2003 Edition

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 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

total

2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

under 914 m

1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

3

under 914 m

3 (2002) Military Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Area

land

12,173 sq km

note

includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and about 200 small islands

total

12,173 sq km

water

0 sq km

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. Geography Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Birth rate

NA births/1,000 population

Budget

expenditures

$67.9 million, including capital expenditures of $23.2 million (FY98/99 est.)

revenues

$66.2 million

Capital

Stanley

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

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 whose forces briefly occupied it in 1982, but now declares it will no longer seek settlement by force This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Economic aid - recipient

none

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. 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.

Electricity - consumption

15.19 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

16.33 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

100%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Mount Usborne 705 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Environment - current issues

overfishing by unlicensed vessels is a problem; reindeer were introduced to the islands in 2001 for commercial reasons; this is the only commercial reindeer herd in the world unaffected by the Chornobyl disaster

Ethnic groups

British

Exchange rates

Falkland pounds per US dollar - 0.67 (2002), 0.69 (2001), 0.66 (2000), 0.62 (1999), 0.6 (1998); note - the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound

Executive branch

cabinet

Executive Council; three members elected by the Legislative Council, two ex officio members (chief executive and the financial secretary), and the governor

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)

elections

none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch

head of government

Governor Howard PEARCE (since 3 December 2002); Chief Executive Chris SIMPKINS (since NA March 2003); Financial Secretary Derek F. HOWATT (since NA)

Exports

$7.6 million (1995)

Exports - commodities

wool, hides, meat

Exports - partners

Spain 76.2%, UK 9.2%, US 7.1% (2002)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March Communications Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

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 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 Economy Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

GDP

purchasing power parity - $75 million (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $25,000 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

NA%

Geographic coordinates

51 45 S, 59 00 W

Geography - note

deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing season People Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Government type

NA

Highways

paved

50 km

total

440 km

unpaved

390 km (2002)

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

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$24.7 million (1995)

Imports - commodities

fuel, food and drink, building materials, clothing

Imports - partners

UK 57.9%, Spain 19.8%, Italy 16.7% (2002)

Independence

none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

fish and wool processing; tourism

Infant mortality rate

female

NA%

male

NA%

total

NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.6% (1998)

International organization participation

ICFTU

Internet country code

.fk

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

2 (2000)

Internet users

NA; however one-half of all households are reported to have internet access (2002) Transportation Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (chief justice is a nonresident); Magistrates Court (senior magistrate presides over civil and criminal divisions); Court of Summary Jurisdiction

Labor force

1,100 (est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding and fishing)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

0%

other

100% (99% permanent pastures, 1% other) (1998 est.)

permanent crops

0%

Languages

English Government Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

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

election results

percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 8; note - 71% voter turnout

elections

last held 22 November 2001 (next to be held NA November 2005)

Life expectancy at birth

female

NA years

male

NA years

total population

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 (2002 est.)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK Transnational Issues Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Military branches

British Forces Falkland Islands no regular indigenous military forces; (includes Army, Royal Air Force, and Royal Navy), Police Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

NA%

National holiday

Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)

Nationality

adjective

Falkland Island

noun

Falkland Islander(s)

Natural hazards

strong winds persist throughout the year

Natural resources

fish, squid, wildlife, calcified seaweed, sphagnum moss

Net migration rate

NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Oil - consumption

200 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Political parties and leaders

none; all independents

Political pressure groups and leaders

none

Population

2,967 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

2.44% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Stanley

note

the primary port is located in Stanley Harbour and known locally as FIPASS (Falkland Interim Port and Storage System); the facility consists of seven permanently moored barges providing 300 meters of berthing space; it was installed by the military after 1982 and handed over to the Falkland Islands Government in 1988

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

domestic

government-operated radiotelephone and private VHF/CB radiotelephone networks provide effective service to almost all points on both islands

general assessment

NA

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)

note

cable television is available in Stanley (2002)

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