Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

   Introduction Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
   ----------------------------------------------
                            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 Argentine
                                        surrender on 14 June 1982.
  
   Geography Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
   -------------------------------------------
                              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
                                        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: slightly smaller than Connecticut
                       Land boundaries: 0 km
                             Coastline: 1,288 km
                       Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200 NM
                                        exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM
                                        territorial sea: 12 NM
                               Climate: 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
                               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, wildlife
                              Land use: arable land: 0%
                                        permanent crops: 0%
                                        other: 100% (99% permanent pastures,
                                        1% other) (1998 est.)
                        Irrigated land: NA sq km
                       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 Chornobyl
                                        disaster
                      Geography - note: deeply indented coast provides good
                                        natural harbors; short growing
                                        season
  
   People Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
   ----------------------------------------
                             Population: 2,967 (July 2002 est.)
                          Age structure: 0-14 years: NA%
                                         15-64 years: NA%
                                         65 years and over: NA%
                 Population growth rate: 2.44% (2002 est.)
                             Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population
                             Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population
                     Net migration rate: NA migrant(s)/1,000 population
                  Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births
               Life expectancy at birth: total population: NA years
                                         male: NA years
                                         female: NA years
                   Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman
       HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: NA%
      HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/ NA
                                   AIDS:
                      HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
                            Nationality: noun: Falkland Islander(s)
                                         adjective: Falkland Island
                          Ethnic groups: British
                              Religions: primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic,
                                         United Free Church, Evangelist
                                         Church, Jehovah's Witnesses,
                                         Lutheran, Seventh-Day Adventist
                              Languages: English
  
   Government Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
   --------------------------------------------
                          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: Stanley
              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: 3 October 1985; amended 1997 and
                                        1998
                          Legal system: English common law
                              Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
                      Executive branch: 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 Donald
                                        LAMONT (since NA May 1999); note -
                                        Howard PEARCE was elected governor
                                        on 24 January 2002, but will not
                                        take office until October 2002;
                                        Chief Executive A. M. GURR (since
                                        NA); Financial Secretary D. 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
                    Legislative branch: 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
                       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 none
                               leaders:
             International organization ICFTU
                         participation:
   Diplomatic representation in the US: none (overseas territory of the UK;
                                        also claimed by Argentina)
     Diplomatic representation from the none (overseas territory of the UK;
                                    US: 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 in a
                                        white disk 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
  
   Economy Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
   -----------------------------------------
                    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 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.
                                   GDP: purchasing power parity - $52
                                        million (1996 est.)
                GDP - real growth rate: 1% (FY95/96 est.)
                      GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $19,000
                                        (FY95/96 est.)
           GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA%
                                        industry: NA%
                                        services: NA%
         Population below poverty line: NA%
     Household income or consumption by lowest 10%: NA%
                      percentage share: highest 10%: NA%
      Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3.6% (1998)
                           Labor force: 1,100 (est.)
           Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding
                                        and fishing)
                     Unemployment rate: full employment; labor shortage
                                Budget: revenues: $66.2 million
                                        expenditures: $67.9 million,
                                        including capital expenditures of
                                        $23.2 million (FY98/99 est.)
                            Industries: wool and fish processing; sale of
                                        stamps and coins; tourism
     Industrial production growth rate: NA%
              Electricity - production: 12 million kWh (1999)
    Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100%
                                        hydro: 0%
                                        other: 0% (1999)
                                        nuclear: 0%
             Electricity - consumption: 11.2 million kWh (1999)
                 Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1999)
                 Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1999)
                Agriculture - products: fodder and vegetable crops; sheep,
                                        dairy products
                               Exports: $7.6 million (1995)
                 Exports - commodities: wool, hides, meat
                    Exports - partners: UK, Japan, Chile, NZ
                               Imports: $24.7 million (1995)
                 Imports - commodities: fuel, food and drink, building
                                        materials, clothing
                    Imports - partners: UK, Japan, Chile, NZ
                       Debt - external: $NA
              Economic aid - recipient: none
                              Currency: Falkland pound (FKP)
                         Currency code: FKP
                        Exchange rates: 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
                           Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
  
   Communications Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
   ------------------------------------------------
        Telephones - main lines in use: NA
          Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
                      Telephone system: 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
              Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 7, shortwave 0 (1998)
                                Radios: 1,000 (1997)
         Television broadcast stations: 2 (operated by the British Forces
                                        Broadcasting Service)
                                        note: cable television is available
                                        in Stanley (2002)
                           Televisions: 1,000 (1997)
                 Internet country code: .fk
     Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (2000)
                        Internet users: NA; however one-half of all
                                        households are reported to have
                                        internet access (2002)
  
   Transportation Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
   ------------------------------------------------
                                           Railways: 0 km
                                           Highways: total: 550 km
                                                     paved: at least 50 km
                                                     unpaved: NA (2002)
                                          Waterways: none
                                  Ports and harbors: Stanley
                                    Merchant marine: none (2002 est.)
                                           Airports: 5 (2001)
                      Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 2
                                                     2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
                                                     under 914 m: 1 1 (2001)
                    Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 3 3
                                                     under 914 m: 3 (2001)
  
   Military Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
   ------------------------------------------
                     Military branches: British Forces Falkland Islands no
                                        regular indigenous military forces;
                                        (includes Army, Royal Air Force, and
                                        Royal Navy), Police Force
         Military expenditures - dollar $NA
                                figure:
     Military expenditures - percent of NA%
                                   GDP:
                       Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the
                                        UK
  
   Transnational Issues Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
   ------------------------------------------------------
                              Disputes - international: claimed by Argentina