Falkland Islands (islas Malvinas)

Dependent territory of the U.K.

 

Geography                 Economy                 Defense Forces
 

People                    Transportation          Government



Communications            History      	          Travel

GEOGRAPHY

Location

Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of southern Argentina

Area

Total area: 12,170 sq km
Land area: 12,170 sq km
Comparative area: slightly smaller than Connecticut

Note: Includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and about 200 small islands

Land Boundaries

0 km

Coastline

1,288 km

Maritime Claims

Continental shelf: 200 nm
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm

International Disputes

Administered by the U.K., claimed by Argentina

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
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m

Natural Resources

Fish
Wildlife

Land Use

Arable land: 0%
Permanent crops: 0%
Meadows and pastures: 99%
Forest and woodland: 0%
Other: 1%

Irrigated Land

Environment

Current issues: NA
Natural hazards: strong winds persist throughout the year
International agreements: NA

Note: Deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing season

PEOPLE

Population

2,374 (July 1996 est.)
2,317 (July 1995 est.)

Age Structure

0-14 Years

15-64 Years

65 Years and Over

Population Growth Rate

2.43% (1996 est.)

Birth Rate

Death Rate

Net Migration Rate

Infant Mortality Rate

Life Expectancy at Birth

Total Fertility Rate

Nationality

Noun: Falkland Islander(s)
Adjective: Falkland Island

Ethnic Divisions

British

Religions

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

Languages

English

Labor Force

1,100 (est.)

By occupation:

Agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding)

GOVERNMENT

Names

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

Digraph

Type

Dependent territory of the U.K.

Capital

Stanley

Administrative Divisions

None (dependent territory of the U.K.)

Independence

None (dependent territory of the U.K.)

National Holiday

Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)

Constitution

3 October 1985

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 R. RALPH (since NA) was appointed by the queen
Cabinet: Executive Council; 3 members elected by the Legislative Council, 2 ex-officio members (chief executive and the financial secretary), and the governor

Legislative Branch

Unicameral

Legislative Council

Elections last held 11 October 1989 (next to be held October 1994); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (10 total, 8 elected) independents 8

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court

Political Parties and Leaders

Member of

ICFTU

Flag

Blue with the flag of the U.K. in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Falkland Island coat of arms in a white disk centered on the outer half of the Falkland Islands 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, 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.

National Product

GDP NA

National Product Real Growth Rate

National Product Per Capita

Inflation Rate (consumer Prices)

7.4% (1980-87 average)

Unemployment Rate

NA; labor shortage

Budget

Revenues: $42.7 million (1993-94 est.); $65 million (1992-93)
Expenditures: $28.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1993-94 est.); $55.2 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1992-93)

Exports

$5.4 million

Commodities:

Wool
Hides
Meat

Partners:

U.K.
Netherlands
Japan(1992)

Imports

At least $13.9 million

Commodities:

Food
Clothing
Timber
Machinery

Partners:

U.K.
Netherlands Antilles (Curacao)
Japan (1992)

External Debt

Industrial Production

Growth rate NA

Electricity

Capacity: 9,200 kW
Production: 17 million kWh
Consumption per capita: 7,253 kWh (1993)

Industries

Wool and fish processing

Agriculture

Predominantly sheep farming; small dairy herds; some fodder and vegetable crops

Economic Aid

Recipient: UK, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments totaled $18 million (1993-94); Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1992-93), $87 million

Currency

1 Falkland pound (#F) = 100 pence

Exchange Rates

Falkland pound (#F) per US$1 - 0.6535 (January 1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5604 (1990); note - the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound

Fiscal Year

1 April - 31 March

TRANSPORTATION

Railroads

0 km

Highways

Total: 510 km
Paved: 30 km
Unpaved: gravel 80 km; unimproved earth 400 km

Ports

Stanley

Merchant Marine

None

Airports

Total: 5
With paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
With paved runways under 914 m: 4

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone System

1,180 telephones (1991 est.)

Local: NA
Intercity: government-operated radiotelephone and private VHF/CB radio networks provide effective service to almost all points on both islands
International: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station with links through London to other countries

Radio

Broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0
Radios: 1,000 (1992 est.)

Television

Broadcast stations: 0
Televisions: NA

DEFENSE FORCES

Branches

British Forces Falkland Islands (includes Army, Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, and Royal Marines), Police Force

Defense Expenditures

NA, % of GDP: NA

Note: Defense is the responsibility of the U.K.

History
World Atlas

Last modified: 8 december 1997

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