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

Compare Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) (2003) z Christmas Island (2008)

	Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) (2003)	Christmas Island (2008)

Administrative divisions	none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)	none (territory of Australia)
Age structure	0-14 years: NA% 15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA%	0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA
Agriculture - products	fodder and vegetable crops; sheep, dairy products	NA
Airports	5 (2002)	1 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways	total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2002)	total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways	total: 3 under 914 m: 3 (2002)	-
Area	total: 12,173 sq km 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	total: 135 sq km land: 135 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative	slightly smaller than Connecticut	about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC
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.	Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed and settlement began by the UK in 1888. Phosphate mining began in the 1890s. The UK transferred sovereignty to Australia in 1958. Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park.
Birth rate	NA births/1,000 population	NA
Budget	revenues: $66.2 million expenditures: $67.9 million, including capital expenditures of $23.2 million (FY98/99 est.)	revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA
Capital	Stanley	name: The Settlement geographic coordinates: 10 25 S, 105 43 E time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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	tropical with a wet season (December to April) and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds
Coastline	1,288 km	138.9 km
Constitution	3 October 1985; amended 1997 and 1998	Christmas Island Act of 1958-59 (1 October 1958) as amended by the Territories Law Reform Act of 1992
Country name	conventional long form: none conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)	conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island conventional short form: Christmas Island
Currency	Falkland pound (FKP)	-
Death rate	NA deaths/1,000 population	NA
Debt - external	$NA	-
Dependency status	overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina	non-self governing territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Attorney-General's Department
Diplomatic representation from the US	none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)	none (territory of Australia)
Diplomatic representation in the US	none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)	none (territory of Australia)
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	$NA
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.	Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine. In 1991, the mine was reopened. With the support of the government, a $34 million casino opened in 1993, but closed in 1998. The Australian Government in 2001 agreed to support the creation of a commercial space-launching site on the island, expected to begin operations in the near future.
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	lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Murray Hill 361 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	loss of rainforest; impact of phosphate mining
Ethnic groups	British	Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10% note: no indigenous population (2001)
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	Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.2137 (2007), 1.3285 (2006), 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003)
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	chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general head of government: Administrator Neil LUCAS (since 30 January 2006) elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
Exports	NA (2001)	$NA
Exports - commodities	wool, hides, meat	phosphate
Exports - partners	Spain 76.2%, UK 9.2%, US 7.1% (2002)	Australia, NZ (2006)
Fiscal year	1 April - 31 March	1 July - 30 June
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	territorial flag; divided diagonally from upper hoist to lower fly; the upper triangle is green with a yellow image of the Golden Bosun Bird superimposed, while the lower triangle is blue with the Southern Cross constellation, representing Australia, superimposed; a centered yellow disk displays a green map of the island note: the flag of Australia is used for official purposes
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	51 45 S, 59 00 W	10 30 S, 105 40 E
Geography - note	deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing season	located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean
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)	$NA
Imports - commodities	fuel, food and drink, building materials, clothing	consumer goods
Imports - partners	UK 57.9%, Spain 19.8%, Italy 16.7% (2002)	principally Australia (2006)
Independence	none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)	none (territory of Australia)
Industrial production growth rate	NA%	-
Industries	fish and wool processing; tourism	tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)
Infant mortality rate	total: NA% male: NA% female: NA%	total: NA male: NA female: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices)	3.6% (1998)	-
International organization participation	ICFTU	none
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)	2 (2000)	-
Irrigated land	NA sq km	NA
Judicial branch	Supreme Court (chief justice is a nonresident); Magistrates Court (senior magistrate presides over civil and criminal divisions); Court of Summary Jurisdiction	Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court
Labor force	1,100 (est.)	NA
Labor force - by occupation	agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding and fishing)	-
Land boundaries	0 km	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% other: 100% (mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park) (2005)
Languages	English	English (official), Chinese, Malay
Legal system	English common law	under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian 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	unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held 20 October 2007 (next to be held in 2009) election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 9
Life expectancy at birth	total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years	total population: NA male: NA female: NA
Literacy	-	NA
Location	Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of southern Argentina	Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia
Map references	South America	Southeast Asia
Maritime claims	continental shelf: 200 NM exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM	territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 12 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Merchant marine	none (2002 est.)	-
Military - note	defense is the responsibility of the UK	defense is the responsibility of Australia
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)	Australia Day, 26 January (1788)
Nationality	noun: Falkland Islander(s) adjective: Falkland Island	noun: Christmas Islander(s) adjective: Christmas Island
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	phosphate, beaches
Net migration rate	NA migrant(s)/1,000 population	NA
Political parties and leaders	none; all independents	none
Political pressure groups and leaders	none	none
Population	2,967 (July 2003 est.)	1,402 (July 2006 est.) (July 2007 est.)
Population below poverty line	NA%	-
Population growth rate	2.44% (2003 est.)	0% (2007 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)	AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2006)
Railways	0 km	-
Religions	primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Free Church, Evangelist Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-Day Adventist	Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997)
Sex ratio	-	NA
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	general assessment: service provided by the Australian network domestic: GSM mobile telephone service replaced older analog system in February 2005 international: country code - 61-8; satellite earth stations - 1 INTELSAT earth station provides telephone and telex service (2005)
Telephones - main lines in use	NA	NA
Telephones - mobile cellular	NA	-
Television broadcast stations	2 (operated by the British Forces Broadcasting Service) note: cable television is available in Stanley (2002)	0 (TV broadcasts received via satellite from mainland Australia) (2006)
Terrain	rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains	steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau
Total fertility rate	NA children born/woman	NA
Unemployment rate	full employment; labor shortage	-
Waterways	none	-

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