2021 Edition

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. With hostilities ended and Argentine forces withdrawn, UK administration resumed. In response to renewed calls from Argentina for Britain to relinquish control of the islands, a referendum was held in March 2013, which resulted in 99.8% of the population voting to remain a part of the UK.

Area

land

12,173 sq km

note

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

Climate

cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain occurs on more than half of days in year; average annual rainfall is 60 cm in Stanley; occasional snow all year, except in January and February, but typically does not accumulate

Coastline

1,288 km

Elevation

highest point

Mount Usborne 705 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

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

total

0 km

Land use

agricultural land

92.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 92.4% (2018 est.)

forest

0% (2018 est.)

other

7.6% (2018 est.)

Location

Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, about 500 km 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, squid, wildlife, calcified seaweed, sphagnum moss

Population distribution

a very small population, with most residents living in and around Stanley

Terrain

rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains

Age structure

0-14 years

NA

15-24 years

NA

25-54 years

NA

55-64 years

NA

65 years and over

NA

Birth rate

10.9 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current Health Expenditure

NA

Death rate

4.9 deaths/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

NA

potential support ratio

NA

total dependency ratio

NA

youth dependency ratio

NA

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 78.2% of population

improved: total

total: 92% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 21.8% of population

unimproved: total

total: 5% of population (2017 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

Falkland Islander 48.3%, British 23.1%, St. Helenian 7.5%, Chilean 4.6%, mixed 6%, other 8.5%, unspecified 2% (2016 est.)

note

note: data represent population by national identity

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Infant mortality rate

female

NA

male

NA

total

NA (2018)

Languages

English 89%, Spanish 7.7%, other 3.3% (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

female

79.6 (2017 est.)

male

75.6

total population

77.9

Major urban areas - population

2,000 STANLEY (capital) (2018)

Nationality

adjective

Falkland Island

noun

Falkland Islander(s)

Net migration rate

NA

Population

3,198 (2016 est.)

note

note: data include all persons usually resident in the islands at the time of the 2016 census

Population distribution

a very small population, with most residents living in and around Stanley

Population growth rate

0.01% (2014 est.)

Religions

Christian 57.1%, other 1.6%, none 35.4%, unspecified 6% (2016 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 78% of population

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: 95% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 22% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2017)

unimproved: urban

urban: 5% of population

Sex ratio

note

note: sex ratio is somewhat skewed by the high proportion of males at the Royal Air Force station, Mount Pleasant Airport (MPA); excluding MPA, the sex ratio of the total population would be 1.04

total population

1.12 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

NA

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.53% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

78.9% of total population (2021)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

etymology

named after Edward SMITH-STANLEY (1799-1869), the 14th Earl of Derby, a British statesman and three-time prime minister of the UK who never visited the islands

geographic coordinates

51 42 S, 57 51 W

name

Stanley

time difference

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

see United Kingdom

Constitution

history

previous 1985; latest entered into force 1 January 2009 (The Falkland Islands Constitution Order 2008)

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

etymology

the archipelago takes its name from the Falkland Sound, the strait separating the two main islands; the channel itself was named after the Viscount of Falkland, who sponsored an expedition to the islands in 1690; the Spanish name for the archipelago derives from the French "Iles Malouines," the name applied to the islands by French explorer Louis-Antoine de BOUGAINVILLE in 1764

Dependency status

overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina

Diplomatic representation from the US

embassy

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Executive branch

cabinet

Executive Council elected by the Legislative Council

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Nigel PHILLIPS (since 12 September 2017)

elections/appointments

the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; chief executive appointed by the governor

head of government

Chief Executive Barry ROWLAND (since 3 October 2016)

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

parliamentary democracy (Legislative Assembly); self-governing overseas territory of the UK

Independence

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

International organization participation

UPU

Judicial branch

highest courts

Court of Appeal (consists of the court president, the chief justice as an ex officio, non-resident member, and 2 justices of appeal); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice); note - appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are referred to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)

judge selection and term of office

all justices appointed by the governor; tenure specified in each justice's instrument of appointment

subordinate courts

Magistrate's Court (senior magistrate presides over civil and criminal divisions); Court of Summary Jurisdiction

Legal system

English common law and local statutes

Legislative branch

description

unicameral Legislative Assembly, formerly the Legislative Council (10 seats; 5 members directly elected in the Stanley constituency and 3 members in the Camp constituency by simple majority vote, 2 appointed non-voting ex-officio members - the chief executive, appointed by the governor, and the financial secretary; members serve 4-year terms); note - several previous referendums -  the latest in September 2020 - on whether to merge the Stanley and Camp constituencies into a single islands wide constituency, failed

election results

percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 8; composition (elected members) -men 8, women 2, percent of women 20%

elections

last held on 4 November 2021 (next to be held in November 2025)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Christopher LANHAM

name

Song of the Falklands"

note

note: adopted 1930s; the song is the local unofficial anthem; as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)

National holiday

Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)

National symbol(s)

ram

Political parties and leaders

none; all independents

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

fodder and vegetable crops; venison, sheep, dairy products; fish, squid

Budget

expenditures

75.3 million (FY09/10)

revenues

67.1 million (FY09/10)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-4% (of GDP) (FY09/10)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2016

$0 (2016 est.)

Debt - external 2017

$0 (2017 est.)

Economic overview

The economy was formerly based on agriculture, mainly sheep farming, but fishing and tourism currently comprise 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 net more than $40 million per year, which help support the island's health, education, and welfare system. The waters around the Falkland Islands are known for their squid, which account for around 75% of the annual 200,000-ton catch.Dairy farming supports domestic consumption; crops furnish winter fodder. Foreign exchange earnings come from shipments of high-grade wool to the UK and from the sale of postage stamps and coins.Tourism, especially ecotourism, is increasing rapidly, with about 69,000 visitors in 2009 and adds approximately $5.5 million to the Falkland’s annual GDP. The British military presence also provides a sizable economic boost. The islands are now self-financing except for defense.In 1993, the British Geological Survey announced a 200-mile oil exploration zone around the islands, and early seismic surveys suggest substantial reserves capable of producing 500,000 barrels per day. Political tensions between the UK and Argentina remain high following the start of oil drilling activities in the waters. In May 2010 the first commercial oil discovery was made, signaling the potential for the development of a long term hydrocarbon industry in the Falkland Islands.

Exchange rates

currency

Falkland pounds (FKP) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2013

0.6391 (2013 est.)

Exchange rates 2014

0.6542 (2014 est.)

Exchange rates 2015

0.6542 (2015)

Exchange rates 2016

0.6542 (2016 est.)

Exchange rates 2017

0.7836 (2017 est.)

Exports

Exports 2004

$125 million (2004 est.)

Exports 2015

$257.3 million (2015 est.)

Exports - commodities

mollusks, fish, wool, sheep/goat meats, engine parts (2019)

Exports - partners

Spain 78%, United States 6% (2019)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

41% (2015 est.)

industry

20.6% (2015 est.)

services

38.4% (2015 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$206.4 million (2015 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015

36 (2015)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA

lowest 10%

NA

Imports

Imports 2004

$90 million (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, spark-ignition engines, stone processing machinery, construction vehicles, cars (2019)

Imports - partners

United Kingdom 79%, Netherlands 16% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate

NA

Industries

fish and wool processing; tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2014

1.4% (2014 est.)

Labor force

1,850 (2016 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

41%

industry

24.5%

services

34.5% (2015 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA

Public debt

Public debt 2015

0% of GDP (2015 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2013

$167.5 million (2013 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014

$164.5 million (2014 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015

$206.4 million (2015 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2013

-20.4% (2013 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2014

-1.8% (2014 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2015

25.5% (2015 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2014

$63,000 (2014 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2015

$70,800 (2015 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

32.5% (of GDP) (FY09/10)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2016

1% (2016 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption

17.67 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

74% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

26% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

12,100 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production

19 million kWh (2016 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

290 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

286 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

32.59 (2019 est.)

total

1,000 (2019 est.)

Broadcast media

TV service provided by a multi-channel service provider; radio services provided by the public broadcaster, Falkland Islands Radio Service, broadcasting on both AM and FM frequencies, and by the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) (2007)

Internet country code

.fk

Internet users

percent of population

99.02% (2019 est.)

total

3,393 3,393 (2020 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

fixed-line subscriptions 77 per 100, 146 per 100 for mobile-cellular (2019)

general assessment

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 (2015)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

65.19 (2018 est.)

total subscriptions

2,000 (2018 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

163 (2019 est.)

total subscriptions

5,000 (2018 est.)

Airports

total

7 (2020)

Airports - with paved runways

2,438 to 3,047 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2019)

total

2

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

5

under 914 m

5 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

VP-F

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 1, other 1 (2021)

total

2

National air transport system

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

5

number of registered air carriers

1 (2020)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Stanley

Roadways

paved

50 km (2008)

total

440 km (2008)

unpaved

390 km (2008)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Military and security forces

no regular military forces

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

Climate

cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain occurs on more than half of days in year; average annual rainfall is 60 cm in Stanley; occasional snow all year, except in January and February, but typically does not accumulate

Environment - current issues

overfishing by unlicensed vessels is a problem; reindeer - introduced to the islands in 2001 from South Georgia - are part of a farming effort to produce specialty meat and diversify the islands' economy; this is the only commercial reindeer herd in the world unaffected by the 1986 Chornobyl disaster; grazing threatens important habitats including tussac grass and its ecosystem with penguins and sea lions; soil erosion from fires

Land use

agricultural land

92.4% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 92.4% (2018 est.)

forest

0% (2018 est.)

other

7.6% (2018 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.53% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

78.9% of total population (2021)