SAGA-BOOK - Viking Society Web Publications

LAND TENURE IN A FAROESE VILLAGE*
By J. F. WEST
THE tiny nation which inhabits the Faroe Islands is
today completely dependent economically on its fine
modern fishing fleet working for the export trade. In
1968, indeed, although it was not a boom year, exports
amounted in value to just over ISO million Danish kroner,
of which 95% consisted of fish or fish products. 1 This is
equivalent to an export of over £210 (nearly $500) for
every man, woman and child in the 38,000 population. In
consequence, urbanisation is proceeding rapidly, the
growth of the capital, T6rshavn, and the second largest
town, Klaksvik, being quite remarkable. 2
The population of the more remote villages has tended
to decline somewhat; and on islands where landing facilities
are poor, and where road connections with the larger
population centres are lacking, migration to the towns
has become considerable. In general, however, Faroese
village life is proving remarkably sturdy. 3 The population
of most villages is holding its own, the drift to the
towns being balanced by a high birth rate.! Village life
in the Faroe Islands is both interesting and sociable, and
even a fisherman who is at sea for eight months of the year
may find more personal fulfilment in his ancestral village
than in a small town - especially if the small town is
within his reach when he wants it. For in the villages
• The author acknowledges with gratitude the help of Hr R6land W.
Hegnesen and of Hr H. O. Danielsen, of the Land Registry Office, T6rshavn,
for help in the preparation of this article.
1 Faroe in Figures, No. 45 (March 1969).
• The population of T6rshavn in 1950 was 5,607; in 1960 it was 7,447; and
by 1966 it had risen to 9,738. During the same period the population of
Klaksvik rose from 3,040 to 4,086.
• See the changes in population from 1960 to 1966 given with the
description of each village in J. P. Trap, Danmark XIII, Fareerne (5. udg.,
1968), 224-348•
• The population of Faroe was only about 18,000 in 1911. In 1950 it was
nearly 32,000, and in 1960 was 34,596. It is now over 38,000.