Compare Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) (2005) - British Virgin Islands (2003)

Compare Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) (2005) z British Virgin Islands (2003)

	Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) (2005)	British Virgin Islands (2003)

Administrative divisions	none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)	none (overseas territory of the UK)
Age structure	0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA (2005 est.)	0-14 years: 21.9% (male 2,401; female 2,358) 15-64 years: 73.1% (male 8,181; female 7,709) 65 years and over: 5% (male 578; female 503) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products	fodder and vegetable crops; sheep, dairy products	fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish
Airports	5 (2004 est.)	3 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways	total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)	total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways	total: 3 under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)	total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (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: 153 sq km land: 153 sq km water: 0 sq km note: comprised of 16 inhabited and more than 20 uninhabited islands; includes the island of Anegada
Area - comparative	slightly smaller than Connecticut	about 0.9 times 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.	First settled by the Dutch in 1648, the islands were annexed in 1672 by the English. The economy is closely tied to the larger and more populous US Virgin Islands to the west; the US dollar is the legal currency.
Birth rate	NA births/1,000 population (2005 est.)	15 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget	revenues: $66.2 million expenditures: $67.9 million, including capital expenditures of $23.2 million (FY98/99 est.)	revenues: $121.5 million expenditures: $115.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997)
Capital	Stanley	Road Town
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	subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds
Coastline	1,288 km	80 km
Constitution	3 October 1985; amended 1997 and 1998	1 June 1977
Country name	conventional long form: none conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)	conventional long form: none conventional short form: British Virgin Islands abbreviation: BVI
Currency	-	US dollar (USD)
Death rate	NA deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)	4.46 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external	$NA	$36.1 million (1997)
Dependency status	overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina	overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing
Diplomatic representation from the US	none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)	none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation in the US	none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)	none (overseas territory of the UK)
Disputes - international	Argentina, which claims the islands in its constitution and briefly occupied the islands by force in 1982, agreed in 1995 to no longer seek settlement by force; UK continues to reject Argentine requests for sovereignty talks	none
Economic aid - recipient	$0 (1997 est.)	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.	The economy, one of the most stable and prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, generating an estimated 45% of the national income. An estimated 350,000 tourists, mainly from the US, visited the islands in 1998. Tourism suffered in 2002 because of the lackluster US economy. In the mid-1980s, the government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. Roughly 400,000 companies were on the offshore registry by yearend 2000. The adoption of a comprehensive insurance law in late 1994, which provides a blanket of confidentiality with regulated statutory gateways for investigation of criminal offenses, is expected to make the British Virgin Islands even more attractive to international business. Livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meet domestic food requirements. Because of traditionally close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used the dollar as its currency since 1959.
Electricity - consumption	17.72 million kWh (2002)	35.43 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports	0 kWh (2002)	0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports	0 kWh (2002)	0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production	19.06 million kWh (2002)	38.1 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: Caribbean Sea 0 m highest point: Mount Sage 521 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	limited natural fresh water resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchments)
Ethnic groups	British	black 83%, white, Indian, Asian and mixed
Exchange rates	Falkland pounds per US dollar - 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003), 0.6672 (2002), 0.6947 (2001), 0.6609 (2000) note: the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound	the US dollar is used
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 Governor Tom MACAN (since 14 October 2002) head of government: Chief Minister Orlando SMITH (since 17 June 2003) cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the Legislative Council elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed chief minister by the governor
Exports	NA	NA (2001)
Exports - commodities	wool, hides, meat	rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand
Exports - partners	Spain 77.4%, UK 9.4%, US 4.9% (2004)	Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
Fiscal year	1 April - 31 March	1 April - 31 March
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 was once 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	blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful)
GDP	-	purchasing power parity - $320 million (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector	agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%	agriculture: 1.8% industry: 6.2% services: 92% (1996 est.)
GDP - per capita	purchasing power parity - $25,000 (2002 est.)	purchasing power parity - $16,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate	NA%	1% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates	51 45 S, 59 00 W	18 30 N, 64 30 W
Geography - note	deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing season	strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
Highways	total: 440 km paved: 50 km unpaved: 390 km (2002)	total: 177 km paved: 177 km unpaved: 0 km (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share	lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%	lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs	-	transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe; large offshore financial center
Imports	NA	NA (2001)
Imports - commodities	fuel, food and drink, building materials, clothing	building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery
Imports - partners	UK 63.2%, Spain 30.3%, France 3.6% (2004)	Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US
Independence	none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)	none (overseas territory of the UK)
Industrial production growth rate	NA%	NA
Industries	fish and wool processing; tourism	tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore financial center
Infant mortality rate	total: NA male: NA female: NA (2005 est.)	total: 18.8 deaths/1,000 live births male: 21.86 deaths/1,000 live births female: 15.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)	3.6% (1998)	2.5% (2002)
International organization participation	ICFTU, UPU	Caricom (associate), CDB, ECLAC (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)	-	16 (2000)
Irrigated land	NA 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	Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal (one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High Court); Magistrate's Court; Juvenile Court; Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Labor force	1,100 (est.)	4,911 (1980)
Labor force - by occupation	agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding and fishing)	agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Land boundaries	0 km	0 km
Land use	arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (99% permanent pastures, 1% other) (2001)	arable land: 20% permanent crops: 6.67% other: 73.33% (1998 est.)
Languages	English	English (official)
Legal system	English common law	English 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 November 2005) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 8; note - 71% voter turnout	unicameral Legislative Council (13 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote, one member from each of 9 electoral districts, four at-large members; members serve four-year terms) elections: last held 16 May 2003 (next to be held NA 2007) election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NDP 8, VIP 5
Life expectancy at birth	total population: NA years male: NA years female: NA years (2005 est.)	total population: 76.06 years male: 75.07 years female: 77.1 years (2003 est.)
Literacy	-	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.8% (1991 est.) male: NA% female: NA%
Location	Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of southern Argentina	Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico
Map references	South America	Central America and the Caribbean
Maritime claims	territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm	exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 3 NM
Merchant marine	none	total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) 19,203 GRT/28,864 DWT ships by type: cargo 1 (2002 est.)
Military - note	defense is the responsibility of the UK	defense is the responsibility of the UK
Military branches	no regular military forces	-
Military expenditures - dollar figure	NA	-
Military expenditures - percent of GDP	NA	-
National holiday	Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)	Territory Day, 1 July
Nationality	noun: Falkland Islander(s) adjective: Falkland Island	noun: British Virgin Islander(s) adjective: British Virgin Islander
Natural hazards	strong winds persist throughout the year	hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)
Natural resources	fish, squid, wildlife, calcified seaweed, sphagnum moss	NEGL
Net migration rate	NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)	10.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Political parties and leaders	none; all independents	Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Ethlyn SMITH]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Orlando SMITH]; United Party or UP [Gregory MADURO]; Virgin Islands Party or VIP [Ralph T. O'NEAL]
Political pressure groups and leaders	none	NA
Population	2,967 (July 2005 est.)	21,730 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line	NA	NA%
Population growth rate	2.44% (2005 est.)	2.1% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors	Stanley	Road Town
Radio broadcast stations	AM 1, FM 7, shortwave 0 (1998)	AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)
Railways	-	0 km
Religions	primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Free Church, Evangelist Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-Day Adventist	Protestant 86% (Methodist 33%, Anglican 17%, Church of God 9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 15%), Roman Catholic 10%, none 2%, other 2% (1991)
Sex ratio	-	at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.15 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage	18 years of age; universal	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: country code - 500; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) with links through London to other countries	general assessment: worldwide telephone service domestic: NA international: submarine cable to Bermuda
Telephones - main lines in use	2,400 (2002)	10,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular	0 (2001)	NA
Television broadcast stations	2 (operated by the British Forces Broadcasting Service) note: cable television is available in Stanley (2002)	1 (plus one cable company) (1997)
Terrain	rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains	coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly
Total fertility rate	NA children born/woman (2005 est.)	1.72 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate	full employment; labor shortage (2001)	3% (1995)
Waterways	-	none

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