Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

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 in 1982. The British responded with an expeditionary force 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 With hostilities ended and Argentine forces withdrawn, UK administration resumed.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 2013 that resulted in 99.8% of the population voting to remain a part of the UK.

51 45 S, 59 00 W

strong winds persist throughout the year

slightly smaller than Connecticut

overfishing by unlicensed vessels; grazing threatens important habitats; soil erosion from fires

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

1,288 km

Total: 0 km

Agricultural land: 93.5% (2022 est.)

Arable land: 0% (2022 est.)

Permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.)

Permanent pasture: 93.5% (2022 est.)

Forest: 0% (2022 est.)

Other: 6.5% (2022 est.)

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Continental shelf: 200 nm

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

fish, squid, wildlife, calcified seaweed, sphagnum moss

deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing season

rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains

Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, about 500 km east of southern Argentina

South America

NA

a very small population, with most residents living in and around Stanley

Highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m

Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

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

Total population: 1.12 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Noun: Falkland Islander(s)

Adjective: Falkland Island

Urban population: 79.7% of total population (2023)

Rate of urbanization: 0.53% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

2,000 STANLEY (capital) (2018)

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

Christian 57.1%, other 1.6%, none 35.4%, unspecified 6% (2016 est.)

English 89%, Spanish 7.7%, other 3.3% (2006 est.)

Total dependency ratio: 38.4 (2021)

Youth dependency ratio: 21.8 (2021)

Elderly dependency ratio: 16.6 (2021)

Potential support ratio: 6 (2021)

Improved:

Urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 21.8% of population

Improved:

Urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

44.8% (2023 est.)

Total: 3,142 (2021)

Male: 1,645

Female: 1,497

Note: Data include all persons usually resident in the islands at the time of the 2021 census

4.9 deaths/1,000 population (2012 est.)

10.9 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Total population: (2017 est.) 77.9

Male: 75.6

Female: 79.6

0.01% (2014 est.)

36,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids: 36,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Embassy: None (administered by the UK; claimed by Argentina)

none (administered by the UK; claimed by Argentina)

Name: Stanley

Geographic coordinates: 51 42 S, 57 51 W

Time difference: UTC-3 (2 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Etymology: Named in 1844 after Edward SMITH-STANLEY, the 14th Earl of Derby

History: Previous 1985; latest entered into force 1 January 2009 (The Falkland Islands Constitution Order 2008)

Chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Alison BLAKE (since 23 July 2022)

Head of government: Chief Executive Andy KEELING (since April 2021)

Cabinet: Executive Council elected by the Legislative Council

Election/appointment process: The monarchy is hereditary; monarch appoints the governor, who appoints the chief executive

Description: Blue with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant and the Falkland Island coat of arms centered on the right half of the flag; the coat of arms has a white ram above the ship "Desire" (whose crew discovered the islands), with a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto DESIRE THE RIGHT

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

Highest court(s): 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)

Judge selection and term of office: Chief justice, court of appeal president, and 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

Note: appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are referred to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)

English common law and local statutes

Legislature name: Legislative Assembly

Legislative structure: Unicameral

Number of seats: 10 (8 directly elected, 2 appointed)

Electoral system: Plurality/majority

Scope of elections: Full renewal

Term in office: 4 years

Most recent election date: 11/4/2021

Percentage of women in chamber: 25% note: does not include the speaker

Expected date of next election: November 2025

UPU

Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)

none; all independents

18 years of age; universal

parliamentary democracy (Legislative Assembly); self-governing overseas territory of the UK

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 was named after the Fifth Viscount of FALKLAND, who sponsored an expedition to the islands in 1690; the Spanish name for the archipelago derives from the French "Iles Malouines," meaning Islands of Malo, the name French explorer Louis-Antoine de BOUGAINVILLE gave the islands in 1764 in honor of the French port of Saint-Malo

none (administered by the UK; claimed by Argentina)

Title: "Song of the Falklands"

Lyrics/music: Christopher LANHAM

History: Adopted unknown
_____

Title: "God Save the King"

Lyrics/music: Unknown

History: Official anthem, as a UK territory

ram

see United Kingdom

red, white, blue

shellfish, fish, wool, sheep and goat meat (2023)

Note: Top export commodities based on value in dollars over $500,000

Spain 68%, Morocco 10%, USA 8%, Namibia 3%, Germany 2% (2023)

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

fodder and vegetable crops; venison, sheep, dairy products; fish, squid

refined petroleum, aircraft parts, prefabricated buildings, plastic products, surveying equipment (2023)

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Falkland pounds (FKP) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
0.78 (2024 est.)
0.805 (2023 est.)
0.811 (2022 est.)
0.727 (2021 est.)
0.78 (2020 est.)

fish and wool processing; tourism

British South American territorial economy; longstanding fishing industry; surging tourism prior to COVID-19 and Brexit; recent offshore hydrocarbon discoveries threaten ecotourism industries; no central bank and must have British approval on currency shifts

$206.4 million (2015 est.)

UK 68%, Greece 19%, Spain 11%, Netherlands 1%, NZ 0% (2023)

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

$70,800 (2015 est.)
$63,000 (2014 est.)

Fossil fuels: 73.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Wind: 26.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption: 200 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity: 10,000 kW (2023 est.)

Consumption: 18.257 million kWh (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses: 900,000 kWh (2023 est.)

Percent of population: 99% (2021 est.)

.fk

TV service provided by a multi-channel service provider; radio provided by public broadcaster Falkland Islands Radio Service and the British Forces Broadcasting Service  (2007)

Total subscriptions: 6,000 (2021 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 160 (2021 est.)

Total: 1,000 (2020 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 33 (2020 est.)

Total subscriptions: 2,000 (2021 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 53 (2021 est.)

VP-F

34 (2025)

Total: 2 (2023)

By type: General cargo 1, other 1

no regular military forces

defense is the responsibility of the UK, which maintains a military presence on the islands

overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina

Total ports: 1 (2024)

Large: 0

Medium: 1

Small: 0

Very small: 0

Ports with oil terminals: 1

Key ports: Stanley

the Falkland Islands adopted its coat of arms in 1948; the shield highlights the national symbol, the ram, which represents the country’s agricultural industry and stands on native tussock grass; English navigator John Davis’s sailing vessel, the Desire, is shown, referencing his sighting of the islands in 1592; below the shield is the national motto, “Desire the Right”