Compare Spratly Islands (2008) - Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) (2002)

total: less than 5 sq km

land: less than 5 sq km

water: 0 sq km

note: includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts scattered over an area of nearly 410,000 sq km of the central South China Sea

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

Area - comparative

NA

slightly smaller than Connecticut

Background

The Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs. They are surrounded by rich fishing grounds and potentially by gas and oil deposits. They are claimed in their entirety by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, while portions are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines. About 45 islands are occupied by relatively small numbers of military forces from China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Brunei has established a fishing zone that overlaps a southern reef but has not made any formal claim.

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

Capital

-

Stanley

Climate

tropical

cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain occurs on more than half of days in year; occasional snow all year, except in January and February, but does not accumulate

Coastline

926 km

1,288 km

Constitution

-

3 October 1985; amended 1997 and 1998

Country name

conventional long form: none

conventional short form: Spratly Islands

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

-

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

all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam; parts of them are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines; in 1984, Brunei established an exclusive fishing zone that encompasses Louisa Reef in the southern Spratly Islands but has not publicly claimed the reef; claimants in November 2002 signed the "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea," which has eased tensions but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct"; in March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands

claimed by Argentina

Economic aid - recipient

-

none

Economy - overview

Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing. The proximity to nearby oil- and gas-producing sedimentary basins suggests the potential for oil and gas deposits, but the region is largely unexplored. There are no reliable estimates of potential reserves. Commercial exploitation has yet to be developed.

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 is increasing rapidly, with about 30,000 visitors in 2001. The second largest 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

-

11.2 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports

-

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports

-

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - production

-

12 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source

-

fossil fuel: 100%

hydro: 0%

nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (1999)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: South China Sea 0 m

highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 4 m

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m

Environment - current issues

NA

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 - 0.6981 (January 2002), 0.6944 (2001), 0.6596 (2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997); 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 A. M. GURR (since NA); Financial Secretary D. 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

-

$7.6 million (1995)

Exports - commodities

-

wool, hides, meat

Exports - partners

-

UK, Japan, Chile, NZ

Fiscal year

-

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 in a white disk 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 - $52 million (1996 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

-

agriculture: NA%

industry: NA%

services: NA%

GDP - per capita

-

purchasing power parity - $19,000

GDP - real growth rate

-

1%

Geographic coordinates

8 38 N, 111 55 E

51 45 S, 59 00 W

Geography - note

strategically located near several primary shipping lanes in the central South China Sea; includes numerous small islands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs

deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing season

Heliports

3 (2007)

-

Highways

-

total: 550 km

paved: at least 50 km

unpaved: NA (2002)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

-

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Imports

-

$24.7 million (1995)

Imports - commodities

-

fuel, food and drink, building materials, clothing

Imports - partners

-

UK, Japan, Chile, NZ

Independence

-

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

Industrial production growth rate

-

NA%

Industries

-

wool and fish processing; sale of stamps and coins; tourism

Infant mortality rate

-

NA deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-

3.6% (1998) (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

-

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

Southeastern Asia, group of reefs and islands in the South China Sea, about two-thirds of the way from southern Vietnam to the southern Philippines

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

Map references

Southeast Asia

South America

Maritime claims

NA

continental shelf: 200 NM

exclusive fishing zone: 200 NM

territorial sea: 12 NM

Merchant marine

-

none (2002 est.)

Military - note

Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs of which about 45 are claimed and occupied by China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam

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

typhoons; numerous reefs and shoals pose a serious maritime hazard

strong winds persist throughout the year

Natural resources

fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential

fish, wildlife

Net migration rate

-

NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Political parties and leaders

-

none; all independents

Political pressure groups and leaders

-

none

Population

no indigenous inhabitants

note: there are scattered garrisons occupied by personnel of several claimant states

2,967 (July 2002 est.)

Population below poverty line

-

NA%

Population growth rate

-

2.44% (2002 est.)

Ports and harbors

-

Stanley

Radio broadcast stations

-

AM 1, FM 7, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

-

1,000 (1997)

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

flat

rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains