on: Danish

Legal system: Danish

National holiday: Birthday of the Queen, 16 April (1940)

Executive branch: Danish monarch, high commissioner, prime minister,
deputy prime minister, Cabinet (Landsstyri)

Legislative branch: unicameral Parliament (Logting)

Judicial branch: none

Leaders:
Chief of State--Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972), represented by
High Commissioner Bent KLINTE (since NA);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Jogvan SUNDSTEIN (since 17 January
1989)

Political parties and leaders: four-party ruling
coalition--People's Party, Jogvan Sundstein; Republican Party,
Signer Hansen; Progressive and Fishing Industry Party combined with the
Christian People's Party (CPP-PFIP); Home Rule Party, Hilmar Kass;
opposition--Social Democratic Party, Atli P. Dam; Cooperation
Coalition Party, Pauli Ellefsen; Progress Party

Suffrage: universal at age 20

Elections:
Parliament--last held 8 November 1988 (next to be held November
1992); results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(32 total) three-party coalition 21 (People's Party 8, Cooperation
Coalition Party 7, Republican Party 6);
Social Democrat 7, CPP-PFIP 2, Home Rule 2

Communists: insignificant number

Member of: Nordic Council

Diplomatic representation: none (self-governing overseas administrative
division of Denmark)

Flag: white with a red cross outlined in blue that extends to the edges of
the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the
style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

- Economy
Overview: The Faroese enjoy the high standard of living
characteristic of the Danish and other Scandinavian economies.
Fishing is the dominant economic activity. It employs over
25% of the labor force, accounts for about 25% of GDP, and
contributes over 80% to export revenues. A handicraft industry
employs about 20% of the labor force. Because of cool summers
agricultural activities are limited to raising sheep and to
potato and vegetable cultivation. There is a labor shortage, and
immigrant workers accounted for 5% of the work force in 1989. Denmark
annually subsidizes the economy, perhaps on the order of 15% of GDP.

GDP: $662 million, per capita $14,000; real growth rate 3%
(1989 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.0% (1988)

Unemployment rate: labor shortage

Budget: revenues $176 million; expenditures $176 million, including
capital expenditures of NA (FY86)

Exports: $267 million (f.o.b., 1986