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Faroe Islands vs Greenland
Side-by-side comparison of Faroe Islands and Greenland from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
In short
Faroe Islands and Greenland have a similar population. Greenland is 32 times larger than Faroe Islands by land area. Faroe Islands and Greenland have economies of similar size (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Faroe Islands 54,900 and Greenland 56,831 (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $82,089 in Faroe Islands and $78,906 in Greenland (2024, international dollars). People in Faroe Islands live on average 12.8 years longer (83.1 vs 70.3 years).
Of 7 indicators reported by both countries, Faroe Islands ranks higher in the world on 5 and Greenland on 2. Faroe Islands is clearly stronger in society & health, infrastructure & digital and economy. Greenland is clearly stronger in land & people and natural resources.
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Faroe Islands and Greenland.
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Faroe Islands overtook Greenland in GDP per person (PPP) in 2023, the latest year with data.
Greenland has been ahead of Faroe Islands in GDP (PPP) in every year since 2008.
Faroe Islands has been ahead of Greenland in life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Greenland has been ahead of Faroe Islands in population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
Faroe IslandsGreenland All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Faroe Islands | Greenland |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 12,960159th/216 · 2024 | 410,44960th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 1,370175th/216 · 2024 | 410,44958th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 54,900202nd/217 · 2025 | 56,831201st/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 0.47%137th/217 · 2025 | -0.01%169th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 39.9163rd/216 · 2024 | 0.1216th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 39.6%173rd/217 · 2025 | 88.6%38th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 19.9%125th/217 · 2025 | 20.7%119th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 17.8%51st/217 · 2025 | 11.5%91st/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $4.05 bn174th/210 · 2024 | $3.33 bn178th/210 · 2023 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $4.49 bn178th/199 · 2024 | $4.49 bn177th/199 · 2023 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $3.94 bn178th/199 · 2024 | $4.04 bn177th/199 · 2023 |
| GDP per person USD | $74,17516th/210 · 2024 | $58,49926th/210 · 2023 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $82,08916th/199 · 2024 | $78,90620th/199 · 2023 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $73,12013th/201 · 2024 | $34,8002007 |
| GDP growth % | 0.8%178th/210 · 2024 | 0.9%177th/210 · 2023 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 16.1%51st/197 · 2024 | 16.6%47th/197 · 2023 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 18.3%137th/200 · 2024 | 18.4%136th/200 · 2023 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 9.5%105th/192 · 2024 | 2.7%172nd/192 · 2023 |
| Services % of GDP | 53.8%128th/200 · 2024 | 61.0%78th/200 · 2023 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $2.21 bn149th/182 · 2024 | $1.36 bn156th/182 · 2023 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $2.07 bn159th/182 · 2024 | $1.70 bn161st/182 · 2023 |
| Exports % of GDP | 54.6%46th/183 · 2024 | 40.8%78th/183 · 2023 |
| Imports % of GDP | 51.2%78th/183 · 2024 | 51.1%81st/183 · 2023 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 105.8%55th/183 · 2024 | 91.9%78th/183 · 2023 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 2.4%95th/170 · 2025 | 0.0%2018 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 3.2%158th/171 · 2025 | 4.5%2018 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 91.9%6th/171 · 2025 | 92.3%2018 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 0.2%162nd/171 · 2025 | 0.1%2018 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 0.6%2009 | 1.7%2018 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 0.0%187th/209 · 2021 | 0.0%187th/209 · 2020 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%120th/197 · 2020 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%100th/197 · 2020 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%2012 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2020 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2020 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.00%183rd/209 · 2021 | 0.00%183rd/209 · 2020 |
| Arable land % of land area | 0.1%206th/206 · 2024 | — |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 83.120th/217 · 2024 | 70.3152nd/217 · 2024 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 28.5%45th/217 · 2025 | 17.0%88th/217 · 2025 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | — | 0.0%144th/144 · 2022 |
| Internet users % of population | 97.6%2017 | 69.5%2017 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 106132nd/210 · 2022 | 11995th/210 · 2022 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 34.645th/208 · 2022 | 32.052nd/208 · 2022 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 0.049th/203 · 2024 | 10.45184th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 7.9%158th/212 · 2022 | 11.7%136th/212 · 2022 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | — | 1.61st/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 0.1%208th/214 · 2024 | 0.0%211th/214 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | — | 79.324th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | — | 77.920th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | — | 84.814th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | — | 79.559th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | — | 73.927th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | — | 83.813th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | — | 5.42016 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.85%2003 | 0.65%2004 |
| Scientific articles articles | — | 38159th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Faroe Islands or Greenland?
Greenland has the larger population: 56,831 (2025) compared with 54,900 for Faroe Islands (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Faroe Islands or Greenland?
Greenland is larger: 410,449 km² (2024) compared with 12,960 km² for Faroe Islands (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Faroe Islands or Greenland?
Greenland has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $4.49 bn intl. (2023) compared with $4.49 bn intl. for Faroe Islands (2024). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Faroe Islands or Greenland?
Faroe Islands has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $82,089 intl. (2024) compared with $78,906 intl. for Greenland (2023). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Faroe Islands or Greenland?
Faroe Islands has the higher life expectancy at birth: 83.1 years (2024) compared with 70.3 years for Greenland (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Andorra
Montenegro
San MarinoSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Faroe Islands vs Greenland — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/faroe-islands-vs-greenland. Data as of 26 October 2026.