The World Factbook (1982)/Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
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LAND
[edit]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
[edit]Limits of territorial waters (claimed): 3 nm
Coastline: 1,288 km
PEOPLE
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
- ↑ 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.