2008 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2008 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
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 an Argentine surrender on 14 June 1982.
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; 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
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Usborne 705 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 1986 Chornobyl disaster
Geographic coordinates
51 45 S, 59 00 W
Geography - note
deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing season
Irrigated land
NA
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (99% permanent pastures, 1% other) (2005)
Location
Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of southern Argentina
Map references
South America
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Natural hazards
strong winds persist throughout the year
Natural resources
fish, squid, wildlife, calcified seaweed, sphagnum moss
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 (2008 est.)
Death rate
NA (2008 est.)
Ethnic groups
British
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
Infant mortality rate
total: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)
Languages
English
Life expectancy at birth
total population: NA male: NA female: NA (2008 est.)
Literacy
NA
Nationality
noun: Falkland Islander(s) adjective: Falkland Island
Net migration rate
NA (2008 est.)
Population
3,140 (July 2008 est.)
Population growth rate
0.011% (2008 est.)
Religions
Christian 67.2%, none 31.5%, other 1.3% (2006 census)
Total fertility rate
NA (2008 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Capital
name: Stanley geographic coordinates: 51 42 S, 57 51 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
Constitution
3 October 1985; amended 1997 and 1998
Country name
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
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)
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Governor Alan HUCKLE (since 25 August 2006); Chief Executive Dr. Tim THOROGOOD (since 3 January 2008) cabinet: Executive Council; three members elected by the Legislative Council, two ex officio members (chief executive and the financial secretary), and the governor elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch
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 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
Government type
NA
Independence
none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
International organization participation
UPU
Judicial branch
Supreme Court (chief justice is a nonresident); Magistrates Court (senior magistrate presides over civil and criminal divisions); Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Legal system
English common law
Legislative branch
unicameral Legislative Council (10 seats; 2 members are ex officio and 8 are elected by popular vote; to serve four-year terms); presided over by the governor elections: last held 17 November 2005 (next to be held in November 2009) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 8
National holiday
Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
Political parties and leaders
none; all independents
Political pressure groups and leaders
Falkland Islands Association (supports freedom of the people from external causes)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture - products
fodder and vegetable crops; sheep, dairy products; fish, squid
Budget
revenues: $66.2 million expenditures: $67.9 million (FY98/99 est.)
Currency (code)
Falkland pound (FKP)
Currency code
FKP
Debt - external
$NA
Economic aid - recipient
$0 (1997 est.)
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 Falkland Islands' exclusive fishing zone. These license fees total more than $40 million per year, which help 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
14.88 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production
16 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Exchange rates
Falkland pounds (FKP) per US dollar - 0.4993 (2007), 0.5434 (2006), 0.5504 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003) note: the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound
Exports
$125 million (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities
wool, hides, meat, fish, squid
Exports - partners
Spain 81.9%, US 6%, UK 4.5% (2006)
Fiscal year
1 April - 31 March
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 95% industry: NA% services: NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$25,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
NA%
GDP (official exchange rate)
$NA
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$75 million (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$90 million (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities
fuel, food and drink, building materials, clothing
Imports - partners
UK 72.5%, US 15.1%, Netherlands 8.5% (2006)
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
fish and wool processing; tourism
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
3.6% (1998)
Labor force
1,724 (est.) (1996)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 95% (mostly sheepherding and fishing) industry and services: 5% (1996)
Natural gas - consumption
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - production
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Oil - consumption
252.3 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports
0 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports
248.9 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - production
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - proved reserves
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
full employment; labor shortage (2001)
Communications
Internet country code
.fk
Internet hosts
91 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
2 (2000)
Internet users
1,900 (2002)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1, FM 7, shortwave 0 (British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides Radio 1 and Radio 2 service) (2006)
Radios
1,000 (1997)
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: country code - 500; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) with links through London to other countries
Telephones - main lines in use
2,400 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular
0 (2001)
Television broadcast stations
2 (British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides multi-channel satellite service to members of UK Forces as well as islanders); cable television is available in Stanley (2006)
Televisions
1,000 (1997)
Transportation
Airports
6 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 4 under 914 m: 4 (2007)
Ports and terminals
Stanley
Roadways
total: 440 km paved: 50 km unpaved: 390 km (2008)
Military and Security
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Military branches
no regular military forces
Military expenditures
NA
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
Argentina, which claims the islands in its constitution 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 This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008