Country name
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Faroe Islands
local short form: Foroyar
local long form: none

Dependency status part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1948

Government type NA

Capital Torshavn

Administrative divisions none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 49 municipalities

Independence none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

National holiday Olaifest, 29 July

Constitution 5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)

Legal system Danish

Suffrage 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Birgit KLEIS, chief administrative officer (since 1 November 2001)
election results: Anfinn KALLSBERG elected prime minister; percent of parliamentary vote - 52.8%
note: coalition of People's Party, Republican Party, and Home Rule Party
elections: the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats is usually elected prime minister by the Faroese Parliament; election last held 30 April 1998 (next to be held no later than April 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Anfinn KALLSBERG (since 15 May 1998)
cabinet: Landsstyri appointed by the prime minister

Legislative branch unicameral Faroese Parliament or Logting (32 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional basis from the seven constituencies to serve four-year terms)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Union Party 8, Republican Party 8, Social Democrats 7, People's Party 7, Independence Party 1, Center Party 1
note: election of 2 seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on 20 November 2001 (next to be held no later than November 2005); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 1, Union Party 1
elections: last held 30 April 2002 (next to be held no later than April 2006)

Judicial branch none

Political parties and leaders Center Party [Tordur NICALSEN]; Home Rule Party [Helena Dam a NEYSTABO]; Independence Party [leader NA]; People's Party [Oli BRECKMANN]; Republican Party [Finnabogi ISAKSON]; Social Democratic Party [Joannes EIDESGAARD]; Union Party [Edmund JOENSEN]

Political pressure groups and leaders NA

International organization participation NC, NIB

Diplomatic representation in the US none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Diplomatic representation from the US none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Flag description white with a red cross outlined in blue extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted toward the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

NOTE: The information regarding Faroe Islands on this page is re-published from the 2002 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Faroe Islands Government 2002 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Faroe Islands Government 2002 should be addressed to the CIA.