The Faroese people are mostly descendants of the settlers, who came from the western part of Norway early in the 9^th century.  It is likely, that the islands were already sparsely populated by Irish hermits and a few families before the Norwegian settlement started, but it has yet to be confirmed.  Christianity was accepted by law in 999 and the islands became a part of the Norwegian Kingdom in 1035. Norway and the other Nordic countries united, when the Kalmar Union was realized in 1380.  After that, the Danish ruled the islands, even after 1814, when Norway was ruled by Sweden.

The Danish Trade Monopoly was abolished in 1856 and the Faeroese people were permitted to start free trading.  The fishing fleet grew and the fisheries and fish processing became the main source of income up to this date. During the latter part of the 19^th century the nationalistic movement got stronger and the first political party was founded in 1906. The British occupied the islands in 1940 and separated them from Denmark, which was occupied by the Germans.  The British government recognized the Faeroese flag in 1940.

Autonomy from the Danish was acquired in 1948, and the parliament and the government of the islands took over domestic matters, i.e. taxes, customs, postal matters and the registration of ships. As a part of the Danish Kingdom, the Faeroese people are members of many international organizations and treaties.  They are, however, not members of the European Union.

THE INHABITANTS of the Faeroe Islands are of Nordic origin, the descendents of Norwegians, who settled there close to the year 800.  They mostly live in villages on the coastline.  The language is Faeroese, which is a combination of Danish and Icelandic.  Most of the inhabitants are of the Lutheran domination.

The number of inhabitants tripled in the 19^th century and has more than doubled since 1901.  The society is relatively young, as about one quarter of the population is younger than 14.