Compare Akrotiri (2004) - Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) (2003)

By terms of the 1960 Treaty of Establishment that created the independent Republic of Cyprus, the UK retained full sovreignty and jurisdiction over two areas of almost 254 square kilometers in total: Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The southernmost and smallest of these is the Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area, which is also referred to as the Western Sovereign Base Area.

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.

Birth rate

-

NA births/1,000 population

Budget

-

revenues: $66.2 million

expenditures: $67.9 million, including capital expenditures of $23.2 million (FY98/99 est.)

Capital

Episkopi; also serves as capital of Dhekelia

Stanley

Climate

temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters

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 does not accumulate

Coastline

-

1,288 km

Constitution

-

3 October 1985; amended 1997 and 1998

Country name

conventional long form: Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area

conventional short form: Akrotiri

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Currency

-

Falkland pound (FKP)

Death rate

-

NA deaths/1,000 population

Debt - external

-

$NA

Dependency status

overseas territory of UK; administered by an administrator who is also the Commander, British Forces Cyprus

overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina

Diplomatic representation from the US

none (overseas territory of the UK)

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas territory of the UK)

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

Disputes - international

-

claimed by Argentina whose forces briefly occupied it in 1982, but now declares it will no longer seek settlement by force

Economic aid - recipient

-

none

Economy - overview

Economic activity is limited to providing services to the military and their families located in Akrotiri. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.

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, 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

-

15.19 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

-

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

-

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

-

16.33 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

-

fossil fuel: 100%

hydro: 0%

nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

-

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m

Environment - current issues

shooting around the salt lake; note - breeding place for loggerhead and green turtles; only remaining colony of griffon vultures is on the base

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

Ethnic groups

-

British

Exchange rates

-

Falkland pounds per US dollar - 0.67 (2002), 0.69 (2001), 0.66 (2000), 0.62 (1999), 0.6 (1998); note - the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 February 1952)

head of government: Administrator Maj. Gen. Peter Tomas Clayton PEARSON (since 9 May 2003) note - reports to the British Ministry of Defence

elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the administrator is appointed by the monarch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)

head of government: Governor Howard PEARCE (since 3 December 2002); Chief Executive Chris SIMPKINS (since NA March 2003); Financial Secretary Derek 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

elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch

Exports

-

NA (2001)

Exports - commodities

-

wool, hides, meat

Exports - partners

-

Spain 76.2%, UK 9.2%, US 7.1% (2002)

Fiscal year

-

1 April - 31 March

Flag description

the flag of the UK is used

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 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

GDP

-

purchasing power parity - $75 million (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

-

agriculture: NA%

industry: NA%

services: NA%

GDP - per capita

-

purchasing power parity - $25,000 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

-

NA%

Geographic coordinates

34 37 N, 32 58 E

51 45 S, 59 00 W

Geography - note

British extraterritorial rights also extended to several small off-post sites scattered across Cyprus

deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing season

Highways

-

total: 440 km

paved: 50 km

unpaved: 390 km (2002)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

-

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Imports

-

NA (2001)

Imports - commodities

-

fuel, food and drink, building materials, clothing

Imports - partners

-

UK 57.9%, Spain 19.8%, Italy 16.7% (2002)

Independence

-

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

Industrial production growth rate

-

NA%

Industries

-

fish and wool processing; tourism

Infant mortality rate

-

total: NA%

male: NA%

female: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-

3.6% (1998)

International organization participation

-

ICFTU

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

-

2 (2000)

Irrigated land

-

NA sq km

Judicial branch

-

Supreme Court (chief justice is a nonresident); Magistrates Court (senior magistrate presides over civil and criminal divisions); Court of Summary Jurisdiction

Labor force

-

1,100 (est.)

Labor force - by occupation

-

agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding and fishing)

Land boundaries

-

0 km

Land use

-

arable land: 0%

permanent crops: 0%

other: 100% (99% permanent pastures, 1% other) (1998 est.)

Languages

-

English

Legal system

the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply

English common law

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

Life expectancy at birth

-

total population: NA years

male: NA years

female: NA years

Location

peninsula on the southwest coast of Cyprus

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

Map references

Middle East

South America

Maritime claims

-

continental shelf: 200 NM

exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM

territorial sea: 12 NM

Merchant marine

-

none (2002 est.)

Military - note

Akrotiri has a full RAF base, Headquarters for British Forces on Cyprus, and Episkopi Support Unit

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Military branches

-

British Forces Falkland Islands no regular indigenous military forces; (includes Army, Royal Air Force, and Royal Navy), Police Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

-

$NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

-

NA%

National holiday

-

Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)

Nationality

-

noun: Falkland Islander(s)

adjective: Falkland Island

Natural hazards

-

strong winds persist throughout the year

Natural resources

-

fish, squid, wildlife, calcified seaweed, sphagnum moss

Net migration rate

-

NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Political parties and leaders

-

none; all independents

Political pressure groups and leaders

-

none

Population

no indigenous inhabitants

note: approximately 1,300 military personnel are on the base; note - there are another 5,000 British citizens who are families of military personnel or civilian staff on both Akrotiri and Dhekelia; Cyprus citizens work on the base, but do not live there

2,967 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

-

NA%

Population growth rate

-

2.44% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

-

Stanley

note: the primary port is located in Stanley Harbour and known locally as FIPASS (Falkland Interim Port and Storage System); the facility consists of seven permanently moored barges providing 300 meters of berthing space; it was installed by the military after 1982 and handed over to the Falkland Islands Government in 1988

Radio broadcast stations

-

AM 1, FM 7, shortwave 0 (1998)

Railways

-

0 km

Religions

-

primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Free Church, Evangelist Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-Day Adventist

Suffrage

-

18 years of age; universal

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

Telephones - main lines in use

-

NA

Telephones - mobile cellular

-

NA

Television broadcast stations

-

2 (operated by the British Forces Broadcasting Service)

note: cable television is available in Stanley (2002)

Terrain

-

rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains