Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Introduction

Background

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.

Geography

Location

Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of southern Argentina

Geographic coordinates

51 45 S, 59 00 W

Map references

South America

Area

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

slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries

0 km

Coastline

1,288 km

Maritime claims

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

Climate

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

Terrain

rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point:Mount Usborne 705 m

Natural resources

fish, squid, wildlife, calcified seaweed, sphagnum moss

Land use

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

Irrigated land

NA

Natural hazards

strong winds persist throughout the year

Environment – current issues

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

Geography – note

deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors

short growing season

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Falkland Islander(s)
adjective:Falkland Island

Ethnic groups

British

Languages

English

Religions

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

Population

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

Age structure

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

Population growth rate

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

Birth rate

NA

Death rate

NA

Net migration rate

NA

Urbanization

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

Major cities – population

STANLEY (capital) 2,000 (2009)

Infant mortality rate

total: NA
male:NA
female:NA

Life expectancy at birth

total population: NA
male:NA
female:NA

Total fertility rate

NA

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

HIV/AIDS – deaths

NA

Education expenditures

NA

Literacy

NA

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

NA

Government

Country name

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

Dependency status

overseas territory of the UK

also claimed by Argentina

Government type

NA

Capital

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

Administrative divisions

none (overseas territory of the UK

also claimed by Argentina)

Independence

none (overseas territory of the UK

also claimed by Argentina)

National holiday

Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)

Constitution

1 January 2009

Legal system

English common law and local statutes

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

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 the World Leaders website ) elections:the monarchy is hereditary

governor appointed by the monarch

chief executive appointed by the governor

Legislative branch

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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (chief justice is a nonresident)

Magistrates Court (senior magistrate presides over civil and criminal divisions)

Court of Summary Jurisdiction

Political parties and leaders

none

all independents

Political pressure groups and leaders

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

International organization participation

UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas territory of the UK

also claimed by Argentina)

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (overseas territory of the UK

also claimed by Argentina)

Flag description

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

National symbol(s)

ram

National anthem

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)

Economy

Economy – overview

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.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

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

GDP (official exchange rate)

$105.1 million (2002 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

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

GDP – composition by sector

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

Labor force

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

Labor force – by occupation

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

Unemployment rate

NA%

Population below poverty line

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Budget

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

Taxes and other revenues

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

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

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

Agriculture – products

fodder and vegetable crops

sheep, dairy products

fish, squid

Industries

fish and wool processing

tourism

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Electricity – production

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

Electricity – consumption

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

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

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

Oil – consumption

300 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207

Oil – exports

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171

Oil – imports

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

Oil – proved reserves

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

Natural gas – production

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

Natural gas – consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176

Natural gas – exports

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

Natural gas – imports

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

Natural gas – proved reserves

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

Exports

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

Exports – commodities

wool, hides, meat, fish, squid

Imports

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

Imports – commodities

fuel, food and drink, building materials, clothing

Debt – external

$NA

Exchange rates

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

Transportation

Airports

7 (2010)
country comparison to the world:168

Airports – with paved runways

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

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 5
under 914 m:5 (2010)

Roadways

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

Ports and terminals

Stanley

Military

Military branches

no regular military forces

Military expenditures

NA

Military – note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

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