Population
12. Feb 2024
Annual population growth: 0.8%
The population growth is continuing but at a slower pace. January 2024 was the second consecutive month with a year-on-year growth of less than 1%. The last period with consistent periods of 1% growth was in 2014.
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The population trend is determined by net migration (the difference in the number of immigrants and emigrants) and the excess of live births over deaths. The population growth in the past year comes from an excess of births of 162 people and a net migration figure of 288 people.
Fewer emigrants
The graph below indicates decreasing trends in both immigration and emigration. Immigration appears to be decreasing slightly more than emigration and is now at the same level as in 2020. This results in a lower net migration figure. In the 2017-2022 period, the annual net migration figure ranged between 400 and 500. This figure reached 288 in 2023.
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Fewer births and fewer deaths
The graph below shows a downward trend in both birth rates and death rates over the past two years. The death rate has declined more than the birth rate, resulting in a higher excess of births over deaths. Prior to the large decline in the excess of births, which began two years ago, the excess of births figure ranged between 200 and 300. In the previous 12-month period, this figure reached 146. In the past year it increased to 162.
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Not many new Danish citizens
The graph below paints a clear picture: non-Danish citizens are driving the current population growth, with Danish citizens relegated to a minor role in the past two years, a significant departure from their previous leading position.
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Growth in most municipalities
Despite a slowing nationwide population growth, 18 of the 29 municipalities saw growth in 2023. Tórshavn, Klaksvík, Runavík and Eystur municipalities had the highest growth. Within these municipalities, the highest growth was in Tórshavn, Hoyvík, Klaksvík, Saltangará, Argir and Leirvík. The population declined in nine municipalities and remained unchanged in two. The table below shows the population across all 29 municipalities, with details for each town and village on 1 January 2023 and 1 January 2024.
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Population figures have a one-month lag
The figures have a one-month lag due to delays in registrations, especially regarding address changes, where many registrations are made after the month of address change has ended. To accommodate as many corrections as possible, there is a one-month lag in the data.
About the population figures
The population is defined as all individuals registered in the national register as residents of the Faroe Islands. Population data includes date of birth, gender, place of birth, citizenship, relationship status, and, where applicable, information on immigration and emigration, domestically as well as between the Faroe Islands and other nations.
About the trend
The trend describes the population trend by adjusting for seasonal effects and other error components in the population figure.