Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Introduction
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 an Argentine surrender on 14 June 1982. With hostilities ended and Argentine forces withdrawn, UK administration resumed. In response to renewed calls from Argentina for Britain to relinquish control of the islands, a referendum was held in March 2013, which resulted in 99.8% of the population voting to remain a part of the UK.
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Geography
Location
Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, about 500 km east of southern Argentina
Geographic coordinates
51 45 S, 59 00 W
Map references
South America
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
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Land boundaries
total: 0 km
Coastline
1,288 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Climate
cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain occurs on more than half of days in year; average annual rainfall is 60 cm in Stanley; occasional snow all year, except in January and February, but typically does not accumulate
Terrain
rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains
Elevation
highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Natural resources
fish, squid, wildlife, calcified seaweed, sphagnum moss
Land use
agricultural land: 92.4% (2018 est.)
arable land: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 92.4% (2018 est.)
forest: 0% (2018 est.)
other: 7.6% (2018 est.)
Population distribution
a very small population, with most residents living in and around Stanley
Natural hazards
strong winds persist throughout the year
Geography - note
deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing season
People and Society
Population
3,198 (2016 est.)
note: data include all persons usually resident in the islands at the time of the 2016 census
Nationality
noun: Falkland Islander(s)
adjective: Falkland Island
Ethnic groups
Falkland Islander 48.3%, British 23.1%, St. Helenian 7.5%, Chilean 4.6%, mixed 6%, other 8.5%, unspecified 2% (2016 est.)
note: data represent population by national identity
Languages
English 89%, Spanish 7.7%, other 3.3% (2006 est.)
Religions
Christian 57.1%, other 1.6%, none 35.4%, unspecified 6% (2016 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: NA
15-24 years: NA
25-54 years: NA
55-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: NA
youth dependency ratio: NA
elderly dependency ratio: NA
potential support ratio: NA
Population distribution
a very small population, with most residents living in and around Stanley
Urbanization
urban population: 78.9% of total population (2021)
rate of urbanization: 0.53% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas - population
2,000 STANLEY (capital) (2018)
Sex ratio
total population: 1.12 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
note: sex ratio is somewhat skewed by the high proportion of males at the Royal Air Force station, Mount Pleasant Airport (MPA); excluding MPA, the sex ratio of the total population would be 1.04
Infant mortality rate
total: NA (2018)
male: NA
female: NA
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 77.9
male: 75.6
female: 79.6 (2017 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 100% of population
rural: 78.2% of population
total: 92% of population
unimproved: urban: 0% of population
rural: 21.8% of population
total: 5% of population (2017 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 95% of population
rural: 78% of population
total: 100% of population
unimproved: urban: 5% of population
rural: 22% of population
total: 0% of population (2017)
Environment
Environment - current issues
overfishing by unlicensed vessels is a problem; reindeer - introduced to the islands in 2001 from South Georgia - are part of a farming effort to produce specialty meat and diversify the islands' economy; this is the only commercial reindeer herd in the world unaffected by the 1986 Chornobyl disaster; grazing threatens important habitats including tussac grass and its ecosystem with penguins and sea lions; soil erosion from fires
Climate
cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain occurs on more than half of days in year; average annual rainfall is 60 cm in Stanley; occasional snow all year, except in January and February, but typically does not accumulate
Land use
agricultural land: 92.4% (2018 est.)
arable land: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.)
permanent pasture: 92.4% (2018 est.)
forest: 0% (2018 est.)
other: 7.6% (2018 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 78.9% of total population (2021)
rate of urbanization: 0.53% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
etymology: the archipelago takes its name from the Falkland Sound, the strait separating the two main islands; the channel itself was named after the Viscount of Falkland, who sponsored an expedition to the islands in 1690; the Spanish name for the archipelago derives from the French "Iles Malouines," the name applied to the islands by French explorer Louis-Antoine de BOUGAINVILLE in 1764
Government type
parliamentary democracy (Legislative Assembly); self-governing overseas territory of the UK
Dependency status
overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina
Capital
name: Stanley
geographic coordinates: 51 42 S, 57 51 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: named after Edward SMITH-STANLEY (1799-1869), the 14th Earl of Derby, a British statesman and three-time prime minister of the UK who never visited the islands
Administrative divisions
none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Independence
none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
National holiday
Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)
Constitution
history: previous 1985; latest entered into force 1 January 2009 (The Falkland Islands Constitution Order 2008)
Legal system
English common law and local statutes
Citizenship
see United Kingdom
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Nigel PHILLIPS (since 12 September 2017)
head of government: Chief Executive Barry ROWLAND (since 3 October 2016)
cabinet: Executive Council elected by the Legislative Council
elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; chief executive appointed by the governor
Legislative branch
description: unicameral Legislative Assembly, formerly the Legislative Council (10 seats; 5 members directly elected in the Stanley constituency and 3 members in the Camp constituency by simple majority vote, 2 appointed non-voting ex-officio members - the chief executive, appointed by the governor, and the financial secretary; members serve 4-year terms); note - several previous referendums - the latest in September 2020 - on whether to merge the Stanley and Camp constituencies into a single islands wide constituency, failed
elections: last held on 4 November 2021 (next to be held in November 2025)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 8; composition (elected members) -men 8, women 2, percent of women 20%
Judicial branch
highest courts: Court of Appeal (consists of the court president, the chief justice as an ex officio, non-resident member, and 2 justices of appeal); Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice); note - appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are referred to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)
judge selection and term of office: all justices appointed by the governor; tenure specified in each justice's instrument of appointment
subordinate courts: Magistrate's Court (senior magistrate presides over civil and criminal divisions); Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Political parties and leaders
none; all independents
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US
embassy: none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
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
National anthem
name: Song of the Falklands"
lyrics/music: Christopher LANHAM
note: adopted 1930s; the song is the local unofficial anthem; as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" is official (see United Kingdom)
Economy
Economic overview
The economy was formerly based on agriculture, mainly sheep farming, but fishing and tourism currently comprise the bulk of economic activity. In 1987, the government began selling fishing licenses to foreign trawlers operating within the Falkland Islands' exclusive fishing zone. These license fees net more than $40 million per year, which help support the island's health, education, and welfare system. The waters around the Falkland Islands are known for their squid, which account for around 75% of the annual 200,000-ton catch.
Dairy farming supports domestic consumption; crops furnish winter fodder. Foreign exchange earnings come from shipments of high-grade wool to the UK and from the sale of postage stamps and coins.
Tourism, especially ecotourism, is increasing rapidly, with about 69,000 visitors in 2009 and adds approximately $5.5 million to the Falkland’s annual GDP. The British military presence also provides a sizable economic boost. The islands are now self-financing except for defense.
In 1993, the British Geological Survey announced a 200-mile oil exploration zone around the islands, and early seismic surveys suggest substantial reserves capable of producing 500,000 barrels per day. Political tensions between the UK and Argentina remain high following the start of oil drilling activities in the waters. In May 2010 the first commercial oil discovery was made, signaling the potential for the development of a long term hydrocarbon industry in the Falkland Islands.
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$206.4 million (2015 est.)
$164.5 million (2014 est.)
$167.5 million (2013 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
25.5% (2015 est.)
-1.8% (2014 est.)
-20.4% (2013 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$206.4 million (2015 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 41% (2015 est.)
industry: 20.6% (2015 est.)
services: 38.4% (2015 est.)
Agricultural products
fodder and vegetable crops; venison, sheep, dairy products; fish, squid
Industries
fish and wool processing; tourism
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 41%
industry: 24.5%
services: 34.5% (2015 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Budget
revenues: 67.1 million (FY09/10)
expenditures: 75.3 million (FY09/10)
Fiscal year
1 April - 31 March
Exports - partners
Spain 78%, United States 6% (2019)
Exports - commodities
mollusks, fish, wool, sheep/goat meats, engine parts (2019)
Imports - partners
United Kingdom 79%, Netherlands 16% (2019)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, spark-ignition engines, stone processing machinery, construction vehicles, cars (2019)
Exchange rates
Falkland pounds (FKP) per US dollar -
0.7836 (2017 est.)
0.6542 (2016 est.)
0.6542 (2015)
0.6542 (2014 est.)
0.6391 (2013 est.)
Energy
Electricity - installed generating capacity
12,100 kW (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207Electricity - from fossil fuels
74% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96Electricity - from nuclear fuels
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89Electricity - from hydroelectric plants
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171Electricity - from other renewable sources
26% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25Communications
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions: 2,000 (2018 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 65.19 (2018 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 5,000 (2018 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 163 (2019 est.)
Telecommunication systems
general assessment: government-operated radiotelephone and private VHF/CB radiotelephone networks provide effective service to almost all points on both islands
domestic: fixed-line subscriptions 77 per 100, 146 per 100 for mobile-cellular (2019)
international: country code - 500; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) with links through London to other countries (2015)
Broadcast media
TV service provided by a multi-channel service provider; radio services provided by the public broadcaster, Falkland Islands Radio Service, broadcasting on both AM and FM frequencies, and by the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) (2007)
Internet users
total: 3,393 3,393 (2020 est.)
percent of population: 99.02% (2019 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total: 1,000 (2019 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32.59 (2019 est.)
Transportation
National air transport system
number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 5
Airports - with paved runways
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2019)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 5
under 914 m: 5 (2013)
Roadways
total: 440 km (2008)
paved: 50 km (2008)
unpaved: 390 km (2008)
Ports and terminals
major seaport(s): Stanley
Military and Security
Military and security forces
no regular military forces
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
Argentina, which claims the islands in its constitution and briefly occupied them by force in 1982, agreed in 1995 to no longer seek settlement by force; UK continues to reject Argentine requests for sovereignty talks