Economy of the Faroe Islands

Economy of Faroe Islands
Tórshavn is the capital and largest town of the Faroe Islands.
CurrencyFaroese króna (pegged with Danish krone, (DKK))
Calendar year
Trade organisations
None
Statistics
GDPUS$2.83 billion (2017)
GDP rank166th (nominal) / 179th (PPP)
GDP growth
7.5% (2013 est.)
GDP per capita
$54,833 (2017)
GDP by sector
  • Agriculture: 16%
  • Industry: 29%
  • Services: 55% (2007)
1.3% (2019) 0.1%
Population below poverty line
10.1% (2018) 0.4%
Labour force
31,667 (2019)
Labour force by occupation
  • Agriculture: 10.7%
  • Industry: 18.9%
  • Services: 70.3% (2010)
Unemployment1.7% in 2019 0.4%
Main industries
Fishing, fish processing, fish farming, small ship repair and refurbishment, handicrafts
External
ExportsDKK 9.77 billion (2019-20)
14%
Export goods
  • Fish and fish products: 90%
  • Stamps
  • Ships
Main export partners
Russia 23.8%
United States 11.2%
United Kingdom 10.6%
Denmark 7.7%
China 7.1%
Germany 6.5%
Norway 5.7% (2016)
ImportsDKK 8.4 billion (2019-20)
9%
Import goods
  • Consumer goods: 24%
  • Machinery and transport equipment: 23.5%
  • Fuels: 21.4%
  • Raw materials and semi-manufactures
  • Fish
  • Salt
Main import partners
Denmark 37.4%
Germany 13.3%
Norway 9.3%
China 5.6%
Sweden 4.3%
Iceland 3.8% (2016)
Public finances
$104.1 million (2018)
Revenues$1.54 billion (2018)
Expenses$1.43 billion (2018)
Economic aidBlock grant from the Danish state:
641.8 million kr./year (2016–2022)
(c. US$96 million)

The economy of the Faroe Islands was the 166th largest in the world in 2014, having a nominal gross domestic product (GDP) of $2.613 billion per annum. GDP increased from DKK 8 billion in 1999, to 21 billion in 2019. The vast majority of Faroese exports, around 90%, consists of fishery products.