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

Geographic coordinates

Map reference: South America

Area
Total area total: 12,170 km²
Land: 12,170 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Connecticut
Note: includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and about 200 small islands

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

Natural resources: fish, wildlife

Land use
Arable land: 0%
Permanent crops: 0%
Meadows and pastures: 99%
Forest and woodland: 0%
Other: 1%

Irrigated land: NA km²

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: 2,317 (July 1995 est.)
Growth rate: 2.43% (1995 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Falkland Islander(s)
Adjective: Falkland Island

Ethnic groups: British

Languages: English

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

Demographic profile

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

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 2.43% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: NA

Death rate: NA

Net migration rate: NA

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: NA
Current issues natural hazards: strong winds persist throughout the year
Current issues international agreements: NA

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: NA

Life expectancy at birth: NA

Total fertility rate: NA

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

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Colony of the Falkland Islands
Conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Government type: dependent territory of the UK

Capital: Stanley

Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Dependent areas

Independence: none (dependent territory 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: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
Head of government: Governor David Everard TATHAM (since August 1992)
Cabinet: Executive Council; 3 members elected by the Legislative Council, 2 ex-officio members (chief executive and the financial secretary), and the governor

Legislative branch: unicameral
Legislative Council: elections last held 11 October 1989 (next to be held October 1994); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (10 total, 8 elected) independents 8

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: ICFTU

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (dependent territory of the UK)
From the us: none (dependent territory 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 was formerly based on agriculture, mainly sheep farming, which directly or indirectly employs most of the work force. 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. Rich stocks of fish in the surrounding waters are not presently exploited by the islanders. So far, efforts to establish a domestic fishing industry have been unsuccessful. The economy has diversified since 1987 when 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 and support the island's health, education, and welfare system. 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.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: NA%

Real gdp per capita: $NA

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

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

Industries: wool and fish processing

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: 1,100 (est.)
By occupation: agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding)

Unemployment rate: NA%; labor shortage

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $65 million
Expenditures: $55.2 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992-93)

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
Commodoties: wool, hides and skins, and meat
Partners: UK, Netherlands, Japan (1987 est.)

Imports: at least $13.9 million
Commodoties: food, clothing, timber, 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 (#F) per US$1 - 0.6350 (January 1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5604 (1990; note - the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound


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Electricity
Capacity: 9,200 kW
Production: 17 million kWh
Production consumption per capita: 7,253 kWh (1993)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones

Telephone system: 590 telephones
Local: NA
Intercity: government-operated radiotelephone and private VHF/CB radio networks provide effective service to almost all points on both islands
International: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station with links through London to other countries

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

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
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1
With paved runways under 914 m: 4

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine: none

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international: administered by the UK, claimed by Argentina

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs