Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

2 (2000)

Internet country code

.fk

Internet users

NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 7, shortwave 0 (1998)

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: 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) (1997)

Televisions

1,000 (1997)

Agriculture - products

fodder and vegetable crops; sheep, dairy products

Budget

revenues: $66.2 million expenditures: $67.9 million, including capital expenditures of $23.2 million (FY98/99 est.)

Currency

Falkland pound (FKP)

Currency code

FKP

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

11.2 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - production

12 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)

Exchange rates

Falkland pounds per US dollar - 0.6764 (January 2001), 0.6596 (2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996); note - the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound

Exports

$7.6 million (1995)

Exports - commodities

wool, hides, meat

Exports - partners

UK, Japan, Chile, NZ

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP

purchasing power parity - $52 million (FY95/96 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $19,000 (FY95/96 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1% (FY95/96 est.)

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, Japan, Chile, NZ

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

wool and fish processing; sale of stamps and coins

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.6% (1998)

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

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 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 Donald LAMONT (since NA May 1999); 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); Magistrates Court (senior magistrate presides over civil and criminal divisions)

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 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

Political pressure groups and leaders

none

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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.

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA%

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

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

2,895 (July 2001 est.)

Population growth rate

2.43% (2001 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 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 3 under 914 m: 3 (2000 est.)

Highways

total: 440 km paved: 50 km unpaved: 390 km

Merchant marine

none (2000 est.)

Ports and harbors

Stanley

Railways

0 km

Waterways

none