Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (government operated)

Radios [time series]

1,000 (1992 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

1,180 (1991 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (government operated)

Televisions [time series]

NA

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

fodder and vegetable crops; sheep farming, small dairy herds

Budget [time series]

revenues: $53.4 million expenditures: $53.1 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1994-95 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Falkland pound (£F) = 100 pence

Debt - external [time series]

$NA

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $NA note: UK, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments totaled $18 million (1993-94)

Economic overview (Economy - 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. An agreement between Argentina and the United Kingdom in 1995 seeks to defuse licensing and sovereignty conflicts that would dampen foreign interest in exploiting potential oil reserves.

Electricity - capacity [time series]

NA kW

Electricity - consumption per capita [time series]

NA kWh

Electricity - production [time series]

NA kWh

Exchange rates [time series]

Falkland pound (£F) per US$1 - 0.6023 (January 1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992); note - the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound

Exports [time series]

total value: $7.6 million (1995) commodities: wool, hides, meat partners: UK, Netherlands, Japan (1992)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

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

purchasing power parity - $NA

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $NA

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

NA%

Imports [time series]

total value : $24.7 million (1995) commodities: food, clothing, timber, and machinery partners : UK, Netherlands Antilles (Curacao), Japan (1992)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

wool and fish processing

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate - consumer price index) [time series]

NA%

Labor force [time series]

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

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%; labor shortage

Area [time series]

total: 12,170 sq km land: 12,170 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and about 200 small islands

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than Connecticut

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

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point : Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

NA

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to : NA signed, but not ratified: NA

Geographic coordinates [time series]

51 45 S, 59 00 W

Geography - note [time series]

deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing season

Irrigated land [time series]

NA sq km

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land : 0% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 99% forests and woodland: 0% other : 1% (1993 est.)

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 hazards [time series]

strong winds persist throughout the year

Natural resources [time series]

fish, wildlife

Terrain [time series]

rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains

Administrative divisions [time series]

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Constitution [time series]

3 October 1985

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

FA

Dependency status [time series]

dependent territory of the UK

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state : Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Governor Richard RALPH (since 29 January 1996) cabinet: Executive Council; three members elected by the Legislative Council, two ex-officio members (chief executive and the financial secretary), and the governor elections : none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor appointed by the queen

Flag (Flag description) [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

Government type [time series]

NA

Independence [time series]

none (dependent territory of the UK)

International organization participation [time series]

ICFTU

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court, chief justice is non-resident

Legal system [time series]

English common law

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Legislative Council (10 seats, 8 elected; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held NA October 1993 (next was to be held NA October 1998) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 8

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Stanley

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

Military - note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$NA

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

NA%

Age structure [time series]

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

Birth rate [time series]

NA births/1,000 population

Death rate [time series]

NA deaths/1,000 population

Ethnic groups [time series]

British

Infant mortality rate [time series]

NA deaths/1,000 live births

Languages [time series]

English

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years

Nationality [time series]

noun: Falkland Islander(s) adjective: Falkland Island

Net migration rate [time series]

NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Population [time series]

2,432 (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.43% (1997 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: NA male(s)/female under 15 years: NA male(s)/female 15-64 years: NA male(s)/female 65 years and over: NA male(s)/female total population : NA male(s)/female

Total fertility rate [time series]

NA children born/woman

Disputes - international [time series]

administered by the UK, claimed by Argentina FAROE ISLANDS (part of the Danish realm)

Airports [time series]

5 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 4 (1996 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 510 km paved: 30 km unpaved : 480 km

Merchant marine [time series]

none

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Stanley

Railways [time series]

0 km