Broadband - fixed subscriptions [time series]

total: 1,610 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 50 (2017 est.)

Broadcast media [time series]

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

Internet country code [time series]

.fk

Internet users [time series]

total: 3,000 | percent of population: 98.3% (July 2016 est.)

Telecommunication systems [time series]

general assessment: government-operated radiotelephone and private VHF/CB radiotelephone networks provide effective service to almost all points on both islands | domestic: fixed-line subscriptions 77 per 100, 146 per 100 for mobile-cellular (2019) | international: country code - 500; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) with links through London to other countries (2015)

Telephones - fixed lines [time series]

total subscriptions: 2,255 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 77 (July 2016 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total subscriptions: 4,674 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 146 (July 2016 est.)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: 67.1 million (FY09/10) | expenditures: 75.3 million (FY09/10)

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

-4% (of GDP) (FY09/10)

Debt - external [time series]

$0 (2017 est.) | $0 (2016 est.)

Economic overview [time series]

The economy was formerly based on agriculture, mainly sheep farming, but fishing and tourism currently comprise 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 net more than $40 million per year, which help support the island's health, education, and welfare system. The waters around the Falkland Islands are known for their squid, which account for around 75% of the annual 200,000-ton catch. Dairy farming supports domestic consumption; crops furnish winter fodder. Foreign exchange earnings come from shipments of high-grade wool to the UK and from the sale of postage stamps and coins. Tourism, especially ecotourism, is increasing rapidly, with about 69,000 visitors in 2009 and adds approximately $5.5 million to the Falkland’s annual GDP. The British military presence also provides a sizable economic boost. The islands are now self-financing except for defense. In 1993, the British Geological Survey announced a 200-mile oil exploration zone around the islands, and early seismic surveys suggest substantial reserves capable of producing 500,000 barrels per day. Political tensions between the UK and Argentina remain high following the start of oil drilling activities in the waters. In May 2010 the first commercial oil discovery was made, signaling the potential for the development of a long term hydrocarbon industry in the Falkland Islands.

Exchange rates [time series]

Falkland pounds (FKP) per US dollar - | 0.7836 (2017 est.) | 0.6542 (2016 est.) | 0.6542 (2015) | 0.6542 (2014 est.) | 0.6391 (2013 est.)

Exports [time series]

$257.3 million (2015 est.) | $125 million (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

wool, hides, meat, venison, fish, squid

Exports - partners [time series]

Spain 74.4%, Namibia 10.4%, US 5% (2017)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 April - 31 March

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$206.4 million (2015 est.)

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

$206.4 million (2015 est.) | $164.5 million (2014 est.) | $167.5 million (2013 est.)

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

agriculture: 41% (2015 est.) | industry: 20.6% NA (2015 est.) | services: 38.4% NA (2015 est.)

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

$70,800 (2015 est.) | $63,000 (2014 est.)

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

25.5% (2015 est.) | -1.8% (2014 est.) | -20.4% (2013 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA | highest 10%: NA

Imports [time series]

$90 million (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

fuel, food and drink, building materials, clothing

Imports - partners [time series]

UK 47.8%, Spain 28.4%, Greece 10.2%, Netherlands 5.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.3% (2017)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA

Industries [time series]

fish and wool processing; tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1.4% (2014 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1,850 (2016 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 41% | industry: 24.5% | services: 34.5% (2015 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA

Public debt [time series]

0% of GDP (2015 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

32.5% (of GDP) (FY09/10)

Unemployment rate [time series]

1% (2016 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

44,070 Mt (2017 est.)

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption [time series]

17.67 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

74% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

26% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

12,100 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

19 million kWh (2016 est.)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

290 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

286 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

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 [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 60 cm in Stanley; occasional snow all year, except in January and February, but typically does not accumulate

Coastline [time series]

1,288 km

Elevation [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 - introduced to the islands in 2001 from South Georgia - are part of a farming effort to produce specialty meat and diversify the islands' economy; this is the only commercial reindeer herd in the world unaffected by the 1986 Chornobyl disaster; grazing threatens important habitats including tussac grass and its ecosystem with penguins and sea lions; soil erosion from fires

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

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

agricultural land: 92.4% (2011 est.) | arable land: 0% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 0% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 92.4% (2011 est.) | forest: 0% (2011 est.) | other: 7.6% (2011 est.)

Location [time series]

Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, about 500 km 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

Population distribution [time series]

a very small population, with most residents living in and around Stanley

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]

name: Stanley | geographic coordinates: 51 42 S, 57 51 W | time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) | etymology: named after Edward SMITH-STANLEY (1799-1869), the 14th Earl of Derby, a British statesman and three-time prime minister of the UK who never visited the islands

Citizenship [time series]

see United Kingdom

Constitution [time series]

history: previous 1985; latest entered into force 1 January 2009 (The Falkland Islands Constitution Order 2008) | amendments: NA

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: none | conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) | etymology: the archipelago takes its name from the Falkland Sound, the strait separating the two main islands; the channel itself was named after the Viscount of Falkland, who sponsored an expedition to the islands in 1690; the Spanish name for the archipelago derives from the French "Iles Malouines," the name applied to the islands by French explorer Louis-Antoine de BOUGAINVILLE in 1764

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)

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Nigel PHILLIPS (since 12 September 2017) | head of government: Chief Executive Barry ROWLAND (since 3 October 2016) | cabinet: Executive Council elected by the Legislative Council | elections/appointments: 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]

parliamentary democracy (Legislative Assembly); self-governing overseas territory of the UK

Independence [time series]

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

International organization participation [time series]

UPU

Judicial branch [time series]

highest courts: Court of Appeal (consists of the court president, the chief justice as an ex officio, non-resident member, and 2 justices of appeal); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice); note - appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are referred to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) | judge selection and term of office: all justices appointed by the governor; tenure specified in each justice's instrument of appointment | subordinate courts: Magistrate's 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]

description: unicameral Legislative Assembly, formerly the Legislative Council (10 seats; 8 members directly elected by majority vote and 2 appointed ex-officio members - the chief executive, appointed by the governor, and the financial secretary; members serve 4-year terms) | elections: last held on 9 November 2017 (next to be held in November 2021) | election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 8; composition -men 8, women 2, percent of women 20%

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

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 an Argentine surrender on 14 June 1982. With hostilities ended and Argentine forces withdrawn, UK administration resumed. In response to renewed calls from Argentina for Britain to relinquish control of the islands, a referendum was held in March 2013, which resulted in 99.8% of the population voting to remain a part of the UK.

Military - note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Military and security forces [time series]

no regular military forces

Birth rate [time series]

10.9 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Death rate [time series]

4.9 deaths/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Drinking water source [time series]

Ethnic groups [time series]

Falkland Islander 48.3%, British 23.1%, St. Helenian 7.5%, Chilean 4.6%, mixed 6%, other 8.5%, unspecified 2% (2016 est.)

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 (2018) | male: NA | female: NA

Languages [time series]

English 89%, Spanish 7.7%, other 3.3% (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 77.9 (2017 est.) | male: 75.6 | female: 79.6

Major urban areas - population [time series]

2,000 STANLEY (capital) (2018)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Falkland Islander(s) | adjective: Falkland Island

Net migration rate [time series]

NA

Population [time series]

3,198 (2016 est.) | note: data include all persons usually resident in the islands at the time of the 2016 census

Population distribution [time series]

a very small population, with most residents living in and around Stanley

Population growth rate [time series]

0.01% (2014 est.)

Religions [time series]

Christian 57.1%, other 1.6%, none 35.4%, unspecified 6% (2016 est.)

Sanitation facility access [time series]

Sex ratio [time series]

1.12 male(s)/female (2016 est.) | note: sex ratio is somewhat skewed by the high proportion of males at the Royal Air Force station, Mount Pleasant Airport (MPA); excluding MPA, the sex ratio of the total population would be 1.04

Total fertility rate [time series]

NA

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 78.5% of total population (2020) | rate of urbanization: 0.76% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.) | total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030: PDF

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

Airports [time series]

7 (2020)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 2 (2019) | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 | 914 to 1,523 m: 1

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 5 (2013) | under 914 m: 5 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]

VP-F (2016)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 3 | by type: general cargo 1, other 2 (2019)

National air transport system [time series]

number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020) | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 5

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

major seaport(s): Stanley

Roadways [time series]

total: 440 km (2008) | paved: 50 km (2008) | unpaved: 390 km (2008)