Factfile on the Falkland Islands, which hold a referendum Sunday and Monday on their status as a British overseas territory:
GENERAL:
Population: 2,563
Capital: Stanley (2,121 residents)
Other chief settlements: Goose Green (70), Port Howard (20)
Status: Self-governing British Overseas Territory
Islanders’ self-declared national identity: 59 percent Falkland Islander; 29 percent British; 9.8 percent St Helenian; 5.4 percent Chilean
Main religion: Anglican
Timezone: GMT minus 4
Media: Penguin News weekly newspaper; Falkland Islands Radio Service
ECONOMY:
Historically based on wool production, fishing has dominated since 1986 and contributes 50 to 60 percent of total GDP. Tourism is now the second-most important sector, followed by agriculture. The first commercial oil discovery was made in 2010 and hydrocarbon exploration continues in the waters around the islands.
GDP: £100 million ($150 million, 115 million euros) per year
Tourism: 60,000 visitors by cruise ship and 1,600 by air
Chief employment sectors: Public service (28.1 percent), agriculture (11 percent), hospitality and tourism (10.6 percent)
Average income: £20,100 ($30,200, 23,050 euros)
Unemployment: one percent
Currency: Falkland Islands pound (pegged at par to Britain’s pound sterling)
Sheep: 488,000
Air links: Once-weekly flight to Punta Arenas in southern Chile, calling once a month at Rio Gallegos in Argentina
Twice-weekly flights to RAF Brize Norton airbase in southern England, via Ascension Island
GOVERNMENT:
The Falklands are an internally self-governing British Overseas Territory, with London responsible for foreign affairs and defence.
Governor: Nigel Haywood represents Queen Elizabeth II in the Falklands.
Eight Legislative Assembly members are elected every four years. There are two ex-officio members.
DEFENCE:
British military: 1,300 service personnel; 50 Ministry of Defence civil servants
Falkland Islands Defence Force: 100 volunteer infantry; 200 reserve volunteers
GEOGRAPHY:
The Falklands consist of East Falkland and West Falkland and 778 smaller islands.
Area: 12,173 square kilometres (4,700 square miles)
Distance from Argentina: 400 kilometres (250 miles)
Distance from Britain: 13,000 kilometres (8,000 miles)
CLIMATE:
Maritime climate with islands sitting between temperate and subarctic zones.
Yearly average high temperature: 8.9 degrees Centigrade (48.1 degrees Fahrenheit)
Yearly average low temperature: 2.2 degrees Centigrade (35.9 degrees Fahrenheit)
ENVIRONMENT:
No native trees, but 400 plant species, of which 177 are native and 14 endemic to the islands.
Five different species of breeding penguin. The islands are the most important world site for the endangered Rockhopper Penguin.
Facts about the Falkland Islands
