1988 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1988 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Boundary disputes
none; territorial dispute— islands administered by UK, claimed by Argentina
Climate
cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain occurs on more than half of days in year; occasional snow all year, does not accumulate
Coastline
1,288 km
Comparative area
about the size of Connecticut
Continental shelf
200 meters or to depth of exploitation
Environment
some smaller islands in dependencies are volcanically active
Ethnic divisions
almost totally British
Exclusive fishing zone
200 nm (enforcing only to 150 nm, 1 February 1987)
External debt
$1.7 billion, 1985; total debt service as a share of exports of goods and services 22% (1985)
Fiscal year
8 July-7 July
Labor force
1,100 (est); about 95% in agriculture, mostly sheepherding
Land use
0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 99% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 1% other
Language
English
Literacy
compulsory education up to age
Monetary conversion rate
2.07 Ethiopian birr=US$l (November 1986)
Nationality
noun — Falkland Islanders); adjective — Falkland Island
Population
1,821 (July 1987), average annual growth rate 0.00%; population may be declining slightly each year
Religion
predominantly Anglican
Special notes
deeply indented coastline provides good natural harbors
Terrain
rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains
Territorial sea
3 nm
Total area
12,170 km2; land area: 12,170 km2
Government
Administrative divisions
Falkland, South Georgia, and South Sandwich Islands (the latter two are administered from Stanley)
Branches
under the 1985 Constitution an Executive Council was established; it consists of three elected members from the eight-member popularly elected Legislative Counil
Capital
Stanley
Government leaders
Gordon W. JEWKES, Governor (since 1985); Rear Admiral Christopher CAYMAN, Commander of the British Armed Forces (since 1986)
Legal system
English common law
Official name
Colony of the Falkland Islands
Suffrage
universal adult at age 18
Type
British dependent territory
Economy
Agriculture
predominantly sheep farming
Aid
(1970-79) Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF, $24 million
Budget
revenues, $5 million; expenditures, $4.8 million (1982)
Electric power
3,500 kW capacity; 6 million kWh produced, 3,050 kWh per capita (1986)
Exports
to UK, $21.9 million (1986); wool, hides and skins, and other
Imports
from UK, $17.9 million (1986); food, clothing, fuels, and machinery
Major industry
wool processing
Major trade partners
exports — nearly all to the UK, some to the Netherlands and Japan; imports — Curacao, Japan, and UK
Communications
Airfields
171 total, 136 usable; 8 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways over 3,659 m, 10 with runways 2,440-3,659 m, 50 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Branches
Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense; paramilitary Emergency Strike Force Police
Civil air
22 major transport aircraft
Highways
44,300 km total; 3,888 km bituminous, 8,344 km gravel, 2,456 km improved earth, 29,612 km unimproved earth
Military budget
for fiscal year ending 7 July 1986, $433.2 million; 20.4% of central government budget South Sandwich Islands. Soulh Georgia. Shag, and Clerke Rocks are not shown South Atlantic Ocean West Falkland Administered by U.K . claimed by Argentina Scolit S»t
Military manpower
males 15-49, 10,351,000; 5,346,000 fit for military service; 500,000 reach military age (18) annually
Ports
2 major (Aseb, Mits'iwa)
Railroads
1,089 km total; 782 km 1.000meter gauge, of which 97 km are in Djibouti; 307 km 0.950-meter gauge
Telecommunications
4 AM, 0 FM, and 1 TV stations; 40,000 TV sets; 2,000,000 receiver sets; 1 satellite ground station Defense Forces