Migration and Commuting at FaroeIslands

Gestur Hovgaard, University of Faroe IslandJogvan Baerentsen, Statistical Bureau, Faroe Island

Reykjavik September 11. and 12. 2012

42000

44000

46000

48000

50000

1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

Faroese population 1985‐2012

Birth rate and net migration 1840-2005

Unemployment and migration

Out migration 1985 – 2011:From rural to TórshavnFaroe islands and abroad

Growth of Tórshavn 1801-2001

0,00%

5,00%

10,00%

15,00%

20,00%

25,00%

30,00%

35,00%

40,00%

45,00%

1801 1860 1901 1950 2001

Relative growth of Tórshavn

Population growth by region 1950-2011

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

18000

20000

Norðoyggjar Eysturoy Streymoy Tórshavn Vágoy Sandoy Suðuroy

Population growth 1950‐2011 based on region

1950 1960 1970 1977 1990 2000 2011

Relative population growth by region.

0,0

5,0

10,0

15,0

20,0

25,0

30,0

35,0

40,0

45,0

Norðoyggjar Eysturoy Streymoy Tórshavn Vágoy Sandoy Suðuroy

Relative population growth 1950‐2011 based on region

1950

1960

1970

1977

1990

2000

2011

Age composition 1985-2011

Age and gender composition 1985-2011

Migrators’ gender 1985-2011

Case 1 – Migration trends.

• Until 1949 statistics was under danish jurisdiction. • Until 1991 faroese statistics were jointly produced by

Statistics Denmark and the Faroese Statistical office. • In 1991 Faroese Statistics was established as an

independent statistical office for the Faroe Islands.• Migration data exist more than 100 years back, even

based on district and gender. The older the data, the more difficult to work with, but still possible.

• Faroese registerdata from 1948-1985 exist in “paper-format. These can be digitalised for research purposes. This is a question of resources.

Case 1 – Migration trends.

• From 1985 there are digitalized register data on migration. These are data based on personal records.

• This also means that it is possible to connect data on migration with sosial and geographical data.

• Our focus has been on a first mapping of migrational trends in the Faroes – with a focus on Tórshavn.– Do the data show what we have all believed? (i.e. “everyone” moves

to Tórshavn).– Is it male or females – There are marked differences in movement trends between the

faroese regions.– This “helicopter” perspective is necessary for digging deeper into the

more hidden social structures of mobility.

Work related commuting – results.

• Internal migrations between district and• Tórshavn • district outside Tórshavn

• External migrations

In migrationOut migration

• Internal migrations between district and• Tórshavn • district outside Tórshavn

• External migrations

In migrationOut migration

• Internal migrations between district and• Tórshavn • district outside Tórshavn

• External migrations

♀

• Internal migrations between district and• Tórshavn • district outside Tórshavn

• External migrations

♂

Zoom inn á NO: tíðargongd, aldur/kyn

Case 2: Work related commuting.

• We know that commuting has turned into a normal practise in the new “functional region” of the Faroes. But know only little about how commuting is spread around the country – Do some regions commute more than others? – To where? From where?

• We found out that there were data that could help us. • Commuters in the Faroes who travel more than 24

kilometer per working day can apply for a relative reimbursment of their expenses to and from work.

• The application is twice a year and all the applications are examined and stored by the Tax Authorities.

• The applications contains personal ID, employers ID, the place workers commute from and the place they commute to, and how often.

Work related commuting – results.

Mobility data for future work.• Existing register data from1985 contains numerous

possibilities:– Who is moving forth and back (internal/external)? – Social variables: Age, income, occupation– Geographical distribution, similarities and differences.

• Historical data are more complicated, but there is much to go for in Danish archives.

• Work-related commuting can be extended to cover more years. – The years 2006-2011 are now under progress between the Tax-

authorities and the University.– Cost in DKK: app. 50.000.– Older years is more complicated – in archives.– Work-related commuting will in the nearest future be digitalised.

Other mobility data for future work.

• Faroese Educational Office has data-base on faroesestudents abroad:– Time for migration, where they are, what they study.– In principal this database can be connected with social

variables.

• Smyril Line & Atlantic Airways (leisure commuting).– Individual data several years back: gender, age, nationality

(locality).– Everyone sailing to and from Faroe Islands and Iceland is in

principle registered and these data can be used to map leisure travel to and from Faroe Islands.