Population tops 51,000

On 1 July this year, the total Faroese population was 51,043, according to Statistics Faroe Islands.

Net migration accounted for 593 and an excess of births accounted for 237 of the overall population increase of 830. The excess of births is 55 lower than the previous 12-month period, but this is more than counterbalanced by an increase in net migration of 166 during the same period.

Significantly fewer people moved out of the country than before, while immigration figures were at an all-time high in the 2017-2018 period.

Statistics Faroe Islands writes on its website that “the number of people emigrating is at its lowest since 1980. And in relation to the total population, we are seeing the lowest emigration figure in the past 50 years.”

All districts had a population growth in the 2017-2018 period, except Suðuroy and Sandoy, which had a decline of nine and one persons, respectively.

The highest percentage growth in the 2017-2018 period was in Kunoy Municipality, which saw a 13-percent increase in the past year as 18 people moved to the municipality. It is, however, worth noting that most of these people moved to the area due to the opening of Bakkafrost’s new fish farming facilities.

The largest municipalities had the largest increase in numbers. Tórshavn’s population increased by 398 and Klaksvík’s by 77, while medium-sized municipalities such as Nes and Sjóvar grew almost as much in numbers as Klaksvík and twice as much as Runavík Municipality, which is 3-4 as large as Nes and Sjóvar.

In the 2017-2018 period, the net immigration figure included 163 more men than women. As the excess of births in the period included 27 more girls than boys and 52 more men than women died, the total population increase figure featured 84 more men than women.

Statistics Faroe Islands points out that the large increase in immigration figures in recent years should perhaps not be regarded in absolute terms, since many people have moved to the Faroes recently due to the great demand for foreign labour, especially in the construction industry.

Translated by prosa.fo