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This article is an import from the CIA World Factbook 2002. It's a starting point for creating a real Wikitravel country article according to our country article template. Please plunge forward and edit the Falkland Islands article.

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.

[edit] Geography

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

[edit] People

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

[edit] Government

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

[edit] Economy

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

[edit] Communications

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)

[edit] Transportation

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)

[edit] Military

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

[edit] Transnational Issues

Disputes - international 

claimed by Argentina