The World Factbook (1982)/Falkland Islands (Malvinas)

by the Central Intelligence Agency

FALKLAND ISLANDS
(Islas Malvinas)^[1]

(See reference map IV)

LAND

Colony—12,168 km²; area consists of some 200 small islands and two principal islands, East Falkland (6,680 km²) and West Falkland (5,276 km²); dependencies—South Sandwich Islands, South Georgia, and the Shag and Clerke Rocks

WATER

Limits of territorial waters (claimed): 3 nm

Coastline: 1,288 km

PEOPLE

Population: 2,000 (July 1982), average annual growth rate -0.7%

Nationality: noun—Falkland Islander(s); adjective—Falkland Island

Ethnic divisions: almost totally British

Religion: predominantly Church of England

Language: English

Literacy: compulsory education up to age 14

Labor force: 1,100 (est.); est. over 95% in agriculture, mostly sheepherding

GOVERNMENT

Official name: Colony of the Falkland Islands

Type: British crown colony

Capital: Stanley

Political subdivisions: local government is confined to capital

Legal system: English common law

Branches: Governor, Executive Council, Legislative Council

Government leader: Governor and Commander in Chief J. R. W. PARKER (also High Commissioner for British Antarctic Colony)

Suffrage: universal

ECONOMY

Government budget: Colony—revenues, $5.1 million (FY68); expenditures, $5.3 million (1980-81)

Agriculture: Colony—predominantly sheep farming

Major industries: Colony—wool processing

Electric power: 1,250 kW capacity (1980); 2.5 million kWh produced (1980), 1,150 kWh per capita

Exports: Colony—$5.8 million (1978); wool, hides and skins, and other; dependencies—no exports in 1968 or 1969

Imports: Colony—$3.4 million (1978); food, clothing, fuels, and machinery; dependencies—$8,368 (1969); mineral fuels and lubricants, food, and machinery

Major trade partners: nearly all exports to the UK, also some to the Netherlands and to Japan; imports from Curacao, Japan, and the UK

Aid: economic—(1970-79) Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF, $24 million

Monetary conversion rate: 1 Falkland Island pound=US$2.3263

COMMUNICATIONS

Railroads: none

Highways: 510 km total; 30 km paved, 80 km gravel, and 400 km unimproved earth

Ports: 1 major (Port Stanley), 4 minor

Civil air: no major transport aircraft

Airfields: 2 total, 2 usable, 1 with permanent surface runways; 1 with runways 1,200-2,439 m

Telecommunications: government-operated radiotelephone networks providing effective service to almost all points on both islands; approximately 530 telephones (est. 29.2 per 100 popl.); 1 AM station

1. The possession of the Falkland Islands has been disputed by the UK and Argentina (which refers to them as the Islas Malvinas) since 1833. On 1 April 1982 Argentine military forces invaded the islands. The British responded by sending warships to the South Atlantic.