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Faroe Islands Facts & Worksheets

The Faroe Islands is a self-governing territory of the Kingdom of Denmark located in the North Atlantic Ocean. This island group is located about halfway between Scotland and Iceland.

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The Faroe Islands is a self-governing territory of the Kingdom of Denmark located in the North Atlantic Ocean. This island group is located about halfway between Scotland and Iceland. Together with mainland Denmark and Greenland, the Faroes form the Kingdom of Denmark. 17 out of the 18 major islands in the archipelago are inhabited. These islands had been shaped by volcanic activity and glacier movement of the ice age. Its capital city is Tórshavn, located on the main island of Streymoy.

See the fact file below for more information about The Faroe Islands, or you can download our 25-page Faroe Islands worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

ETYMOLOGY

  • The name Faroe Islands exists as Føroyar in the Faroese language, which comes from an Old Norse word fær, meaning “sheep.”
  • Meanwhile, øer means “island.”
  • Therefore, fær-øer means “sheep islands,” coined by the Viking age settlers in the 9th century.
  • The Faroe Islands can also be called Faeroe Islands or Faroes.

FLAG OF FAROE ISLANDS

  • The flag of the Faroe Islands is called Merkið, meaning “the banner.”
  • There is a red Nordic cross design offset to the left side of the Faroe Islands flag.
  • The cross is fimbriated azure and is placed on a plain white field.
  • The colors red and blue represent the islands’ link to other Nordic countries.
  • The color white represents Christianity, the flag’s creators, the ocean’s foam, and the Faroe Islands’s sky.
  • The design resembles flags of neighboring Nordic countries, such as Norway and Iceland.
  • Merkið was raised for the first time on June 22, 1919.

GEOGRAPHY

  • The Faroe Islands is an island group that comprises 18 major islands, 17 of which are inhabited.
  • The territory has a total of 779 islands, islets, and skerries.
  • The main islands are Streymoy, Eysturoy, Vágar, Suduroy, Sandoy, Bordoy, and Svínoy.
  • Streymoy is the largest and most populated island.
  • The islands are high, rugged, and composed of volcanic rocks layered with peat soil.
  • Some islands have low peaks.
  • Majority of the coasts are cliffs.
  • The Faroe Islands are situated about halfway between Scotland and Iceland.

CLIMATE

  • The climate of the islands is subpolar oceanic and mild.
  • Temperature does not drastically vary throughout the year.
  • Fog and rain frequently fall upon the islands.
  • The islands experience cool summers and strong winds.
  • On average, there are 210 rainy or snowy days in one year.

DEMOGRAPHICS

  • Faroese people have Scandinavian roots.
  • Aside from ethnic Faroese, most of the population consists of people of Norse and Celtic descent.
  • Approximately 25% of the population resides in the capital city, Tórshavn.
  • Tórshavn is also the largest.
  • Others live in small settlements which are on the coasts.
  • Faroese and Danish are the official languages.
  • Most Faroese people belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Denmark. 
  • As of 2022, the Faroes has a total population of about 53,000.
  • Over 10,000 people live in Eysturoy, the second-largest island.

HISTORY

  • The first settlers of the Faroe Islands are said to be Irish monks and  an abbot named St. Brendan in 565 CE.
  • Legend has it that the monks came from Scotland and discovered the islands, calling it “The Islands of the Sheep and the Paradise of Birds”.
  • 200 years later, Norse farmers who fled Norway became the first Norse settlers of the islands in the 9th century.
  • Rooted in Viking traditions, the Faroe Islands adhered to the constitutional principle that all free men could participate in the “Althing”, a law-making outdoor assembly in the capital city.
  • In 1535, Christian III introduced Lutheranism to the Faroes.
  • For hundreds of years, the Faroe Islands were under Norwegian rule, until Norway was accessioned to Sweden, and the Faroes transferred under the sovereignty of Denmark as enacted by the 1814 Treaty of Kiel.
  • The Faroe Islands may have been under Danish sovereignty, but they have been self-governing since 1948.
  • The Faroes have preserved their national language (Faroese) and cultural affairs.
  • Just like Faroese, Danish is also taught in schools.
  • Faroese resembles the Icelandic language more than Danish.
  • They also have their own parliament.
  • Denmark has control over defense, policing, and foreign affairs, but the rest of the necessary legislations are within the scope of the Faroes’ power.
  • In 1850, two seats were granted to the Faroese in the Danish Parliament.
  • The official currency of the islands is the Danish Krone.

GOVERNMENT

  • The Faroe Islands is an autonomous territory under the external sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark.
  • Local affairs are within the scope of executive power of the Faroese government.
  • The head of the government is called the Løgmaður, which means “Chief Justice.”
  • The Løgmaður also serves as prime minister.
  • The Faroese parliament, called the Løgting, which is “Law Thing” in English, is said to be one of the longest-functioning parliaments in the world.
  • Queen Margrethe II of Denmark is the head of state.
  • Aksel V. Johannesen is the current Faroese Prime Minister as of September 2023.

CULTURE AND ISLAND TRIVIA

  • Faroese culture values oral tradition: stories and poems are passed from one generation to the next.
  • The stories are divided into three main categories: sagnir (historical), ævintyr (stories), and kvæði (ballads).
  • These later became written stories during the 19th century.
  • Another important cultural tradition in the Faroe Islands is the kvæði, a chain dance done in a circle and usually accompanied by the ballads the movements depict.
  • The church banned the chain dance because of its pagan roots.
  • People are outnumbered by sheep: about 70,000 sheep live on the islands.
  • But people definitely outnumber trees as no trees naturally grow on the islands.
  • As scarce as the trees are, there are only 3 traffic lights in the whole archipelago.
  • Speaking of three, every point in the Faroes is no more than 3 miles from the sea.
  • Despite being close to the sea, the Faroe Islands tourist board closed the island to tourists in 2019.
  • They have since reopened and are doing tourism on their own terms.
  • One of the things to see on the islands is the world’s first underwater traffic circle.
  • Visitors may also be surprised to know that buses are free to use in the capital city, that the archipelago has a national airline, and that about 50% of the islands’ electricity is renewable.

Faroe Islands Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Faroe Islands across 25 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about the Faroe Islands. Together with mainland Denmark and Greenland, the Faroes form the Kingdom of Denmark. 17 out of the 18 major islands in the archipelago are inhabited.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Faroe Islands Facts
  2. A Land Faroe-way
  3. About the People
  4. Succeeding Event
  5. Island Detour
  6. Faroes’ Flag
  7. Faroese Proverbs
  8. Faroe-t Of This World
  9. Main Islands
  10. A First-timer’s Guide
  11. And They’re Endemic!

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the Faroe Islands located?

The Faroe Islands are an archipelago located in the North Atlantic Ocean. They are an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark and are situated approximately halfway between Iceland and Norway.

What is the population of the Faroe Islands?

As in September 2021, the population of the Faroe Islands was around 52,000 people. Please note that population figures may have changed since then.

What is the official language of the Faroe Islands?

The official language of the Faroe Islands is Faroese, a North Germanic language. Danish is also widely spoken and understood, as the Faroe Islands are part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

What is the main industry and source of income for the Faroe Islands?

Fishing and fish processing are the primary industries in the Faroe Islands. The fishing sector, particularly the export of seafood, including salmon and cod, is a major source of income for the islands. Additionally, the tourism industry has been growing in recent years.

What is the climate like in the Faroe Islands?

The Faroe Islands have a maritime subpolar climate, characterized by cool summers and mild winters. The weather is often cloudy, foggy, and rainy, with frequent changes. The average temperature in the summer months hovers around 10-13°C (50-55°F), while in the winter, temperatures can range from 3-7°C (37-45°F).

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Link will appear as Faroe Islands Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, November 22, 2023

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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