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

2 (operated by the British Forces Broadcasting Service) (1997)

Televisions

NA

Agriculture--products

fodder and vegetable crops; sheep, dairy products

Budget

revenues: $66.1 million expenditures: $66.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY97/98 est.)

Currency

1 Falkland pound (LF) = 100 pence

Debt--external

$NA

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

10 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity--production

10 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--production by source

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exchange rates

Falkland pound (LF) per US$1--0.6057 (January 1999), 0.5037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994); note--the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound

Exports

$7.6 million (1995)

Exports--commodities

wool, hides, meat

Exports--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%

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, Netherlands Antilles, Japan (1992)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

wool and fish processing; sale of stamps and coins

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Labor force

1,100 (est.)

Labor force--by occupation

agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding and fishing)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

full employment; labor shortage

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; 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 (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)

Capital

Stanley

Constitution

3 October 1985; amended 1997

Country name

conventional long form: Colony of the Falkland Islands conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Data code

FA

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 Richard RALPH (since 29 January 1996; to be replaced in May 1999 by Donald LAMONT); 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

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 (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)

International organization participation

ICFTU

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, chief justice is a nonresident

Legal system

English common law

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Council (10 seats--8 elected, 2 ex officio; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 9 October 1997 (next to be held NA October 2001) election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--independents 8

National holiday

Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)

Political parties and leaders

none; all independents

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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%

Military--note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

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

2,758 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate

2.43% (1999 est.)

Religions

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

Total fertility rate

NA children born/woman

Disputes--international

claimed by Argentina

Airports

5 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways

total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways

total: 3 under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)

Highways

total: 348 km paved: 83 km unpaved: 265 km

Merchant marine

none

Ports and harbors

Stanley

Railways

0 km