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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

television service provided by a multi-channel service provider; radio services provided by the public broadcaster Falkland Islands Radio Service (FIRS), broadcasting on both AM and FM frequencies, and by the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) (2007)

Internet country code [time series]

.fk

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

91 (2010) country comparison to the world: 203

Internet users [time series]

2,900 (2009) country comparison to the world: 208

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: country code - 500; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) with links through London to other countries

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

2,000 (2010) country comparison to the world: 223

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

3,300 (2010) country comparison to the world: 216

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

fodder and vegetable crops; sheep, dairy products; fish, squid

Budget [time series]

revenues: $66.2 million expenditures: $67.9 million (FY98/99)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-1.6% of GDP (FY98/99) country comparison to the world: 68

Debt - external [time series]

$NA

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 Falkland Islands' exclusive fishing zone. These license fees total more than $40 million per year, which help 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. Foreign exchange earnings come from 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. Political tensions between the UK and Argentina rose in early 2010 after a UK company began oil drilling activities in the waters around the Falkland Islands but abated somewhat when the drilling operation failed to discover commercially exploitable 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]

15.81 million kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 211

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

17 million kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 211

Exchange rates [time series]

Falkland pounds (FKP) per US dollar - 0.6388 (2010) 0.6175 (2009) 0.5418 (2006) 0.5493 (2005) 0.5462 (2004)

Exports [time series]

$125 million (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 187

Exports - commodities [time series]

wool, hides, meat, fish, squid

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$105.1 million (2002 est.)

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

$105.1 million (2002 est.) country comparison to the world: 219

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

agriculture: 95% industry: NA% services: NA% (1996)

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

$35,400 (2002 est.) country comparison to the world: 35

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$90 million (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 211

Imports - commodities [time series]

fuel, food and drink, building materials, clothing

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

fish and wool processing; tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

3.6% (1998) country comparison to the world: 121

Labor force [time series]

1,724 (1996) country comparison to the world: 224

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 95% (mostly sheepherding and fishing) industry and services: 5% (1996)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 174

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 97

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 120

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 183

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 137

Oil - consumption [time series]

300 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 208

Oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 157

Oil - imports [time series]

313 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 203

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 171

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

63% of GDP (FY98/99) country comparison to the world: 9

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 12,173 sq km country comparison to the world: 165 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 [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 typically 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 1986 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]

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (99% permanent pastures, 1% other) (2005)

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]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)

Capital [time series]

name: Stanley geographic coordinates: 51 42 S, 57 51 W time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in September; ends third Sunday in April; note - DST will be observed throughout 2011 on a trial basis

Constitution [time series]

1 January 2009

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) head of government: Governor Nigel HAYWOOD (since 16 October 2010) is the Queen's representative; Chief Executive Dr. Tim THOROGOOD (since 3 January 2008) cabinet: Executive Council; three members elected by the Legislative Council, two ex officio members (chief executive and the financial secretary), and the governor; the governor must obey the rulings of the Executive Council on domestic affairs (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; chief executive appointed by 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 was once 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]

Independence [time series]

none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)

International organization participation [time series]

UPU

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 and local statutes

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Legislative Assembly (10 seats; 2 members are ex officio and 8 are elected by popular vote; members to serve four-year terms); presided over by the governor elections: last held on 5 November 2009 (next to be held in November 2013) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 8

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "Song of the Falklands"" lyrics/music: Christopher LANHAM note: adopted 1930s; the song is the local unofficial anthem; as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)

National holiday [time series]

Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)

National symbol(s) [time series]

ram

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

none; all independents

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

Falkland Islands Association (supports freedom of the people from external causes)

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

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 an Argentine surrender on 14 June 1982.

Military

Military - note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of the UK

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

no regular military forces

Military expenditures [time series]

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

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

Birth rate [time series]

Death rate [time series]

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

Ethnic groups [time series]

British

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: NA male: NA female: NA

Languages [time series]

English

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: NA male: NA female: NA

Literacy [time series]

Major urban areas - population (Major cities - population) [time series]

STANLEY (capital) 2,000 (2009)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Falkland Islander(s) adjective: Falkland Island

Net migration rate [time series]

Population [time series]

3,140 (July 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 230

Population growth rate [time series]

0.011% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 190

Religions [time series]

Christian 67.2%, none 31.5%, other 1.3% (2006 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

Total fertility rate [time series]

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 74% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 0.9% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

Argentina, which claims the islands in its constitution and briefly occupied them by force in 1982, agreed in 1995 to no longer seek settlement by force; UK continues to reject Argentine requests for sovereignty talks

Transportation

Airports [time series]

7 (2010) country comparison to the world: 170

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 5 under 914 m: 5 (2010)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Stanley

Roadways [time series]

total: 440 km country comparison to the world: 197 paved: 50 km unpaved: 390 km (2008)