Population
05. Oct 2022
Population growth affected by low excess of births
The population figure of 54,081 for 1 September is a slight decline on the August 2022 figure of 54,200. A slight population decline in August is not unusual as many move overseas to study at this time of year. Judging by last year’s trend, it may not be long until the figure returns to the August level.
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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 has increased by 636 people since 1 September last year. This growth is made up of a net migration figure of 502 and an excess of births of 134. The net migration figure is largely unchanged from the previous period while the excess of births over deaths has more than halved.
The table below shows population changes in the past year compared to the previous 12-month period.
Net migration
In the past year, net migration contributed an average of just above 40 people monthly to the population growth. As the trend in the graph below shows, this is a small increase on the previous 12-month period.
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Excess of births
This trend in the graph below shows that the excess of births over deaths, i.e. the difference in the number of live births and deaths, has dropped significantly in recent months. This is predominantly due to a higher-than-usual number of deaths. However, the trend indicates that this high figure is now on a decline. The monthly excess of births over death currently stands at about 10, compared to 20-25 earlier this year.
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Municipalities
Tórshavn is by far the largest municipality, with a population of about 23,000 – 43% of the total population. Klaksvík municipality is the second largest with a population of 5,400 (10% of the total population), followed by Runavík with 4,300 (8% of the total).
The highest percentage growth was in Nes municipality, increasing by 4%, followed by Eiði, which increased by 3.6%.
Húsavík municipality saw the greatest population decline, with minus 6.3%.
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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.