FALKLAND ISLANDS                                                                
                                                                                
(Islas Malvinas)                                                                
(dependent territory of the UK)                                                 
GEOGRAPHY                                                                       
Total area: 12,170 km2; land area: 12,170 km2; includes the two                 
main islands of East and West Falkland and about 200 small islands              
                                                                                
Comparative area: slightly smaller than Connecticut                             
                                                                                
Land boundaries: none                                                           
                                                                                
Coastline: 1,288 km                                                             
                                                                                
Maritime claims:                                                                
                                                                                
Continental shelf: 100 meter depth;                                             
                                                                                
Exclusive fishing zone: 150 nm;                                                 
                                                                                
Territorial sea: 12 nm                                                          
                                                                                
Disputes: administered by the UK, claimed by Argentina                          
                                                                                
Climate: 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                         
                                                                                
Terrain: rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating                  
plains                                                                          
                                                                                
Natural resources: fish and wildlife                                            
                                                                                
Land use: arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; meadows and                       
pastures 99%; forest and woodland 0%; other 1%                                  
                                                                                
Environment: poor soil fertility and a short growing season                     
                                                                                
Note: deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors                       
                                                                                
PEOPLE                                                                          
Population: 1,968 (July 1991), growth rate NEGL% (1991)                         
                                                                                
Birth rate: NA births/1,000 population (1991)                                   
                                                                                
Death rate: NA deaths/1,000 population (1991)                                   
                                                                                
Net migration rate: NA migrants/1,000 population (1991)                         
                                                                                
Infant mortality rate: NA deaths/1,000 live births (1991)                       
                                                                                
Life expectancy at birth: NA years male, NA years female (1991)                 
                                                                                
Total fertility rate: NA children born/woman (1991)                             
                                                                                
Nationality: noun--Falkland Islander(s); adjective--Falkland Island             
                                                                                
Ethnic divisions: almost totally British                                        
                                                                                
Religion: primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, and United Free                   
Church; Evangelist Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-Day           
Adventist                                                                       
                                                                                
Language: English                                                               
Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%) but compulsory education age               
5 to 15 (1988)                                                                  
                                                                                
Labor force: 1,100 (est.); agriculture, mostly                                  
sheepherding about 95%                                                          
                                                                                
Organized labor: Falkland Islands General Employees Union, 400                  
members                                                                         
                                                                                
GOVERNMENT                                                                      
Long-form name: Colony of the Falkland Islands                                  
                                                                                
Type: dependent territory of the UK                                             
                                                                                
Capital: Stanley                                                                
                                                                                
Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)                  
                                                                                
Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)                              
                                                                                
Constitution: 3 October 1985                                                    
                                                                                
Legal system: English common law                                                
                                                                                
National holiday: Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)                                
                                                                                
Executive branch: British monarch, governor, Executive Council                  
                                                                                
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council                              
                                                                                
Judicial branch: Supreme Court                                                  
                                                                                
Leaders:                                                                        
                                                                                
Chief of State--Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);                     
                                                                                
Head of Government--Governor William Hugh FULLERTON (since NA                   
1988)                                                                           
                                                                                
Political parties: NA                                                           
                                                                                
Suffrage: universal at age 18                                                   
                                                                                
Elections:                                                                      
                                                                                
Legislative Council--last held 11 October 1989 (next to be                      
held October 1994); results--percent of vote by party NA;                       
seats--(10 total, 8 elected) number of seats by party NA                        
                                                                                
Member of: ICFTU                                                                
                                                                                
Diplomatic representation: none (dependent territory of the UK)                 
                                                                                
Flag: 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                                                      
ECONOMY                                                                         
Overview: The economy is based on sheep farming, which directly or              
indirectly employs most of the work force. A few dairy herds are kept to        
meet domestic consumption of milk and milk products, and crops grown are        
primarily those for providing winter fodder. Exports feature shipments          
of high-grade wool to the UK and the sale of postage stamps and coins.          
Rich stocks of fish in the surrounding waters are not presently exploited       
by the islanders. So far efforts to establish a domestic fishing industry       
have been unsuccessful. In 1987 the government began selling                    
fishing licenses to foreign trawlers operating within the Falklands             
exclusive fishing zone. These license fees amount to more than $40              
million per year and are a primary source of income for the                     
government. To encourage tourism, the Falkland Islands Development              
Corporation has built three lodges for visitors attracted by the                
abundant wildlife and trout fishing.                                            
                                                                                
GDP: $NA, per capita $NA; real growth rate NA%                                  
                                                                                
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7.4% (1980-87 average)                        
                                                                                
Unemployment rate: NA%; labor shortage                                          
                                                                                
Budget: revenues $62.7 million; expenditures $41.8 million,                     
excluding capital expenditures of $NA (FY90)                                    
                                                                                
Exports: at least $14.7 million;                                                
                                                                                
commodities--wool, hides and skins, and other;                                  
                                                                                
partners--UK, Netherlands, Japan (1987 est.)                                    
                                                                                
Imports: at least $13.9 million;                                                
                                                                                
commodities--food, clothing, fuels, and machinery;                              
                                                                                
partners--UK, Netherlands Antilles (Curacao), Japan (1987 est.)                 
                                                                                
External debt: $NA                                                              
                                                                                
Industrial production: growth rate NA%                                          
                                                                                
Electricity: 9,200 kW capacity; 17 million kWh produced, 8,680 kWh              
per capita (1990)                                                               
                                                                                
Industries: wool and fish processing                                            
                                                                                
Agriculture: predominantly sheep farming; small dairy herds;                    
some fodder and vegetable crops                                                 
                                                                                
Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral                 
commitments (1970-88), $109 million                                             
                                                                                
Currency: Falkland pound (plural--pounds); 1 Falkland pound                     
(LF) = 100 pence                                                                
                                                                                
Exchange rates: Falkland pound (LF) per US$1--0.5171 (January                   
1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988), 0.6102 (1987), 0.6817       
(1986), 0.7714 (1985); note--the Falkland pound is at par with the              
British pound                                                                   
Fiscal year: 1 April-31 March                                                   
                                                                                
COMMUNICATIONS                                                                  
Highways: 510 km total; 30 km paved, 80 km gravel, and 400 km                   
unimproved earth                                                                
                                                                                
Ports: Port Stanley                                                             
                                                                                
Civil air: no major transport aircraft                                          
                                                                                
Airports: 5 total, 5 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways;                  
none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m;                   
none with runways 1,220 to 2,439 m                                              
                                                                                
Telecommunications: government-operated radiotelephone and private              
VHF/CB radio networks provide effective service to almost all points on         
both islands; 590 telephones; stations--2 AM, 3 FM, no TV; 1 Atlantic           
Ocean INTELSAT earth station with links through London to other countries       
                                                                                
DEFENSE FORCES                                                                  
Branches: British Forces Falkland Islands (including Army, Royal                
Air Force, Royal Navy, and Royal Marines); Police Force                         
                                                                                
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK                                   
                                                                                
