Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

1,288 km

deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing season

NA

total: 0 km

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

South America

territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

strong winds persist throughout the year

rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains

47.7% (2016 est.)

total dependency ratio: 38.4 (2021) youth dependency ratio: 21.8 (2021) elderly dependency ratio: 16.6 (2021) potential support ratio: 6 (2021)

total population: (2017 est.) 77.9 male: 75.6 female: 79.6

2,000 STANLEY (capital) (2018)

noun: Falkland Islander(s) adjective: Falkland Island

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

breakdown

{"male":{"value":1645,"unit":"people","formatted":"1,645","name":"Male Population"},"female":{"value":1497,"unit":"people","formatted":"1,497","name":"Female Population"}}

meta

{"year":2021}

note

data include all persons usually resident in the islands at the time of the 2021 census

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

36,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 36,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

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

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

agricultural land: 93.2% (2023 est.) arable land: 0% (2022 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2022 est.) permanent pasture: 93.2% (2023 est.) forest: 0% (2022 est.) other: 6.8% (2023 est.)

urban population: 79.7% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.53% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

name

Stanley

geo

{"lat":-51.7,"lng":-57.85}

timezone

{"difference":"UTC-3 (2 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)","note":null,"dst":null}

meta

{}

see United Kingdom

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

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

overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina

chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Colin MARTIN-REYNOLDS (since 29 July 2025) head of government: Chief Executive Andrea Patricia CLAUSEN (since 1 April 2025) cabinet: Executive Council elected by the Legislative Council election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; monarch appoints the governor, who appoints the chief executive

description: blue with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant and the Falkland Island coat of arms centered on the right 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

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

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)

English common law and local statutes

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: 12/11/2025 percentage of women in chamber: 25% note: does not include the speaker expected date of next election: November 2025

title: "Song of the Falklands" lyrics/music: Christopher LANHAM history: adopted unknown _____ title: "God Save the King" lyrics/music: unknown history: official anthem, as a UK territory

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”

red, white, blue

ram

none; all independents

18 years of age; universal

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

Falkland pounds (FKP) per US dollar - Exchange rates: 0.78 (2024 est.) 0.805 (2023 est.) 0.811 (2022 est.) 0.727 (2021 est.) 0.78 (2020 est.)

installed generating capacity: 10,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 18.257 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 900,000 kWh (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 200 bbl/day (2023 est.)

33 (2020 est.)

TV service provided by a multi-channel service provider; radio provided by public broadcaster Falkland Islands Radio Service and the British Forces Broadcasting Service (2007)

.fk

percent of population: 99% (2021 est.)

total subscriptions: 6,420 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 184 (2022 est.)

34 (2025)

VP-F

total: 2 (2023) by type: general cargo 1, other 1

total ports: 1 (2024) large: 0 medium: 1 small: 0 very small: 0 ports with oil terminals: 1 key ports: Stanley

no regular military forces

defense is the responsibility of the UK, which maintains a military presence on the islands