Faroe Islands

Summary

Official Name

Faroe Islands

Population

51,600

Principal Languages

Danish, Faroese

Language Counts

The number of established languages listed for Faroe Islands is 3. All are living languages. Of these, 1 is indigenous and 2 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 2 are institutional and 1 is vigorous.

Languages

Danish dan: Status: 1 (National). Statutory national working language (1948, Faroe Islands Home Rule Act, Section 11), Co-official with Faroese [fao]. Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, North, East Scandinavian, Danish-Swedish, Danish-Riksmal, Danish
Danish Sign Language dsl: Scattered. Users: 50 in Faroe Islands (2020 A. Bickford). Estimated assuming 0.1% of the general population. Status: 6a* (Vigorous). Alternate Names: DTS, Dansk tegnsprog Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Faroese fao: Widespread. Users: 48,000 in Faroe Islands (2015 R. Hansen). Total users in all countries: 69,000. Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1948, Faroe Islands Home Rule Act, Section 11), Co-equal with Danish for official purposes. Alternate Names: Faeroese Autonym: Føroyskt Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, North, West Scandinavian

Languages by Status

1 (National)

Danish

[dan] 1 (National). Statutory national working language (1948, Faroe Islands Home Rule Act, Section 11), Co-official with Faroese [fao].

Faroese

[fao] 1 (National). Statutory national language (1948, Faroe Islands Home Rule Act, Section 11), Co-equal with Danish for official purposes. 48,000 in Faroe Islands (2015 R. Hansen). Total users in all countries: 69,000.

6a (Vigorous)

Danish Sign Language

[dsl] 6a* (Vigorous). 50 in Faroe Islands (2020 A. Bickford). Estimated assuming 0.1% of the general population.