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Background:
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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 on 2 April 1982. The British responded with an
expeditionary force that landed seven weeks later and
after fierce fighting forced Argentine surrender on 14
June 1982. |
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Location:
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Southern
South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east
of southern Argentina |
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Geographic coordinates:
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51 45 S,
59 00 W |
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Map references:
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South
America |
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Area:
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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 |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly
smaller than Connecticut |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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1,288 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm |
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Climate:
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cold
marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain
occurs on more than half of days in year; average annual
rainfall is 24 inches in Stanley; occasional snow all
year, except in January and February, but does not
accumulate |
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Terrain:
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rocky,
hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m |
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Natural resources:
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fish,
squid, wildlife, calcified seaweed, sphagnum moss |
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Land use:
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arable
land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (99% permanent pastures, 1% other)
(2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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NA sq km
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Natural hazards:
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strong
winds persist throughout the year |
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Environment - current issues:
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overfishing by unlicensed vessels is a problem; reindeer
were introduced to the islands in 2001 for commercial
reasons; this is the only commercial reindeer herd in
the world unaffected by the Chornobyl disaster |
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Geography - note:
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deeply
indented coast provides good natural harbors; short
growing season |
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People |
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) |
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Population:
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2,967
(July 2005 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA (2005 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.44%
(2005 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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NA
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Death rate:
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NA
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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NA
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
NA
male: NA
female: NA (2005 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years (2005 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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NA
children born/woman (2005 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Falkland Islander(s)
adjective: Falkland Island |
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Ethnic groups:
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British
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Religions:
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primarily
Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Free Church, Evangelist
Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-Day
Adventist |
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Languages:
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English
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Country name:
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas
Malvinas) |
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Dependency status:
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overseas
territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina |
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Government type:
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NA |
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Capital:
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Stanley
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Administrative divisions:
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none
(overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by
Argentina) |
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Independence:
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none
(overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by
Argentina) |
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National holiday:
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Liberation Day, 14 June (1982) |
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Constitution:
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3 October
1985; amended 1997 and 1998 |
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Legal system:
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English
common law |
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Suffrage:
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18 years
of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief
of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Governor Howard PEARCE (since
3 December 2002); Chief Executive Chris SIMPKINS (since
NA March 2003); Financial Secretary Derek F. HOWATT
(since NA)
cabinet: Executive Council; three members elected
by the Legislative Council, two ex officio members
(chief executive and the financial secretary), and the
governor
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary;
governor appointed by the monarch |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Legislative Council (10 seats - 2 ex officio,
8 elected by popular vote, members serve four-year
terms); presided over by the governor
elections: last held 22 November 2001 (next to be
held November 2005)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats -
independents 8; note - 71% voter turnout |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme
Court (chief justice is a nonresident); Magistrates
Court (senior magistrate presides over civil and
criminal divisions); Court of Summary Jurisdiction |
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Political parties and leaders:
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none; all
independents |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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none |
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International organization participation:
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ICFTU,
UPU |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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none
(overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by
Argentina) |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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none
(overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by
Argentina) |
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Flag description:
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blue with
the flag of the UK 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 contains a white ram
(sheep raising was once 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 |
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Economy |
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) |
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Economy - overview:
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The
economy was formerly based on agriculture, mainly sheep
farming, but today fishing contributes the bulk of
economic activity. In 1987 the government began selling
fishing licenses to foreign trawlers operating within
the Falklands exclusive fishing zone. These license fees
total more than $40 million per year, which goes to
support the island's health, education, and welfare
system. Squid accounts for 75% of the fish taken. Dairy
farming supports domestic consumption; crops furnish
winter fodder. Exports feature shipments of high-grade
wool to the UK and the sale of postage stamps and coins.
The islands are now self-financing except for defense.
The British Geological Survey announced a 200-mile oil
exploration zone around the islands in 1993, and early
seismic surveys suggest substantial reserves capable of
producing 500,000 barrels per day; to date no
exploitable site has been identified. An agreement
between Argentina and the UK in 1995 seeks to defuse
licensing and sovereignty conflicts that would dampen
foreign interest in exploiting potential oil reserves.
Tourism, especially eco-tourism, is increasing rapidly,
with about 30,000 visitors in 2001. Another large source
of income is interest paid on money the government has
in the bank. The British military presence also provides
a sizeable economic boost. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$75
million (2002 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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NA% |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $25,000 (2002 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA% |
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Labor force:
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1,100
(est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding and fishing) |
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Unemployment rate:
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full
employment; labor shortage (2001) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest
10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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3.6%
(1998) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $66.2 million
expenditures: $67.9 million, including capital
expenditures of $23.2 million (FY98/99 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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fodder
and vegetable crops; sheep, dairy products |
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Industries:
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fish and
wool processing; tourism |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA% |
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Electricity - production:
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19.06
million kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil
fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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17.72
million kWh (2002) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh
(2002) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh
(2002) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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200
bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA |
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Oil - imports:
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NA |
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Exports:
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$82
million (2002) |
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Exports - commodities:
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wool,
hides, meat |
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Exports - partners:
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Spain
77.4%, UK 9.4%, US 4.9% (2004) |
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Imports:
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$53
million (2002) |
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Imports - commodities:
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fuel,
food and drink, building materials, clothing |
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Imports - partners:
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UK 63.2%,
Spain 30.3%, France 3.6% (2004) |
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Debt - external:
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$NA |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$0 (1997
est.) |
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Currency (code):
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Falkland
pound (FKP) |
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Currency code:
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FKP |
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Exchange rates:
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Falkland
pounds per US dollar - 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003),
0.6672 (2002), 0.6947 (2001), 0.6609 (2000)
note: the Falkland pound is at par with the
British pound |
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Fiscal year:
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1 April -
31 March |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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2,400
(2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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0 (2001)
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: NA
domestic: government-operated radiotelephone and
private VHF/CB radiotelephone networks provide effective
service to almost all points on both islands
international: country code - 500; satellite
earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) with links
through London to other countries |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 1, FM
7, shortwave 0 (1998) |
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Radios:
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1,000
(1997) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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2
(operated by the British Forces Broadcasting Service)
note: cable television is available in Stanley
(2002) |
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Televisions:
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1,000
(1997) |
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Internet country code:
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.fk |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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2 (2000)
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Internet users:
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NA;
however one-half of all households are reported to have
internet access (2002) |
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Highways:
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total:
440 km
paved: 50 km
unpaved: 390 km (2002) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Stanley
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Merchant marine:
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none |
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Airports:
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5 (2004
est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total:
2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total:
3
under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.) |
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Military |
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) |
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Military branches:
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no
regular military forces |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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NA |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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NA |
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Military - note:
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defense
is the responsibility of the UK |
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Disputes - international:
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Argentina, which claims the islands in its constitution
and briefly occupied the islands by force in 1982,
agreed in 1995 to no longer seek settlement by force; UK
continues to reject Argentine requests for sovereignty
talks |
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This page was last updated on
20 October, 2005 |
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