Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

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

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. 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 United Kingdom in 1995 seeks to defuse licensing and sovereignty conflicts that would dampen foreign interest in exploiting potential oil reserves.

Electricity - capacity

NA kW

Electricity - consumption per capita

NA kWh

Electricity - production

NA kWh

Exchange rates

Falkland pound (£F) per US$1 - 0.6023 (January 1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992); 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

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: food, clothing, timber, and machinery partners : UK, Netherlands Antilles (Curacao), Japan (1992)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

wool and fish processing

Inflation rate - consumer price index

NA%

Labor force

total: 1,100 (est.) by occupation: agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding)

Unemployment rate

NA%; labor shortage

Area

total: 12,170 sq km land: 12,170 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

Administrative divisions

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Constitution

3 October 1985

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (dependent territory of the UK)

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) 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)

International organization participation

ICFTU

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, chief justice is non-resident

Legal system

English common law

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Council (10 seats, 8 elected; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held NA October 1993 (next was to be held NA October 1998) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 8

National capital

Stanley

National holiday

Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)

Political parties and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

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%

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 years male: NA years female: NA years

Nationality

noun: Falkland Islander(s) adjective: Falkland Island

Net migration rate

NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Population

2,432 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate

2.43% (1997 est.)

Religions

primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Free Church, Evangelist Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-Day Adventist

Sex ratio

at birth: NA male(s)/female under 15 years: NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female total population : NA male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

NA children born/woman

Disputes - international

administered by the UK, claimed by Argentina FAROE ISLANDS (part of the Danish realm)

Airports

5 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 4 (1996 est.)

Highways

total: 510 km paved: 30 km unpaved : 480 km

Merchant marine

none

Ports and harbors

Stanley

Railways

0 km