Compare Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) (2003) - Baker Island (2001)

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.

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.

Birth rate

NA births/1,000 population

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Budget

revenues: $66.2 million

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

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Capital

Stanley

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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 does not accumulate

equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun

Coastline

1,288 km

4.8 km

Constitution

3 October 1985; amended 1997 and 1998

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Country name

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

conventional long form:
none

conventional short form:
Baker Island

Currency

Falkland pound (FKP)

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Death rate

NA deaths/1,000 population

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Debt - external

$NA

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Dependency status

overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

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Diplomatic representation in the US

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

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Disputes - international

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

none

Economic aid - recipient

none

-

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, 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.

no economic activity

Electricity - consumption

15.19 million kWh (2001)

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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)

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Elevation extremes

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m

lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point:
unnamed location 8 m

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

no natural fresh water resources

Ethnic groups

British

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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

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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

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Exports

NA (2001)

-

Exports - commodities

wool, hides, meat

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Exports - partners

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

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Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

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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 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

the flag of the US is used

GDP

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

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GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: NA%

industry: NA%

services: NA%

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GDP - per capita

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

-

GDP - real growth rate

NA%

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Geographic coordinates

51 45 S, 59 00 W

0 13 N, 176 31 W

Geography - note

deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing season

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

Highways

total: 440 km

paved: 50 km

unpaved: 390 km (2002)

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Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

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Imports

NA (2001)

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Imports - commodities

fuel, food and drink, building materials, clothing

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Imports - partners

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

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Independence

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

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Industrial production growth rate

NA%

-

Industries

fish and wool processing; tourism

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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)

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Irrigated land

NA sq km

0 sq km (1993)

Judicial branch

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

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Labor force

1,100 (est.)

-

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding and fishing)

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Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 0%

permanent crops: 0%

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

arable land:
0%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
0%

forests and woodland:
0%

other:
100%

Languages

English

-

Legal system

English common law

the laws of the US, where applicable, apply

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

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Life expectancy at birth

total population: NA years

male: NA years

female: NA years

-

Location

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

Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Map references

South America

Oceania

Maritime claims

continental shelf: 200 NM

exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM

territorial sea: 12 NM

exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM

Merchant marine

none (2002 est.)

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Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

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

Military branches

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

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Military expenditures - dollar figure

$NA

-

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

NA%

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National holiday

Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)

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Nationality

noun: Falkland Islander(s)

adjective: Falkland Island

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Natural hazards

strong winds persist throughout the year

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

Natural resources

fish, squid, wildlife, calcified seaweed, sphagnum moss

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

Net migration rate

NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

-

Political parties and leaders

none; all independents

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Political pressure groups and leaders

none

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Population

2,967 (July 2003 est.)

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 (July 2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

-

Population growth rate

2.44% (2003 est.)

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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

none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one small boat landing area along the middle of the west coast

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 7, shortwave 0 (1998)

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Railways

0 km

-

Religions

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

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Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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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

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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)

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Terrain

rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains