Population
12. Oct 2020
Highest population growth on both sides of upcoming subsea tunnel
A population growth of 1.5% is significant, even though the growth has slowed down from the previous 12-month period, which saw an increase of 919 people (1.8%). This difference is mainly due to a slight decline in net migration.
The past few months have been unusual in many respects as the Covid-19 pandemic has significantly affected Faroese society. It is perhaps too early to determine the exact degree to which this has affected the difference in population growth over the past year. The graph below shows that this difference is not large enough to be reflected in the long-term population trend.
The highest year-on-year population growth is seen in Eysturoy and the capital region (1.9% and 1.8%, respectively), which are located at each side of the upcoming subsea tunnel.
Approx. 39% of the Faroese population reside in the capital region, but the population in this region increased by 358 people in the past year, which is equivalent to 47% of the total population increase.
Eysturoy accounts for approx. 23% of the total population, seeing an increase of 223 people (29% of the total population growth) in the past year.
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.