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Location: Southern South America, islands in the South
Atlantic Ocean, east of southern Argentina
Geographic coordinates: 51 45 S, 59 00 W
Map references: South America
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
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 1,288 km
Maritime claims:
continental shelf: 200 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
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
Terrain: rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating
plains
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m
Natural resources: fish, wildlife
Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 99%
forests and woodland: 0%
other: 1% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA sq km
Natural hazards: strong winds persist throughout the year
Environment—current issues: NA
Environment—international agreements:
party to: NA
signed, but not ratified: NA
Geography—note: deeply indented coast provides good
natural harbors; short growing season
Population: 2,758 (July 1999 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate: 2.43% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
Nationality:
noun: Falkland Islander(s)
adjective: Falkland Island
Ethnic groups: British
Religions: primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, United
Free Church, Evangelist Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-Day
Adventist
Languages: English
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
Government type: NA
Capital: Stanley
Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of
the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK; also
claimed by Argentina)
National holiday: Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
Constitution: 3 October 1985; amended 1997
Legal system: English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
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
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
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chief justice is a nonresident
Political parties and leaders: none; all independents
International organization participation: ICFTU
Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory
of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Diplomatic representation from the US: none (overseas
territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
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
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 $40 million
per year, which goes to support the island's health, education,
and welfare system. Squid accounts for 75% of the fish taken. Dairy
farming supports domestic consumption; crops furnish winter fodder.
Exports feature shipments of high-grade wool to the UK and the sale
of postage stamps and coins. To encourage tourism, the Falkland
Islands Development Corporation has built three lodges for visitors
attracted by the abundant wildlife and trout fishing. The islands
are now self-financing except for defense. The British Geological
Survey announced a 200-mile oil exploration zone around the islands
in 1993, and early seismic surveys suggest substantial reserves
capable of producing 500,000 barrels per day; to date no exploitable
site has been identified. An agreement between Argentina and the
UK in 1995 seeks to defuse licensing and sovereignty conflicts that
would dampen foreign interest in exploiting potential oil reserves.
GDP: purchasing power parity—$NA
GDP—real growth rate: NA%
GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity—$NA
GDP—composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%
Labor force: 1,100 (est.)
Labor force—by occupation: agriculture 95% (mostly
sheepherding and fishing)
Unemployment rate: full employment; labor shortage
Budget:
revenues: $66.1 million
expenditures: $66.8 million, including capital expenditures
of $NA (FY97/98 est.)
Industries: wool and fish processing; sale of stamps and
coins
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Electricity—production: 10 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—production by source:
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)
Electricity—consumption: 10 million kWh (1996)
Electricity—exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Electricity—imports: 0 kWh (1996)
Agriculture—products: fodder and vegetable crops;
sheep, dairy products
Exports: $7.6 million (1995)
Exports—commodities: wool, hides, meat
Exports—partners: UK, Netherlands, Japan (1992)
Imports: $24.7 million (1995)
Imports—commodities: fuel, food and drink, building
materials, clothing
Imports—partners: UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan
(1992)
Debt—external: $NA
Economic aid—recipient: $1.7 million (1995)
Currency: 1 Falkland pound (£F) = 100 pence
Exchange rates: Falkland pound (£F) 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
Fiscal year: 1 April—31 March
Telephones: 1,180 (1991 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
Radio broadcast stations: 1 (government operated)
Radios: 1,000 (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (operated by the British
Forces Broadcasting Service) (1997)
Televisions: NA
Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 348 km
paved: 83 km
unpaved: 265 km
Ports and harbors: Stanley
Merchant marine: none
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.)
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
Disputes—international: claimed by Argentina
Source: 1999 CIA World Factbook
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