Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina) Introduction Geography People Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

§1. Falkland Islands (Islas Introduction Malvinas)

Background:
  Although first sighted by an English navigator in 1592, the first landing
  (English) did not occur until almost a century later in 1690, and the first
  settlement (French) was not established until 1764. The colony was turned
  over to Spain two years later and the islands have since been the subject
  of a territorial dispute, first between Britain and Spain, then between
  Britain and Argentina. The UK asserted its claim to the islands by
  establishing a naval garrison there in 1833. Argentina invaded the islands
  on 2 April 1982. The British responded with an expeditionary force that
  landed seven weeks later and after fierce fighting forced Argentine
  surrender on 14 June 1982.

§2. Falkland Islands (Islas Geography Malvinas)

Location:
  Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of
  southern Argentina

Geographic coordinates:
  51 45 S, 59 00 W

Map references:
  South America

Area:
  total: 12,173 kmē
  land: 12,173 kmē
  water: 0 kmē
  note: includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and about 200
    small islands

Area - comparative:
  slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries:
  0 km

Coastline:
  1,288 km

Maritime claims:
  continental shelf: 200 NM exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
  territorial sea: 12 NM

Climate:
  cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain occurs on more than
  half of days in year; occasional snow all year, except in January and
  February, but does not accumulate

Terrain:
  rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains

Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m

Natural resources:
  fish, wildlife

Land use:
  arable land: 0%
  permanent crops: 0%
  permanent pastures: 99%
  forests and woodland: 0%
  other: 1% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land:
  NA kmē

Natural hazards:
  strong winds persist throughout the year

Environment - current issues:
  NA

Geography - note:
  deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing season

§3. Falkland Islands (Islas People Malvinas)

Population:
  2,895 (July 2001 est.)

Age structure:
  0-14 years: NA%
  15-64 years: NA%
  65 years and over: NA%

Population growth rate:
  2.43% (2001 est.)

Birth rate:
  NA births/1,000 population

Death rate:
  NA deaths/1,000 population

Net migration rate:
  NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Infant mortality rate:
  NA deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: NA years male: NA years
  female: NA years

Total fertility rate:
  NA children born/woman

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA

Nationality:
  noun: Falkland Islander(s)
  adjective: Falkland Island

Ethnic groups:
  British

Religions:
  primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Free Church, Evangelist Church,
  Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-Day Adventist

Languages:
  English

§4. Falkland Islands (Islas Government Malvinas)

Country name:
  conventional long form: none
  conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Dependency status:
  overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina

Government type:
  NA

Capital:
  Stanley

Administrative divisions:
  none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)

Independence:
  none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)

National holiday:
  Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)

Constitution:
  3 October 1985; amended 1997 and 1998

Legal system:
  English common law

Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
  head of government: Governor Donald LAMONT (since NA May 1999); Chief
    Executive A. M. GURR (since NA); Financial Secretary D. F. HOWATT (since
    NA)
  cabinet: Executive Council; three members elected by the Legislative
    Council, two ex officio members (chief executive and the financial
    secretary), and the governor
  elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the
    monarch

Legislative branch:
  unicameral Legislative Council (10 seats - 2 ex officio, 8 elected by
  popular vote, members serve four-year terms) presided over by the governor
  elections: last held 9 October 1997 (next to be held NA October 2001)
  election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 8

Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court (chief justice is a nonresident); Magistrates Court (senior
  magistrate presides over civil and criminal divisions)

Political parties and leaders:
  none; all independents

Political pressure groups and leaders:
  none

International organization participation:
  ICFTU

Diplomatic representation in the US:
  none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)

Diplomatic representation from the US:
  none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)

Flag description:
  blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the
  Falkland Island coat of arms in a white disk centered on the outer half of
  the flag; the coat of arms contains a white ram (sheep raising is the major
  economic activity) above the sailing ship Desire (whose crew discovered the
  islands) with a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto DESIRE THE RIGHT

§5. Falkland Islands (Islas Economy Malvinas)

Economy - overview:
  The economy was formerly based on agriculture, mainly sheep farming, but
  today fishing contributes the bulk of economic activity. In 1987 the
  government began selling fishing licenses to foreign trawlers operating
  within the Falklands exclusive fishing zone. These license fees total more
  than $40 million per year, which goes to support the island's health,
  education, and welfare system. Squid accounts for 75% of the fish taken.
  Dairy farming supports domestic consumption; crops furnish winter fodder.
  Exports feature shipments of high-grade wool to the UK and the sale of
  postage stamps and coins. To encourage tourism, the Falkland Islands
  Development Corporation has built three lodges for visitors attracted by
  the abundant wildlife and trout fishing. The islands are now self-financing
  except for defense. The British Geological Survey announced a 200-mile oil
  exploration zone around the islands in 1993, and early seismic surveys
  suggest substantial reserves capable of producing 500,000 barrels per day;
  to date no exploitable site has been identified. An agreement between
  Argentina and the UK in 1995 seeks to defuse licensing and sovereignty
  conflicts that would dampen foreign interest in exploiting potential oil
  reserves.

GDP:
  purchasing power parity - $52 million (FY95/96 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:
  1% (FY95/96 est.)

GDP - per capita:
  purchasing power parity - $19,000 (FY95/96 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
  agriculture: NA% industry: NA%
  services: NA%

Population below poverty line:
  NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  3.6% (1998)

Labor force:
  1,100 (est.)

Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding and fishing)

Unemployment rate:
  full employment; labor shortage

Budget:
  revenues: $66.2 million
  expenditures: $67.9 million, including capital expenditures of $23.2
    million (FY98/99 est.)

Industries:
  wool and fish processing; sale of stamps and coins

Industrial production growth rate:
  NA%

Electricity - production:
  12 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source:
  fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0%
  nuclear: 0%
  other: 0% (1999)

Electricity - consumption:
  11.2 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (1999)

Agriculture - products:
  fodder and vegetable crops; sheep, dairy products

Exports:
  $7.6 million (1995)

Exports - commodities:
  wool, hides, meat

Exports - partners:
  UK, Japan, Chile, NZ

Imports:
  $24.7 million (1995)

Imports - commodities:
  fuel, food and drink, building materials, clothing

Imports - partners:
  UK, Japan, Chile, NZ

Debt - external:
  $NA

Economic aid - recipient:
  $1.7 million (1995)

Currency:
  Falkland pound (FKP)

Currency code:
  FKP

Exchange rates:
  Falkland pounds per US dollar - 0.6764 (January 2001), 0.6596 (2000),
  0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996); note - the
  Falkland pound is at par with the British pound

Fiscal year:
  1 April - 31 March

§6. Falkland Islands (Islas Communications Malvinas)

Telephones - main lines in use:
  NA

Telephones - mobile cellular:
  NA

Telephone system:
  general assessment: NA domestic: government-operated radiotelephone and
    private VHF/CB radiotelephone networks provide effective service to
    almost all points on both islands
  international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) with
    links through London to other countries

Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 1, FM 7, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:
  1,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:
  2 (operated by the British Forces Broadcasting Service) (1997)

Televisions:
  1,000 (1997)

Internet country code:
  .fk

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
  2 (2000)

Internet users:
  NA

§7. Falkland Islands (Islas Transportation Malvinas)

Railways:
  0 km

Highways:
  total: 440 km
  paved: 50 km
  unpaved: 390 km

Waterways:
  none

Ports and harbors:
  Stanley

Merchant marine:
  none (2000 est.)

Airports:
  5 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
  under 914 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 3 under 914 m: 3 (2000 est.)

§8. Falkland Islands (Islas Military Malvinas)

Military branches:
  British Forces Falkland Islands (includes Army, Royal Air Force, Royal
  Navy, and Royal Marines), Police Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure:
  $NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
  NA%

Military - note:
  defense is the responsibility of the UK

§9. Falkland Islands (Islas Transnational Issues Malvinas)

Disputes - international:
  claimed by Argentina
