Population
10. Jul 2024
Population on 1 June: 54,687
Population growth in the Faroes is continuing for the tenth consecutive year. However, the annual growth rate has been declining over the past few years. From June 2023 to June 2024, the population increased by 0.6%, down from 0.9% in the previous 12-month period. The biggest contributor to this slowdown was a decline in net migration, particularly among new immigrants. The graph below shows the population trend since 1985.
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The population trend is driven by two factors: net migration (the difference in the number of immigrants and emigrants) and the excess of live births over deaths.
The table below shows that the population growth in the past year came from an excess of 140 births and net migration of 183. Combining these two figures, this translates to 177 fewer people year-on-year. Net migration dropped significantly, mainly due to a decline in immigration.
Migration and long-term residency
Newcomer migration drove the decline in net migration over the past year. Fewer new immigrants arrived, while emigration among newcomers also increased.
In contrast, long-term resident net migration saw a slight increase. This is due to more long-term residents returning to the Faroes and fewer emigrating.
The table below details the five-year trend of net migration by residency status (long-term residents vs. newcomers). It reveals a gradual decline in net migration. In the past year, newcomer net migration led the decline, while in the previous four years, long-term residents were the main factor.
Fewer immigrants
The graph below shows the monthly migration trends. While the emigration trend has stabilised in recent months, immigration continues to trend downwards.
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Fewer births
The graph below reveals that the steady downward trend in birth rates is continuing, while death rates remain relatively stable.
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Population in municipalities, towns and villages
Tórshavn, Klaksvík, Nes, Runavík and Eystur municipalities saw the biggest population growth in the past year. Skopun joined the top rankings for the first time, coming in sixth place, with a year-on-year population growth of 22 people (4.7%).
Eiði, Vágur and Vestmanna experienced the biggest population decline. The table below shows the population across all 29 municipalities, with details for each town and village, on 1 June 2023 and 1 June 2024. Further details for each individual town and village are available here.
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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.