Population, Language, Education and Culture
The Faroes have a population of approximately 48,500 in-habitants, with around 12,400 living in the capital of Tórshavn. The second-largest town is Klaksvik on Bor ? oy with a population of around 4,700. 17 of the 18 islands are inhabited, and with the exception of the capital, the population is fairly evenly distributed throughout the islands. Around 92% of the population are ethnic Faroese, while the remaining 8% are mainly from Denmark and other Nordic countries.

Language
A Germanic language, the Fa-roese language føroyskt is rooted in Old Norse, influenced by Gaelic, and related to the Icelandic language and some Norwegian dialects.

Education
Children start nine years of compulsory schooling when they are seven years old. There are several different types of upper secondary education, and Faroese exams correspond to exams in Denmark. Among institutions of higher education can be mentioned the Maritime College, Nursing School, Teachers' Training School, Kindergarten Teachers' Trai-ning School and University of the Faroe Islands. There is free access to education for everyone.

Culture
The people of the Faroe Islands enjoy a rich and active cultural life characterised by a high level of participation in a wide range of community-based activities, from music, drama, and choir singing to the traditional Faroese ballad dance, with its roots in medieval story-telling and dance traditions. Sport is also very popular, from football, with the national football team participating in both the European Cup and the World Cup, to regional and national rowing competitions in traditional Faroese boats. Nature plays an important role in almost all artistic and cultural activities.

Situated in Tórshavn, the Nordic House is the Faroe Islands' main venue for concerts, exhibitions and theatre performances, etc. The Nordic House was built in 1983, and is well renowned for its architecture.

The majority of the population are members of the established Evangelical-Lutheran church. The Faroese national costume is worn for religious ceremonies and other special occasions, also by the youth.

For centuries pilot whales have been a subsistence food on the islands. In 1997 NAMMCO concluded that pilot whale hunting in the Faroes is sustainable. Seabirds have also been a major source of food for Faroese households for centuries. Although neither whales nor birds have any commercial value, they are vital to the Faroese culture. Besides whales and birds, sheep, fish and potatoes have been important ingredients of Faroese cuisine for centuries.

National Symbols
July 29 is the Faroese national day. The day is the celebration of the Norwegian King Olav II, who was killed in a battle on July 29, 1030, and also the day when the parliament has its yearly opening. The national flag of the Faroe Islands is called Merki ? , and was first time used on June 22, 1919. The Faroese national coat of arms, Ve ? rur, consists of a blue shield with a ram, a motive that dates back to the Middle Ages.