Falkland Is. English. |
| The World Factbook 2002 | ||
| Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) | 
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| Introduction | Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) |
| 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. |
| 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 note: includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and about 200 small islands water: 0 sq km land: 12,173 sq km |
| 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% other: 100% (99% permanent pastures, 1% other) (1998 est.) |
| Irrigated
land: |
NA sq km |
| Natural
hazards: |
strong winds persist throughout the year |
| Environment
- current issues: |
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 Chornobyl disaster |
| Geography
- note: |
deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing season |
| People | Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) |
| Population: |
2,967 (July 2002 est.) |
| Age
structure: |
0-14 years: NA% 15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA% |
| Population
growth rate: |
2.44% (2002 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 |
| 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 |
| 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: |
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 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) elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch head of government: Governor Howard PEARCE (since 3 December 2002); 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 |
| 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 22 November 2001 (next to be held NA November 2005) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 8; note - 71% voter turnout |
| 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 |
| 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 | 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 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. 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 is increasing rapidly, with about 30,000 visitors in 2001. The second largest 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 - $52 million (1996 est.) |
| GDP
- real growth rate: |
1% |
| GDP
- per capita: |
purchasing power parity - $19,000 |
| 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): |
3.6% (1998) (1998) |
| Labor
force: |
1,100 (est.) |
| Labor
force - by occupation: |
agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding and fishing) |
| Unemployment
rate: |
full employment; labor shortage |
| Budget: |
revenues: $66.2 million
expenditures: $67.9 million, including capital expenditures of $23.2 million |
| Industries: |
wool and fish processing; sale of stamps and coins; tourism |
| Industrial
production growth rate: |
NA% |
| Electricity
- production: |
12 million kWh (1999) |
| Electricity
- production by source: |
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0% other: 0% (1999) nuclear: 0% |
| Electricity
- consumption: |
11.2 million kWh (1999) |
| Electricity
- exports: |
0 kWh (1999) |
| Electricity
- imports: |
0 kWh (1999) |
| Agriculture
- products: |
fodder and vegetable crops; sheep, dairy products |
| Exports: |
$7.6 million (1995) |
| Exports
- commodities: |
wool, hides, meat |
| Exports
- partners: |
UK, Japan, Chile, NZ |
| Imports: |
$24.7 million (1995) |
| Imports
- commodities: |
fuel, food and drink, building materials, clothing |
| Imports
- partners: |
UK, Japan, Chile, NZ |
| Debt
- external: |
$NA |
| Economic
aid - recipient: |
none |
| Currency: |
Falkland pound (FKP) |
| Currency
code: |
FKP |
| Exchange
rates: |
Falkland pounds per US dollar - 0.6981 (January 2002), 0.6944 (2001), 0.6596 (2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997); 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: |
NA |
| Telephones
- mobile cellular: |
NA |
| 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 |
| Radio
broadcast stations: |
AM 1, FM 7, shortwave 0 (1998) |
| Radios: |
1,000 (1997) |
| Television
broadcast stations: |
2 (operated by the British
Forces Broadcasting Service) note: cable television is available in Stanley (2002) |
| Televisions: |
1,000 (1997) |
| Internet
country code: |
.fk |
| Internet
Service Providers (ISPs): |
2 (2000) |
| Internet
users: |
NA; however one-half of all households are reported to have internet access (2002) |
| Transportation | Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) |
| Railways: |
0 km |
| Highways: |
total: 550 km paved: at least 50 km unpaved: NA (2002) |
| Waterways: |
none |
| Ports
and harbors: |
Stanley |
| Merchant
marine: |
none (2002 est.) |
| Airports: |
5 (2001) |
| Airports
- with paved runways: |
total: 2 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 1 (2002) |
| Airports
- with unpaved runways: |
total: 3 3 under 914 m: 3 (2002) |
| Military | Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) |
| Military
branches: |
British Forces Falkland Islands no regular indigenous military forces; (includes Army, Royal Air Force, and Royal Navy), Police Force |
| Military
expenditures - dollar figure: |
$NA |
| Military
expenditures - percent of GDP: |
NA% |
| Military
- note: |
defense is the responsibility of the UK |
| Transnational Issues | Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) |
| Disputes
- international: |
claimed by Argentina |
Source:
The World Factbook 2002
Last Updated: 19 March 2003
2000-2007
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