Territory Summary: Falkland Islands
Territory Name: Falkland Islands
Capital: Stanley
Government Type: parliamentary democracy (Legislative Assembly); self-governing overseas territory of the UK
Background: 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 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 With hostilities ended and Argentine forces withdrawn, UK administration resumed.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 March 2013, which resulted in 99.8% of the population voting to remain a part of the UK.
Region: South Atlantic Ocean
Population: 3,662 (2021 est.) note: data include all persons usually resident in the islands at the time of the 2021 census
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.)
Languages: Falkland Islander 48.3%, British 23.1%, St. Helenian 7.5%, Chilean 4.6%, mixed 6%, other 8.5%, unspecified 2% (2016 est.)
Religions: Christian 57.1%, other 1.6%, none 35.4%, unspecified 6% (2016 est.)
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
Currency: Falkland Islands Pound (FKP)
Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity): $206.4 million (2015 est.)
Real GDP Growth Rate: 25.5% (2015 est.)
Real GDP per Capita: $70,800 (2015 est.)
Exports:
$257.3 million (2015 est.)
Comparison Ranking: 200
Export Commodities: mollusks, fish, wool, sheep and goat meats, aircraft parts (2021)
Export Partners: Spain 78%, United States 6% (2019)
Imports:
NA
Import Commodities: refined petroleum, spark-ignition engines, stone processing machinery, construction vehicles, cars (2019)
Import Partners: United Kingdom 79%, Netherlands 16% (2019)
Natural Resources: fish, squid, wildlife, calcified seaweed, sphagnum moss
Agricultural Products: fodder and vegetable crops; venison, sheep, dairy products; fish, squid
Industries: fish and wool processing; tourism
Labor Force: 1,850 (2016 est.)
Unemployment Rate: 1% (2016 est.)
Natural Hazards: strong winds persist throughout the year
Geography:
Total: 12,173 sq km
Land: 12,173 sq km
Water: 0 sq km
(Country Summary, The World Factbook, CIA.gov)
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