Broadcast media (Radio) [time series]

broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 radios: NA

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

590 telephones local: NA intercity: government-operated radiotelephone and private VHF/CB radio networks provide effective service to almost all points on both islands international: 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station with links through London to other countries

Broadcast media (Television) [time series]

broadcast stations: 0 televisions: NA

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

$NA, NA% of GDP

Note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of the UK FAROE ISLANDS (part of the Danish realm)

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $65 million expenditures: $55.2 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992-93)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Falkland pound (#F) = 100 pence

Economic aid [time series]

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

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 9,200 kW production: 17 million kWh consumption per capita: 7,253 kWh (1993)

Exchange rates [time series]

Falkland pound (#F) per US$1 - 0.6350 (January 1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5604 (1990); 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 meat partners: UK, Netherlands, Japan (1987 est.)

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$NA

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

Imports [time series]

at least $13.9 million commodities: food, clothing, timber, 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)

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

GDP $NA

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$NA

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

NA%

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

The economy was formerly based on agriculture, mainly sheep farming, which directly or indirectly employs most of the work force. 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. 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. The economy has diversified since 1987 when 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 and support the island's health, education, and welfare system. To encourage tourism, the Falkland Islands Development Corporation has built three lodges for visitors attracted by the abundant wildlife and trout fishing. 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.

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%; labor shortage

Area [time series]

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 [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

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: NA natural hazards: strong winds persist throughout the year international agreements: NA

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

administered by the UK, claimed by Argentina

Irrigated land [time series]

NA sq km

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

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

Location [time series]

Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of southern Argentina

Map references [time series]

South America

Maritime claims [time series]

continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural resources [time series]

fish, wildlife

Note [time series]

deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing season

Terrain [time series]

rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains

Administrative divisions [time series]

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Capital [time series]

Stanley

Constitution [time series]

3 October 1985

Digraph [time series]

FA

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

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Executive branch [time series]

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 [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

Legal system [time series]

English common law

Legislative branch (Legislative Council) [time series]

elections last held 11 October 1989 (next to be held October 1994); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (10 total, 8 elected) independents 8

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

ICFTU

Country name (Names) [time series]

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

National holiday [time series]

Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

NA

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Government type (Type) [time series]

dependent territory of the UK

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA

Birth rate [time series]

NA

Death rate [time series]

NA

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

British

Infant mortality rate [time series]

NA

Labor force [time series]

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

Languages [time series]

English

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

NA

Nationality [time series]

noun: Falkland Islander(s) adjective: Falkland Island

Net migration rate [time series]

NA

Population [time series]

2,317 (July 1995 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.43% (1995 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Total fertility rate [time series]

NA

Airports [time series]

total: 5 with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 with paved runways under 914 m: 4

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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

Merchant marine [time series]

none

Ports [time series]

Stanley

Railways (Railroads) [time series]

0 km