Legend:
Definition
Field Listing
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Background:
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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.
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Location:
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Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of southern Argentina
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Geographic coordinates:
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51 45 S, 59 00 W
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Map references:
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South America
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Area:
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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
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Connecticut
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Land boundaries:
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0 km
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Coastline:
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1,288 km
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Maritime claims:
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continental shelf: 200 NM
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
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Climate:
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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
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Terrain:
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rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m
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Natural resources:
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fish, wildlife
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Land use:
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arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (99% permanent pastures, 1% other) (1998 est.)
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km
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Natural hazards:
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strong winds persist throughout the year
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Environment - current issues:
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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
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Geography - note:
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deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing season
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People |
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) |
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Population:
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2,967 (July 2002 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA%
65 years and over: NA%
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Population growth rate:
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2.44% (2002 est.)
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Birth rate:
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NA births/1,000 population
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Death rate:
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NA deaths/1,000 population
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Net migration rate:
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NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
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Infant mortality rate:
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NA deaths/1,000 live births
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years
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Total fertility rate:
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NA children born/woman
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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NA%
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA
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Nationality:
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noun: Falkland Islander(s)
adjective: Falkland Island
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Ethnic groups:
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British
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Religions:
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primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Free Church, Evangelist Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-Day Adventist
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Languages:
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English
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Economy |
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) |
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Economy - overview:
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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 is increasing rapidly, with about 30,000 visitors in 2001. The second largest source of income is interest paid on money the government has in the bank. The British military presence also provides a sizeable economic boost.
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $52 million (1996 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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1% (FY95/96 est.)
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $19,000 (FY95/96 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
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Population below poverty line:
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NA%
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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3.6% (1998)
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Labor force:
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1,100 (est.)
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding and fishing)
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Unemployment rate:
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full employment; labor shortage
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Budget:
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revenues: $66.2 million
expenditures: $67.9 million, including capital expenditures of $23.2 million (FY98/99 est.)
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Industries:
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wool and fish processing; sale of stamps and coins; tourism
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA%
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Electricity - production:
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12 million kWh (1999)
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (1999)
nuclear: 0%
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Electricity - consumption:
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11.2 million kWh (1999)
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (1999)
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (1999)
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Agriculture - products:
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fodder and vegetable crops; sheep, dairy products
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Exports:
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$7.6 million (1995)
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Exports - commodities:
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wool, hides, meat
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Exports - partners:
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UK, Japan, Chile, NZ
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Imports:
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$24.7 million (1995)
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Imports - commodities:
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fuel, food and drink, building materials, clothing
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Imports - partners:
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UK, Japan, Chile, NZ
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Debt - external:
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$NA
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Economic aid - recipient:
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none
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Currency:
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Falkland pound (FKP)
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Currency code:
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FKP
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Exchange rates:
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Falkland pounds per US dollar - 0.6981 (January 2002), 0.6944 (2001), 0.6596 (2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997); note - the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound
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Fiscal year:
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1 April - 31 March
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Military |
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) |
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Disputes - international:
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claimed by Argentina
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This page was last updated on 1 January 2002
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