from
CIA World Factbook 2006
Falkland Islands
Introduction (Islas 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.
Geography (Islas Malvinas)
Location: Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic
Ocean, east of southern Argentina
Geographic 51 45 S, 59 00 W
coordinates:
Map South America
references:
Area: total: 12,173 sq km
land: 12,173 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes the two main islands of East and West
Falkland and about 200 small islands
Area - slightly smaller than Connecticut
comparative:
Land 0 km
boundaries:
Coastline: 1,288 km
Maritime territorial sea: 12 nm
claims: 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 lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
extremes: highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m
Natural fish, squid, wildlife, calcified seaweed, sphagnum moss
resources:
Land use: arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (99% permanent pastures, 1% other) (2005)
Irrigated NA
land:
Natural strong winds persist throughout the year
hazards:
Environment - overfishing by unlicensed vessels is a problem;
current reindeer were introduced to the islands in 2001 for
issues: commercial reasons; this is the only commercial
reindeer herd in the world unaffected by the Chornobyl
disaster
Geography - deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors;
note: short growing season
People (Islas Malvinas)
Population: 2,967 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA (2006 est.)
Population 2.44% (2006 est.)
growth rate:
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
rate:
Infant total: NA
mortality male: NA
rate: female: NA
Life total population: NA
expectancy at male: NA
birth: female: NA
Total NA children born/woman
fertility
rate:
HIV/AIDS - NA
adult
prevalence
rate:
HIV/AIDS - NA
people living
with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - NA
deaths:
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
Literacy: NA
Government (Islas Malvinas)
Country name: conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas
Malvinas)
Dependency overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina
status:
Government NA
type:
Capital: name: Stanley
geographic coordinates: 51 42 S, 57 41 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC
during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in
September; ends third Sunday in April
Administrative none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by
divisions: Argentina)
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by
Argentina)
National Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
holiday:
Constitution: 3 October 1985; amended 1997 and 1998
Legal system: English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
branch: 1952)
head of government: Governor Alan HUCKLE (since 25
August 2006); Chief Executive Chris SIMPKINS (since
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 unicameral Legislative Council (10 seats - two ex
branch: officio, eight elected by popular vote, members serve
four-year terms); presided over by the governor
elections: last held 17 November 2005 (next to be held
November 2009)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats -
independents 8
Judicial Supreme Court (chief justice is a nonresident);
branch: Magistrates Court (senior magistrate presides over
civil and criminal divisions); Court of Summary
Jurisdiction
Political none; all independents
parties and
leaders:
Political none
pressure
groups and
leaders:
International ICFTU, UPU
organization
participation:
Diplomatic none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by
representation Argentina)
in the US:
Diplomatic none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by
representation Argentina)
from the US:
Flag blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side
description: 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
Economy (Islas Malvinas)
Economy - The economy was formerly based on agriculture, mainly
overview: 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 Falkland Islands' 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.
GDP $75 million (2002 est.)
(purchasing
power parity):
GDP (official NA
exchange
rate):
GDP - real NA%
growth rate:
GDP - per $25,000 (2002 est.)
capita (PPP):
GDP - agriculture: 95%
composition by industry: NA%
sector: services: NA%
Labor force: 1,724 (est.)
Labor force - agriculture: 95% (mostly sheepherding and fishing)
by occupation: industry and services: 5%
Unemployment full employment; labor shortage (2001)
rate:
Population NA%
below poverty
line:
Household lowest 10%: NA%
income or highest 10%: NA%
consumption by
percentage
share:
Inflation rate 3.6% (1998)
(consumer
prices):
Budget: revenues: $66.2 million
expenditures: $67.9 million; including capital
expenditures of $23.2 million (FY98/99 est.)
Agriculture - fodder and vegetable crops; sheep, dairy products
products:
Industries: fish and wool processing; tourism
Industrial NA%
production
growth rate:
Electricity - 22.23 million kWh (2003)
production:
Electricity - fossil fuel: 100%
production by hydro: 0%
source: nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - 20.68 million kWh (2003)
consumption:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
exports:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
imports:
Oil - 0 bbl/day (2003 est.)
production:
Oil - 200 bbl/day (2003 est.)
consumption:
Oil - exports: NA bbl/day
Oil - imports: NA bbl/day
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2003 est.)
production:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2003 est.)
consumption:
Exports: $125 million (2004 est.)
Exports - wool, hides, meat
commodities:
Exports - Spain 81.9%, US 6%, UK 4.5% (2005)
partners:
Imports: $90 million (2004 est.)
Imports - fuel, food and drink, building materials, clothing
commodities:
Imports - UK 72.5%, US 15.1%, Netherlands 8.5% (2005)
partners:
Debt - $NA
external:
Economic aid - $0 (1997 est.)
recipient:
Currency Falkland pound (FKP)
(code):
Currency code: FKP
Exchange Falkland pounds per US dollar - 0.55 (2005), 0.5462
rates: (2004), 0.6125 (2003), 0.6672 (2002), 0.6947 (2001)
note: the Falkland pound is at par with the British
pound
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Communications (Islas Malvinas)
Telephones - 2,400 (2002)
main lines in
use:
Telephones - 0 (2001)
mobile
cellular:
Telephone general assessment: NA
system: domestic: government-operated radiotelephone and
private VHF/CB radiotelephone networks provide
effective service to almost all points on both islands
international: country code - 500; satellite earth
station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) with links
through London to other countries
Radio AM 1, FM 7, shortwave 0
broadcast note: British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS)
stations: provides Radio 1 (FM) and Radio 2 (AM) service (2006)
Radios: 1,000 (1997)
Television 2 (British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides
broadcast multi-channel satellite service to members of UK Forces
stations: as well as islanders)
note: cable television is available in Stanley (2006)
Televisions: 1,000 (1997)
Internet .fk
country code:
Internet 103 (2006)
hosts:
Internet 2 (2000)
Service
Providers
(ISPs):
Internet 1,900 (2002)
users:
Transportation (Islas Malvinas)
Airports: 5 (2006)
Airports - total: 2
with paved 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
runways: 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - total: 3
with unpaved under 914 m: 3 (2006)
runways:
Roadways: total: 440 km
paved: 50 km
unpaved: 390 km (2003)
Ports and Stanley
terminals:
Military (Islas Malvinas)
Military no regular military forces
branches:
Military NA
expenditures -
dollar figure:
Military NA
expenditures -
percent of
GDP:
Military - defense is the responsibility of the UK
note:
Transnational (Islas Malvinas)
Issues
Disputes - Argentina, which claims the islands in its constitution
international: and briefly occupied them by force in 1982, agreed in
1995 to no longer seek settlement by force; UK
continues to reject Argentine requests for sovereignty
talks