Faroe Islands: Population growth (annual %)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2025, Faroe Islands' population growth (annual %) rose 0.03 percentage points on 2024 (from 0.44% to 0.47%).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1995 to 2024), the average change was +0.14 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 0.66 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.2 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 2.39 percentage points in 1996 and the biggest yearly fall was 2.17 percentage points in 1994. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2016 to 2025 the straight-line trend is downward, about 0.11 percentage points a year. A straight line explains 59% of the movement over 10 observed years.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2025, Faroe Islands had the 137th highest value of the 217 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Faroe Islands in the 2025 ranking

• United States — 134th of 217: 0.52%
• Netherlands — 135th of 217: 0.52%
• Chile — 136th of 217: 0.48%
• Finland — 138th of 217: 0.47%
• Fiji — 139th of 217: 0.47%
• Cabo Verde — 140th of 217: 0.47%

What this measures

Annual population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a weighted average.

All 65 values

Population growth (annual %) in nearby economies

• Albania — -1.17% (2025)
• Andorra — 1.17% (2025)
• Armenia — 1.74% (2025)
• Austria — 0.33% (2025)
• Azerbaijan — 0.43% (2025)
• Belarus — -0.51% (2025)
• Belgium — 0.7% (2025)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina — -0.77% (2025)
• Bulgaria — -0.13% (2025)
• Channel Islands — 0.2% (2025)
• Croatia — 0.26% (2025)

More health data for Faroe Islands

• Population ages 00-04, female (% of female population) — 6.39% (2025)
• Population ages 00-04, male (% of male population) — 6.4% (2025)
• Population ages 0-14, female — 5,330 (2025)
• Population ages 0-14, female (% of female population) — 20.07% (2025)
• Population ages 0-14, male — 5,578 (2025)
• Population ages 0-14, male (% of male population) — 19.68% (2025)
• Population ages 0-14, total — 10,909 (2025)
• Population ages 0-14 (% of total population) — 19.87% (2025)
• Population ages 05-09, female (% of female population) — 7.08% (2025)

Reading data like this

• Where to find free public data, and how to check it before you trust it — 2 min read
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Questions people ask

What is Faroe Islands's population growth (annual %)?

0.47% in 2025, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1961?

It is down 0.78 percentage points from 1.25% in 1961. The highest value was 1.91% in 2001 and the lowest -3.9% in 1994.

How does Faroe Islands rank?

137th highest of 217 economies with data for 2025.

Is the latest change in population growth (annual %) unusual for Faroe Islands?

In 2025, Faroe Islands' population growth (annual %) rose 0.03 percentage points on 2024 (from 0.44% to 0.47%). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1995 to 2024), the average change was +0.14 percentage points and a typical year strayed about 0.66 percentage points from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.2 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator SP.POP.GROW, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), note: Derived from total population, publisher: UN Population Division; Statistical databases and publications from national statistical offices, National Statistical Offices (NSOs), note: Derived from total population; Demographic Statistics, Eurosta… Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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