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 an Argentine surrender on 14
June 1982.
Geography
Falkland Islands (Islas
Malvinas)
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
cold marine; strong westerly
winds, cloudy, humid; rain occurs on more than half of days in year;
average annual rainfall is 24 inches in Stanley; 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
overfishing by unlicensed
vessels is a problem; reindeer were introduced to the islands in 2001 for
commercial reasons; this is the only commercial reindeer herd in the world
unaffected by the 1986 Chornobyl disaster
Geography - note:
deeply indented coast provides
good natural harbors; short growing season
People
Falkland Islands (Islas
Malvinas)
Population:
3,140 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Population growth rate:
0.011% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
NA
Death rate:
NA
Net migration rate:
NA
Infant mortality rate:
total: NA
male: NA female: NA
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: NA
male: NA female: NA
Total fertility rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
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
Literacy:
NA
Government
Falkland Islands (Islas
Malvinas)
Country name:
conventional long form:
none conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK;
also claimed by Argentina
Government type:
NA
Capital:
name: Stanley
geographic coordinates: 51 42 S, 57 51 W time
difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard
Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in
September; ends third Sunday in April
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
and 1998
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 Alan HUCKLE (since 25 August 2006); Chief Executive Dr. Tim
THOROGOOD (since 3 January 2008) cabinet: Executive Council;
three members elected by the Legislative Council, two ex officio members
(chief executive and the financial secretary), and the governor
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by
the monarch
Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Council
(10 seats; 2 members are ex officio and 8 are elected by popular vote; to
serve four-year terms); presided over by the governor
elections: last held 17 November 2005 (next to be held in
November 2009) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats -
independents 8
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (chief justice is
a nonresident); Magistrates Court (senior magistrate presides over civil
and criminal divisions); Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Political parties and leaders:
none; all independents
Political pressure groups and leaders:
none
International organization participation:
ICFTU, UPU
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
centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a white
ram (sheep raising was once 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
Falkland Islands (Islas
Malvinas)
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 Falkland Islands'
exclusive fishing zone. These license fees total more than $40 million per
year, which help 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. 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. Tourism, especially
eco-tourism, is increasing rapidly, with about 30,000 visitors in 2001.
Another large source of income is interest paid on money the government
has in the bank. The British military presence also provides a sizeable
economic boost.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$75 million (2002 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$25,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 95%
industry: NA% services: NA%
Labor force:
1,724 (est.) (1996)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 95% (mostly
sheepherding and fishing) industry and services: 5% (1996)
Unemployment rate:
full employment; labor shortage
(2001)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage
share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.6% (1998)
Budget:
revenues: $66.2 million
expenditures: $67.9 million (FY98/99 est.)
Agriculture - products:
fodder and vegetable crops;
sheep, dairy products; fish, squid
fuel, food and drink, building
materials, clothing
Imports - partners:
UK 72.5%, US 15.1%, Netherlands
8.5% (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
$0 (1997 est.)
Debt - external:
Currency (code):
Falkland pound (FKP)
Currency code:
FKP
Exchange rates:
Falkland pounds per US dollar -
0.4993 (2007), 0.5434 (2006), 0.5504 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003)
note: the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications
Falkland Islands (Islas
Malvinas)
Telephones - main lines in use:
2,400 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
0 (2001)
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: country code - 500; satellite earth
station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) with links through London to other
countries
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 1, FM 7, shortwave 0
(British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides Radio 1 and Radio 2
service) (2006)
Radios:
1,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
2 (British Forces Broadcasting
Service (BFBS) provides multi-channel satellite service to members of UK
Forces as well as islanders); cable television is available in Stanley
(2006)
Televisions:
1,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.fk
Internet hosts:
104 (2007)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
2 (2000)
Internet users:
1,900 (2002)
Transportation
Falkland Islands (Islas
Malvinas)
Airports:
6 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2 2,438 to
3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 4 under
914 m: 4 (2007)
Roadways:
total: 440 km
paved: 50 km unpaved: 390 km (2003)
Ports and terminals:
Stanley
Military
Falkland Islands (Islas
Malvinas)
Military branches:
no regular military forces
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
NA
Military - note:
defense is the responsibility
of the UK
Transnational Issues
Falkland Islands (Islas
Malvinas)
Disputes - international:
Argentina, which claims the
islands in its constitution and briefly occupied them by force in 1982,
agreed in 1995 to no longer seek settlement by force; UK continues to
reject Argentine requests for sovereignty talks
