last=Gardel |first=Uffe |date=12 September 2014 |title=Færøsk hjælp til Putin (Faroese help to Putin) |work=Berlingske Business |url=http://www.business.dk/oekonomi/faeroesk-hjaelp-til-putin |access-date=1 July 2015 |publisher=Business.dk |language=da |archive-date=5 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141005204139/http://www.business.dk/oekonomi/faeroesk-hjaelp-til-putin |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[List of Ministers of Fisheries of the Faroe Islands|Faroese minister of fisheries]] negotiates with the EU and other countries regarding the rights to fish.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/home/en|title=Press corner|website=European Commission – European Commission|access-date=15 September 2022|archive-date=25 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200825095835/https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/home/en|url-status=live}}</ref>

In mid-2005, representatives of the Faroe Islands raised the possibility of their territory joining the [[European Free Trade Association]] (EFTA).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Spongenberg |first=Helena |date=8 October 2007 |title=Faroe Islands seek closer EU relations |publisher=EUobserver |url=http://euobserver.com/9/24907 |access-date=18 July 2009 |archive-date=5 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605115717/http://euobserver.com/9/24907 |url-status=live }}</ref> According to Article 56 of the EFTA Convention, only states may become members of the EFTA.<ref>{{cite web |date=21 June 2001 |title=Convention Establishing the European Free Trade Association |url=http://www.efta.int/content/legal-texts/efta-convention/eftaconvention-texts/convention-2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091021091149/http://www.efta.int/content/legal-texts/efta-convention/eftaconvention-texts/convention-2001 |archive-date=21 October 2009 |access-date=18 July 2009}}</ref> The Faroes are an [[Autonomous administrative division|autonomous territory]] of the [[Danish Realm|Kingdom of Denmark]], and not a [[sovereign state]] in their own right.<ref name="faroes">{{cite web |year=2010 |title=The Faroes and the EU – possibilities and challenges in a future relationship |url=http://www.mfa.fo/Files/Billeder/Uttanrikisradid/tekstir/ESfr%C3%A1grei%C3%B0ingEN%5B1%5D.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823140509/http://www.mfa.fo/Files/Billeder/Uttanrikisradid/tekstir/ESfr%C3%A1grei%C3%B0ingEN%5B1%5D.pdf |archive-date=23 August 2011 |access-date=15 August 2013 |publisher=The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Faroes |page=53 |quote=Under its constitutional status the Faroes cannot become an independent Contracting Party to the EEA Agreement due to the fact that the Faroes are not a state.}}</ref> Consequently, they considered the possibility that the "Kingdom of Denmark in respect of the Faroes" could join the EFTA, though the Danish Government has stated that this mechanism would not allow the Faroes to become a separate member of the EEA because Denmark was already a party to the EEA Agreement.<ref name="faroes" /> The [[Cabinet of Denmark|Government of Denmark]] officially supports new membership of the EFTA with effect for the Faroe Islands.

===Defence===
Defence is the responsibility of the Danish government. The 1st [[Squadron (naval)|Squadron]] of the [[Royal Danish Navy]] is primarily focused on national operations in and around the Faroe Islands and Greenland. As of 2023, the 1st Squadron comprises
* four {{sclass|Thetis|patrol vessel|1}}s;
* three {{sclass|Knud Rasmussen|patrol vessel|1}}s; and
* the [[royal yacht]] {{ship|HDMY|Dannebrog|A540|6}} (having a secondary surveillance and sea-rescue role)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Structure of the Navy |url=https://www.forsvaret.dk/en/organisation/navy/structure-of-the-navy/ |website=Danish Defence |access-date=15 August 2023 |archive-date=12 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240212022207/https://www.forsvaret.dk/en/organisation/navy/structure-of-the-navy/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

After 2025, the ''Thetis''-class vessels are to be replaced by the planned MPV80-class ships. The new vessels will incorporate a modular concept enabling packages of different systems (for [[Minehunter|minehunting]] or [[minelaying]], for example) to be fitted to individual ships as may be required.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Denmark's new modular patrol boats will tackle a changing Arctic |url=https://www.popsci.com/technology/denmark-arctic-patrol-boats/ |website=Popular Science |date=3 July 2023 |last=Atherton |first=Kelsey |access-date=15 August 2023 |archive-date=15 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230815133622/https://www.popsci.com/technology/denmark-arctic-patrol-boats/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Denmark is stepping up as an Arctic sea power |url=https://polarjournal.ch/en/2023/07/12/denmark-is-stepping-it-up-as-an-arctic-sea-power/ |website=Polar Journal |date=12 July 2023 |last=McGwin |first=Kevin |access-date=15 August 2023 |archive-date=30 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241230114337/https://polarjournal.ch/en/2023/07/12/denmark-is-stepping-it-up-as-an-arctic-sea-power/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2022, the Danish and Faroe Islands governments signed an agreement to establish an air surveillance radar system on the islands. The radar will monitor airspace between Iceland, Norway, and Britain with a reported range of {{convert|300|-|400|km}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Denmark and Faroe Islands Close Surveillance Gap With New Radar |url=https://www.highnorthnews.com/en/denmark-and-faroe-islands-close-surveillance-gap-new-radar |website=High North News |date=13 June 2022 |last=Jonassen |first=Trine |access-date=15 August 2023 |archive-date=15 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230815134941/https://www.highnorthnews.com/en/denmark-and-faroe-islands-close-surveillance-gap-new-radar |url-status=live }}</ref>

In addition to naval units, the [[Royal Danish Air Force]] can provide [[Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules|C-130J]] and [[Bombardier Challenger 600 series|Challenger 604 aircraft]] from [[Eskadrille 721|Squadron 721]] for search and rescue as well as surveillance missions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Viking Warriors: What does the future hold for the Royal Danish Air Force |url=https://www.key.aero/article/viking-warriors-what-does-future-hold-royal-danish-air-force |website=Key Aero |date=12 December 2022 |last=Augustesen |first=Søren |access-date=15 August 2023 |archive-date=15 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230815150235/https://www.key.aero/article/viking-warriors-what-does-future-hold-royal-danish-air-force |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Structure of the Air Force |url=https://www.forsvaret.dk/en/organisation/airforce/structure-of-the-air-force/ |website=Danish Defence |access-date=15 August 2023 |archive-date=1 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231001110814/https://www.forsvaret.dk/en/organisation/airforce/structure-of-the-air-force/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{Main|Demographics of the Faroe Islands}}

{{Historical populations
|type =
|footnote=2011 data<ref name="Statistics Faroe Islands">{{cite web|url=https://statbank.hagstova.fo/pxweb/en/H2/|title=Hagstova Føroya|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030082422/https://statbank.hagstova.fo/pxweb/en/H2/ |archive-date=30 October 2020|access-date=14 April 2020}}</ref> 2019:<ref name="Faroe Islands in figures" />
|1327 | 4000
|1350 | 2000
|1769 | 4773
|1801 | 5225
|1834 | 6928
|1850 | 8137
|1880 | 11220
|1900 | 15230
|1925 | 22835
|1950 | 31781
|1975 | 40441
|1985 | 45749
|1995 | 43358
|2000 | 46196
|2006 | 48219
|2011 | 48346
|2016 | 49554
|2020 | 52110
|2025 | 56210
}}

The vast majority of the population are [[Faroe Islanders|ethnic Faroese]], of [[Norsemen|Norse]] and [[Celts (modern)|Celtic]] descent.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Als |first1=Thomas D. |last2=Jorgensen |first2=Tove H. |last3=Børglum |first3=Anders D. |last4=Petersen |first4=Peter A. |last5=Mors |first5=Ole |last6=Wang |first6=August G. |year=2006 |title=Highly discrepant proportions of female and male Scandinavian and British Isles ancestry within the isolated population of the Faroe Islands |journal=European Journal of Human Genetics |volume=14 |issue=4 |pages=497–504 |doi=10.1038/sj.ejhg.5201578 |pmid=16434998 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Recent DNA analyses have revealed that Y chromosomes, tracing male descent, are 87% [[Scandinavia]]n,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Jorgensen |first1=Tove H. |last2=Buttenschön |first2=Henriette N. |last3=Wang |first3=August G. |last4=Als |first4=Thomas D. |last5=Børglum |first5=Anders D. |last6=Ewald |first6=Henrik |year=2004 |title=The origin of the isolated population of the Faroe Islands investigated using Y chromosomal markers |journal=Human Genetics |volume=115 |issue=1 |pages=19–28 |doi=10.1007/s00439-004-1117-7 |pmid=15083358 }}</ref>
while [[mitochondrial DNA]], tracing female descent, is 84% Celtic.<ref>Wang, C. August. 2006. Ílegur og Føroya Søga. In: ''Frøði'' pp. 20–23</ref>

There is a gender deficit of about 2,000 women owing to migration.<ref name="auto">{{Cite news |last=Ecott |first=Tim |date=27 April 2017 |title=The islands seeking wives from afar |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-39703486 |archive-date=13 June 2018 |access-date=20 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613212750/https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-39703486 |url-status=live }}</ref> As a result, some Faroese men have married women from the [[Philippines]] and [[Thailand]], whom they met through such channels as online dating websites, and arranged for them to emigrate to the islands. This group of approximately three hundred women makes up the largest ethnic minority in the Faroes.<ref name="auto" />

The [[total fertility rate]] of the Faroe Islands is [[List of sovereign states and dependent territories by fertility rate|one of the highest]] in Europe.<ref>{{cite web |title=Country Comparison: Total fertility rate |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2127rank.html |website=The World Factbook |publisher=Cia.gov |access-date=5 July 2013 |archive-date=28 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091028133713/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2127rank.html }}</ref> The 2015 fertility rate was 2.409 children born per woman.<ref name="Faroe Islands in Figures 2016">{{cite web |date=June 2016 |title=Faroe Islands in Figures 2016 – Hagstova Føroya |url=http://www.hagstova.fo/sites/default/files/Faroe_Islands_in_figures_2016.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927075554/http://www.hagstova.fo/sites/default/files/Faroe_Islands_in_figures_2016.pdf |archive-date=27 September 2016 |access-date=25 September 2016 |publisher=Hagstova Føroya (Faroe Islands Statistics) |page=34}}</ref>

The 2011 census shows that of the 48,346 inhabitants of the Faroe Islands (17,441 private households in 2011), 43,135 were born in the Faroe Islands, 3,597 were born elsewhere in the Kingdom of Denmark (Denmark proper or Greenland), and 1,614 were born outside the Kingdom of Denmark. People were also asked about their nationality, including Faroese. Children under 15 were not asked about their nationality. 97% said that they were ethnic Faroese, which means that many of those who were born in either Denmark or Greenland consider themselves ethnic Faroese. The other 3% of those older than 15 said they were not Faroese: 515 were Danish, 433 were from other European countries, 147 came from Asia, 65 from Africa, 55 from the Americas, 23 from Russia.<ref name="2011 census, born in other countries">{{cite web |date=11 April 2014 |title=Fødd uttanlands, men lýsa sín tjóðskap sum føroyskan |url=http://www.hagstova.fo/fo/folkateljing/folkid-111111/fodd-uttanlands-men-lysa-sin-tjodskap-sum-foroyskan |access-date=3 February 2015 |publisher=Hagstova Føroya |language=fo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113203803/http://www.hagstova.fo/fo/folkateljing/folkid-111111/fodd-uttanlands-men-lysa-sin-tjodskap-sum-foroyskan|archive-date=13 November 2018}}</ref>

[[File:Faroe stamp 360 arrival of christianity.jpg|thumb|upright|Faroese stamp by [[Anker Eli Petersen]] commemorating the arrival of Christianity in the islands]]

At the beginning of the 1990s, the Faroe Islands entered a deep economic crisis leading to heavy emigration; however, this trend reversed in subsequent years to a net immigration. This has been in the form of a population replacement as young Faroese women leave and are replaced with Asian/Pacific brides.<ref>{{Cite news |date=23 October 2013 |title=Faroe Islands: Men 'must import brides' |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-24637771 |archive-date=21 September 2018 |access-date=21 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921171712/https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-24637771 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2011, there were 2,155 more men than women between the age of 0 to 59 in the Faroe Islands.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rana |first=Danjal av |date=22 January 2015 |title=Fáið kvinnurnar heimaftur |url=http://www.in.fo/news-detail/news/faid-kvinnurnar-heimaftur/ |access-date=4 February 2015 |publisher=Sosialurin – in.fo |language=fo |archive-date=4 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204164544/http://www.in.fo/news-detail/news/faid-kvinnurnar-heimaftur/ }}</ref>

===Language===
{{Main|Faroese language}}

[[File:Faroe stamp 048 europe (v u hammershaimb).jpg|thumb|upright|A stamp commemorating [[V. U. Hammershaimb]], a 19th-century Faroese linguist and theologian]]

As stipulated in section 11 (§ 11) in the 1948 Home Rule Act,<ref name=":0">{{cite web|date=31 March 1948|title=Lov nr. 11 af 31. mars 1948 om Færøernes Hjemmestyre|url=https://www.logir.fo/Kunngerd/11-af-31-03-1948-af-Lov-om-Faeroernes-Hjemmestyre|access-date=27 June 2021|website=Lógasavid|archive-date=4 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804225554/https://www.logir.fo/Kunngerd/11-af-31-03-1948-af-Lov-om-Faeroernes-Hjemmestyre|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=23 March 1948|title=Lov om Færøernes Hjemmestyre (* 1)|url=https://www.retsinformation.dk/eli/lta/1948/137|access-date=27 June 2021|website=Retsinformation|archive-date=3 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603155953/https://www.retsinformation.dk/eli/lta/1948/137|url-status=live}}</ref> Faroese is the primary and official language of the country, although Danish is taught in schools and can be used by the Faroese government in public relations, with public services providing Danish translations of documents on request.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="folang">{{cite web|title=Faroese Language|url=https://www.government.fo/en/the-government/ministries/ministry-of-foreign-affairs-and-culture/cultural-affairs/faroese-language/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030113525/https://www.government.fo/en/the-government/ministries/ministry-of-foreign-affairs-and-culture/cultural-affairs/faroese-language/|archive-date=30 October 2020|access-date=6 October 2017|publisher=The Government of the Faroe Islands}}</ref> Faroese belongs to the [[North Germanic languages|North Germanic]] language branch and is descended from [[Old Norse]], being most closely related to [[Icelandic language|Icelandic]]. Due to its geographic isolation, it has preserved more conservative grammatical features that have been lost in Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish. It is the only language alongside Icelandic and [[Elfdalian]] to preserve the letter [[Eth|Ð]], though unlike the others, it is not pronounced.

Faroese sign language was officially adopted as a national language in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|title=Teknmál er nú alment mál í Føroyum|url=http://www.in.fo/news-detail/teknm-l-er-n-alment-m-l-f-royum|access-date=28 December 2021|website=In.fo|date=7 May 2017|language=fo-FO|archive-date=28 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211228002825/https://www.in.fo/news-detail/teknm-l-er-n-alment-m-l-f-royum|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Religion===
{{Main|Religion in the Faroe Islands}}
According to the ''[[Færeyinga saga]]'', [[Sigmundur Brestisson]] brought Christianity to the islands in 999. However, archaeology at a site in Toftanes, [[Leirvík]], named {{Lang|fo|Bønhústoftin|italic=yes}} (English: "the prayer-house ruin") and over a dozen slabs from {{Lang|fo|Ólansgarður}} in the small island of [[Skúvoy]] which in the main display encircled linear and outline crosses, suggest that [[Celtic Christianity]] may have arrived at least 150 years earlier.<ref name="Bønhústoftin">{{Cite journal |last1=Hansen |first1=Steffen Stummann |last2=John Sheehan |first2=John |title=The Leirvik Bønhústoftin and the Early Christianity of the Faroe Islands, and beyond |journal=Archaeologica Icelandica 5 |date=January 2006 |url=https://www.academia.edu/3123925 |access-date=3 October 2015 |publisher=Academia.edu |archive-date=17 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817040646/https://www.academia.edu/3123925 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Faroe Islands' Church [[Protestant Reformation|Reformation]] was completed on 1 January 1540. According to official statistics from 2019, 79.7% of the Faroese population are members of the state church, the [[Church of the Faroe Islands]] (Fólkakirkjan), following a form of [[Lutheranism]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://statbank.hagstova.fo/pxweb/en/H2/H2__MM__MM03/atrud_prgj.px/ | title=Parishes, 1st January (2000–2019)] | work=PxWeb | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627230907/https://statbank.hagstova.fo/pxweb/en/H2/H2__MM__MM03/atrud_prgj.px/ |archivedate=27 June 2018 | publisher=Statistics Faroe Islands}}</ref> The {{Lang|fo|Fólkakirkjan}} became an independent church in 2007; previously it had been a diocese within the [[Church of Denmark]]. Faroese members of the clergy who have had historical importance include [[Venceslaus Ulricus Hammershaimb]] (1819–1909), [[Fríðrikur Petersen]] (1853–1917) and, perhaps most significantly, [[Jákup Dahl]] (1878–1944), who had a great influence in ensuring that the [[Faroese language]] was spoken in the church instead of [[Danish language|Danish]]. Participation in churches is more prevalent among the Faroese population than among most other Scandinavians.

In the late 1820s, the Christian [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical]] religious movement, the [[Plymouth Brethren]], was established in England. In 1865, a member of this movement, [[William Gibson Sloan]], travelled to the Faroes from [[Shetland]]. At the turn of the 20th century, the Faroese Plymouth Brethren numbered thirty. Today, around 10% of the Faroese population are members of the Open Brethren community ({{Lang|fo|Brøðrasamkoman|italic=yes}}). About 3% belong to the [[Charismatic Movement]]. There are several charismatic churches around the islands, the largest of which, called {{Lang|fo|Keldan}} (The Spring), has about 200 to 300 members. About 2% belong to other Christian groups. . [[Jehovah's Witnesses]] also have four congregations with a total of 121 members. The Roman Catholic congregation has about 270 members and falls under the jurisdiction of Denmark's [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Copenhagen]]. The municipality of [[Tórshavn]] has both [[Franciscans|Franciscan]] and [[Adventism|Adventists]] private schools.
[[File:Kunoy, Faroe Islands (2).JPG|thumb|upright=1.2|Church on the island of [[Kunoy]]]]

Unlike [[Denmark]], [[Sweden]] and [[Iceland]], the Faroes have no organised [[Heathenry (new religious movement)|Heathen]] community.

The best-known church buildings in the Faroe Islands include [[Tórshavn Cathedral]], [[Olaf II of Norway]]'s Church and the [[Magnus Cathedral]] in [[Kirkjubøur]]; the {{Lang|fo|Vesturkirkjan}} and the [[Catholic Church in the Faroe Islands#St Mary's Church Today|St. Mary's Church]], both of which are situated in Tórshavn; the church of [[Fámjin]]; the octagonal church in [[Haldórsvík]]; and {{Lang|fo|Christianskirkjan}} in [[Klaksvík]].

In 1948, Victor Danielsen completed the first Bible translation into Faroese from different modern languages. Jacob Dahl and Kristian Osvald Viderø ({{Lang|fo|Fólkakirkjan}}) completed the second translation in 1961. The latter was translated from the original Biblical languages ([[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] and [[Greek language|Greek]]) into Faroese.

According to the 2011 Census, there were 33,018 Christians (95.44%), 23 [[Muslims]] (0.07%), 7 [[Hindus]] (0.02%), 66 [[Buddhism|Buddhists]] (0.19%), 12 [[Jews]] (0.03%), 13 Baháʼís (0.04%), 3 [[Sikhism|Sikhs]] (0.01%), 149 others (0.43%), 85 with more than one belief (0.25%), and 1,397 with no religion (4.04%).<ref>{{cite web |title=CS 10.1.2 Population by religious faith, educational attainment, occupation, country of birth, year of arrival in the country, and place of usual residence. |url=http://www.hagstova.fo/en/statbank/census/2011/religion/religion-educaton-and-country-of-birth |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002070910/http://www.hagstova.fo/en/statbank/census/2011/religion/religion-educaton-and-country-of-birth |archive-date=2 October 2015 |access-date=1 October 2015 |website=Statistics Faroe Islands}}</ref>

===Education===
{{Main|Education in the Faroe Islands}}

The levels of education in the Faroe Islands are [[primary education|primary]], [[secondary education|secondary]], and [[higher education]]. Most institutions are funded by the state; there are few private schools in the Faroe Islands. Education is compulsory for 9 years between the ages of 7 and 16.<ref name="educationfaroe">{{cite web |title=Education |url=http://www.faroeislands.fo/people-society/education-research/education/ |access-date=22 November 2014 |publisher=faroeislands.fo |archive-date=8 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208092639/http://www.faroeislands.fo/people-society/education-research/education/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Compulsory education consists of seven years of primary education and two years of lower secondary education; it is public, free of charge, provided by the respective municipalities, and is called the {{lang|fo|Fólkaskúli}} in Faroese. The {{lang|fo|Fólkaskúli}} also provides optional preschool education as well as the tenth year of education that is a prerequisite to being admitted to upper secondary education. Students who complete compulsory education are allowed to continue education in a [[vocational school]], where they can have job-specific training and education. Since the fishing industry is an important part of [[Economy of the Faroe Islands|Faroe Islands' economy]], maritime schools are an important part of Faroese education. Upon completion of the tenth year of {{lang|fo|Fólkaskúli}}, students can continue to upper secondary education, which consists of several different types of schools. Higher education is offered at the [[University of the Faroe Islands]]; a part of Faroese youth moves abroad to pursue higher education, mainly in [[Denmark]]. Other forms of education comprise [[adult education]] and music schools. The structure of the Faroese educational system bears resemblances with its Danish counterpart.<ref name="educationfaroe" />

In the 12th century, education was provided by the [[Catholic Church in the Faroe Islands]].<ref name="Debes 2000">{{Cite book |last=Debes |first=Hans Jacob |title=Hin lærdi skúlin í Havn |publisher=Sprotin |year=2000 |isbn=99918-44-57-0 |pages=12–15 |language=fo |chapter=1}}<!--|access-date=19 October 2015--></ref> The [[Church of Denmark]] took over education after the [[Reformation in Denmark–Norway and Holstein|Protestant Reformation]].<ref name="Debes 2000, chapter 2">{{Cite book |last=Debes |first=Hans Jacob |title=Hin lærdi skúlin í Havn |publisher=Sprotin |year=2000 |isbn=99918-44-57-0 |pages=34–35 |language=fo |chapter=2}}<!--|access-date=19 October 2015--></ref>
Modern educational institutions started operating in the last quarter of the nineteenth century and developed throughout the twentieth century. The status of the Faroese language in education was a significant issue for decades until it was accepted as a language of instruction in 1938.<ref name="cultral">{{cite web |last=Bamford, Anne |date=1 November 2006 |title=Arts and Cultural Education in the Faroe Islands |url=http://snar.fo/uploads/tx_tcresources/Final_Arts_and_Cultural_Education_in_Faroe_final__4_.pdf |access-date=31 October 2015 |publisher=University of the Arts London |archive-date=23 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151123031735/http://snar.fo/uploads/tx_tcresources/Final_Arts_and_Cultural_Education_in_Faroe_final__4_.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Initially education was administered and regulated by Denmark.<ref name="cultral" /> In 1979 responsibilities on educational issues started transferring to the Faroese authorities, a procedure which was completed in 2002.<ref name="cultral" />

The [[Ministry of Education, Research and Culture (Faroe Islands)|Ministry of Education, Research and Culture]] has the jurisdiction of educational responsibility in the Faroe Islands.<ref name="government-education">{{cite web |title=Ministry of Education, Research and Culture |url=http://www.government.fo/the-government/ministries/ministry-of-education-research-and-culture/ |access-date=19 October 2015 |publisher=The Faroese Government |archive-date=23 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160123215121/http://www.government.fo/the-government/ministries/ministry-of-education-research-and-culture/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Since the Faroe Islands are a part of the [[Danish Realm]], education in the Faroe Islands is influenced and has similarities with the [[Education in Denmark|Danish educational system]]; there is an agreement on educational cooperation between the Faroe Islands and Denmark.<ref name="cultral" /><ref name="adult">{{cite web |title=Adult Education in the Faroe Islands |url=http://www.nvl.org/Portals/0/_dokumenter/2013/vux_utb_fo_eng.pdf |access-date=31 October 2015 |publisher=Nordic network for adult learning (NVL) |archive-date=23 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160123215122/http://www.nvl.org/Portals/0/_dokumenter/2013/vux_utb_fo_eng.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Sroka, Wendelin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FI5hZqm2_0MC |title=The Education Systems of Europe |publisher=Springer |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-4020-4874-6 |editor-last=Hörner |editor-first=Wolfgang |location=[[Dordrecht]] |pages=249–250 |chapter=Faroe Islands |editor-last2=Döbert |editor-first2=Hans |editor-last3=Von Kopp |editor-first3=Botho |editor-last4=Mitter |editor-first4=Wolfgang |display-editors=3}}</ref> In 2012 the public spending on education was 8.1% of [[Gross domestic product|GDP]].<ref name="fin">{{cite web |date=June 2014 |title=Faroe Islands in figures 2014 |url=http://www.hagstova.fo/sites/default/files/Faroe%20Islands%20in%20figures%202014_0.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007010243/http://www.hagstova.fo/sites/default/files/Faroe%20Islands%20in%20figures%202014_0.pdf |archive-date=7 October 2014 |access-date=20 November 2014 |publisher=Hagstova Føroya}}</ref> The municipalities are responsible for the school buildings for children's education in {{lang|fo|Fólkaskúlin}} from age 1st grade to 9th or 10th grade (age 7 to 16).<ref name="Skúlaviðurskifti">{{cite web |title=Skúlaviðurskifti |url=http://www.klaksvik.fo/index.asp?pID=%7B3C6A3437-32A7-47EC-A0FE-670EF747F688%7D |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151226061050/http://www.klaksvik.fo/index.asp?pID=%7B3C6A3437-32A7-47EC-A0FE-670EF747F688%7D |archive-date=26 December 2015 |access-date=29 October 2015 |publisher=Klaksvíkar kommuna |language=fo }}</ref> In November 2013 1,615 people, or 6.8% of the total number of employees, were employed in the education sector.<ref name="fin" /> Of the 31,270 people aged 25 and above 1,717 (5.5%) have gained at least a [[master's degree]]s or a [[Doctor of Philosophy|Ph.D.]], 8,428 (27%) have gained a [[Bachelor of Science|B.Sc.]] or a [[diploma]], 11,706 (37.4%) have finished upper secondary education while 9,419 (30.1%) has only finished primary school and have no other education.<ref>{{cite web |date=27 October 2014 |title=CS 5.1.2 Population by country/place of education/training, educational attainment level, age and sex |url=http://www.hagstova.fo/en/statbank/census/2011/education/educational-attainment |access-date=20 November 2014 |publisher=Hagstova Føroya |archive-date=16 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150116083427/http://www.hagstova.fo/en/statbank/census/2011/education/educational-attainment |url-status=live }}</ref> There is no data on literacy in the Faroe Islands, but the CIA Factbook states that it is probably as high as in [[Denmark]] proper, i.e. 99%.<ref>{{cite web |title=The World Factbook – Literacy(%) |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2103.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070613003138/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2103.html |archive-date=13 June 2007 |access-date=20 November 2014 |publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency]]}}</ref>

The majority of students in upper secondary schools are women, although men represent the majority in higher education institutions. In addition, most young Faroese people who relocate to other countries to study are women.<ref name="Studni2015">{{cite web |title=Tølini tala fyri seg |url=https://infogr.am/faroese_education_overview |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208124448/https://infogr.am/faroese_education_overview |archive-date=8 December 2015 |access-date=15 October 2015 |publisher=Studni |language=fo}}</ref> Out of 8,535 holders of [[bachelor degrees]], 4,796 (56.2%) have had their education in the Faroe Islands, 2,724 (31.9%) in Denmark, 543 in both the Faroe Islands and Denmark, 94 (1.1%) in Norway, 80 in the United Kingdom and the rest in other countries.<ref name="educationpercountry">{{cite web |date=11 November 2011 |title=Population by educational attainment (level and country/place of education/training), current activity status and place of usual residence |url=http://www.hagstova.fo/en/statbank/census/2011/education/educational-attainment/C172 |access-date=16 October 2015 |publisher=Hagstova Føroya |archive-date=15 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150915011442/http://www.hagstova.fo/en/statbank/census/2011/education/educational-attainment/C172 |url-status=live }}</ref> Out of 1,719 holders of master's degrees or PhDs, 1,249 (72.7%) have had their education in Denmark, 87 (5.1%) in the United Kingdom, 86 (5%) in both the Faroe Islands and Denmark, 64 (3.7%) in the Faroe Islands, 60 (3.5%) in Norway and the rest in other countries (mostly EU and Nordic).<ref name="educationpercountry" /> Since there is no medical school in the Faroe Islands, all medical students have to study abroad; {{As of|2013|lc=y}}, out of a total of 96 medical students, 76 studied in Denmark, 19 in [[Poland]], and 1 in [[Hungary]].<ref name="Læknalesandi">{{cite web |last=Lindenskov |first=Eirikur |date=25 May 2015 |title=Læknalesandi vilja heim aftur til Føroya |url=http://www.in.fo/news-detail/news/laeknalesandi-vilja-heim-aftur-til-foeroya/ |access-date=16 October 2015 |publisher=in.fo |language=fo |archive-date=1 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001052024/http://www.in.fo/news-detail/news/laeknalesandi-vilja-heim-aftur-til-foeroya/ }}</ref>

==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of the Faroe Islands}}

{{See also|Energy in the Faroe Islands}}
[[File:Faroe Islands, Borðoy, Klaksvík (3).jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|[[Klaksvík]], on the island of Borðoy, is the Faroe Islands' second-largest town.]]

Economic troubles caused by the collapse of the Faroese fishing industry in the early 1990s brought high unemployment rates of 10 to 15% by the mid-1990s.<ref name="StatsFO">{{cite web|url=http://www.hagstova.fo/portal/page/portal/HAGSTOVAN/Statistics_%20Faroe_Islands/Statistics/LABOUR_MARKET_AND_WAGES/ARBLMAT_EN|title=Statistics Faroe Islands; Labour Market and Wages|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091113164956/http://www.hagstova.fo/portal/page/portal/HAGSTOVAN/Statistics_%20Faroe_Islands/Statistics/LABOUR_MARKET_AND_WAGES/ARBLMAT_EN |archive-date=13 November 2009|access-date=4 August 2009}}</ref> Unemployment decreased in the later 1990s, down to about 6% at the end of 1998.<ref name=StatsFO/> By June 2008 unemployment had declined to 1.1%, before rising to 3.4% in early 2009.<ref name=StatsFO/> In December 2019<ref name="Hagstovan unemployment">{{cite web |date=19 November 2019 |title=Arbeiðsloysið 0,9% í septembur – nú søguliga lágt |url=https://hagstova.fo/fo/tidindi/arbei%C3%B0sloysi%C3%B0-09-%C3%AD-septembur-n%C3%BA-s%C3%B8guliga-l%C3%A1gt |access-date=18 March 2019 |publisher=hagstova.fo |language=fo}}</ref> the unemployment reached a record low 0.9%. Nevertheless, the almost total dependence on fishing and [[fish farming]] means that the economy remains vulnerable. The largest private company of the Faroe Islands is the salmon farming company [[Bakkafrost]], which is also the largest of the four salmon farming companies in the Faroe Islands,<ref name="Fishupdate">{{cite web |date=7 October 2014 |title=Bakkafrost Chief Financial Officer quits |url=http://www.fishupdate.com/bakkafrost-chief-financial-officer-quits/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925083335/http://www.fishupdate.com/bakkafrost-chief-financial-officer-quits/ |archive-date=25 September 2015 |access-date=23 March 2019 |publisher=Fishupdate.com}}</ref> and third largest in the world.<ref>{{cite web |last=(www.knassar.com) |first=Knassar – the new media web partner |title=Føroysk alifyritøka er áttinda størst í heiminum – Føroyski portalurin – portal.fo |url=http://portal.fo/foroysk%20alifyritoka%20attinda%20storsta%20i%20heiminum.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223131032/http://portal.fo/foroysk%20alifyritoka%20attinda%20storsta%20i%20heiminum.html |archive-date=23 February 2017 |access-date=23 February 2017}}</ref>

In 2011, 13% of the Faroe Islands' national income consists of economic aid from [[Denmark]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Fíggjarmálaráðið – Fíggjarlóg – Fíggjarlóg 2011 |url=http://www.fmr.fo//Index.asp?pID=1D580A05-61C2-4CA7-8687-989EA0D511E9 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110022132/http://www.fmr.fo//Index.asp?pID=1D580A05-61C2-4CA7-8687-989EA0D511E9 |archive-date=10 November 2013 |access-date=25 August 2013 |publisher=Fmr.fo }}</ref> corresponding to roughly 5% of GDP.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=May 2019 |title=The economy of the North 2015 |url=https://www.ssb.no/a/english/publikasjoner/pdf/sa84_en/sa84_en.pdf |journal=Statistical Analyses 151 |page=168 |archive-date=19 June 2019 |access-date=25 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190619205835/https://www.ssb.no/a/english/publikasjoner/pdf/sa84_en/sa84_en.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

Since 2000, the government has fostered new information technology and business projects to attract new investment. The introduction of [[Burger King]] in [[Tórshavn]] was widely publicised as a sign of the globalisation of [[Culture of the Faroe Islands|Faroese culture]]. It remains to be seen whether these projects will succeed in broadening the islands' economic base. The islands have one of the lowest unemployment rates in Europe, but this should not necessarily be taken as a sign of a recovering economy, as many young students move to Denmark and other countries after leaving high school. This leaves a largely middle-aged and elderly population that may lack the skills and knowledge to fill newly developed positions in the Faroes. Nonetheless, in 2008, the Faroes were able to make a $52 million loan to [[Iceland]] in the wake of the [[2008–2011 Icelandic financial crisis|2008 financial crisis]].<ref name="NYT">{{Cite news |last=Lyall |first=Sarah |date=1 November 2008 |title=Iceland, Mired in Debt, Blames Britain for Woes |page=A6 |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/02/world/europe/02iceland.html |access-date=1 November 2008 |archive-date=11 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090411121744/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/02/world/europe/02iceland.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 5 August 2009, two opposition parties introduced a bill in the ''[[Løgting]]'' to adopt the euro as the national currency, pending a referendum.<ref>{{cite web |date=4 August 2009 |title=Uppskot til samtyktar um at taka upp samráðingar um treytir fyri evru sum føroyskt gjaldoyra |url=http://www.logting.fo/files/casestate/9193/011.09%20Evra-gjaldoyra%20(1).pdf |publisher=Logting.fo |language=fo |access-date=9 August 2009 |archive-date=24 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224143250/https://www.logting.fo/files/casestate/9193/011.09%20Evra-gjaldoyra%20(1).pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The euro was not adopted.
{{clear left}}

==Transportation==
{{Main|Transport in the Faroe Islands}}

[[File:Faroe Islands, Eysturoy, road from Skipanes to Syðrugøta.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|The road from [[Skipanes]] to [[Syðrugøta]], on the island of [[Eysturoy]]]]

By road, the main islands are connected by bridges and tunnels. Government-owned [[Strandfaraskip Landsins]] provides public bus and ferry service to the main towns and villages. There are no railways.{{cn|date=November 2024}}

By air, [[Scandinavian Airlines]] and the government-owned [[Atlantic Airways]] both have scheduled international flights to [[Vágar Airport]], the islands' only airport. Atlantic Airways also provides helicopter service to each of the islands. All civil aviation matters are controlled by the [[Civil Aviation Administration Denmark]].

By sea, [[Smyril Line]] operates a regular international passenger, car, and freight service linking the Faroe Islands with [[Seyðisfjörður]], Iceland, and [[Hirtshals]], Denmark.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sailing Schedule 2018 |url=http://www.smyrilline.com/sailing-schedule/schedule-2018 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306142308/http://www.smyrilline.com/sailing-schedule/schedule-2018 |archive-date=6 March 2018 |publisher=Smyril Line}}</ref>

[[File:New smyril 11.56.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|The ferry [[MS Smyril|MS ''Smyril'']] enters the Faroe Islands at [[Krambatangi]] ferry port in [[Suðuroy]].]]
The Faroes have a highly developed road network connecting almost all settlements by [[list of tunnels of the Faroe Islands|tunnels through the mountains and between the islands]], bridges, and [[causeway]]s that link together the four largest islands and three islands to the northeast. [[Suðuroy]] is the only major island not connected by a fixed link.

[[Koltur]] and [[Stóra Dímun]] have no ferry connection, only a helicopter service. Other small islands—[[Mykines, Faroe Islands|Mykines]] to the west, [[Kalsoy]], [[Svínoy]] and [[Fugloy]] to the north, [[Hestur]] west of Streymoy, and [[Nólsoy]] east of Tórshavn—have smaller ferries and some of these islands also have helicopter service.

Since 2014, the Faroese government has emphasised expanding fixed road connections between islands. In 2020 the [[Eysturoyartunnilin]] opened, greatly reducing travel time between [[Eysturoy]] and [[Tórshavn]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Johnsigurd Johannesen |date=2 February 2014 |title=Tunlarnir verða lidnir í 2021 |url=http://kvf.fo/netvarp/uv/2014/02/02/tunlarnir-standa-klrir-2021 |access-date=14 March 2014 |publisher=Kvf.fo |language=fo |archive-date=13 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813004527/http://kvf.fo/netvarp/uv/2014/02/02/tunlarnir-standa-klrir-2021 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2023, the Faroes' longest single-length tunnel opened, [[Sandoyartunnilin]], linking [[Sandoy]] to the greater Faroese road network on [[Streymoy]].<ref name="sandoytunnel"><!-- reference copied from Sandoyartunnilin article 2024-02-03 -->{{cite web|url=https://www.estunlar.fo/fo/um-tunlarnar/sandoyartunnilin/|title=The Sandoy tunnel|publisher=Eysturoyar- og Sandoyartunlar|access-date=8 July 2020|archive-date=11 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200711195142/https://www.estunlar.fo/fo/um-tunlarnar/sandoyartunnilin//|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Culture==
{{Main|Culture of the Faroe Islands}}

The culture of the Faroe Islands has its roots in [[Nordic countries|Nordic]] culture. The Faroe Islands were long isolated from the main cultural phases and movements that swept across mainland Europe. This means that they have maintained a great part of their traditional culture. The language spoken is [[Faroese language|Faroese]], which is one of three insular [[North Germanic languages]] descended from the [[Old Norse]] language spoken in Scandinavia in the [[Viking Age in the Faroe Islands|Viking Age]], the others being [[Icelandic language|Icelandic]] and the extinct [[Norn language|Norn]], which is thought to have been mutually intelligible with Faroese. Until the 15th century, Faroese had a similar orthography to Icelandic and [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]], but after the Reformation in 1538, the ruling [[Norway|Norwegians]] outlawed its use in schools, churches, and official documents. Although a rich spoken tradition survived for 300 years, the language was not written down. This means that all poems and stories were handed down orally. These works were split into the following divisions: {{lang|fo|sagnir}} (historical), {{lang|fo|ævintýr}} (stories) and {{lang|fo|[[kvæði]]}} (ballads), often set to music and the [[Middle Ages|medieval]] chain dance. These were eventually written down in the 19th century.

===Literature===
{{Main|Faroese literature}}

[[File:Faroe stamp 364 rasmussen and skardi.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Regin í Líð|Rasmus Rasmussen]], the writer who wrote the first novel in the [[Faroese language]] (poetical name: Regin í Líð), and [[Símun av Skarði]], the poet who wrote the [[Tú alfagra land mítt|Faroese national anthem]]]]

Faroese written literature has developed only in the past 100–200 years. This is mainly because of the islands' isolation and also because the [[Faroese language]] did not have a standardised writing system. The Danish language was also encouraged at the expense of the Faroese. Nevertheless, the Faroes have produced several authors and poets. A rich centuries-old oral tradition of folk tales and Faroese folk songs accompanied the [[Faroese dance|Faroese chain dance]]. The people learned these songs and stories by heart and told or sang them to each other, teaching the younger generations, too. This kind of literature was gathered in the 19th century and early 20th century. The Faroese folk songs, in Faroese called {{lang|fo|kvæði}}, are still in use, although not as broadly as earlier.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

The first [[List of novels written in Faroese|Faroese novel]], {{lang|fo|Bábelstornið}} by [[Regin í Líð]], was published in 1909; the second novel was published 18 years later. In the period 1930 to 1940 a writer from the village Skálavík on Sandoy island, [[Heðin Brú]], published three novels: {{lang|fo|Lognbrá}} (1930), {{lang|fo|Fastatøkur}} (1935) and {{lang|fo|[[Feðgar á ferð]]}} (English title: ''The old man and his sons'') (1940). {{lang|fo|[[Feðgar á ferð]]}} has been translated into several other languages. Martin Joensen from [[Sandvík]] wrote about life on Faroese fishing vessels; he published the novels {{lang|fo|Fiskimenn}} (1946)<ref>{{cite web |title=Fiskimenn |url=http://snar.fo/skipan/utgavur/snarbook/fiskimenn/ |access-date=14 March 2014 |publisher=Snar.fo |archive-date=21 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221170532/http://snar.fo/skipan/utgavur/snarbook/fiskimenn/ }}</ref> and {{lang|fo|Tað lýsir á landi}} (1952).

Well-known poets from the early 20th century include the two brothers from Tórshavn: [[Hans Andrias Djurhuus]] (1883–1951)<ref>{{cite web |title=Hans Andrias Djurhuus (1883–1951) |url=http://snar.fo/index.php?id=3587 |access-date=14 March 2014 |publisher=Snar.fo |archive-date=16 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141016222609/http://snar.fo/index.php?id=3587 |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Janus Djurhuus]] (1881–1948);<ref>{{cite web |title=Janus Djurhuus (1881–1948) |url=http://snar.fo/index.php?id=3588 |access-date=14 March 2014 |publisher=Snar.fo |archive-date=21 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221171828/http://snar.fo/index.php?id=3588 |url-status=live }}</ref> other well known poets from this period and the mid 20th century are [[Poul F. Joensen]] (1898–1970),<ref>{{cite web |date=23 March 1921 |title=Pól F. Joensen (1898–1970) |url=http://snar.fo/index.php?id=4107 |access-date=14 March 2014 |publisher=Snar.fo |archive-date=21 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221171250/http://snar.fo/index.php?id=4107 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Regin Dahl]] (1918–2007),<ref>{{cite web |title=Regin Dahl (1918–2007) |url=http://snar.fo/index.php?id=4235 |access-date=14 March 2014 |publisher=Snar.fo |archive-date=21 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221171605/http://snar.fo/index.php?id=4235 |url-status=live }}</ref> and Tummas Napoleon Djurhuus (1928–71).<ref>{{cite web |title=Tummas Napoleon Djurhuus |url=http://snl.no/Tummas_Napoleon_Djurhuus |access-date=14 March 2014 |publisher=Snl.no |archive-date=21 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221123750/http://snl.no/Tummas_Napoleon_Djurhuus |url-status=live }}</ref> Their poems are popular even today and can be found in Faroese song books and school books. [[Jens Pauli Heinesen]] (1932–2011), a school teacher from [[Sandavágur]], was the most productive Faroese novelist; he published 17 novels. [[Steinbjørn B. Jacobsen]] (1937–2012), a schoolteacher from [[Sandvík]], wrote short stories, plays, children's books, and even novels. Most Faroese writers write in Faroese; two exceptions are [[William Heinesen]] (1900–91) and [[Jørgen-Frantz Jacobsen]] (1900–38).

Women were not so visible in the early Faroese literature except for [[Helena Patursson]] (1864–1916), but in the last decades of the 20th century and in the beginning of the 21st-century female writers like [[Ebba Hentze]] (born 1933) wrote children's books, short stories, etc. [[Guðrið Helmsdal]] published the first collection of modernist poems, ''Lýtt lot'', in 1963, which at the same time was the first collection of Faroese poems written by a woman.<ref>{{cite web |title=Guðrið Helmsdal |url=http://www.ms.fo/?page_id=1099 |access-date=14 March 2014 |publisher=Ms.fo |archive-date=27 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927141459/http://www.ms.fo/?page_id=1099 |url-status=live }}</ref> Her daughter, [[Rakel Helmsdal]] (born 1966), is also a writer, best known for her children's books, for which she has won several prizes and nominations. Other female writers are the novelists [[Oddvør Johansen]] (born 1941), [[Bergtóra Hanusardóttir]] (born 1946) and novelist/children's books writers [[Marianna Debes Dahl]] (born 1947), and [[Sólrun Michelsen]] (born 1948). Other modern Faroese writers include Gunnar Hoydal (born 1941), [[Hanus Kamban]] (born 1942), [[Jógvan Isaksen]] (born 1950), [[Jóanes Nielsen]] (born 1953), Tóroddur Poulsen and [[Carl Jóhan Jensen]] (born 1957). Some of these writers have been nominated for the [[Nordic Council's Literature Prize]] two to six times but have never won it. The only Faroese writer who writes in Faroese to have won the prize is the poet [[Rói Patursson]] (born 1947), who was awarded in 1986 for ''Líkasum''.<ref>{{cite web |title=1986 Rói Patursson, The Faroe Islands: Líkasum – Nordic cooperation |url=http://www.norden.org/en/nordic-council/nordic-council-prizes/nordisk-raads-litteraturpris/the-winners/1986 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227074855/http://www.norden.org/en/nordic-council/nordic-council-prizes/nordisk-raads-litteraturpris/the-winners/1986/ |archive-date=27 February 2014 |access-date=14 March 2014 |publisher=Norden.org}}</ref> In 2007 the first ever [[Faroese language|Faroese]]/German anthology "From [[Janus Djurhuus]] to [[Tóroddur Poulsen]] – Faroese Poetry during 100 Years", edited by [[Paul Alfred Kleinert]], including a short history of Faroese literature was published in Leipzig.

In the 21st century, some new writers have had success in the Faroe Islands and abroad. [[Bárður Oskarsson]] (born 1972) is a children's book writer and illustrator; his books won prizes in the Faroes, Germany, and the [[West Nordic Council's Children and Youth Literature Prize]] (2006). Though not born in the Faroe Islands, Matthew Landrum, an American poet and editor for ''[[Structo]]'' magazine, has written a collection of poems about the Islands. [[Sissal Kampmann]] (born 1974) won the Danish literary prize [[Klaus Rifbjerg's Debutant Prize]] (2012), and Rakel Helmsdal has won Faroese and Icelandic awards; she has been nominated for the West Nordic Council's Children and Youth Literature Prize and the Children and Youth Literature Prize of the Nordic Council (representing Iceland, wrote the book together with and Icelandic and a Swedish writer/illustrator). [[Marjun Syderbø Kjelnæs]] (born 1974) had success with her first novel ''Skriva í sandin'' for teenagers; the book was awarded and nominated both in the Faroes and in other countries. She won the [[Nordic Children's Book Prize]] (2011) for this book, [[International Youth Library|White Raven Deutsche Jugendbibliothek]] (2011) and nominated the West Nordic Council's Children and Youth Literature Prize and the Children and Youth Literature Prize of the Nordic Council (2013).<ref>{{cite web |title=Marjun Syderbø Kjelnæs |url=http://www.norden.org/da/nordisk-raad/nordisk-raads-priser/nordisk-raads-boerne-og-ungdomslitteraturpris/nominerede-2013/marjun-syderboe-kjelnaes |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110055635/http://www.norden.org/da/nordisk-raad/nordisk-raads-priser/nordisk-raads-boerne-og-ungdomslitteraturpris/nominerede-2013/marjun-syderboe-kjelnaes/ |archive-date=10 November 2013 |access-date=14 March 2014 |publisher=Norden.org |language=da}}</ref>

===Music===
{{Main|Music of the Faroe Islands}}

The Faroe Islands have an active music scene, with live music being a regular part of the Islands' life and many Faroese being proficient at several instruments. Multiple Danish Music Award winner [[Teitur Lassen]] calls the Faroes home and is arguably the islands' most internationally well-known musical export.

The Islands have their own [[orchestra]] (the classical ensemble Aldubáran) and many different choirs; the best-known of these is Havnarkórið. The best-known local Faroese composers are [[Sunleif Rasmussen]] and [[Kristian Blak]], who is also head of the record company [[Tutl]]. The first Faroese opera was by Sunleif Rasmussen. It is entitled ''Í Óðamansgarði'' (The Madman's Garden) and premiered on 12 October 2006 at the Nordic House. The opera is based on a short story by the writer [[William Heinesen]].

Notable young Faroese musicians include [[Eivør Pálsdóttir]], [[Høgni Reistrup]], [[Høgni Lisberg]], Heidrik ([[Heiðrikur á Heygum]]), [[Guðrið Hansdóttir]], and [[Brandur Enni]]. In 2023, [[Reiley (singer)|Reiley]] became the first Faroese artist to represent Denmark in the [[Eurovision Song Contest]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 February 2023 |title=Færøerne skriver Grand Prix-historie: Her er vinderen af Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2023 |url=https://www.dr.dk/det-bedste-fra-dr/faeroeerne-skriver-grand-prix-historie-her-er-vinderen-af-dansk-melodi-grand-prix |access-date=12 February 2023 |website=DR |language=da-DK |archive-date=11 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230211212752/https://www.dr.dk/det-bedste-fra-dr/faeroeerne-skriver-grand-prix-historie-her-er-vinderen-af-dansk-melodi-grand-prix |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2025, [[Sissal]] became the second Faroese artist to represent Denmark in the Eurovision Song Contest, and the first to qualify for the Grand Final.

Well-known bands include [[Týr (band)|Týr]], [[Hamferð]], [[The Ghost (Faroese band)|The Ghost]], [[Boys in a Band]], [[:fo:200 (rokkbólkur)|200]], and [[Sic (band)|SIC]].

A festival of contemporary and classical music, {{Lang|fo|Summartónar|italic=yes}}, is held each summer. The [[G! Festival]] in [[Norðragøta]] in July and [[Summarfestivalurin]] in [[Klaksvík]] in August are both large, open-air music festivals for popular music with local and international acts participating. {{Lang|fo|Havnar Jazzfelag}} was established on 21 November 1975 and is still active, as well as arranging {{Lang|fo|VetrarJazz}} and other jazz festivals in the Faroe Islands.

===Nordic House in the Faroe Islands===
The [[Nordic House in the Faroe Islands]] ({{langx|fo|Norðurlandahúsið}}) is the most important cultural institution in the Faroes. It aims to support and promote [[Scandinavia]]n and Faroese culture, locally and in the Nordic region. [[Erlendur Patursson]] (1913–86), a Faroese member of the [[Nordic Council]], raised the idea of a Nordic cultural house in the Faroe Islands. A Nordic competition to choose an architect was held in 1977, in which 158 architects participated. The winners were Ola Steen from [[Norway]] and Kolbrún Ragnarsdóttir from [[Iceland]]. Staying true to [[folklore]], the architects built the Nordic House to resemble an enchanted hill of [[elf|elves]]. The house opened in [[Tórshavn]] in 1983. The Nordic House is a cultural organisation under the Nordic Council. The Nordic House is run by a steering committee of eight, of whom three are Faroese and five from other Nordic countries. There is also a local advisory body of fifteen members representing Faroese cultural organisations. The House is managed by a director appointed by the steering committee for a four-year term.

===Traditional food===
{{Main|Faroese cuisine}}

[[File:Dog as truck driver.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Truck delivering [[chocolate]] in the Faroe Islands]]

Traditional Faroese food is mainly based on meat, seafood, and potatoes and uses a few fresh vegetables. Mutton of the [[Faroe sheep]] is the basis of many meals, and one of the most popular treats is ''[[skerpikjøt]]'', well-aged, wind-dried, quite chewy mutton. The drying shed, known as a {{Lang|fo|hjallur|italic=yes}}, is a standard feature in many Faroese homes, particularly in small towns and villages. Other traditional foods are {{Lang|fo|ræst kjøt|italic=yes}} (semi-dried mutton) and {{Lang|fo|ræstur fiskur|italic=yes}} (matured fish). Another Faroese speciality is ''[[tvøst og spik]]'', made from [[pilot whale]] meat and [[blubber]]. (A parallel meat/fat dish made with [[offal]] is ''[[garnatálg]]''.) The tradition of consuming meat and blubber from pilot whales arises from the fact that a single kill can provide many meals. Fresh fish also feature strongly in the traditional local diet, as do [[seabird|seabirds]], such as [[Faroese puffin|puffins]] and their eggs. Dried fish is also commonly eaten.

There are two breweries in the Faroe Islands. [[Föroya Bjór]] has produced beer since 1888, with exports mainly to Iceland and Denmark. {{Lang|fo|Okkara Bryggjarí}} was founded in 2010. A local speciality is {{Lang|fo|fredrikk|italic=yes}}, a special brew made in [[Nólsoy]].

Since the friendly British occupation, the Faroese have been fond of British food, in particular British-style chocolate such as [[Cadbury Dairy Milk]], which is found in many of the island's shops.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dixon |first=Rachel |date=2 September 2011 |title=Nordic holiday ideas |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/sep/02/scandinavia-holidays-sweden-lapland}}</ref>

===Whaling===
{{Main|Whaling in the Faroe Islands}}

[[File:Whaling in the Faroe Islands in August 2012.JPG|thumb|upright=1.1|Boats driving a pod of pilot whales into a bay of [[Suðuroy]] in 2012]]
[[File:Grinadrap2018.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Whaling in Grindadráp, 2018]]

There are records of drive hunts in the Faroe Islands dating from 1584.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Brakes |first=Philippa |title=Troubled Waters: A Review of the Welfare Implications of Modern Whaling Activities |year=2004 |isbn=0-9547065-0-1 |editor-last=Philippa Brakes |page=7 |chapter=A background to whaling |publisher=World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) |editor-last2=Andrew Butterworth |editor-last3=Mark Simmonds |editor-last4=Philip Lymbery |chapter-url=http://www.wdcs.org/submissions_bin/troubledwaters.pdf |archive-date=1 June 2013 |access-date=1 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130601095214/http://www.wdcs.org/submissions_bin/troubledwaters.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Whaling in the Faroe Islands]] is regulated by Faroese authorities but not by the [[International Whaling Commission]] as there are disagreements about the commission's legal authority to regulate cetacean hunts. Hundreds of [[long-finned pilot whale|long-finned pilot whales]] (''Globicephala melaena'') could be killed in a year, mainly during the summer. The hunts, called {{Lang|fo|grindadráp|italic=yes}} in Faroese, are non-commercial and are organised on a community level; anyone can participate. When a whale pod by chance is spotted near land the participating hunters first surround the pilot whales with a wide semicircle of boats and then slowly and quietly begin to drive the whales towards the chosen authorised bay.<ref name="Home">{{cite web|url=https://www.whaling.fo/en/home/|title=Home|website=Whaling|access-date=15 September 2022|archive-date=15 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220915110618/https://www.whaling.fo/en/home/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Faroese animal welfare legislation, which also applies to whaling, requires that animals are killed as quickly and with as little suffering as possible. A regulation spinal lance is used to sever the [[spinal cord]], which also severs the major blood supply to the brain, ensuring both loss of consciousness and death within seconds. The spinal lance has been introduced as the preferred standard equipment for killing pilot whales and has been shown to reduce killing time to 1–2 seconds.<ref name="Home" />

This {{Lang|fo|grindadráp|italic=yes}} is legal and provides food for many people in the Faroe Islands.<ref>{{cite web |title=Whales and whaling in the Faroe Islands |url=http://www.whaling.fo/thepilot.htm#Drivingthewhales |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090324072829/http://www.whaling.fo/thepilot.htm |archive-date=24 March 2009 |access-date=5 December 2006 |publisher=Faroese Government}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Why do whales and dolphins strand? |url=http://www.wdcs.org/dan/publishing.nsf/allweb/99E632F7502FCC3B802568F20048794C |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071031231236/http://www.wdcs.org/dan/publishing.nsf/allweb/99E632F7502FCC3B802568F20048794C |archive-date=31 October 2007 |access-date=5 December 2006 |publisher=[[WDCS]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Chrismar |first=Nicole |date=28 July 2006 |title=Dolphins Hunted for Sport and Fertilizer |work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=2248161&page=1 |access-date=21 July 2009}}</ref> However, a study has found whale meat and blubber currently to be contaminated with [[mercury (element)|mercury]] and not recommended for human consumption, as too much may cause such adverse health effects as birth defects of the nervous system, high blood pressure, damaged immune system, increased risk for developing [[Parkinson's disease]], [[hypertension]], [[arteriosclerosis]], and [[diabetes mellitus type 2]]:

{{Blockquote|Therefore we recommend that adults eat no more than one to two meals a month. Women who plan to become pregnant within three months, pregnant women, and nursing women should abstain from eating pilot whale meat. Pilot whale liver and kidneys should not be eaten at all.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Weihe |first1=P |last2=Joensen |first2=HD |year=2012 |title=Dietary recommendations regarding pilot whale meat and blubber in the Faroe Islands |journal=Int J Circumpolar Health |volume=71 |article-number=18594 |doi=10.3402/ijch.v71i0.18594 |pmc=3417701 |pmid=22789518}}</ref>}}

Animal rights groups such as the [[Sea Shepherd Conservation Society]] criticise {{Lang|fo|grindadráp|italic=yes}} as being cruel and unnecessary since it is no longer necessary as a food source for the Faroese people.

The sustainability of the Faroese pilot whale hunt has been discussed, but with a long-term average catch of around 800 pilot whales on the Faroe Islands a year, the hunt is not considered to have a significant impact on the pilot whale population. There are an estimated 128,000 pilot whales in the Northeast Atlantic, and Faroese whaling is therefore considered a sustainable practice by the Faroese government.<ref>{{cite web |title=Inside the Grind: The Fight for Whale Hunting in the Faroe Islands – Motherboard |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-fight-for-whale-hunting-in-the-faroe-islands-inside-the-grind/ |access-date=10 March 2017 |website=Motherboard |date=31 March 2015 |archive-date=6 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241206145352/https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-fight-for-whale-hunting-in-the-faroe-islands-inside-the-grind/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Annual records of whale drives and strandings of pilot whales and other small cetaceans provide over 400 years of documentation, including statistics, and represents one of the most comprehensive historical records of wildlife utilisation anywhere in the world.<ref name="Home" />

On 12 September 2021, a [[Pod of whales|super-pod]] of over 1,420 [[Atlantic white-sided dolphin|white-sided dolphins]] were killed,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/09/15/europe/faroe-dolphin-killing-record-scli-intl-scn/index.html |title=1,400 dolphins were killed in the Faroe Islands in one day, shocking even some pro-whalers |work=CNN |first1=Jeevan |last1=Ravindran |first2=Stephanie |last2=Halasz |first3=Allegra |last3=Goodwin |first4=Sharon |last4=Braithwaite |date=15 September 2021 |access-date=15 December 2021 |archive-date=17 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917235932/https://edition.cnn.com/2021/09/15/europe/faroe-dolphin-killing-record-scli-intl-scn/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> which caused significant controversy in the Faroe Islands and abroad, leading to the government imposing quotas on the amount of white-sided dolphins allowed to be hunted each year.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Prakash|first=Thomas|date=16 September 2021|title=Færøske folketingspolitikere: Delfindrab var usædvanligt og skal ikke gentage sig|work=[[DR (broadcaster)|DR Nyheder]]|url=https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/faeroeske-folketingspolitikere-delfindrab-var-usaedvanligt-og-skal-ikke-gentage-sig|access-date=16 September 2021|archive-date=16 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916051820/https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/faeroeske-folketingspolitikere-delfindrab-var-usaedvanligt-og-skal-ikke-gentage-sig|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Taylor |first1=Joanna |title=Slaughter of 1,500 dolphins in the Faroe Islands sparks outrage |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/slaughter-dolphins-faroe-islands-outrage-b1919989.html |access-date=2 October 2021 |work=[[The Independent]] |date=15 September 2021 |language=en |archive-date=2 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002154747/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/slaughter-dolphins-faroe-islands-outrage-b1919989.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The UK Government declined to suspend its free-trade agreement with the Faroese, having been called upon by conservationists to do so.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jane |first1=Dalton |title=Britain won't halt Faroes trade deal despite whale and dolphin slaughter |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/faroes-whale-dolphin-hunt-britain-b1926448.html |access-date=2 October 2021 |work=[[The Independent]] |date=24 September 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

===Sports===
[[File:Pál Joensen 2014.JPG|thumb|upright|[[Pál Joensen]], Faroese swimmer]]

Faroese people are very active in sports; they have domestic competitions in football, handball, volleyball, badminton, swimming, outdoor rowing ([[Faroese kappróður]]) and indoor rowing in rowing machines, horse riding, shooting, table tennis, judo, golf, tennis, archery, gymnastics, [[Tour of Faroe Islands|cycling]], triathlon, running, and other competitions in athletics.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ítróttasamband Føroya |title=Sersambond |work=Ítróttasamband Føroya |date=3 September 2008 |url=http://www.isf.fo/?page_id=629 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222051034/http://www.isf.fo/?page_id=629 |archive-date=22 February 2014 |access-date=14 March 2014 |publisher=Isf.fo }}</ref>

The Faroe Islands have competed in every biennial [[Island Games]] since they were established in 1985. The games were hosted by the Faroes in 1989, and they won the [[2009 Island Games|Island Games in 2009]].

[[Association football|Football]] is by far the biggest sports activity on the islands, with 7,000 registered players out of the whole population of 52,000. Ten football teams contest the [[Faroe Islands Premier League]], currently ranked 39th by [[Uefa league coefficient|UEFA's League coefficient]]. The Faroe Islands are a full member of [[UEFA]], and the [[Faroe Islands national football team]] competes in the [[UEFA European Football Championship]] qualifiers. The Faroe Islands is also a full member of [[FIFA]] and, therefore, the Faroe Islands football team also competes in the [[FIFA World Cup]] qualifiers. The Faroe Islands won its [[List of Faroe Islands national football team results|first ever competitive match]] when the team defeated [[Austria national football team|Austria]] 1–0 in a UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying.

The nation's biggest success in football came in 2014 after defeating Greece 1–0, a result that was considered "the biggest shock of all time" in football<ref>{{cite web |first=John |last=Ashdown |date=19 November 2014 |title=Is the Faroe Islands' win over Greece the biggest shock of all time? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/nov/19/the-knowledge-faroe-islands-biggest-shock-ever |access-date=10 December 2014 |website=[[The Guardian]] |archive-date=28 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161128141420/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/nov/19/the-knowledge-faroe-islands-biggest-shock-ever |url-status=live }}</ref> thanks to a 169-place distance between the teams in the [[FIFA World Rankings]] when the match was played. The team climbed 82 places to 105 on the FIFA ranking after the 1–0 win against Greece.<ref>{{cite web |date=27 November 2014 |title=Faroe Islands jump 82 places in new FIFA rankings |url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/latest/faroe-islands-jump-82-places-in-new-fifa-rankings-1-3617844 |website=The Scotsman |access-date=9 July 2015 |archive-date=11 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711011518/http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/latest/faroe-islands-jump-82-places-in-new-fifa-rankings-1-3617844 |url-status=live }}</ref> The team went on to defeat Greece again on 13 June 2015 by a score of 2–1. On 9 July 2015, the national football team of the Faroes climbed another 28 places on the FIFA ranking.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.in.fo/itrottur/sport-detail/news/foeroyar-framman-fyri-finnland/?L=0&cHash=1a69bc0875e7aa6d84e9ffc7290053bd|title=Føroyar framman fyri Finnland|access-date=9 July 2015|archive-date=16 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716013836/http://www.in.fo/itrottur/sport-detail/news/foeroyar-framman-fyri-finnland/?L=0&cHash=1a69bc0875e7aa6d84e9ffc7290053bd}}</ref> Recently, Faroe Islands achieved another famous victory by beating [[Turkey national football team|Turkey]] 2–1 in the [[2022–23 UEFA Nations League C]], although this shock win did not prevent Turkey from achieving promotion to [[2024–25 UEFA Nations League B|League B]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/sports/turkiye-suffer-2-1-shock-defeat-to-faroe-islands-in-nations-league/2694478 |title=Türkiye suffer 2–1 shock defeat to Faroe Islands in Nations League |publisher=Aa.com.tr |date= |access-date=27 September 2022 |archive-date=26 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926180239/https://www.aa.com.tr/en/sports/turkiye-suffer-2-1-shock-defeat-to-faroe-islands-in-nations-league/2694478 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[Faroe Islands men's national handball team]] won the first two editions of the [[IHF Emerging Nations Championship]], in 2015 and 2017. The team qualified for the [[2024 European Men's Handball Championship]] in Germany where they ranked 20th out of 24 teams after the draw with [[Norway men's national handball team|Norway]] and tight games with [[Slovenia men's national handball team|Slovenia]] and [[Poland men's national handball team|Poland]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ehfeuro.eurohandball.com/news/en/unreal-scenes-in-berlin-as-faroes-secure-historic-draw-with-norway/ |title=Unreal scenes as Faroes secure historic draw with Norway |publisher=[[European Handball Federation]] |date=13 January 2024 |access-date=28 January 2024 |archive-date=28 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240128165558/https://ehfeuro.eurohandball.com/news/en/unreal-scenes-in-berlin-as-faroes-secure-historic-draw-with-norway/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Faroe Islands are a full member of [[FINA]] and compete under their own flag at World Championships, European Championships, and World Cup events. The Faroese swimmer [[Pál Joensen]] (born 1990) won a bronze medal at the [[2012 FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Emil Lisberg Jacobsen |title=Pál Joensen frá bronsu til silvur og aftur til bronsu |url=http://sportal.fo/pal+joensen+fra+bronsu+til+silvur+og+aftur+til+bronsu.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222040601/http://sportal.fo/pal+joensen+fra+bronsu+til+silvur+og+aftur+til+bronsu.html |archive-date=22 February 2014 |access-date=14 March 2014 |publisher=Sportal.fo}}</ref> and four silver medals at the European Championships ([[2010 European Aquatics Championships|2010]], [[2013 European Short Course Swimming Championships|2013]] and [[2014 European Aquatics Championships|2014]]),<ref>{{cite web |title=Færøske Pál indleder ny OL-satsning med EM-sølv |date=20 August 2014 |url=http://politiken.dk/sport/svomning/ECE2371848/faeroeske-pl-indleder-ny-ol-satsning-med-em-soelv/ |access-date=21 August 2014 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304111406/http://politiken.dk/sport/svomning/ECE2371848/faeroeske-pl-indleder-ny-ol-satsning-med-em-soelv/ |url-status=live }}</ref> all medals won in the men's longest and second longest distance, the 1500- and 800-metre freestyle, short and long course. The Faroe Islands also compete in the [[Faroe Islands at the Paralympics|Paralympics]] and have won 1 gold, 7 silver, and 5 bronze medals since the [[1984 Summer Paralympics]].

Two Faroese athletes have competed at the Olympics, but under the [[Denmark at the Olympics|Danish flag]], since the Olympic Committee does not allow the Faroe Islands to compete under its own flag. The two Faroese who have competed are the swimmer [[Pál Joensen]] in 2012 and the rower [[Katrin Olsen]]. Olsen competed at the [[Rowing at the 2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Summer Olympics]] in double sculler lightweight together with [[Juliane Rasmussen]]. Another Faroese rower, who is a member of the Danish National rowing team, is [[Sverri Sandberg Nielsen]], who currently competes in a single sculler, heavyweight; he has also competed in double sculler. He is the current Danish record holder in the men's indoor rowing, heavyweight; he broke a nine-year-old record in January 2015<ref name="Sportschef">{{cite web |date=1 February 2015 |title=Sportschef måtte overlade rekord til Sverri Nielsen ved DM |url=http://www.roning.dk/Global/News%20module/2015/2/Sportschef%20maatte%20overlade%20rekord%20til%20Sverri%20Nielsen%20ved%20DM.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203172212/http://www.roning.dk/Global/News%20module/2015/2/Sportschef%20maatte%20overlade%20rekord%20til%20Sverri%20Nielsen%20ved%20DM.aspx |archive-date=3 February 2016 |access-date=3 February 2016 |language=da }}</ref> and improved it in January 2016.<ref name="Danmarkarmeistari">{{cite news |date=30 January 2016 |title=Sverri er danmarkarmeistari |url=http://kvf.fo/netvarp/uv/2016/01/30/sverri-er-danmarkarmeistari |access-date=3 February 2016 |newspaper=Kringvarp Føroya |language=fo |archive-date=31 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131084552/http://kvf.fo/netvarp/uv/2016/01/30/sverri-er-danmarkarmeistari |url-status=live }}</ref> He has also competed at the [[2015 World Rowing Championships]] making it to the semifinal; he competed at the 2015 World Rowing Championship under-23 and made it to the final where he placed fourth.<ref name="World Rowing">{{cite web |title=World Rowing – Sverri Nielsen – Recent Results |url=http://www.worldrowing.com/athletes/athlete/43714/nielsen-sverri |access-date=3 February 2016 |archive-date=31 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131133047/http://www.worldrowing.com/athletes/athlete/43714/nielsen-sverri }}</ref>

The Faroe Islands applied to the IOC for full membership in 1984, but {{As of|2017|lc=y}} they are still not members. At the [[2015 European Games]] in Baku, Azerbaijan, the Faroe Islands were not allowed to compete under the Faroese flag; they were, however, allowed to compete under the [[Ligue Européenne de Natation]] flag. Before this, the Faroese prime minister [[Kaj Leo Holm Johannesen]] had a meeting with the IOC president [[Thomas Bach]] in Lausanne on 21 May 2015 to discuss Faroese membership in the IOC.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.in.fo/news-detail/news/loegmadur-a-fund-um-olympiskan-limaskap/|title=Løgmaður á fund um olympiskan limaskap|access-date=2 April 2015|archive-date=3 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403015317/http://www.in.fo/news-detail/news/loegmadur-a-fund-um-olympiskan-limaskap/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Prime Minister to meet with the International Olympic Committee |work=The Arctic Journal |url=http://arcticjournal.com/press-releases/1387/prime-minister-meet-international-olympic-committee |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403072606/http://arcticjournal.com/press-releases/1387/prime-minister-meet-international-olympic-committee |archive-date=3 April 2015 }}</ref>

During 2014, the Faroe Islands were allowed to compete in the Electronic Sports European Championship (ESEC) in [[ESports|esports]].<ref>{{cite web |title=ESEC 2014 participants list |url=http://www.hltv.org/news/12804-esec-2014-participants-list |access-date=11 July 2016 |website=hltv.org |publisher=Petar Milovanovic |archive-date=14 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814182504/http://www.hltv.org/news/12804-esec-2014-participants-list |url-status=live }}</ref> Five players, all of the Faroese nationality, faced [[Slovenia]] in the first round, eventually being knocked out with a 0–2 score.<ref>{{cite web |title=European Championship 2014 Qualification Round 1 – Slovenia vs Faroe Islands |url=http://www.hltv.org/match/2292380-slovenia-faroe-islands-european-championship-2014-qualification-round-1 |access-date=11 July 2016 |website=hltv.org |archive-date=26 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826085139/http://www.hltv.org/match/2292380-slovenia-faroe-islands-european-championship-2014-qualification-round-1 |url-status=live }}</ref>

At the 2016 Baku [[Chess Olympiad]], the Faroe Islands got their first chess grandmaster. [[Helgi Ziska]] won his third GM norm and thus won the title of chess grandmaster.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.in.fo/news-detail/helgi-er-stormeistari/ |title=Helgi er stórmeistari!! |language= |trans-title=Helgi is a grandmaster!! |website=In.fo |date=12 September 2016 |access-date=7 June 2022 |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20171018043918/http://www.in.fo/news-detail/helgi-er-stormeistari/?L=0&cHash=dbeae5a24d3f376ca912782a38a5fd83&sword_list |archive-date=18 October 2017 }}</ref>

===Clothing===
{{Distinguish|Fair Isle (technique)}}
[[File:Faroese folk dance club from vagar.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Faroese folk dancers, some of them in national costume]]
Faroese handicrafts are based on materials available to local villages—mainly wool. Garments include sweaters, scarves, and gloves. Faroese jumpers have distinct Nordic patterns; each village has some regional variations handed down from mother to daughter. There has recently been a strong revival of interest in Faroese knitting, with young people knitting and wearing updated versions of old patterns emphasised by strong colours and bold patterns. This appears to be a reaction to the loss of traditional lifestyles and a way to maintain and assert cultural tradition in a rapidly changing society. Many young people study and move abroad, and this helps them maintain cultural links with their specific Faroese heritage.{{source?|date=February 2025}}

There has also been an interest in Faroese sweaters<ref>{{Cite news |last=Townsend |first=Mark |date=9 August 2014 |title=Sarah Lund's jumper is exhibit A in a legal battle |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/10/sarah-lund-jumper-copyright-the-killing}}</ref>piqued by the TV series ''[[The Killing (Danish TV series)|The Killing]]'', where the main actress (Detective Inspector Sarah Lund, played by [[Sofie Gråbøl]]) wears them.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hall |first=James |date=10 September 2012 |title=Fans of 'The Killing' can now knit their own Sarah Lund jumper |language=en-GB |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/9533226/Fans-of-The-Killing-can-now-knit-their-own-Sarah-Lund-jumper.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/9533226/Fans-of-The-Killing-can-now-knit-their-own-Sarah-Lund-jumper.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=28 January 2020 }}{{cbignore}}</ref>

[[Lace knitting]] is a traditional handicraft. The most distinctive trait of [[Faroese lace shawls]] is the centre-back [[gusset]] shaping. Each shawl consists of two triangular side panels, a trapezoid-shaped back gusset, an edge treatment, and usually shoulder shaping. These are worn by all generations of women, particularly as an overgarment in the traditional Faroese costume.

The traditional Faroese dress is itself a local handicraft that people invest much time, money, and effort to assemble. It is worn at weddings, traditional dancing events, and on feast days.

A young Faroese person is normally handed down a set of children's Faroese clothes that have passed from generation to generation. Children are traditionally [[confirmation|confirmed]] at age 14 and start to collect the pieces to make an adult outfit, which is considered a rite of passage. Traditionally, the aim would have been to complete the outfit by the time a young person was ready to marry and wear the clothes at the ceremony{{snd}}though it is mainly only men who do this now.{{Citation needed|date=May 2026}}

Each piece is intricately hand-knitted, dyed, woven, or embroidered to the specifications of the wearer. For example, the man's waistcoat is put together by hand in bright blue, red, or black wool. The front is then intricately embroidered with colourful silk threads, often by a female relative. The motifs are often local Faroese flowers or herbs. After this, a row of Faroese-made solid silver buttons is sewn on the outfit.

Women wear embroidered silk, cotton, or wool shawls and pinafores that can take months to weave or embroider with local flora and fauna. They are also adorned with a handwoven black and red ankle-length skirt, knitted black and red jumper, a velvet belt, and black 18th-century style shoes with silver buckles. The outfit is held together by a row of solid silver buttons, silver chains, and locally made silver brooches and belt buckles, often fashioned with Viking-style motifs.

Both men's and women's national dress are extremely costly and can take many years to assemble. Women in the family often work together to assemble the outfits, including knitting the close-fitting jumpers, weaving and embroidering, sewing, and assembling the outfit.

===Archives===
The National Archives of the Faroe Islands ({{langx|fo|Tjóðskjalasavnið}}) is located in Tórshavn. Their main task is to collect, organise, record, and preserve the archival records of the authorities, to make them available to the public in the future. Currently, there are no other permanent archives in the Faroe Islands, but since the end of 2017, the national government has provided financial support for a three-year pilot project under the name "{{langx|fo|Tvøroyrar Skjalasavn}}", which aims to collect private archives from the area.{{Citation needed|date=May 2026}}

===Libraries===
The National Library of the Faroe Islands ({{langx|fo|Føroya Landsbókasavn}}) is based in Tórshavn, and its main task is to collect, record, preserve, and disseminate knowledge of literature related to the Faroe Islands. The [[National Library]] also functions as a research library and public library. In addition to the National Library, there are 15 municipal libraries and 11 school libraries in the Faroe Islands.

===Visual arts===
The first Faroese art exhibition was held in [[Tórshavn]] in 1927.{{cn|date=January 2026}} The Faroe Islands' National Gallery ({{lang|fo|Listasavn Føroya|italic=yes}}), holds a collection of over 2,500 works of Faroese visual art. It is located within [[Viðalundin Park]] in the capital city of [[Tórshavn]]. Represented in the collection are paintings, textiles, works on paper, as well as sculpture and [[installation art]].<ref name="IT">{{cite web |title=National Gallery of the Faroe Islands |url=https://icelandictimes.com/search_page/national-gallery-of-the-faroe-islands/ |publisher=Icelandic Times |access-date=19 January 2026}}</ref>


===Cinema===
Faroese filmmakers have made several short films in recent decades, and Katrin Ottarsdóttir, among others, has directed three feature films, several shorts, and documentaries since her debut in 1989 with Rhapsody of the Atlantic. In 2012, the Faroese Geytin Film Award was established. These are two film awards that are presented once a year at a film festival at the Nordic House in Tórshavn in December. Filmmakers enter their films, and a committee selects up to 10 finalists, which are screened at the event at the Nordic House. The main prize, worth DKK 25,000 and a statuette, is called Geytin and is awarded by the Nordic House, while the second prize, the [[Audience award|Audience Award]] ({{lang|fo|Áskoðaravirðislønin}}), is worth DKK 15,000 and is awarded by the Thorshavn City Council. 

Sakaris Stórá won the first Geytin in December 2012 with the film Summarnátt (Summer Night). In February 2014, his film Vetrarmorgun (Winter Morning) won three awards at the [[Berlin International Film Festival|Berlinale]]. In 2012, Annika á Lofti won the Audience Award. In 2013, Olaf Johannessen won a Robert for Best Supporting Actor in the TV series {{lang|fo|Forbrydelsen III|italic=yes}}. In 2013, Dávur Djurhuus Geytin won for the short film ''Terminal'', while Jónfinn Stenberg won the Audience Award for the short film ''Munch''. In 2014, Heiðrikur á Heygum won both the Geytin and the Audience Award for the 30-minute horror film {{lang|fo|Skuld|italic=yes}} (''Guilt'').

Andrias Høgenni won both awards at the 2016 Geytin for the short film ''A Crack''. In 2019, he won the top prize at Geytin for the short {{lang|fo|Ikki illa meint|italic=yes}}, which was also awarded at the Cannes Film Festival, Semaine de la Critique, and Danish film awards such as the Robert for Best Short Film and the Fiction award at the Ekko Shortlist Awards.

In 2014, the Faroese [[Culture minister|Ministry of Culture]] received a grant in the Finance Act to provide financial support for Faroese films. In 2017, {{lang|fo|Filmshúsið|italic=yes}} was established. {{lang|fo|Filmshúsið|italic=yes}} is located in Sjóvinnuhúsið in Tórshavn. They will guide and assist the Faroese film community in marketing Faroese films abroad and assist film productions. The {{lang|fo|Klippfisk}} film workshop is also located in Sjóvinnuhúsið. {{lang|fo|Klippfisk}} is supported by the municipality of Tórshavn and works with young film talent, including organising the annual {{ill|Nóllywood|fo}} film school for teenagers. Nóllywood is held on the island of Nólsoy, usually during the summer vacations.

===Public holidays===
{{See also|Public holidays in Denmark}}
[[File:Føroysk fløgg á Ólavsøku.jpg|thumb|The annual ''Ólavsøka'' parade on 28 July 2005]]

''[[Ólavsøka]]'' is on 29 July; it commemorates the death of [[Saint Olaf]]. The celebrations are held in Tórshavn, starting on the evening of the 28th and continuing until the 31st. 28 July is a half-working day for the members of some of the labour unions, while {{lang|fo|Ólavsøkudagur}} (St Olaf's Day) on 29 July is a full holiday for most union members.<ref>{{cite web |title=Industry.fo, Frídagar um Ólavsøkuna |url=http://www.industry.fo/Default.aspx?ID=32&Action=1&NewsId=577&PID=4786 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505104952/http://www.industry.fo/Default.aspx?ID=32&Action=1&NewsId=577&PID=4786 |archive-date=5 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Nordlysid.fo |url=http://www.nordlysid.fo.php53-6.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/arbeida+langan+dag+a+kosini+olavsokudag.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223084310/http://www.nordlysid.fo.php53-6.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/arbeida+langan+dag+a+kosini+olavsokudag.html |archive-date=23 December 2014}}</ref>

The official celebration starts on the 29th, with the opening of the [[Faroese Parliament]], a custom that dates back 900 years.<ref>Schei, Kjørsvik Liv and Moberg, Gunnie. 1991. ''The Faroe Islands''. {{ISBN|0-7195-5009-2}}</ref> This begins with a service held in [[Tórshavn Cathedral]]; all members of parliament as well as civil and church officials walk to the cathedral in a procession. All of the parish ministers take turns giving the sermon. After the service, the procession returns to the parliament for the opening ceremony.

Other celebrations are marked by different kinds of sports competitions, the rowing competition (in Tórshavn Harbour) being the most popular, art exhibitions, pop concerts, the famous [[Faroese dance]] in Sjónleikarhúsið, and on Vaglið outdoor singing on 29 July continuing past midnight. Many also mark the occasion by wearing the national Faroese dress.

{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* [[New Year's Day]], 1 January.
* [[Maundy Thursday]]
* [[Good Friday]]
* [[Easter Sunday]]
* [[Easter Monday]]
* [[Flag day]], 25 April.
* General/Great Prayer Day ([[Store Bededag|{{lang|fo|Dýri biðidagur}}]]), 4th Friday after Easter.
* [[Ascension Day]]
* [[Whit Sunday]]
* [[Whit Monday]]
* [[Constitution Day]], 5 June (half-day holiday)
* [[Ólavsøka|St. Olav's Eve]], 28 July (half-day holiday for some workers' unions).
* [[Ólavsøka|St. Olav's Day]], 29 July (full holiday for some workers' unions).
* [[Christmas Eve]], 24 December.
* [[Christmas Day]], 25 December.
* [[Boxing Day]], 26 December.
* [[New Year's Eve]], 31 December (half-day holiday).
{{div col end}}

==See also==
{{portal|Faroe Islands|Kingdom of Denmark|Europe|European Union|Islands
}}
* [[Outline of the Faroe Islands]]
* [[Faroe Islands–United Kingdom relations]]
* [[Gøtudanskt accent]]

===Other similar territories===
* [[Åland]] ([[Finland]])
* [[Svalbard]] ([[Norway]])
{{Clear}}

==References==

===Notes===
{{Notelist}}

===Citations===
{{Reflist |30em}}

==Sources==
{{Refbegin |30em |indent=yes}}
*{{Cite book |last=Steining |first=Jørgen |title=Den danske rigsdag 1849–1949 bind VI |publisher=J. H. Schultz Forlag |year=1953 |editor-last=Bomholt, Jul. |location=Copenhagen |language=da |chapter=Rigsdagen og Færøerne |editor-last2=Fabricius, Knud |editor-last3=Hjelholt, Holger |editor-last4=Mackeprang, M. |editor-last5=Møller Andr.}}
{{Refend}}

==Further reading==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book|last=Ecott|first=Tim|title=The Land of Maybe: A Faroe Islands Year|publisher=Short Books|location=UK|year=2020|isbn=978-1-78072-422-5}}
* {{cite book|last=Gaffin|first=Dennis|year=1996|title=In Place: Spatial and Social Order in a Faeroe Islands Community|location=Prospect Heights, IL|publisher=Waveland Press|isbn=978-0-88133-879-9}}
* {{Cite journal |last2=Irvine |last1=Guthrie |first1=David |first2=Edward |year=1982 |title=Seaweed of the Faroes 1: The flora |journal=Bull. Br. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) Bot. |volume=10 |number=3 |pages=108–131 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2310952 |archive-date=3 December 2024 |access-date=1 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203184046/https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2310952 |url-status=live }}
* {{cite book|last=Miller|first=James|title=The North Atlantic Front: Orkney, Shetland, Faroe and Iceland at War|year=2004|publisher=Birlinn|url=https://archive.org/details/northatlanticfro0000mill|isbn=978-1-84341-027-0}}
* {{Cite journal |last1=Tittley |first1=I |last2=Farnham |first2=W F |last3=Gray |first3=P W G |year=1982 |title=Seaweeds of the Faroes 2: Sheltered fjords and sounds |journal=Bull. Br. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) Bot. |volume=10 |number=4 |pages=133–151 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2311099 |archive-date=2 December 2024 |access-date=1 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241202004907/https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2311099 |url-status=live }}
* {{cite book|first=James|last=Proctor|title=Faroe Islands|publisher=Bradt Travel Guides|year=2019|isbn=978-1-78477-632-9}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|Faroe Islands|voy=Faroe Islands}}
* {{official website|https://www.government.fo/en/the-government/}} – Government of the Faroe Islands
* [https://www.government.fo/en/the-government/the-home-rule-act/ The Home Rule Act] of the Faroe Islands
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20200801120418/https://www.stm.dk/_a_2752.html ''Archive of The Unity of the Realm''] (status of the Faroe Islands within the Kingdom of Denmark) (archived 1 August 2020)

{{Geographic Location
| Centre = {{flag|Faroe Islands}}
| North = {{flag|Jan Mayen}}<br />''[[Norwegian Sea]]''
| Northeast = ''[[Norwegian Sea]]''
| East = ''[[Norwegian Sea]]''{{·}}{{flag|Norway}}
| Southeast = ''[[North Sea]]''{{·}}{{flag|Denmark}}
| South = ''[[North Atlantic Ocean]]''<br />{{flag|United Kingdom}}
| Southwest = ''[[North Atlantic Ocean]]''
| West = ''[[North Atlantic Ocean]]''
| Northwest = {{flag|Iceland}}
}}
{{Faroe Islands topics}}
{{Municipalities of the Faroe Islands}}
{{Navboxes
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|list =
{{Islands of the Faroe Islands}}
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{{Nordic countries}}
}}
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{{Authority control}}

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[[Category:Faroe Islands| ]]
[[Category:Christian states]]
[[Category:Danish dependencies]]
[[Category:Dependent territories in Europe|Faroe]]
[[Category:Extinct volcanoes of Europe]]
[[Category:Former Norwegian colonies]]
[[Category:Island countries]]
[[Category:Danish Realm|Faroe Islands]]
[[Category:Kingdom of Norway (872–1397)]]
[[Category:Members of the Nordic Council]]
[[Category:Nordic countries|.]]
[[Category:Paleogene volcanism]]
[[Category:Regions of Europe with multiple official languages]]
[[Category:States and territories in Europe established in 1948]]
[[Category:Volcanoes of Denmark]]
[[Category:Countries and territories where Danish is an official language]]