Airports [time series]

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 [time series]

no major transport aircraft

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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

Ports [time series]

Port Stanley

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

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

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

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

Note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues $62.7 million; expenditures $41.8 million, excluding capital expenditures of $NA (FY90)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Falkland pound (plural--pounds); 1 Falkland pound (5F) = 100 pence

Economic aid [time series]

Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $109 million

Electricity [time series]

9,200 kW capacity; 17 million kWh produced, 8,680 kWh per capita (1990)

Exchange rates [time series]

Falkland pound (5F) per US$1--0.5171 (January 1991), 0.5603 (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 [time series]

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

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$NA

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April-31 March

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

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

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate NA%

Industries [time series]

wool and fish processing

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

7.4% (1980-87 average)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

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 [time series]

NA%; labor shortage

Climate [time series]

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 [time series]

1,288 km Continental shelf: 100 meter depth; Exclusive fishing zone: 150 nm; Territorial sea: 12 nm

Area - comparative (Comparative area) [time series]

slightly smaller than Connecticut

Disputes - international (Disputes) [time series]

administered by the UK, claimed by Argentina

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

poor soil fertility and a short growing season

Land boundaries [time series]

none

Land use [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

fish and wildlife

Note [time series]

deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors

Terrain [time series]

rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains

Area (Total area) [time series]

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 [time series]

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Capital [time series]

Stanley

Constitution [time series]

3 October 1985

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation) [time series]

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Executive branch [time series]

British monarch, governor, Executive Council

Flag [time series]

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 [time series]

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Judicial branch [time series]

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

Legal system [time series]

English common law

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Legislative Council

Country name (Long-form name) [time series]

Colony of the Falkland Islands

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

ICFTU

National holiday [time series]

Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)

Political parties [time series]

NA

Suffrage [time series]

universal at age 18 Legislative Council--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

Government type (Type) [time series]

dependent territory of the UK

Birth rate [time series]

NA births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate [time series]

NA deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

almost totally British

Infant mortality rate [time series]

NA deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Labor force [time series]

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

Languages (Language) [time series]

English

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

NA years male, NA years female (1991)

Literacy [time series]

NA% (male NA%, female NA%) but compulsory education age 5 to 15 (1988)

Nationality [time series]

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

Net migration rate [time series]

NA migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Organized labor [time series]

Falkland Islands General Employees Union, 400 members

Population [time series]

1,968 (July 1991), growth rate NEGL% (1991)

Religions (Religion) [time series]

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

Total fertility rate [time series]

NA children born/woman (1991)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)