MigrantoFaroese Diaspora
12.3K Faroese live abroad — 22% of the population of the Faroe Islands
Faroese diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 98% of the diaspora
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| Denmark | 10633 |
| Norway | 885 |
| Iceland | 494 |
| Greenland | 269 |
| Latvia | 1 |
| Hungary | 0 |
| Slovakia | 0 |
| Estonia | 0 |
| Greece | 0 |
By region
98% of the diaspora lives in Europe
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Key facts
The Faroese diaspora in numbers
1 in 4 people born in the Faroe Islands lives abroad
12.3K people born in the Faroe Islands now live in other countries — 22.5% of a population of 54.7K.
Faroese diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 7941 |
| 1995 | 12021 |
| 2000 | 11640 |
| 2005 | 11018 |
| 2010 | 12146 |
| 2015 | 13041 |
| 2020 | 12048 |
| 2024 | 12282 |
Largest communities over time
Faroese living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| Year | Denmark | Norway | Iceland | Greenland | Latvia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 6913 | 527 | 237 | 261 | 0 |
| 1995 | 10726 | 742 | 273 | 278 | 0 |
| 2000 | 10171 | 902 | 308 | 257 | 0 |
| 2005 | 9735 | 771 | 320 | 190 | 0 |
| 2010 | 10754 | 812 | 324 | 254 | 0 |
| 2015 | 11543 | 883 | 331 | 279 | 2 |
| 2020 | 10651 | 796 | 327 | 273 | 1 |
| 2024 | 10633 | 885 | 494 | 269 | 1 |
Fastest-changing communities
How the number of Faroese in each country has changed since the selected year
Faroese among immigrants in other countries
Where Faroese make up the largest share of a country's immigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many Faroese live outside Faroe Islands?
Around 12.3K Faroese live abroad, the world's #192 largest diaspora.
Where do most Faroese abroad live?
Most Faroese live in Denmark, Norway and Iceland — these three countries account for about 98% of all Faroese living abroad.
Which country has the largest Faroese population outside Faroe Islands?
Denmark is home to the largest Faroese community abroad — 10.6K people, about 87% of all Faroese living abroad.
What share of the population of the Faroe Islands lives abroad?
About 22% of the population of the Faroe Islands lives abroad — that's 12.3K out of a total population of 54.7K.
Is the Faroese diaspora growing?
No — over the past decade, the number of Faroese living abroad has fallen from 13K to 12.3K, about 6%.
Where does the data on the Faroese diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in the Faroe Islands who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
Where to live?
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Living in the Faroe Islands
See the full country overview