1998 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1998 (Internet Archive)
Geography
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-comparative
slightly smaller than Connecticut
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
Coastline
1,288 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m
Environment-current issues
NA
Environment-international agreements
party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geographic coordinates
51 45 S, 59 00 W
Geography-note
deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing season
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 99% forests and woodland: 0% other: 1% (1993 est.)
Location
Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of southern Argentina
Map references
South America
Maritime claims
continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural hazards
strong winds persist throughout the year
Natural resources
fish, wildlife
Terrain
rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Birth rate
NA births/1,000 population
Death rate
NA deaths/1,000 population
Ethnic groups
British
Infant mortality rate
NA deaths/1,000 live births
Languages
English
Life expectancy at birth
total population: NA male: NA female: NA
Nationality
noun: Falkland Islander(s) adjective: Falkland Island
Net migration rate
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Population
2,805 (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate
4.13% (1998 est.)
Religions
primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Free Church, Evangelist Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-Day Adventist
Total fertility rate
NA children born/woman
Government
Administrative divisions
none (dependent territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina)
Constitution
3 October 1985; amended 1997
Country name
conventional long form: Colony of the Falkland Islands conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Data code
FA
Dependency status
dependent territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Governor Richard RALPH (since 29 January 1996); Chief Executive A. GURR (since NA); First Secretary R. T. JARVIS (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 queen is a hereditary monarch; governor appointed by the queen
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
Government type
NA
Independence
none (dependent territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina)
International organization participation
ICFTU Diplomatic representation in the US: none (dependent territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (dependent territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court, chief justice is non-resident Political parties and leaders: none; all independents
Legal system
English common law
Legislative branch
unicameral Legislative Council (10 seats, 8 elected, 2 ex officio; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held NA October 1997 (next to be held NA October 2002) election results: percent of vote-NA; seats-independents 8
National capital
Stanley
National holiday
Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture-products
fodder and vegetable crops; sheep farming, small dairy herds
Budget
revenues: $53.4 million expenditures: $53.1 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994-95 est.)
Currency
1 Falkland pound (£F) = 100 pence
Debt-external
$NA
Economic aid
recipient: ODA, $NA note: UK, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments totaled $18 million (1993-94)
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; overfishing is a growing problem. 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. 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.
Electricity-capacity
9,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita
4,316 kWh (1995)
Electricity-production
10 million kWh (1995)
Exchange rates
Falkland pound (£F) per US$1-0.6115 (January 1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993); note-the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound
Exports
total value: $7.6 million (1995) commodities: wool, hides, meat partners: UK, Netherlands, Japan (1992)
Fiscal year
1 April-31 March Communications
GDP
purchasing power parity-$NA
GDP-composition by sector
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
GDP-per capita
purchasing power parity-$NA
GDP-real growth rate
NA%
Imports
total value: $24.7 million (1995) commodities: fuel, food and drink, building materials, clothing partners: UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan (1992)
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
wool and fish processing; sale of stamps and coins
Inflation rate-consumer price index
NA%
Labor force
total: 1,100 (est.) by occupation: agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding)
Radio broadcast stations
1 (government operated)
Radios
1,000 (1992 est.)
Telephone system
domestic: government-operated radiotelephone and private VHF/CB radiotelephone networks provide effective service to almost all points on both islands international: satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) with links through London to other countries
Telephones
1,180 (1991 est.)
Television broadcast stations
1 (government operated)
Televisions
NA
Unemployment rate
full employment; labor shortage
Transportation
Airports
5 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 3 under 914 m: 3 (1997 est.)
Highways
total: 348 km paved: 83 km unpaved: 265 km Ports and harbors: Stanley
Merchant marine
none
Railways
0 km
Military and Security
Military branches
British Forces Falkland Islands (includes Army, Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, and Royal Marines), Police Force
Military expenditures-dollar figure
$NA
Military expenditures-percent of GDP
NA%
Military-note
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes-international
claimed by Argentina (part of the Kingdom of Denmark)