Regions of The Faroe Islands

The Faroe Islands are divided into six regions, seven constituencies and 30 municipalities. The region of Streymoy is composed of two constituencies. Each region has one sheriff.

  • Eysturoyar sýsla og valdømi - Eysturoy region and constituency. (FD) 5 MPs are elected here.
  • Norðoyar sýsla og valdømi - Norðoyar ("Northern Isles") region and constituency. (KG) Borðoy, Fugloy, Kalsoy, Kunoy, Svínoy, Viðoy. 4 MPs are elected here.
  • Sandoyar sýsla og valdømi - Sandoy region and constituency (SA) Lítla Dímun, Sandoy, Skúvoy, Stóra Dímun. 2 MPs are elected here.
  • Streymoyar sýsla, divided into:
    • Norðstreymoyar valdømi - Northern Streymoy constituency (VN). 2 MPs are elected here.
    • Suðurstreymoyar valdømi - Southern Streymoy constituency (TN), Hestur, Koltur, Nólsoy, Southern Streymoy. 8 MPs are elected here.
  • Suðuroyar sýsla og valdømi - Suðuroy region and constituency (TG). 4 MPs are elected here.
  • Vága sýsla og valdømi - Vágar region and constituency. Mykines, Vágar (VA). 2 MPs are elected here.

The administrative subdivisions of the Faroe Islands are frequently changing. In the 1980s there were more than 50 municipalities. During the last past decades the number has been decreasing steadily, and more municipal-mergers can be expected within the following years. The aim of the ministry of interior is that in 2015 there will be only seven or nine municipalities in the Faroe Islands, more or less following the boundaries of the districts and constituencies. If this happens the Faroe Islands will have left the administrative structure of "parish-municipalities" which was built up in the first half of the 20th century and entered a structure of "regional-municipalities".

Furthermore there was a long-running discussion on reducing or even removing the constituencies. In the end, from the 2008 election onwards, the constituencies were abolished.

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