Map of Falkland Islands | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | More stats

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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.


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Location

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area

Land boundaries: none

Coastline: 1,288 km

Maritime claims: Continental shelf 200 meters or to depth of exploitation; Exclusive Fishing Zone; 200 nm (enforcing only to 150 nm, 1 February 1987; Territorial sea 3 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

Natural resources: fish and wildlife

Land use: 0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 99% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 1% other

Irrigated land

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK


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Population: 1,943 (July 1989), growth rate 0.5% (1989)

Nationality: noun--Falkland Islander(s; adjective--Falkland Island

Ethnic groups: almost totally British

Languages: English

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

Demographic profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate

Birth rate: 10.8 births/1000 population (1985-86)

Death rate: 7 deaths/1000 population (1985-86)

Net migration rate: NA migrants/1000 population (1989)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: poor soil fertility and a short growing season

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1000 live births (1989)

Life expectancy at birth: NA years male, NA years female (1989)

Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman (1989)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy: NA%, but compulsory education up to age 15

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name: conventional long form: Colony of the Falkland Islands

Government type: colony of the UK

Capital: Stanley

Administrative divisions: none (colony of the UK)

Dependent areas

Independence: none (colony of the UK)

National holiday: Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)

Constitution: 3 October 1985

Legal system: English common law

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: universal at age 18

Executive branch: Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952; Head of Government--Governor William Hugh FULLERTON (since NA 1988)

Legislative branch: governor assisted by a five-member Executive Council and a 10-member Legislative Council of nominated and elected members; judiciary--Supreme Court

Judicial branch

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (colony of the UK)

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

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: The economy is based on sheep farming, which directly or indirectly employs most of the work force. A few dairy herds are kept to meet domestic consumption of milk and milk products, and crops grown are primarily those for providing winter fodder. Major sources of income are from the export of high-grade wool to the UK and the sale of stamps and coins. Rich stocks of fish in the surrounding waters are not presently exploited by the islanders, but development plans call for the islands to have six trawlers by 1989. In 1987 the government began to sell fishing licenses to foreign trawlers operating within the Falklands exclusive fishing zone and, through mid-1987, license fees amounted to $25.2 million. To encourage tourism, the Falkland Islands Development Corporation has built three lodges for visitors who are attracted by the abundant wildlife and trout fishing.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate

Real gdp per capita

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: predominantly sheep farming; small dairy herds and fodder crops

Industries: wool processing

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: 1,100 (est.), about 95% in agriculture, mostly sheepherding

Unemployment rate: 0%

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget: revenues $11 million; expenditures $11.8 million, including capital expenditures of $1.2 million (FY87)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: at least $14.7 million
Commodities: wool, hides and skins, and other
Partners: UK, Netherlands, Japan (1987 est.)

Imports: at least $13.9 million
Commodities: food, clothing, fuels, and machinery
Partners: UK, Netherlands Antilles (Curacao), Japan (1987 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $NA

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: Falkland pound (LF) per US$1--0.5631 (January 1989), 0.5614 (1988), 0.6102 (1987), 0.6817 (1986), 0.7714 (1985; the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound


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Electricity
Capacity: 9,200 kW capacity; 16.9 million kWh produced, 9,281 kWh per capita (1988)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 5 total, 5 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: administered by the UK, claimed by Argentina

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs