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Compare Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) (2005) - Christmas Island (2003)
Compare Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) (2005) z Christmas Island (2003)
| Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) (2005) | Christmas Island (2003) | |
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| 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 (2005 est.) |
0-14 years: NA%
15-64 years: NA% 65 years and over: NA% (2003 est.) |
| Agriculture - products | fodder and vegetable crops; sheep, dairy products | NA |
| Airports | 5 (2004 est.) | 1 (2002) |
| Airports - with paved runways | total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways | total: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.) |
- |
| 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 0.7 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. | Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed and settlement was begun 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 (2005 est.) | NA 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: $NA
expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA |
| Capital | Stanley | The Settlement |
| 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; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds |
| Coastline | 1,288 km | 80 km |
| Constitution | 3 October 1985; amended 1997 and 1998 | NA |
| 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 | - | Australian dollar (AUD) |
| Death rate | NA deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) | NA deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
| Debt - external | $NA | $NA |
| Dependency status | overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina | territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services |
| 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 | 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. | 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. The casino closed in 1998. The Australian Government in 2001 agreed to support the creation of a commercial space-launching site on the island, slated to begin operation in 2003. |
| Electricity - consumption | 17.72 million kWh (2002) | NA kWh |
| Electricity - exports | 0 kWh (2002) | - |
| Electricity - imports | 0 kWh (2002) | - |
| Electricity - production | 19.06 million kWh (2002) | NA kWh |
| Electricity - production by source | - | fossil fuel: NA%
hydro: NA% nuclear: NA% other: NA% |
| 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 | NA |
| Ethnic groups | British | Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10%
note: no indigenous population (2001) |
| 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 |
Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.9354 (2002), 1.9320 (2001), 1.7173(2000), 1.5497 (1999), 1.5888 (1998) |
| 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 William Leonard TAYLOR (since 4 February 1999) elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia |
| Exports | NA | $NA |
| Exports - commodities | wool, hides, meat | phosphate |
| Exports - partners | Spain 77.4%, UK 9.4%, US 4.9% (2004) | Australia, NZ |
| 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 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 | the flag of Australia is used; note - in early 1986, the Christmas Island Assembly held a design competition for an island flag, however, the winning design has never been formally adopted as the official flag of the territory |
| GDP | - | purchasing power parity - $NA |
| GDP - composition by sector | agriculture: NA%
industry: NA% services: NA% |
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA% services: NA% |
| GDP - per capita | purchasing power parity - $25,000 (2002 est.) | purchasing power parity - $NA |
| GDP - real growth rate | NA% | 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) |
total: 240 km
paved: 30 km unpaved: 210 km (2000) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share | lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
| Imports | NA | $NA |
| Imports - commodities | fuel, food and drink, building materials, clothing | consumer goods |
| Imports - partners | UK 63.2%, Spain 30.3%, France 3.6% (2004) | principally Australia |
| Independence | none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina) | none (territory of Australia) |
| Industrial production growth rate | NA% | NA% |
| Industries | fish and wool processing; tourism | tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion) |
| Infant mortality rate | total: NA
male: NA female: NA (2005 est.) |
total: NA%
male: NA% female: NA% |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices) | 3.6% (1998) | NA% |
| International organization participation | ICFTU, UPU | none |
| Internet Service Providers (ISPs) | - | 2 (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 | Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court |
| Labor force | 1,100 (est.) | NA |
| Labor force - by occupation | agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding and fishing) | tourism 400 people, mining 100 people (1995) |
| Land boundaries | 0 km | 0 km |
| Land use | arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (99% permanent pastures, 1% other) (2001) |
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0% other: 100% note: mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park (1998 est.) |
| 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 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 one-year terms)
elections: last held NA December 2002 (next to be held NA December 2003) election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9 |
| Life expectancy at birth | total population: NA years
male: NA years female: NA years (2005 est.) |
total population: NA years
male: NA years female: NA years (2003 est.) |
| 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 | territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm |
contiguous zone: 12 NM
exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM territorial sea: 12 NM |
| Merchant marine | none | none (2002 est.) |
| Military - note | defense is the responsibility of the UK | defense is the responsibility of Australia |
| Military branches | no regular military forces | - |
| Military expenditures - dollar figure | NA | - |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP | NA | - |
| National holiday | Liberation Day, 14 June (1982) | NA |
| 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 (2005 est.) | NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
| Political parties and leaders | none; all independents | none |
| Political pressure groups and leaders | none | none |
| Population | 2,967 (July 2005 est.) | 433 (July 2003 est.) |
| Population below poverty line | NA | NA% |
| Population growth rate | 2.44% (2005 est.) | -9% (2003 est.) |
| Ports and harbors | Stanley | Flying Fish Cove |
| Radio broadcast stations | AM 1, FM 7, shortwave 0 (1998) | AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998) |
| Railways | - | 24 km to serve phosphate mines |
| 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 (2003 est.) |
| 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: country code - 500; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) with links through London to other countries |
general assessment: service provided by the Australian network
domestic: only analog mobile telephone service is available international: satellite earth stations - one Intelsat earth station provides telephone and telex service (2000) |
| Telephones - main lines in use | 2,400 (2002) | NA |
| 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) |
NA |
| 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 (2005 est.) | NA children born/woman (2003 est.) |
| Unemployment rate | full employment; labor shortage (2001) | NA% |
| Waterways | - | none |
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