The archipelago, with an area of 4,700sqmi (12,000km2), comprises East Falkland, West Falkland, and 776 smaller islands. [74], In May 2015 oil was discovered in Isobel deep in May 2015 by a consortium of oil companies including Falkland Oil & Gas, Premier Oil, and Rockhopper Oil & Gas. NA [14] These restrictions effectively give the British Government the ability to prevent the island's government from declaring the islands to be a tax haven or from establishing a central bank. )-20.4% (2013 est. Falkland Islands, also called Malvinas Islands or Spanish Islas Malvinas, internally self-governing overseas territory of the United Kingdom in the South Atlantic Ocean. ), production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est. In the case of commemorative coins that are unlikely to be redeemed, this money represents a long-term investment. [see also: Inflation rate (consumer prices) country ranks ], Exports: The British named the two islands after the naval officer Viscount Falkland. (2015 est.) In 1986 the Falklands opened up their fishing industry to outsiders with the declaration of a 160-nautical-mile (300km; 180mi) radius Fisheries Conservation & Management Zone centered on the Falkland Sound. )$164.5 million (2014 est. [73] The Legislative Assembly, a unicameral legislature, consists of the chief executive, the director of finance and eight members (five from Stanley and three from Camp) elected to four-year terms by universal suffrage. The two main islands are called West Falkland and East Falkland with the capital Stanley located on East Falkland. [22], An increasing number of farmers are supplying lamb to the Falkland Islands Meat Company. Ecotourism is a rapidly growing industry currently and has become a forefront contributor to the economy. The Falklands, located approximately 185 miles (480 kilometers) east of Argentina, consist of two main islands, East Falkland and West Falkland, and over two hundred smaller islets. 17.67 million kWh (2016 est. [see also: Exports country ranks ], Exports - partners: Spain 74.4%, Namibia 10.4%, US 5% industry: 20.6% Given that no oil has been pumped yet, this is an extraordinary economic success story. It has been estimated that this species needs a stock biomass of 40000tonnes to produce a sustainable harvest of 3000tonnes per annum and is now reflected as a separate entry in the tables below. [see also: Debt - external country ranks ], Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: Subsequent tests showed it to be a commercially viable find; an appraisal project was launched and on 14 September 2011 Rockhopper Exploration announced that plans were under way for oil production to commence in 2016, through the use of floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) technology. [see also: Labor force country ranks ], Labor force - by occupation: [136] The main international airport, located at RAF Mount Pleasant on East Falkland, provides flights to RAF Brize Norton in the UK and mainland South America. This land area is approximately 98% of the area of Sydney. ), mollusks, fish, wool, sheep/goat meats, engine parts (2019), United Kingdom 79%, Netherlands 16% (2019), refined petroleum, spark-ignition engines, stone processing machinery, construction vehicles, cars (2019), Falkland pounds (FKP) per US dollar -0.7836 (2017 est. ", "Argentina snubs UK over oil deal as anniversary nears", "Britain and Argentina Reach an Accord on Falkland Oil Rights", "Falklands oil prospects stir Anglo-Argentinian tensions", "Preliminary GDP Estimates, 20082009 and 2010 Forecast (Constant Prices)", "The Falkland Islands Constitution Order 2008", "Wanted: holiday rep to sell joys of Falklands tourism", "Agriculture in the Falkland Islands [pamphlet]", "The Falkland Islands Government - Agriculture", "Patagonian Shelf large marine ecosystem", "Goce gravity mission traces ocean circulation", "Fisheries Department Fisheries Statistics, Volume 14, 2009", "The Offshore Fishery; balancing commercial activities & conservation", "Illex 2010: the case for improved conservation", "Regional Reviews: B17 - Southern Oceans", "Large-scale commercial marine harvesting", "Fisheries Department Fisheries Statistics, Volume 11, 2006", "Text of the convention on the conservation of Antarctic marine living resources", "Claims and potential claims to maritime jurisdiction in the South Atlantic and Southern Oceans by Argentina and the UK", "Falkland Focus - News from the Falkland Island Government", "Tourism is an important source of revenue to the Falkland Islands", "Falklands tourism ready for brighter future after challenging year", "Four Seasons and more than 3,000 Tourists in One Day", "Record of The Budget Meeting of the Legislative Assembly held in Stanley on 26th and 28th May 2009", "Falklands oil prospects stir Anglo-Argentinean tensions", "BHP Billiton strikes $100m Falklands drilling deal", "Argentina protests at Falklands oil stake", "Drilling for oil begins off the Falkland Islands", "Explorers fail to strike oil in test sites off Falklands", "Falklands oil firm Rockhopper claims discovery", "Discovery in disputed waters puts Argentina back on the defensive", "Capital Markets Presentation Development", "First Falklands Islands oil production delayed to 2018", http://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news-detail/12367637.html, http://www.rigzone.com/news/oil_gas/a/138815/Oil_Discovered_at_Isobel_Deep, http://subseaworldnews.com/2015/05/12/fogl-isobel-deep-bop-fixed/, "Falkland Oil and Gas 2012 drilling programme", "Falkland Islands Three new Enercon turbines operating Staff", "Commemorative Coin Lifetime of Service", Falkland Islands Development Corporation - Annual Report 1984, Four Seasons and more than 3,000 Tourists in One Day. In its wake, the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), a treaty signed by 24 nations and covering the area that includes most of the Falkland Islands waters, came into force in 1982,[41] having been signed by the United Kingdom on 31 August 1981 and Argentina on 28 May 1982. )subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 65 (2018 est. Economy - overview: 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. During the last five reported years the exports of Falkland Islands have increased from $202 mil in 2014 to $306 . In the Second World War, following the December 1939 Battle of the River Plate, the battle-damaged HMS Exeter steamed to the Falklands for repairs. [47] For more than a century, the Falkland Islands Company dominated the trade and employment of the archipelago; in addition, it owned most housing in Stanley, which greatly benefited from the wool trade with the UK. )from petroleum and other liquids: 46,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est. [139] The Falkland-born population are also descended from English and French people, Gibraltarians, Scandinavians, and South Americans. [see also: GDP - real growth rate country ranks ], GDP - per capita: Each class of licence has its own characteristics species or combination of species that may be taken, net sizes that may be used and seasons when the licence is valid. The population (3,662 inhabitants in 2021)[1] is primarily native-born Falkland Islanders, the majority of British descent. [52] In 1881, the Falkland Islands became financially independent of Britain. [78] Since the 2013 general election, members of the Legislative Assembly have received a salary and are expected to work full-time and give up all previously held jobs or business interests. [C] Whether or not the settlements were aware of each other's existence is debated by historians. [44] In 1840, the Falklands became a Crown colony and Scottish settlers subsequently established an official pastoral community. Agriculture continues to be a major employer and contributes c. 3million to annual GDP. [120] Based on 2010 data, the islands have a high Human Development Index of 0.874[4] and a moderate Gini coefficient for income inequality of 34.17. (2014 est.) The islands are located in the South Atlantic Ocean, on the Patagonian Shelf, about 300mi (480km) east of Patagonia in southern Argentina. [9] The contributors to the GDP by sector (2010 forecast) are:[10], In the 2009/10 financial year, the government revenue was 42.4million of which 14.5million came from fishery licences and services and 10.5million from taxes. )proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est. (2013 est.). Since 1993, the principal licence classes have been: Revenue from licence fees ( millions)[33], The Antarctic Treaty was signed by both the United Kingdom and Argentina in 1959. [66] Oil exploration also began in the 2010s, with indications of possible commercially exploitable deposits in the Falklands basin. [134] Stanley (with 2,121 residents) is the most-populous location on the archipelago, followed by Mount Pleasant (369 residents, primarily air-base contractors) and Camp (351 residents). (2016 est. The largest company in the islands used to be the Falkland Islands Company (FIC), a publicly quoted company on the London Stock Exchange. Controversy exists over the Falklands' discovery and subsequent colonisation by Europeans. Wool on the other hand is charged "45 per tonne delivered to Stanley". 1.4% 156 [34] In some years, such as 2007, it enters the FICZ with a resultant good harvest, it other years, such as 2009, it does not migrate as far south as the FICZ at all. Endemic land animals have been the most affected by introduced species, and several bird species have been extirpated from the larger islands. [68] The proposal envisages a FPSO vessel located 200km offshore servicing 24 production wells and 12 water injection wells in about 450m of water. [146], The Falkland Islands have a low population density. In a 2013 sovereignty referendum almost all Falklanders voted in favour of remaining a UK overseas territory. [140], In the 2012 census, most islanders identified themselves as Christian (66 per cent), followed by those with no religious affiliation (32 per cent). Falkland Islands / f k l n d, f l-, f l-/ Islas Malvinas [izlaz malinas] 50052 Most of the fishing takes place in water up to 200 metres (660ft) deep on this spur or on the Burdwood Bank - another spur lying on an undersea ridge to the south of the Falkland Islands and separated from the islands by a deep channel known as the Falklands Trough. 77 The legal term for the right of residence is "belonging to the islands". [57] An agreement on trade ties between the archipelago and the mainland was reached in 1971 and, consequently, Argentina built a temporary airfield at Stanley in 1972. [18] The wool price suffered a slump in 2005/6 and a peak in 2008. The islands also provided a base for whaling and sealing, with factories being built on East Falkland and South Georgia Island, but these industries ended. )arable land: 0% (2018 est. [86], The UK and Argentina both assert sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. Other ethnicities include French, Gibraltarians, and Scandinavians. [see also: Budget - expenditures country ranks ], Taxes and other revenues: 32.5% (of GDP) The Falkland Islands economy has performed well in recent years, outstripping OECD averages, and driven largely by revenues from our fisheries and offshore oil exploration. By 2002 the Falklands' economy was booming, with income from tourism and the sale of squid fishing licences as well as from indigenous fishing companies with locally registered boats. [see also: Household income or consumption by percentage share - highest 10% country ranks ], Distribution of family income - Gini index: 24. [33] Political tensions between the UK and Argentina remain high following the start of oil drilling activities in the waters. Locally registered fishing boats are also in operation. It's the 4th weakest country at the start of the game, only surpassing Antarctica, Niue and Tokelau Contents 1 Background 2 Economy and Manpower 3 Geography 3.1 Terrain 3.2 Biome 4 Cities 5 Formables 6 Strategy 7 Threats 8 Trivia Background $257.3 million The question of the Malvinas Islands, a 40 years claim in the South Atlantic Nine O'Clock 10:36 29-Dec-22. They are home to large bird populations, although many no longer breed on the main islands due to predation by introduced species. 0.6391 )country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): (2016 est.) )0.6391 (2013 est. As of 2010, the ferry company making the crossing charged commercial vehicles 30 per metre for a single trip plus 2 per head of sheep. Every dollar that we carelessly waste means that their life will be so much the more meager. (2015 est.) However, the last two. Falkland Islands War, also called Falklands War, Malvinas War, or South Atlantic War, a brief undeclared war fought between Argentina and Great Britain in 1982 over control of the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) and associated island dependencies. (2015 est.) From the mid ninteenth century onwards, sheep farming played an important part in the island's economy. [67] Landmine clearance work restarted in 2009, in accordance with the UK's obligations under the Ottawa Treaty, and Sapper Hill Corral was cleared of mines in 2012, allowing access to an important historical landmark for the first time in 30 years. The Falkland Islands also issue their own stamps. To understand the Falklands War one must look at the region and times that the conflict took place in to understand the impact this had on the conflict, in this case the South American regional security complex in the 1980s. )country comparison to the world (CIA rank, may be based on non-current data): An agreement signed in 1995 with Argentina had set the terms for exploitation of offshore resources including large oil reserves[56] as it was thought that there might be up to 60 billion barrels (9.5km3) of oil under the sea bed surrounding the islands. The islands lie at the boundary of the subantarctic oceanic and tundra climate zones, and both major islands have mountain ranges reaching 2,300ft (700m). The economy of the Falkland Islands, which first involved sealing, whaling and provisioning ships, became heavily dependent on sheep farming from the 1870s to 1980. In 1987 the British government of the islands began to sell fishing licenses to foreign companies within the exclusive fishing area of the Falklands delimited by the United Kingdom. )crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est. The Falkland Islands (also known as Malvinas) are a United Kingdom ' s Overseas Territory that the British have continuously controlled since 1833. [82] The Bureau also handles philately-related sales on behalf of the governments of Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands and of the British Antarctic Territory. The waters around the Falkland Islands are known for their squid, which account for around 75% of the annual 200,000-ton catch. (2014 est. The economy was formerly based on agriculture, mainly sheep farming, but today fishing contributes the bulk of economic activity. 79.6, improved: urban: 100% of populationrural: 78.2% of populationtotal: 95.3% of populationunimproved: urban: 0% of populationrural: 21.8% of populationtotal: 4.7% of population (2020), improved: urban: 100% of populationrural: 100% of populationtotal: 100% of populationunimproved: urban: 0% of populationrural: 0% of populationtotal: 0% of population (2020), overfishing by unlicensed vessels is a problem; reindeer - introduced to the islands in 2001 from South Georgia - are part of a farming effort to produce specialty meat and diversify the islands' economy; this is the only commercial reindeer herd in the world unaffected by the 1986 Chornobyl disaster; grazing threatens important habitats including tussac grass and its ecosystem with penguins and sea lions; soil erosion from fires, conventional long form: noneconventional 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 itself was named after the Viscount of FALKLAND, who sponsored an expedition to the islands in 1690; the Spanish name for the archipelago derives from the French "Iles Malouines," the name applied to the islands by French explorer Louis-Antoine de BOUGAINVILLE in 1764, parliamentary democracy (Legislative Assembly); self-governing overseas territory of the UK, overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina, name: Stanleygeographic coordinates: 51 42 S, 57 51 Wtime difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)etymology: named after Edward SMITH-STANLEY (1799-1869), the 14th Earl of Derby, a British statesman and three-time prime minister of the UK who never visited the islands, none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina), 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 Councilelections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; chief executive appointed by the governor, description: unicameral Legislative Assembly, formerly the Legislative Council (10 seats; 5 members directly elected in the Stanley constituency and 3 members in the Camp constituency by simple majority vote, 2 appointed non-voting ex-officio members - the chief executive, appointed by the governor, and the financial secretary; members serve 4-year terms); note - several previous referendums - the latest in September 2020 - on whether to merge the Stanley and Camp constituencies into a single islands wide constituency, failedelections: last held on 4 November 2021 (next to be held in November 2025)election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 8; composition of elected members -men 6, women 2, percent of women 25%, 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); note - appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are referred to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)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 appointmentsubordinate courts: Magistrate's Court (senior magistrate presides over civil and criminal divisions); Court of Summary Jurisdiction, embassy: none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina), 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, name: "Song of the Falklands"lyrics/music: Christopher LANHAMnote: 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). 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