Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Airports

total: 5 usable: 5 with permanent-surface runways: 2 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 0

Highways

total: 510 km paved: 30 km unpaved: gravel 80 km; unimproved earth 400 km

Ports

Stanley

Telecommunications

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

Affiliation

(part of the Danish realm)

Branches

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

Note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Agriculture

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

Budget

revenues: $62.7 million expenditures: $42.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY90)

Currency

1 Falkland pound (#F) = 100 pence

Economic aid

recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1992-93), $87 million

Electricity

capacity: 9,200 kW production: 17 million kWh consumption per capita: 8,940 kWh (1992)

Exchange rates

Falkland pound (#F) per US$1 - 0.6699 (January 1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5604 (1990), 0.6099 (1989); note - the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound

Exports

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

External debt

$NA

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

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 and fish processing

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7.4% (1980-87 average)

National product

GDP $NA

National product per capita

$NA

National product real growth rate

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. 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. In 1987 the government began selling fishing licenses to foreign trawlers operating within the Falklands exclusive fishing zone. These license fees amount to more than $40 million per year and are a primary source of income for the government. To encourage tourism, the Falkland Islands Development Corporation has built three lodges for visitors attracted by the abundant wildlife and trout fishing.

Unemployment rate

NA%; labor shortage

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

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

Environment

current issues: NA natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA

International disputes

administered by the UK, claimed by Argentina

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

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

Location

Southern South America, in the South Atlantic Ocean, off the southern coast of Argentina

Map references

Antarctic Region, South America

Maritime claims

continental shelf: 100-m depth exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources

fish, wildlife

Note

deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing season

Terrain

rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains

Administrative divisions

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Capital

Stanley

Constitution

3 October 1985

Digraph

FA

Diplomatic representation in US

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Governor David Everard TATHAM (since August 1992) cabinet: Executive Council; 3 members elected by the Legislative Council, 2 ex-officio members (chief executive and the financial secretary), and the governor

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

Legal system

English common law

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) number of seats by party NA

Legislative branch

unicameral

Member of

ICFTU

Names

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

National holiday

Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)

Political parties and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Type

dependent territory of the UK

US diplomatic representation

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Birth rate

NA

Death rate

NA

Ethnic divisions

British

Infant mortality rate

NA

Labor force

1,100 (est.) by occupation: agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding)

Languages

English

Life expectancy at birth

NA

Literacy

total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%

Nationality

noun: Falkland Islander(s) adjective: Falkland Island

Net migration rate

NA

Population

2,261 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate

2.43% (1994 est.)

Religions

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

Total fertility rate

NA