Quick facts
Name: The Faroe Islands (Føroyar)
Location: In the middle of the Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic at 62º00’N and 06º47’W, halfway between Scotland and Iceland
Neighbouring countries: Closest land is North Rona, part of Scotland’s Outer Hebrides, 257km (139 nautical miles) to the south
Total land area: 1,399km2 (540 square miles)
Total marine area: 247,000km2 (105,792 square miles)
Area: Faroese archipelago, 113km (70 miles) long and 75km (47 miles) wide. Total coastline of 1,100km (687 miles). No point in the Faroe Islands is further than 5km (3 miles) from the sea.
Islands: 18 volcanic islands separated by narrow sounds and fjords arranged roughly in the form of an arrowhead. All but one are inhabited.
Heights: Highest peak 880m (2,887ft); average height above sea level 300m (980ft)
Climate: Average 3º-11ºC, winter-summer
Population: 49,235 (as of Feb ’16)
Capital: Tórshavn (population 18,761, as of Jan ’16)
Status: Self-governing region within Kingdom of Denmark
Language: Faroese. Danish has equal status in all official affairs
Religion: Evangelical Lutheran
Government: Parliamentary democracy
Prime Minister: Aksel V. Johannesen
Anthem: Tú alfagra land mítt
Main industries: Fishing and aquaculture, shipping and offshore services, tourism and prospects for petroleum in Faroese area
Currency: Faroese króna (DKK)
Exchange rate: £1 = 9.2kr, US$1 = 6.5kr, €1 = 7.4kr (April 2016)
International telephone code: +298
Internet TLD: .fo
Time: GMT (winter); GMT+1 (summer)
Electrical voltage: 220V; European two-pin plugs
Weights and measures: Metric
Flag: Red cross fringed with blue on white background
Public holidays: New Year’s Day 1 January, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday, Flag Day 25 April, Common Prayers’ Day (May), Ascension Day, Whit Sunday, Whit Monday 5 June, Ólavsøka 28-29 July, Christmas 24-26 December, New Year’s Eve 31 December