Map of Falkland Islands | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | 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: 51 45 S 59 00 W

Map reference: South America

Area
Total: 12,173 km²
Land: 12,173 km²
Water: 0 km²
Note: includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and about 200 small islands
Comparative: slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries: 0 km

Coastline: 1288 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Continental shelf: 200 nm
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate: cold marine; strong westerly winds cloudy humid; rain occurs on more than half of days in year; average annual rainfall is 24 inches in Stanley; 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
Extremes highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m

Natural resources: fish squid wildlife calcified seaweed sphagnum moss

Land use
Arable land: 0%
Permanent crops: 0%
Other: 100% (99% permanent pastures, 1% other) (2001)

Irrigated land: NA km²

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: strong winds persist throughout the year

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


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Population: 2,967 (July 2005 est.)
Growth rate: 2.44% (2005 est.)
Below poverty line: NA

Nationality
Noun: Falkland Islander
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 (2005 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 2.44% (2005 est.)

Birth rate: NA births/1000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate: NA deaths/1000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1000 population (2005 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: overfishing by unlicensed vessels is a problem; reindeer were introduced to the islands in 2001 for commercial reasons; this is the only commercial reindeer herd in the world unaffected by the Chornobyl disaster

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: NA
Male: NA
Female: NA (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: NA years
Male: NA years
Female: NA years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman (2005 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: NA
People living with hivaids: NA
Deaths: NA

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: none
Conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Government type: NA

Capital: Stanley

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

Dependent areas

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

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 Howard PEARCE (since 3 December 2002); Chief Executive Chris SIMPKINS (since NA March 2003); Financial Secretary Derek 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 monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch

Legislative branch
Elections: last held 22 November 2001 (next to be held November 2005)
Election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 8; note - 71% voter turnout

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

Political parties and leaders: none; all independents

International organization participation: ICFTU UPU

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
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 centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a white ram (sheep raising was once 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 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. 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. Tourism especially eco-tourism is increasing rapidly with about 30,000 visitors in 2001. Another large source of income is interest paid on money the government has in the bank. The British military presence also provides a sizeable economic boost.

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $75 million (2002 est.)

Real gdp growth rate: NA%

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $25,000 (2002 est.)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: NA%
Industry: NA%
Services: NA%

Agriculture products: fodder and vegetable crops; sheep dairy products

Industries: fish and wool processing; tourism

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: 1100 (est.)
By occupation: agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding and fishing)