The Faroe Islands were already populated by about A.D. 500, but whether the original settlers were Celtic or early Norse (or someone else) has yet to be determined. Viking settlers arrived on the islands in the 9th century, and the islands served as an important stepping stone for medieval Viking exploration of the North Atlantic. The islands have been connected politically to Denmark since the 14th century, and today the Faroe Islands are a self-governing dependency of Denmark.
- Capital
- Torshavn
- Government
- parliamentary democracy (Faroese Parliament); part of the Kingdom of Denmark
- Population
- 52,933
- Area
- 1,393 sq km
- Location
- Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about halfway between Iceland and Norway
- Climate
- mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy
- Natural resources
- fish; whales; hydropower; possible oil and gas
- Languages
- Faroese 93.8% (derived from Old Norse); Danish 3.2%; other 3%
- Religions
- Christian 87% (predominantly Evangelical Lutheran); other 0.9%; none 3.7%; unspecified 8.9%
- Independence
- none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)
- Administrative divisions
- 29 first-order municipalities (kommunur, singular - kommuna) Eidhi, Eystur, Famjin, Fuglafjordhur, Fugloy, Hov, Husavik,…
- Currency
- Danish kroner (DKK)
- Export partners
- Russia 26.4%; UK 14.1%; Germany 8.4%; China 7.9%…
- Import partners
- Denmark 33%; China 10.7%; Germany 7.6%; Poland 6.8%…