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 an Argentine surrender on 14 June 1982. With hostilities ended and Argentine forces withdrawn, UK administration resumed. In response to renewed calls from Argentina for Britain to relinquish control of the islands, a referendum was held in March 2013, which resulted in 99.8% of the population voting to remain a part of the UK.


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Location: Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, about 500 km east of southern Argentina

Geographic coordinates: 51 45 S, 59 00 W

Map reference: South America

Area
Total: note: includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and about 200 small islands
Land: 12,173 km²
Water: 0 km²
Rank: 164
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
Note: nm

Climate: cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain occurs on more than half of days in year; average annual rainfall is 60 cm in Stanley; occasional snow all year, except in January and February, but typically does not accumulate

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

Elevation: 0 m
Note: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean

Natural resources: fish, squid, wildlife, calcified seaweed, sphagnum moss

Land use
Agricultural land: 92.4% (2011 est.)
Forest: 0% (2011 est.)
Other: 7.6% (2011 est.)

Irrigated land
Note: NA

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
Distribution: a very small population, with most residents living in and around Stanley:
Rank: 229
Growth rate: 0.01% (2014 est.)
Growth rate rank: 189
Below poverty line note: NA

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

Ethnic groups: Falkland Islander 48.3%, British 23.1%, St. Helenian 7.5%, Chilean 4.6%, mixed 6%, other 8.5%, unspecified 2% (2016 est.)

Languages: English 89%, Spanish 7.7%, other 3.3% (2006 est.)

Religions: Christian 57.1%, other 1.6%, none 35.4%, unspecified 6% (2016 est.)

Demographic profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 0.01% (2014 est.)
Rank: 189

Birth rate: 10.9 births/1000 population (2012 est.)
Rank: 179

Death rate: 4.9 deaths/1000 population (2012 est.)
Rank: 196

Net migration rate
Note: NA

Population distribution: a very small population, with most residents living in and around Stanley

Urbanization
Urban population: 77.7% of total population
Note: (2015-20 est.)
Rate of urbanization: 0.76% annual rate of change

Major urban areas
Population: 2,000 STANLEY (capital) (2018)

Environment
Current issues: overfishing by unlicensed vessels is a problem; reindeer - introduced to the islands in 2001 from South Georgia - are part of a farming effort to produce specialty meat and diversify the islands' economy; this is the only commercial reindeer herd in the world unaffected by the 1986 Chornobyl disaster; grazing threatens important habitats including tussac grass and its ecosystem with penguins and sea lions; soil erosion from fires

Air pollutants

Sex ratio:

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate

Life expectancy at birth
Date: (2017 est.)

Total fertility rate
Note: NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate note: NA
People living with hivaids note: NA
Deaths note: 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)
Etymology: the archipelago takes its name from the Falkland Sound, the strait separating the two main islands; the channel itself was named after the Viscount of Falkland who sponsored an expedition to the islands in 1690; the Spanish name for the archipelago derives from the French Iles Malouines, the name applied to the islands by French explorer Louis-Antoine de BOUGAINVILLE in 1764

Government type: parliamentary democracy (Legislative Assembly); self-governing overseas territory of the UK

Capital
Name: Stanley
Geographic coordinates: 51 42 S, 57 51 W
Time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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: previous 1985; latest entered into force 1 January 2009 (The Falkland Islands Constitution Order 2008) (2018)

Legal system: English common law and local statutes

International law organization participation

Citizenship: see United Kingdom

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Nigel PHILLIPS (since 12 September 2017)
Head of government: Chief Executive Barry ROWLAND (since 3 October 2016)
Cabinet: Executive Council elected by the Legislative Council
Electionsappointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; chief executive appointed by the governor

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral Legislative Assembly, formerly the Legislative Council (10 seats; 8 members directly elected by majority vote and 2 appointed ex-officio members - the chief executive, appointed by the governor, and the financial secretary; members serve 4-year terms)
Elections: last held on 9 November 2017 (next to be held in November 2021)
Election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 8

Judicial branch
Highest courts: Court of Appeal (consists of the court president, the chief justice as an ex officio, non-resident member, and 2 justices of appeal); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice); note - appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are referred to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)
Judge selection and term of office: all justices appointed by the governor; tenure specified in each justices instrument of appointment
Subordinate courts: Magistrates Court (senior magistrate presides over civil and criminal divisions); Court of Summary Jurisdiction

Political parties and leaders: none; all independents

International organization participation: UPU

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (overseas territory of the UK)
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: ram

National anthem
Name: Song of the Falklands
Lyricsmusic: Christopher LANHAM: note: adopted 1930s; the song is the local unofficial anthem; as a territory of the United Kingdom, 'God Save the Queen' is official (see United Kingdom)

National heritage


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Economy overview: The economy was formerly based on agriculture, mainly sheep farming, but fishing and tourism currently comprise the bulk of economic activity. In 1987, the government began selling fishing licenses to foreign trawlers operating within the Falkland Islands' exclusive fishing zone. These license fees net more than $40 million per year, which help support the island's health, education, and welfare system. The waters around the Falkland Islands are known for their squid, which account for around 75% of the annual 200,000-ton catch.Dairy farming supports domestic consumption; crops furnish winter fodder. Foreign exchange earnings come from shipments of high-grade wool to the UK and from the sale of postage stamps and coins.Tourism, especially ecotourism, is increasing rapidly, with about 69,000 visitors in 2009 and adds approximately $5.5 million to the Falkland’s annual GDP. The British military presence also provides a sizable economic boost. The islands are now self-financing except for defense.In 1993, the British Geological Survey announced a 200-mile oil exploration zone around the islands, and early seismic surveys suggest substantial reserves capable of producing 500,000 barrels per day. Political tensions between the UK and Argentina remain high following the start of oil drilling activities in the waters. In May 2010 the first commercial oil discovery was made, signaling the potential for the development of a long term hydrocarbon industry in the Falkland Islands.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 220

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 3

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 12

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 41% (2015 est.)
Industry: 20.6%
Note: NA (2015 est.)
Services: 38.4%

Agriculture products: fodder and vegetable crops; venison, sheep, dairy products; fish, squid

Industries: fish and wool processing; tourism

Industrial production growth rate
Note: NA

Labor force: 1850 (2016 est.)
Rank: 227
By occupation agriculture: 41%
By occupation industry: 24.5%
By occupation services: 34.5% (2015 est.)

Unemployment rate: 1% (2016 est.)
Rank: 8

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line
Note: NA

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index: 36 (2015)
Rank: 91

Budget
Revenues: 67.1 million (FY09/10)
Expenditures: 75.3 million (FY09/10)
Surplus or deficit: -4% (of GDP) (FY09/10)
Surplus or deficit rank: 156

Taxes and other revenues: 32.5% (of GDP) (FY09/10)
Rank: 66

Public debt: 0% of GDP (2015 est.)
Rank: 209

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate consumer prices: 1.4% (2014 est.)
Rank: 77

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:
Rank: 187
Partners: Spain 74.4%, Namibia 10.4%, US 5% (2017)
Commodities: wool, hides, meat, venison, fish, squid

Imports: $90 million (2004 est.)
Rank: 217
Commodities: fuel, food and drink, building materials, clothing
Partners: UK 47.8%, Spain 28.4%, Greece 10.2%, Netherlands 5.7%, Cote dIvoire 4.3% (2017)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external:
Rank: 205 (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Production: 19 million kWh (2016 est.)
Production rank: 213
Consumption: 17.67 million kWh (2016 est.)
Consumption rank: 213
Exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Exports rank: 133
Imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Imports rank: 147
Installed generating capacity: 12,100 kW (2016 est.)
Installed generating capacity rank: 208
Generation sources fossil fuels: 74% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels rank: 96
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources nuclear rank: 89
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity rank: 171
Generation sources other renewable sources: 26% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources rank: 26

Coal

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Petroleum total petroleum production rank: 134
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil exports rank: 122
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil imports rank: 126
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves rank: 130

Crude oil

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Products production rank: 144
Products consumption: 290 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Products consumption rank: 213
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products exports rank: 154
Products imports: 286 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products imports rank: 209

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Production rank: 131
Consumption: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Consumption rank: 145
Exports: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Exports rank: 103
Imports: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Imports rank: 124
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2014 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 134

Carbon dioxide emissions
From consumption of energy: 44,070 Mt (2017 est.)
From consumption of energy rank: 211

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 2,255 (July 2016 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 77 (July 2016 est.)
Fixed lines rank: 212
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 4,674 (July 2016 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 146 (July 2016 est.)
Mobile cellular rank: 215

Telephone system
General assessment: government-operated radiotelephone and private VHF/CB radiotelephone networks provide effective service to almost all points on both islands
Domestic: fixed-line subscriptions 77 per 100, 146 per 100 for mobile-cellular (2015)
International: country code - 500; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) with links through London to other countries (2015)

Broadcast media: TV service provided by a multi-channel service provider; radio services provided by the public broadcaster, Falkland Islands Radio Service, broadcasting on both AM and FM frequencies, and by the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) (2007)

Internet
Country code: .fk
Users total: 3,000 (July 2016 est.)
Users percent of population: 98.3% (July 2016 est.)
Users rank: 219

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 1610 (2017 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 50 (2017 est.)
Rank: 186


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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
Number of registered air carriers: 1 (2015)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 5 (2015)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: VP-F (2016)

Airports: 7 (2013)
Rank: 167
With paved runways total: 2 (2017)
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 1 (2017)
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1 (2017)
With unpaved runways total: 5 (2013)
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 5 (2013)

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways
Total: 440 km (2008)
Paved: 50 km (2008)
Unpaved: 390 km (2008)
Rank: 199

Waterways

Merchant marine
Total: 3 (2017)
By type: general cargo 1, other 2 (2017)
Rank: 167

Ports and terminals
Major seaport: Stanley


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Disputes international: Argentina, which claims the islands in its constitution and briefly occupied them by force in 1982, agreed in 1995 to no longer seek settlement by forceUK continues to reject Argentine requests for sovereignty talks

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs