Compare Baker Island (2008) - Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) (2003)

The US took possession of the island in 1857, and its guano deposits were mined by US and British companies during the second half of the 19th century. In 1935, a short-lived attempt at colonization was begun on this island - as well as on nearby Howland Island - but was disrupted by World War II and thereafter abandoned. Presently the island is a National Wildlife Refuge run by the US Department of the Interior; a day beacon is situated near the middle of the west coast.

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

-

Stanley

Climate

equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun

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

4.8 km

1,288 km

Constitution

-

3 October 1985; amended 1997 and 1998

Country name

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Baker Island

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

unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system

overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina

Diplomatic representation from the US

-

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

-

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

Disputes - international

none

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

no economic activity

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: Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point: unnamed location 8 m

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m

Environment - current issues

no natural fresh water resources

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: 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 US 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

0 13 N, 176 28 W

51 45 S, 59 00 W

Geography - note

treeless, sparse, and scattered vegetation consisting of grasses, prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife

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

0 sq km

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% (2005)

arable land: 0%

permanent crops: 0%

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

Languages

-

English

Legal system

the laws of the US, 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

Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and Australia

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

Map references

Oceania

South America

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

continental shelf: 200 NM

exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM

territorial sea: 12 NM

Merchant marine

-

none (2002 est.)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard

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

the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard

strong winds persist throughout the year

Natural resources

guano (deposits worked until 1891), terrestrial and aquatic wildlife

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

uninhabited

note: American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during World War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by special-use permit from US Fish and Wildlife Service only and generally restricted to scientists and educators; a cemetery and remnants of structures from early settlement are located near the middle of the west coast; visited annually by US Fish and Wildlife Service

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

low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef

rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains