Faroe Islands

Country profile

CO2 emissions per person
13.1
t CO2/person/year · 2024
15th of 213 countries
Temperature anomaly
1.25
°C vs 1991-2020 · 2025
20th of 193 countries
Air pollution (PM2.5)
4.00
µg/m³ annual mean · 2024
221st of 241 countries
19402025

Faroe Islands in stripes: every year since 1940, blue cooler than the 1991-2020 average, red hotter.

The future under three scenarios

Temperature vs 1991-2020, observed and projected to 2100

021950200020502100Low · SSP1-2.6Middle · SSP2-4.5High · SSP5-8.5low 1979

Solid line: observed (Copernicus ERA5). Dashed lines: CMIP6 multi-model median under three IPCC emissions scenarios, anchored to the observed 2015-2024 average, from the World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal. Scenarios are futures the world can still choose between, not predictions.

Climate

CO2 emissions

0.72 Mt CO2/year · 2024
+26% since 1994174th highest of 215 · 2024
00.51960198020002020high 2021

Carbon dioxide released each year from burning fossil fuels and industry. The main driver of global warming. Global Carbon Budget via Our World in Data

CO2 emissions per person

13.1 t CO2/person/year · 2024
+0.6% since 199415th highest of 213 · 2024
0510151960198020002020high 2001low 1951

Each person's share of their country's yearly CO2 emissions. A fairer way to compare countries of very different sizes. Global Carbon Budget via Our World in Data

Temperature anomaly

1.25 °C vs 1991-2020 · 2025
+2.0 °C since 199520th highest of 193 · 2025
-10119401960198020002020Worldlow 1979

How much warmer or cooler a country's year was compared with its 1991-2020 average. Watch the map turn red as you move the slider towards today. Copernicus Climate Change Service (ERA5) via Our World in Data

Energy

Energy use per person

58,450 kWh/person/year · 2023
+5.7% since 199322nd highest of 216 · 2023
020k40k60k19801990200020102020high 2001low 1984

How much energy each person uses in a year, across electricity, transport, heating and industry. Energy Institute / Ember via Our World in Data

Solar electricity

0.00 % of electricity · 2023
+0.0 pp since 2000174th highest of 210 · 2023
-10120002005201020152020

The share of a country's electricity generated from solar panels. The fastest-growing energy source in history. Ember / Energy Institute via Our World in Data

Wind electricity

18.4 % of electricity · 2023
+18 pp since 200016th highest of 207 · 2023
0102020002005201020152020high 2015

The share of a country's electricity generated from wind turbines, onshore and offshore. Ember / Energy Institute via Our World in Data

Coal electricity

0.00 % of electricity · 2023
+0.0 pp since 200085th highest of 207 · 2023
-10120002005201020152020

The share of electricity still generated by burning coal, the most polluting fuel. The number that must reach zero first. Ember / Energy Institute via Our World in Data

Oil electricity

53.1 % of electricity · 2023
-11 pp since 200055th highest of 210 · 2023
020406020002005201020152020high 2010low 2015

The share of a country's electricity generated by burning oil. Rare on big grids, still common on islands. Ember via Our World in Data

Gas electricity

0.00 % of electricity · 2023
+0.0 pp since 2000118th highest of 203 · 2023
-10120002005201020152020

The share of a country's electricity generated from natural gas, the least polluting fossil fuel but still a fossil fuel. Ember via Our World in Data

Land & Life

Forest area

0.06 % of land · 2025
+0.0 pp since 1995207th highest of 212 · 2025
01020301990200020102020World

How much of a country's land is covered by forest. FAO via Our World in Data

Red List Index

0.88 index (1 = species safe) · 2024
+1.1% since 1994103rd highest of 244 · 2024
00.5200020102020high 2012

Tracks extinction risk across all assessed species. 1 means no species at risk; falling values mean wildlife sliding towards extinction. IUCN / SDG 15.5.1 via Our World in Data

Protected land

2.40 % of land area · 2024
-0.5 pp since 2013195th highest of 213 · 2024
051015201420162018202020222024World

The share of a country's land under legal protection for nature. The global 30x30 target aims for 30% by 2030. World Bank / UNEP-WCMC via Our World in Data

Nitrogen fertiliser use

97.8 kg N/ha of cropland · 2023
-98% since 200226th highest of 198 · 2023
05k10k15k2005201020152020high 2017low 2019

Nitrogen applied per hectare of cropland. It feeds half the world, but runoff chokes rivers and coastal seas. FAO via Our World in Data

Marine protected areas

0.00 % of territorial waters · 2024
+0.0 pp since 2013149th highest of 174 · 2024
051015201420162018202020222024World

How much of a country's coastal waters are protected for nature. The global goal is 30% by 2030. UNEP-WCMC via Our World in Data

Urban population

39.6 % living in cities · 2025
+5.3 pp since 1995186th highest of 236 · 2025
02040601960198020002020World

The share of people living in towns and cities. Urbanisation shapes energy use, land use and how people experience climate change. UN World Urbanization Prospects via Our World in Data

Water

Annual precipitation

1,056 mm/year · 2025
+0.8% since 199582nd highest of 192 · 2025
05001k19401960198020002020Worldhigh 2015low 1941

Total rain and snow that fell over a country in a year, averaged across its land area. Copernicus Climate Change Service (ERA5) via Our World in Data

Rainfall anomaly

0.60 % vs 1961-1990 · 2025
+0.7 pp since 199568th highest of 192 · 2025
-2002019401960198020002020Worldhigh 2015low 1941

How much wetter (teal) or drier (brown) a country's year was compared with its 1961-1990 average. A simple drought and deluge signal. Derived from Copernicus ERA5 precipitation via Our World in Data

Pollution

Air pollution (PM2.5)

4.00 µg/m³ annual mean · 2024
-18% since 1998221st highest of 241 · 2024
010203020002005201020152020Worldhigh 2003low 2016

Average exposure to fine particles small enough to enter the bloodstream. The WHO guideline is 5 µg/m³. World Bank / van Donkelaar et al. via Our World in Data

What can one person do?

  • Fly less
    One long-haul return flight can outweigh a year of other savings. Swap one flight for a train trip or a call.
  • Eat more plants
    Shifting towards a plant-rich diet is one of the largest steady cuts a person can make, and it starts with single meals.
  • Travel without a car where you can
    Walking, cycling and public transport beat an electric car; an electric car beats petrol.
  • Use your voice
    Personal footprints matter, but system change matters more. Vote, ask your employer and bank what they are doing, and talk about it.

Based on the highest-impact personal actions identified by Wynes & Nicholas (2017) and the IPCC's AR6 report on demand-side mitigation.