Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

2 (2000)

Internet country code [time series]

.fk

Internet users [time series]

NA; however one-half of all households are reported to have internet access (2002)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 1, FM 7, shortwave 0 (1998)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: NA 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 - main lines in use) [time series]

NA

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

NA

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

2 (operated by the British Forces Broadcasting Service) note: cable television is available in Stanley (2002)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

fodder and vegetable crops; sheep, dairy products

Budget [time series]

revenues: $66.2 million expenditures: $67.9 million, including capital expenditures of $23.2 million (FY98/99 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Falkland pound (FKP)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

FKP

Debt - external [time series]

$NA

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

none

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. 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. Tourism, especially eco-tourism, is increasing rapidly, with about 30,000 visitors in 2001. Another large source of income is interest paid on money the government has in the bank. The British military presence also provides a sizeable economic boost.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

15.19 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production [time series]

16.33 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates [time series]

Falkland pounds per US dollar - 0.67 (2002), 0.69 (2001), 0.66 (2000), 0.62 (1999), 0.6 (1998); note - the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound

Exports [time series]

$7.6 million (1995)

Exports - commodities [time series]

wool, hides, meat

Exports - partners [time series]

Spain 76.2%, UK 9.2%, US 7.1% (2002)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

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

purchasing power parity - $75 million (2002 est.)

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 - $25,000 (2002 est.)

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 [time series]

fuel, food and drink, building materials, clothing

Imports - partners [time series]

UK 57.9%, Spain 19.8%, Italy 16.7% (2002)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

fish and wool processing; tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

3.6% (1998)

Labor force [time series]

1,100 (est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding and fishing)

Oil - consumption [time series]

200 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - imports [time series]

NA (2001)

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

full employment; labor shortage

Area [time series]

total: 12,173 sq km note: includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and about 200 small islands water: 0 sq km land: 12,173 sq km

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; average annual rainfall is 24 inches in Stanley; 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]

overfishing by unlicensed vessels is a problem; reindeer were introduced to the islands in 2001 for commercial reasons; this is the only commercial reindeer herd in the world unaffected by the Chornobyl disaster

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% other: 100% (99% permanent pastures, 1% other) (1998 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, squid, wildlife, calcified seaweed, sphagnum moss

Terrain [time series]

rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains

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 and 1998

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

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) elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch head of government: Governor Howard PEARCE (since 3 December 2002); Chief Executive Chris SIMPKINS (since NA March 2003); Financial Secretary Derek 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

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 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); Magistrates Court (senior magistrate presides over civil and criminal divisions); Court of Summary Jurisdiction

Legal system [time series]

English common law

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Legislative Council (10 seats - 2 ex officio, 8 elected by popular vote, members serve four-year terms); presided over by the governor elections: last held 22 November 2001 (next to be held NA November 2005) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 8; note - 71% voter turnout

National holiday [time series]

Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)

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

none; all independents

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

none

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Background [time series]

Although first sighted by an English navigator in 1592, the first landing (English) did not occur until almost a century later in 1690, and the first settlement (French) was not established until 1764. The colony was turned over to Spain two years later and the islands have since been the subject of a territorial dispute, first between Britain and Spain, then between Britain and Argentina. The UK asserted its claim to the islands by establishing a naval garrison there in 1833. Argentina invaded the islands on 2 April 1982. The British responded with an expeditionary force that landed seven weeks later and after fierce fighting forced Argentine surrender on 14 June 1982.

Military - note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of the UK

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

British Forces Falkland Islands no regular indigenous military forces; (includes Army, Royal Air Force, and Royal Navy), 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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

NA%

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

NA

Infant mortality rate [time series]

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

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]

2,967 (July 2003 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.44% (2003 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

Disputes - international [time series]

claimed by Argentina whose forces briefly occupied it in 1982, but now declares it will no longer seek settlement by force

Airports [time series]

5 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 3 under 914 m: 3 (2002)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 440 km paved: 50 km unpaved: 390 km (2002)

Merchant marine [time series]

none (2002 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Stanley note: the primary port is located in Stanley Harbour and known locally as FIPASS (Falkland Interim Port and Storage System); the facility consists of seven permanently moored barges providing 300 meters of berthing space; it was installed by the military after 1982 and handed over to the Falkland Islands Government in 1988

Railways [time series]

0 km

Waterways [time series]

none