2001 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2001 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Administrative divisions
none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Age structure
0-14 years: NA% 15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA%
Agriculture - products
fodder and vegetable crops; sheep, dairy products
Airports
5 (2000 est.)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2000 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 3 under 914 m: 3 (2000 est.) Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) Military
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
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. Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) Geography
Birth rate
NA births/1,000 population
Budget
revenues: $66.2 million expenditures: $67.9 million, including capital expenditures of $23.2 million (FY98/99 est.)
Capital
Stanley
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
Constitution
3 October 1985; amended 1997 and 1998
Country name
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Currency
Falkland pound (FKP)
Currency code
FKP
Death rate
NA deaths/1,000 population
Debt - external
$NA
Dependency status
overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina
Diplomatic representation from the US
none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Disputes - international
claimed by Argentina
Economic aid - recipient
$1.7 million (1995)
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. 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; 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.
Electricity - consumption
11.2 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (1999)
Electricity - production
12 million kWh (1999)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m
Environment - current issues
NA
Ethnic groups
British
Exchange rates
Falkland pounds per US dollar - 0.6764 (January 2001), 0.6596 (2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996); note - the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Governor Donald LAMONT (since NA May 1999); Chief Executive A. M. GURR (since NA); Financial Secretary D. 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 monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch
Exports
$7.6 million (1995)
Exports - commodities
wool, hides, meat
Exports - partners
UK, Japan, Chile, NZ
Fiscal year
1 April - 31 March Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) Communications
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 Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) Economy
GDP
purchasing power parity - $52 million (FY95/96 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
GDP - per capita
purchasing power parity - $19,000 (FY95/96 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
1% (FY95/96 est.)
Geographic coordinates
51 45 S, 59 00 W
Geography - note
deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing season Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) People
Government type
NA
Highways
total: 440 km paved: 50 km unpaved: 390 km
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA%
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$24.7 million (1995)
Imports - commodities
fuel, food and drink, building materials, clothing
Imports - partners
UK, Japan, Chile, NZ
Independence
none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
wool and fish processing; sale of stamps and coins
Infant mortality rate
NA deaths/1,000 live births
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
3.6% (1998)
International organization participation
ICFTU
Internet country code
.fk
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
2 (2000)
Internet users
NA Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) Transportation
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Judicial branch
Supreme Court (chief justice is a nonresident); Magistrates Court (senior magistrate presides over civil and criminal divisions)
Labor force
1,100 (est.)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding and fishing)
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 99% forests and woodland: 0% other: 1% (1993 est.)
Languages
English Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) Government
Legal system
English common law
Legislative branch
unicameral Legislative Council (10 seats - 2 ex officio, 8 elected by popular vote, members serve four-year terms) presided over by the governor elections: last held 9 October 1997 (next to be held NA October 2001) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 8
Life expectancy at birth
total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years
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
Merchant marine
none (2000 est.)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the UK Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) Transnational Issues
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%
National holiday
Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
Nationality
noun: Falkland Islander(s) adjective: Falkland Island
Natural hazards
strong winds persist throughout the year
Natural resources
fish, wildlife
Net migration rate
NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Political parties and leaders
none; all independents
Political pressure groups and leaders
none
Population
2,895 (July 2001 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Population growth rate
2.43% (2001 est.)
Ports and harbors
Stanley
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1, FM 7, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios
1,000 (1997)
Railways
0 km
Religions
primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Free Church, Evangelist Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-Day Adventist
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Telephone system
general assessment: NA 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 - main lines in use
NA
Telephones - mobile cellular
NA
Television broadcast stations
2 (operated by the British Forces Broadcasting Service) (1997)
Televisions
1,000 (1997)
Terrain
rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains
Total fertility rate
NA children born/woman
Unemployment rate
full employment; labor shortage
Waterways
none