Faroe Islands
 

Adopted 1380     22 Jun 1919 - 25 Apr 1940 Unofficial; 25 Apr 1940 - 23 Mar 1948 Ensign Adopted 23 Mar 1948 Map of the Faroe Islands Faroe National Anthem "Mítt alfagra land" (My Fairest Land) From 1906, Adopted 1948 Danish National Anthem "Der er et yndigt land" (There Is A Lovely Land)  Home Rule Act (1 Apr 1948) Capital: Tórshavn (Thorshavn) Currencies: Danish Krone (DKK); and from 31 May 1940 Faroe Islands Króna (FOK) National Holiday: 29 Jul (1030) Ólavsøkudagur (Saint Olav's Day/National Day) Population: 55,769 (2025) GDP: $3.83 billion (2023) Exports: $2.25 billion (2023) Imports: $2.21 billion (2023)  Ethnic groups: Faroese 83.8% (Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon descent), Danish 8.3%, Filipino 1.2%, other Nordic 0.9%, other 4.5% (includes Polish and Romanian) (2024) Total Police Forces: 116 (2017) Defense is the Responsibility of Denmark Merchant marine: 91 ships (2023) Religions: Christian 88.1% (predominantly Evangelical Lutheran [official]), Baha'i 0.3%, not religious 1.7%, unspecified 10% (2015) International Organizations/Treaties: AC, EFTA, FAO (associate), IMO (associate), NC, NIB, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WHO (associate) Faroe Islands Chronology bf.650                     Settled by Irish monks. c.795                      Settlements vacated. c.800                      Gallo-Norse settlement led by Grímr Kamban (Cámban)                              which is named Faereyjar (in Old Norse). c.1000                     Christianity introduced to the islands. 1035                       Under Norwegian suzerainty by submission (in Old                              Norse: Faereyjar; in Latin: Insulae Faeroae). 12 Sep 1380                Danish rule over Norway (and dependencies including                              Faroes [Faerøerne]) begins. 1391 - 1400?               Part of the feudal fief of Sir Henry Sinclair, Earl                              of Orkney (d. 1400?) as vassal of Norway. 1524                       King Christian II of Denmark-Norway offers the                              islands to King Henry VIII of England as collateral                              for a loan after going into exile. Henry declined. 1566                       Administration becomes subordinated to Denmark                              (rather than Norway).  6 Jan 1655                Income of the Faroes and trading rights leased to                              Christoffer Gabel, on 19 Jan 1661 the lease                              is extended to his and his son's lifetime by the                              Danish king. On 3 Apr 1662 trade monopoly granted                              to Gabel also (Faerøernes amt). 14 May 1709 -  6 Mar 1720  Administration subordinated to Sjaellands Stift. 17 Jun 1709                Danish crown re-takes possession.  6 Mar 1720 -  6 Sep 1775  Administration subordinated to Iceland.  6 Sep 1775 -  6 Jul 1816  Administration subordinated to Sjaellands Stift. 30 Mar 1808                British crew of HMS Clio entered Tórshavn and                              briefly captured the fort at Skansin.  6 May 1808                German privateer, who had assumed the name "Baron                              von Hompesch," plunders Tórshavn. 24 Jan 1814                Recognized as a Danish possession by the Treaty                              of Kiel following the end of union with Norway.  6 Jul 1816                Faroes become a separate county of Denmark                              (Faroe amt). 13 Apr 1940 - 13 May 1945  Allied (British) occupation.  9 May 1940                In consequence of Denmark being under German                              occupation, the amtmand temporarily assumes                              governing powers. 14 Sep 1946                Referendum leaves status undecided (pro-                              independence 48.7% vs. 47% against) leading to                              status negotiations with Denmark.  1 Apr 1948                Self-government granted.  1 Jan 1973                Remains outside the European Communities when                              Denmark joins (confirmed by Faroes 22 Jan 1974). 25 Apr 2018                New constitution referendum scheduled (then delayed). Allied Occupation (1940-1945)

Chiefs
9.. - 9..                  Sigmundr (Sigmund)
9.. - c.970                Brestir Sigmundarson (Sigmundsson) (b. 9.. - d. c.970)
9.. - c.970                Beinir Sigmundarson (Sigmundsson)  (b. 9.. - d. c.970)
96. - c.970                Hafgrímr (Havgrímur)               (b. 9.. - d. c.970) 
c.970 - 999                Thrándr Thórbjörnsson              (b. 9.. - d. 1035)
                             (Tróndur Tórbjørnsson)  
97. - c.983                Össurr Hafgrímsson                 (b. c.960 - d. c.983)
                             (Øssur Havgrímsson)
c.983 - c.1005             Sigmundr (Sigmundur) Brestisson    (b. c.961 - d. c.1005)
                             (co-ruler to 999)
c.1005 - 1035              Thrándr Thórbjörnsson ae Götu      (b. 94. - d. 1035)
                             (Tróndur Tórbjørnsson í Gøtu)
1035 - 104.                Leifr Össurarson                   (b. 98. - d. 104.)
                             (Leivur Øssurarson)  
Land Bailiffs (Landfogeden)(in Tórshavn)
1556 - 1569                Anders Jude
1573 - 1578                Joachim Thim
1579 - 1581                Mads Poulssøn (Poulsen) 
1582                       Søren Christensøn Flue             (b. 15.. - d. 1596)
1583 - 1584                Mikkel Ibsøn (Ibsen)   
1584 - 1585                Niels Hanssøn Skinkel til          (b. c.1546 - d. 1617)
                             Gjerskov og Søholm
1586 - 1587                Lyder Augustinssøn
1588 - 1591                Mats Batzersøn (Mads Batzersen)
1592 - 1593                Mogens Nielssøn (Nielssen)
1593 - 159.                Søren Nielssøn (Nielssen)(1st time)(b. 15.. - d. 1600?)
159. - 1597                Strange Madsøn (Madsen)            (b. 15.. - d. 1619?)
                             (2nd time)
1598                       Søren Nielssøn (Nielssen)(2nd time)
1599 - 12 Aug 1619         Strange Madsøn (2nd time)          (s.a.)
1620 - 1644                Mads Christensøn (Christensen)     (b. 15.. - d. 1644?)
                             Gullandsfar
1645 - 1648                Hans Selmer 
1649 - 1655                Christen Madsøn (Madsen)
1655                       Baltzer Jacobsøn (Balzer Jacobsen)
Commanders of the Faroes (Befalingsmaend over Faerøerne)(in Copenhagen)
1655 - 18 Apr 1670         Christoffer Gabel                  (b. 1617 - d. 1673)
                            (from 28 Aug 1664, Christoffer von Gabel
                             til Bavelse og Giskenhagen)
18 Apr 1670 - 21 Jun 1708  Frederik von Gabel til             (b. 1645? - d. 1708)
                             Rantzausholm og Bregentved
Land Bailiffs (Administrators) (in Tórshavn)
1656 - 1664                Johan Heideman                     (b. 16.. - d. 1682)
1664 - 1674                Severin (Søren) Pedersen Skougaard (b. 16.. - d. 1684)
1675 - 1680                Christopher Johansen Heideman      (b. 16.. - d. 1703)
1680 - 17 Jun 1709         Hans Willumsen                     (b. 1648? - d. 1720)   
17 Jun 1709 - 24 Jul 1715  Jørgen Christian Klein             (b. 16.. - d. 1721)
24 Jul 1715 - 1723         Didrik Marcussen (Markussen)       (b. 16.. - d. 1723)
Prefects (Amtmaend) of the Faroes
 6 Mar 1720 -  6 Mar 1775  the governors of Iceland
Prefects of the Faroes (also the Stiftamtmaend of Sjælland)(in Copenhagen)
18 Mar 1776 - 31 Mar 1787  Henrik Adam Brockenhuus til        (b. 1720 - d. 1803)
                             Jungshoved og Nysø 
 1 Apr 1787 - 26 May 1790  Gregers Kristian, greve von        (b. 1732 - d. 1802)
                             Haxthausen 
26 May 1790 -  6 Jul 1802  Johan Heinrich Knuth, greve til    (b. 1746 - d. 1802)
                             Knuthenborg Gyldensten 
 6 Jul 1802 - 23 Jul 1802  .... (acting)
23 Jul 1802 - 12 Nov 1810  Frederik Hauch                     (b. 1754 - d. 1839)
12 Nov 1810 - 22 May 1816  Verner Jasper Andreas, greve Moltke(b. 1755 - d. 1835)
Land Bailiffs
1720 - 1723                Didrik Marcussen (Markussen)       (s.a.)
1723 - 25 Jul 1723         Carl Hans Høppner (acting)       
25 Jul 1723 - 29 Jun 1765  Jørgen Frantz Hammershaimb         (b. 1688 - d. 1765)
1765 - 1815                Wenceslaus Hammershaimb            (b. 1744 - d. 1828)
1815 -  6 Jul 1816         Emilius Marius Georgius Løbner     (b. 1766 - d. 1849)
Prefects (Amtmaend paa Faerøerne)(in Tórshavn)
 6 Jul 1816 -  1 Jul 1828  Emilius Marius Georgius Løbner     (s.a.)
                             (acting to 27 Mar 1821)
30 Jun 1828 - 16 Feb 1830  Christian Ludvig Tillisch          (b. 1797 - d. 1844)
                             (acting for Løbner to 1 Jul 1828)
27 Mar 1830 - 15 Apr 1837  Frederik Ferdinand Tillisch        (b. 1801 - d. 1889)
 8 Jul 1837 - 31 Dec 1848  Christian Pløyen                   (b. 1803 - d. 1867)
21 Feb 1849 - 1862         Carl Emil Dahlerup                 (b. 1813 - d. 1890)
17 Jan 1862 - 1871         Peter Holten                       (b. 1816 - d. 1897)
30 Oct 1871 - 1885         Hannes Kristján Steingrímur Finsen (b. 1828 - d. 1892)
 9 Jan 1885 - 31 Mar 1897  Lorentz Høyer Buchwaldt            (b. 1841 - d. 1933)
 1 Apr 1897 - 31 Mar 1911  Christian Baerentsen               (b. 1862 - d. 1944)
 1 Apr 1911 - Aug 1918     Svenning Krag Nielsen Rytter       (b. 1875 - d. 1957)
Aug 1918 -  6 Feb 1920     Victor Stahlschmidt                (b. 1884 - d. 1920)
May 1920 - 31 Mar 1929     Elias Olrik                        (b. 1885 - d. 1975)
 1 Apr 1929 - May 1936     Hjalmar Ringberg                   (b. 1889 - d. 1978)
May 1936 - 30 Nov 1945     Carl Aage Hilbert                  (b. 1899 - d. 1953)
 1 Dec 1945 - 31 Mar 1948  Cai Andrias Vagn-Hansen            (b. 1911 - d. 1990)
High Commissioners (Rigsombudsmand på Faerøerne/Ríkisumbodsmadur)
 1 Apr 1948 - 1954         Cai Andrias Vagn-Hansen            (s.a.)
1954 - 1961                Niels Elkaer-Hansen                (b. 1915 - d. 2007)
1961 - 1972                Mogens Wahl                        (b. 1918 - d. 1986)
1972 - 30 Jun 1981         Leif Groth                         (b. 1930 - d. 2009)
 1 Jul 1981 - 31 Mar 1988  Niels Bentsen                      (b. 1936 - d. 2017)
 1 Apr 1988 - 30 Jun 1995  Bent Klinte                        (b. 1939 - d. 2021)
 1 Jul 1995 - 31 Oct 2001  Vibeke Larsen (f)                  (b. 1949)
 1 Nov 2001 - 31 Jul 2005  Birgit Kleis (f)                   (b. 1956)
 1 Aug 2005 - 31 Dec 2007  Søren Christensen                  (b. 1940)
 1 Jan 2008 - 15 May 2017  Dan Michael Knudsen                (b. 1962)
15 May 2017 -              Lene Moyell Johansen (f)           (b. 1968)
                             (acting to 1 Aug 2017)

Lögsögumenn (Lawspeakers of the Thing [þing])
10.. - 10..                Gilli         
10.. - 12..                ....       
12.. - 13..                Sigurdr (Sjúrdur)    
13.. - 13..                Símon (Símun) 
13.. - 1412                Dagfinnr Hálfdanarson
                             (Dagfinnur Halvdanarson)
1412 - 14..                Haraldr Kálfsson (Haraldur Kálvsson)
c.1450                     Róaldr (Roald) 
1479 - 1524                Jörundr Skógdrífsson               (b. 14.. - d. 1524)
                             (Jørundur Skógdrívsson)
1524 - 1531                Thórmódr Sigurdsson                (b. 14.. - d. 1531)
                             (Tórmódur Sigurdsson)
Løgmenn (chief ministers)
1531 - 1543                Anders Guttormsen                  (b. c.1490 - d.1543) 
                             (Andras Guttormsson)
1544 - 19 May 1571         Guttorm Andersen                   (b. c.1515 - d. 1571)
                             (Guttormur Andrasson)  
1572 - 1583                Joen Heinesen (Jógvan Heinason)    (b. 1541 - d. 1602)
1583 - 1587                Isak Guttormsen (Ísak Guttormsson) (b. 15.. - d. 1587)
1588 - 1600                Peder Jacobsen (Paetur Jákupsson)  (b. 15.. - d. 1600)  
1601 - 1607                Thomas Simonsen (Tummas Símunarson)(b. 15.. - d. 1607)   
1608 - 1628                Zacharias Thormodsen               (b. 15.. - d. 1628)
                             (Zakarias Tormódsson)
1629 - 1654                Joen Justinussen                   (b. c.1560 - d. 1654) 
                             (Jógvan Jústinisson)  
1654 - 1655                Joen Poulsen (Jógvan Pálsson)      (b. 16.. - d. 1677)
                             (1st time)
1655 - 1662                Balzer Jacobsen            
1662 - 1677                Joen Poulsen (2nd time)            (s.a.)   
1677 - 1679                Jacob Johansen (Jákup Jógvansson) 
1679 - 26 Jan 1706         Johan Hendrik Weyhe                (b. c.1644 - d. 1706) 
26 Jan 1706 - 1706         Frederik Severinsen Skougaard      (b. 1666 - d. 1751)  
                             (acting)
1706 - 27 Jan 1755         Samuel Pedersen i Lamhauge         (b. 1676 - d. 1755)
                             (Sámal Paetursson)
1752 - 1769                Hans Jacobsen (Jákupsson) Debes    (b. 1723 - d. 1769)
                             (acting to 1455)
1769                       Peder Samuelsen Weyhe (acting)     (b. 1715 - d. 1775)  
1769 - 1772                Thorkild Fjeldsted                 (b. 1741 - d. 1796) 
1772 - 1786                Jacob Bentzon Hveding              (b. 1736 - d. 1819) 
1786 - 1806                Johan Michael Lund                 (b. 1753 - d. 1824)   
1806 - 1816                Jørgen Frantz Hammershaimb         (b. 1767 - d. 1820)
1816 - 12 May 1948         post abolished
Prime ministers (Løgmenn)
12 May 1948 - 15 Dec 1950  Andrass Samuelsen                  (b. 1873 - d. 1954)  SF
15 Dec 1950 -  9 Jan 1959  Kristian Djurhuus (1st time)       (b. 1895 - d. 1984)  SF
 9 Jan 1959 -  4 Jan 1963  Peter Mohr Dam (1st time)          (b. 1898 - d. 1968)  JF
 4 Jan 1963 - 12 Jan 1967  Hákun Djurhuus                     (b. 1908 - d. 1987)  FF
12 Jan 1967 - 19 Nov 1968  Peter Mohr Dam (2nd time)          (s.a.)               JF
19 Nov 1968 - 10 Dec 1970  Kristian Djurhuus (2nd time)       (s.a.)               SF
10 Dec 1970 -  5 Jan 1981  Atli Paetursson Dam (1st time)     (b. 1932 - d. 2005)  JF
 5 Jan 1981 - 10 Jan 1985  Poen Pauli Højgaard Ellefsen       (b. 1936 - d. 2012)  SF
10 Jan 1985 - 18 Jan 1989  Atli Paetursson Dam (2nd time)     (s.a.)               JF
18 Jan 1989 - 15 Jan 1991  Jógvan Sundstein                   (b. 1933 - d. 2024)  FF
15 Jan 1991 - 18 Jan 1993  Atli Paetursson Dam (3rd time)     (s.a.)               JF
18 Jan 1993 - 15 Sep 1994  Marita Petersen (f)                (b. 1940 - d. 2001)  JF
15 Sep 1994 - 15 May 1998  Edmund Esbern Johannes Joensen     (b. 1944)            SF
15 May 1998 -  3 Feb 2004  Anfinn Kallsberg                   (b. 1947 - d. 2024)  FF
 3 Feb 2004 - 26 Sep 2008  Jóannes Dan Eidesgaard             (b. 1951)            JF
26 Sep 2008 - 15 Sep 2015  Kaj Leo Holm Johannesen            (b. 1964)            SF
15 Sep 2015 - 16 Sep 2019  Aksel Vilhelmsson Johannesen       (b. 1972)            JF
                             (1st time)
16 Sep 2019 - 22 Dec 2022  Bárdur á Steig Nielsen             (b. 1972)            SF
22 Dec 2022 - 13 Apr 2026  Aksel Vilhelmsson Johannesen       (s.a.)               JF
                             (2nd time)
13 Apr 2026 -              Beinir Johannesen                  (b. 1997)            FF

Allied (British) Occupation

British Officer Commanding, Force Sandall (on Operation Valentine)
13 Apr 1940 - 16 Apr 1940  Thomas Bernard Washbourn Sandall   (b. 1896 - d. 1979)
British Naval Officers-in-Charge
16 Apr 1940 -  1 Jun 1941  William Reginald Denys Crowther    (b. 1883 - d. 1974)
 1 Apr 1941 - 27 Nov 1941  Richard Thornton Down              (b. 1882 - d. 1944)
27 Nov 1941 - 25 Feb 1945  Noel Marcus Francis Corbett        (b. 1887 - d. 1962)
25 Feb 1945 - 13 May 1945  Horace George Gorton               (b. 1891 - d. 1976)

British Consuls to the Faroe Islands
13 Apr 1940 - 1942         Frederick Cecil Mason              (b. 1913 - d. 2008)
19 Dec 1942 - 1943         Allen Price                        (b. 1905 - d. 1970)
1943 - 1945                .... 

Territorial Disputes: Because anticipated offshore hydrocarbon resources have not been realized, earlier Faroese proposals for full independence have been deferred; the U.K., Iceland, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim to UNCLOS that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm; Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and the Faroe Islands signed an agreement in 2019 extending the Faroe Islands’ northern continental shelf area.

Party abbreviations: FF = Hin Føroyski Fólkaflokkurin - Radikalt Sjálvstýri (Faroese People's Party – Radical Self-Government, liberal conservative, pro-independence, Eurosceptic, founded as Vinnuflokkurin [Business Party], split from SSF, est.1939); JF = Javnadarflokkurin (Equality Party, social-democratic, officially neutral but pro-links with Denmark, pro-EU, est.25 Sep 1925); MF = Midflokkurin (Centre Party, center-right, christian-democratic, est.30 May 1992); NSS = Nýtt Sjálvstýri (New Self-rule, social-liberal, pro-independence, former SSF, est.Jun 2015); SF = Sambandsflokkurin (Union Party, conservative, center-right, agrarian, pro-continued union with Denmark, est.Aug 1906); T = Tjódveldi (Republic, eco-socialist, pro-independence, Eurosceptic, former TF, est.Sep 2007);
- Former parties: SSF = Sjálvstýrisflokkurin (Self-Government Party, social-liberal, pro-independence, 1909-Jun 2015, renamed NSS); TF = Tjódveldisflokkurin (Republican Party, socialist, pro-independence, 22 May 1948-Sep 2007, renamed T); VF = Vinnuflokkurin (Business Party, conservative, 1935-1940, merged into FF)