Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Airports

5 total, 5 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; none with runways 1,220 to 2,439 m

Civil air

no major transport aircraft

Highways

510 km total; 30 km paved, 80 km gravel, and 400 km unimproved earth

Ports

Port Stanley

Telecommunications

government-operated radiotelephone and private VHF/CB radio networks provide effective service to almost all points on both islands; 590 telephones; stations--2 AM, 3 FM, no TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station with links through London to other countries

Note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Agriculture

predominantly sheep farming; small dairy herds and fodder crops

Aid

Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $102 million

Budget

revenues $11 million; expenditures $11.8 million, including capital expenditures of $1.2 million (FY87)

Currency

Falkland pound (plural--pounds); 1 Falkland pound (LF) = 100 pence

Electricity

9,200 kW capacity; 17 million kWh produced, 8,700 kWh per capita (1989)

Exchange rates

Falkland pound (LF) per US$1--0.6055 (January 1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988), 0.6102 (1987), 0.6817 (1986), 0.7714 (1985); note--the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound

Exports

at least $14.7 million; commodities--wool, hides and skins, and other; partners--UK, Netherlands, Japan (1987 est.)

External debt

$NA

Fiscal year

1 April-31 March

GNP

$NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate NA%

Imports

at least $13.9 million; commodities--food, clothing, fuels, and machinery; partners--UK, Netherlands Antilles (Curacao), Japan (1987 est.)

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Industries

wool processing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Overview

The economy is based on sheep farming, which directly or indirectly employs most of the work force. A few dairy herds are kept to meet domestic consumption of milk and milk products, and crops grown are primarily those for providing winter fodder. Major sources of income are from the export of high-grade wool to the UK and the sale of stamps and coins. Rich stocks of fish in the surrounding waters are not presently exploited by the islanders, but development plans called for the islands to have six trawlers by 1989. In 1987 the government began to sell fishing licenses to foreign trawlers operating within the Falklands exclusive fishing zone. These license fees amount to more than $25 million per year. To encourage tourism, the Falkland Islands Development Corporation has built three lodges for visitors who are attracted by the abundant wildlife and trout fishing.

Unemployment rate

0%

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

Coastline

1,288 km

Comparative area

slightly smaller than Connecticut

Continental shelf

100 meter depth;

Disputes

administered by the UK, claimed by Argentina

Environment

poor soil fertility and a short growing season

Exclusive fishing zone

150 nm;

Land boundaries

none

Land use

0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 99% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 1% other

Natural resources

fish and wildlife

Note

deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors

Terrain

rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains

Territorial sea

12 nm

Total area

12,170 km2; land area: 12,170 km2; includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and about 200 small islands

Administrative divisions

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Capital

Stanley

Constitution

3 October 1985

Diplomatic representation

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Executive branch

British monarch, governor, Executive Council

Flag

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

Independence

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Head of Government--Governor William Hugh FULLERTON (since NA 1988)

Legal system

English common law

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Council

Long-form name

Colony of the Falkland Islands

National holiday

Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)

Political parties

NA

Suffrage

universal at age 18 Legislative Council--last held 3 October 1985 (next to be held October 1990); results--percent of vote by party NA; seats--(10 total, 8 elected) number of seats by party NA

Type

dependent territory of the UK

Birth rate

NA births/1,000 population (1990)

Death rate

NA deaths/1,000 population (1990)

Ethnic divisions

almost totally British

Infant mortality rate

NA deaths/1,000 live births (1990)

Labor force

1,100 (est.); about 95% in agriculture, mostly sheepherding

Language

English

Life expectancy at birth

NA years male, NA years female (1990)

Literacy

NA%, but compulsory education up to age 15

Nationality

noun--Falkland Islander(s); adjective--Falkland Island

Net migration rate

NA migrants/1,000 population (1990)

Organized labor

Falkland Islands General Employees Union, 400 members

Population

1,958 (July 1990), growth rate 0.5% (1990)

Religion

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

Total fertility rate

NA children born/woman (1990)