_#_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
(5F) = 100 pence
_#_Exchange rates: Falkland pound (5F) 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
_%_
_@_Faroe Islands
(part of the Danish realm)
_*_Geography
_#_Total area: 1,400 km2; land area: 1,400 km2
_#_Comparative area: slightly less than eight times the size of
Washington, DC
_#_Land boundaries: none
_#_Coastline: 764 km
_#_Maritime claims:
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm;