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 With hostilities ended and Argentine forces withdrawn, UK administration resumed.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.

Table of Contents

Geography

Location

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

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) map showing the islands that make up this UK territory in the South Atlantic Ocean.

Geographic coordinates

51 45 S, 59 00 W

Map references

South America

Area

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

comparison ranking: total 163

Area – comparative

slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries

total: 0 km

Coastline

1,288 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm

continental shelf: 200 nm

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate

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

Terrain

rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains

Elevation

highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Natural resources

fish, squid, wildlife, calcified seaweed, sphagnum moss

Land use

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.)

Irrigated land

Population distribution

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

Natural hazards

strong winds persist throughout the year

Geography – note

deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing season

People and Society

Population

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

comparison rankings: total 228; female 228; male 228

Nationality

noun: Falkland Islander(s)

adjective: Falkland Island

Ethnic groups

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

Languages

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

Religions

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

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 38.4 (2021)

youth dependency ratio: 21.8 (2021)

elderly dependency ratio: 16.6 (2021)

potential support ratio: 6 (2021)

Population growth rate

0.01% (2014 est.)

comparison ranking: 193

Birth rate

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

comparison ranking: 166

Death rate

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

comparison ranking: 201

Population distribution

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

Urbanization

urban population: 79.7% of total population (2023)

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

Major urban areas – population

2,000 STANLEY (capital) (2018)

Sex ratio

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: (2017 est.) 77.9

male: 75.6

female: 79.6

Drinking water source

improved:

urban: 100% of population

rural: 78.2% of population

total: 95.3% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0% of population

rural: 21.8% of population

total: 4.7% of population (2020)

Sanitation facility access

improved:

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

unimproved:

urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2020)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

44.8% (2023 est.)

Environment

Environment – current issues

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

Climate

Land use

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.)

Urbanization

urban population: 79.7% of total population (2023)

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

Government

Country name

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

Government type

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

Dependency status

overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina

Capital

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

Administrative divisions

none (administered by the UK; claimed by Argentina)

Legal system

English common law and local statutes

Constitution

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

Citizenship

see United Kingdom

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

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

elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; chief executive appointed by the governor

Legislative branch

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

Judicial branch

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)

Political parties

none; all independents

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (administered by the UK; claimed by Argentina)

Diplomatic representation from the US

embassy: none (administered by the UK; claimed by Argentina)

International organization participation

UPU

Independence

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

National holiday

Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)

Flag description

blue with the UK flag in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Falkland Island coat of arms centered on the outer 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

National symbol(s)

ram

National colors

red, white, blue

National coat of arms

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”

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 Falklands’ motto, “Desire the Right.”:

National anthem

name: “Song of the Falklands”

lyrics/music: Christopher LANHAM

note: adopted 1930s; the song is the local unofficial anthem; as a territory of the United Kingdom, “God Save the King” is official (see United Kingdom)

Economy

Economic overview

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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$206.4 million (2015 est.)
$164.5 million (2014 est.)

comparison ranking: 220

Real GDP growth rate

25.5% (2015 est.)
-1.8% (2014 est.)

comparison ranking: 3

Real GDP per capita

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

comparison ranking: 17

GDP (official exchange rate)

$206.4 million (2015 est.)

GDP – composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 41% (2015 est.)

industry: 20.6% (2015 est.)

services: 38.4% (2015 est.)

comparison rankings: services 201; industry 135; agriculture 3

Agricultural products

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

Industries

fish and wool processing; tourism

Labor force

1,850 (2016 est.)

comparison ranking: 200

Unemployment rate

1% (2016 est.)

comparison ranking: 6

Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income

36 (2015)

comparison ranking: 68

Public debt

0% of GDP (2015 est.)

comparison ranking: 206

Exports

$257.3 million (2015 est.)

comparison ranking: 201

Exports – partners

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

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

Exports – commodities

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

note: top export commodities based on value in dollars over $500,000

Imports – partners

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

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

Imports – commodities

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

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Exchange rates

Falkland pounds (FKP) per US dollar –

Exchange rates:
0.805 (2023 est.)
0.811 (2022 est.)
0.727 (2021)
0.78 (2020 est.)
0.783 (2019 est.)

Energy

Electricity

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

consumption: 18.257 million kWh (2023 est.)

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

comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 3; consumption 208; installed generating capacity 208