ARCHIVE // FK // 1999

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

1999 Edition — territory

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
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Communications
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]
2 (operated by the British Forces Broadcasting Service) (1997)
Televisions [time series]
NA
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]
fodder and vegetable crops; sheep, dairy products
Budget [time series]
revenues: $66.1 million expenditures: $66.8 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY97/98 est.)
Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]
1 Falkland pound (LF) = 100 pence
Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]
$NA
Economic aid (Economic aid--recipient) [time series]
$1.7 million (1995)
Economic overview (Economy--overview) [time series]
The economy was formerly based on agriculture, mainly sheep farming, but today fishing contributes the bulk of economic activity. In 1987 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, which goes to support the island's health, education, and welfare system. Squid accounts for 75% of the fish taken. 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. 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; to date no exploitable site has been identified. An agreement between Argentina and the UK in 1995 seeks to defuse licensing and sovereignty conflicts that would dampen foreign interest in exploiting potential oil reserves.
Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]
10 million kWh (1996)
Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]
10 million kWh (1996)
Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates [time series]
Falkland pound (LF) per US$1--0.6057 (January 1999), 0.5037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994); note--the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound
Exports [time series]
$7.6 million (1995)
Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]
wool, hides, meat
Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]
UK, Netherlands, Japan (1992)
Fiscal year [time series]
1 April--31 March
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]
purchasing power parity--$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%
Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports [time series]
$24.7 million (1995)
Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]
fuel, food and drink, building materials, clothing
Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]
UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan (1992)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
NA%
Industries [time series]
wool and fish processing; sale of stamps and coins
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
NA%
Labor force [time series]
1,100 (est.)
Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]
agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding and fishing)
Population below poverty line [time series]
NA%
Unemployment rate [time series]
full employment; labor shortage
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 12,173 sq km land: 12,173 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and about 200 small islands
Area - comparative (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 (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 (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
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Capital [time series]
Stanley
Constitution [time series]
3 October 1985; amended 1997
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]
overseas territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina
Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]
none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]
none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) head of government: Governor Richard RALPH (since 29 January 1996; to be replaced in May 1999 by Donald LAMONT); Chief Executive A. M. GURR (since NA); Financial Secretary D. F. HOWATT (since NA) 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 monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch
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 (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
International organization participation [time series]
ICFTU
Judicial branch [time series]
Supreme Court, chief justice is a nonresident
Legal system [time series]
English common law
Legislative branch [time series]
unicameral Legislative Council (10 seats--8 elected, 2 ex officio; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 9 October 1997 (next to be held NA October 2001) election results: percent of vote--NA; seats--independents 8
National holiday [time series]
Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
none; all independents
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Military
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 (Military expenditures--dollar figure) [time series]
$NA
Military expenditures (Military expenditures--percent of GDP) [time series]
NA%
Military - note (Military--note) [time series]
defense is the responsibility of the UK
People
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]
2,758 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
2.43% (1999 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 children born/woman
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international (Disputes--international) [time series]
claimed by Argentina
Transportation
Airports [time series]
5 (1998 est.)
Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]
total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports--with unpaved runways) [time series]
total: 3 under 914 m: 3 (1998 est.)
Roadways (Highways) [time series]
total: 348 km paved: 83 km unpaved: 265 km
Merchant marine [time series]
none
Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]
Stanley
Railways [time series]
0 km