Faroe Islands vs Iceland
Faroe Islands and Iceland compared on 71 measures that both have. Each pair of values is for the same period, the latest one with data for both countries, so the year can differ from one row to the next.
Where Faroe Islands and Iceland differ most
- CO2 emissions per person, 2024: Faroe Islands 0.04 t CO2 per person, Iceland 8.52 t CO2 per person (221.7 times as high)
- Renewable energy share, 2021: Faroe Islands 5.1%, Iceland 82.4% (16.2 times as high)
- Population density, 2024: Faroe Islands 39.9 people per km², Iceland 3.8 people per km² (10.4 times as high)
- Terrestrial protected areas, 2025: Faroe Islands 2.4%, Iceland 20.9% (8.7 times as high)
- Agriculture share of GDP, 2024: Faroe Islands 16.1%, Iceland 3.5% (4.5 times as high)
Measures where one value is the largest multiple of the other, among measures with positive values. Totals such as population, index values and growth rates are left out, because their size says little about the difference.
Population and ageing
| Measure | Faroe Islands | Iceland | Faroe Islands compared with Iceland | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population estimates and projections people |
54,714 people | 387,558 people | −85.9% | 2023 | UN Population Division |
| Median age estimates and projections years |
37.3 years | 35.8 years | +4.1% | 2023 | UN Population Division |
| Fertility rate estimates and projections live births per woman |
2.24 births per woman | 1.54 births per woman | +45.5% | 2023 | UN Population Division |
| Population growth estimates and projections % per year |
1.33% | 1.64% | −0.31 percentage points | 2023 | UN Population Division |
| Population people |
54,900 people | 392,404 people | −86.0% | 2025 | World Bank |
| Population growth annual % change |
0.47% | 1.51% | −1.04 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
| Population aged 65 and over % of total population |
17.8% | 16.0% | +1.8 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
| Population aged 0 to 14 % of total population |
19.9% | 17.5% | +2.4 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
| Fertility rate births per woman |
1.91 births per woman | 1.56 births per woman | +22.6% | 2024 | World Bank |
| Crude birth rate births per 1,000 people |
10.8 per 1,000 people | 11.2 per 1,000 people | −0.4 per 1,000 people | 2024 | World Bank |
| Crude death rate deaths per 1,000 people |
8.2 per 1,000 people | 6.8 per 1,000 people | +1.4 per 1,000 people | 2024 | World Bank |
| Urban population share % of total population |
39.6% | 94.2% | −54.6 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
| Adolescent birth rate births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 |
4.4 per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 | 3.1 per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 | +1.3 per 1,000 women aged 15 to 19 | 2024 | World Bank |
| Age dependency ratio dependants per 100 people aged 15 to 64 |
60.4 per 100 working-age people | 50.4 per 100 working-age people | +10.0 per 100 working-age people | 2025 | World Bank |
| Population density people per square kilometre of land |
39.9 people per km² | 3.8 people per km² | +940.5% | 2024 | World Bank |
| Urban population growth annual % change |
1.06% | 1.55% | −0.49 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
Migration and citizenship
| Measure | Faroe Islands | Iceland | Faroe Islands compared with Iceland | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net migration estimates and projections per 1,000 people |
10.9 per 1,000 people | 11.9 per 1,000 people | −1.0 per 1,000 people | 2023 | UN Population Division |
| Net migration people |
386 people | 2,709 people | −85.8% | 2025 | World Bank |
| International migrant stock % of population |
14.6% | 25.1% | −10.5 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
| Personal remittances received % of GDP |
6.3% | 1.0% | +5.3 percentage points | 2011 | World Bank |
Economy and productivity
| Measure | Faroe Islands | Iceland | Faroe Islands compared with Iceland | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GDP in US dollars current US dollars |
US$4.1 billion | US$33.2 billion | −87.8% | 2024 | World Bank |
| GDP per capita in US dollars current US dollars per person |
US$74,175 per person | US$85,863 per person | −13.6% | 2024 | World Bank |
| GDP per capita, PPP constant 2021 international dollars per person |
Int$72,114 per person | Int$68,230 per person | +5.7% | 2024 | World Bank |
| GNI per capita, Atlas method current US dollars per person |
US$73,120 per person | US$80,910 per person | −9.6% | 2024 | World Bank |
| Real GDP growth annual % change |
0.8% | -1.3% | +2.1 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
| Services share of GDP % of GDP |
53.8% | 65.3% | −11.5 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
| Investment share of GDP % of GDP |
28.2% | 26.2% | +1.9 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
| Savings share of GDP % of GDP |
28.8% | 10.8% | +18.0 percentage points | 2011 | World Bank |
| Household consumption per person constant 2015 US dollars per person |
US$24,715 per person | US$26,306 per person | −6.0% | 2015 | World Bank |
Prices and purchasing power
| Measure | Faroe Islands | Iceland | Faroe Islands compared with Iceland | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inflation measured by the GDP deflator annual % change |
2.0% | 6.1% | −4.1 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
| Exchange rate to the US dollar local currency units per US dollar, annual average |
6.622 per US$ | 128.441 per US$ | −94.8% | 2025 | World Bank |
Health and healthcare
| Measure | Faroe Islands | Iceland | Faroe Islands compared with Iceland | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy estimates and projections years |
80.2 years | 82.7 years | −3.0% | 2023 | UN Population Division |
| Life expectancy at 65, estimates and projections years |
18.3 years | 20.8 years | −12.1% | 2023 | UN Population Division |
| Life expectancy at birth years |
83.1 years | 82.8 years | +0.3% | 2024 | World Bank |
| Life expectancy at birth, women years |
84.9 years | 84.5 years | +0.5% | 2024 | World Bank |
| Life expectancy at birth, men years |
81.3 years | 81.2 years | +0.2% | 2024 | World Bank |
| Diabetes prevalence % of population aged 20 to 79 |
5.3% | 6.9% | −1.6 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
Internet and digital society
| Measure | Faroe Islands | Iceland | Faroe Islands compared with Iceland | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Internet users % of population |
97.6% | 98.3% | −0.7 percentage points | 2017 | World Bank |
| Mobile subscriptions subscriptions per 100 people |
106 per 100 people | 120 per 100 people | −14 per 100 people | 2022 | World Bank |
| Fixed broadband subscriptions subscriptions per 100 people |
34.6 per 100 people | 37.4 per 100 people | −2.8 per 100 people | 2022 | World Bank |
Business and industry
| Measure | Faroe Islands | Iceland | Faroe Islands compared with Iceland | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industry share of GDP % of GDP |
18.3% | 20.1% | −1.8 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
| Manufacturing share of GDP % of GDP |
9.5% | 8.8% | +0.7 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
Trade and investment
| Measure | Faroe Islands | Iceland | Faroe Islands compared with Iceland | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exports share of GDP % of GDP |
54.6% | 42.5% | +12.1 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
| Imports share of GDP % of GDP |
51.2% | 43.7% | +7.5 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
| Trade as a share of GDP % of GDP |
105.8% | 86.2% | +19.6 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
| Current account balance % of GDP |
7.8% | -4.5% | +12.2 percentage points | 2011 | World Bank |
| High-technology exports % of manufactured exports |
0.6% | 31.5% | −30.9 percentage points | 2009 | World Bank |
Energy and electricity
| Measure | Faroe Islands | Iceland | Faroe Islands compared with Iceland | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Access to electricity % of population |
100.0% | 100.0% | same | 2024 | World Bank |
| Renewable energy share % of total final energy consumption |
5.1% | 82.4% | −77.3 percentage points | 2021 | World Bank |
| Fossil electricity share % of total electricity production |
61.9% | 0.0% | +61.9 percentage points | 2021 | World Bank |
Climate and emissions
| Measure | Faroe Islands | Iceland | Faroe Islands compared with Iceland | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temperature change °C difference from the 1951 to 1980 average |
1.67 °Ce (Estimated value) | 1.47 °Ce (Estimated value) | +0.20 °C | 2025 | FAOSTAT |
| Total greenhouse gas emissions million tonnes of CO2 equivalent |
0.1 Mt CO2e | 4.3 Mt CO2e | −97.7% | 2024 | World Bank |
| Greenhouse gas emissions per person tonnes of CO2 equivalent per person |
1.8 t CO2e per person | 11.1 t CO2e per person | −84.0% | 2024 | World Bank |
| CO2 emissions per person tonnes of CO2 per person |
0.04 t CO2 per person | 8.52 t CO2 per person | −99.5% | 2024 | World Bank |
| Methane emissions million tonnes of CO2 equivalent |
0.0 Mt CO2e | 0.5 Mt CO2e | −91.3% | 2024 | World Bank |
| Nitrous oxide emissions million tonnes of CO2 equivalent |
0.05 Mt CO2e | 0.26 Mt CO2e | −80.0% | 2024 | World Bank |
Air quality and ecosystems
| Measure | Faroe Islands | Iceland | Faroe Islands compared with Iceland | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 air pollution micrograms per cubic metre |
5.8 µg/m³ | 5.6 µg/m³ | +3.0% | 2023 | WHO |
| Forest area % of land area |
0.1% | 0.6% | −0.5 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
| Protected areas % of total territorial area |
0.0% | 2.9% | −2.9 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
| Terrestrial protected areas % of land area |
2.4% | 20.9% | −18.5 percentage points | 2025 | World Bank |
Water, sanitation and waste
| Measure | Faroe Islands | Iceland | Faroe Islands compared with Iceland | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic drinking water access % of population |
100.0% | 100.0% | same | 2024 | World Bank |
| Basic sanitation access % of population |
90.9% | 98.8% | −7.9 percentage points | 2015 | World Bank |
Agriculture, food and fisheries
| Measure | Faroe Islands | Iceland | Faroe Islands compared with Iceland | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen fertiliser use kg of nitrogen (N) per hectare of cropland |
71.4 kg/hae (Estimated value) | 88.2 kg/hae (Estimated value) | −19.0% | 2024 | FAOSTAT |
| Agriculture share of GDP % of GDP |
16.1% | 3.5% | +12.5 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
| Agricultural land % of land area |
70.1% | 16.2% | +53.9 percentage points | 2024 | World Bank |
| Capture fisheries production metric tonnes |
677,691 tonnes | 1,008,804 tonnes | −32.8% | 2024 | World Bank |
| Food production index index, 2014 to 2016 = 100 |
107.3 (2014-16 = 100) | 102.9 (2014-16 = 100) | +4.3% | 2024 | World Bank |
| Fertiliser use kilograms per hectare of arable land |
571.4 kg per hectare | 133.7 kg per hectare | +327.4% | 2024 | World Bank |
| Land area square kilometres |
1,370 km² | 100,830 km² | −98.6% | 2024 | World Bank |
Science and innovation
| Measure | Faroe Islands | Iceland | Faroe Islands compared with Iceland | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R&D spending share of GDP % of GDP |
0.85% | 2.71% | −1.85 percentage points | 2003 | World Bank |
| Researchers per million people researchers per million people |
1,825 per million people | 6,644 per million people | −4,819 per million people | 2003 | World Bank |
The difference column shows Faroe Islands compared with Iceland: in percentage points for percentages, in the same unit for rates per population and index values, and in percent for other measures.
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