Population
10. Apr 2025
Population was 54,784 on 1 March — up 0.6% year-on-year
The population growth that began accelerating in 2014 peaked in summer 2019 when the population increased by about 900 people (1.8%) during a 12-month period. The population growth has since declined steadily to about one-third of this figure, reaching 0.6% in March 2025. The excess of births over deaths and net migration each accounted for about half of the population growth in the past year.
[px-graph-1]
Excess of births and net migration dropping
The population trend is determined by net migration, i.e. the difference between the number of immigrants and the number of emigrants, and the excess of live births over deaths.
The population growth in the past year was driven by an excess of births of 159 people and a net migration figure of 175 people. This corresponds to an excess of births figure of 2.9 births per 1,000 population and a net migration figure of 3.2 people per 1,000 population. Both these figures are down from the 1 March 2023 - 1 March 2024 period, when the excess of births was at 3.0 and net migration at 3.7 per 1,000 population.
See more figures in the table below.
Less migration
The graph below shows the monthly trends for immigration and emigration. Note that trends for the past six months should be interpreted with caution due to incomplete data.
The migration data indicates a smaller decrease in immigration, while the declining trend for emigration continues.
[px-graph-2]
More births
The graph below illustrates monthly trends in births and deaths. Note that trends for the past six months should be interpreted with caution due to incomplete data.
The trend for birth rates indicates that the steadily decreasing trend dating back to 2020 is now reversing. The death rate trend is more stable.
[px-graph-3]
Population by municipality
The table below shows the population across the 29 municipalities, with details for each town and village on 1 March 2024 and 1 March 2025.
The population grew in 18 of the 29 municipalities, with Tórshavn, Nes, Runavík, Sjóvar and Skálavík leading the way. The towns and villages within these municipalities with the biggest growth were Tórshavn, Strendur, Toftir, Saltangará and Skálavík.
Nine municipalities experienced a population decline, and one saw no change. The biggest decline was registered in Vágur, Sunda and Eiði municipalities.
[px-graph-4]
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.