Country information

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THE FALKLAND ISLANDS TODAY

Country Facts

Status: British Overseas Territory
Area: 12,173 sq km (4,700 sq miles)
Population: 2,955 (2006 Census)
Capital City: Stanley
Languages: English
Religion(s): Christian, with Catholic, Anglican and United Reformed Churches in Stanley. Other faiths are also represented.
Currency: Falkland Island Pound (at par with sterling)
Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II
Governor: His Excellency Alan Huckle

The majority of the population of the Falkland Islands are British by birth or descent.  Indeed, many can trace their family origins in the Islands back to the early nineteenth century.  The last census (in 2006) recorded 2,478 Falkland Islanders.  In addition to these, the census also recorded a significant minority of resident Chileans and St Helenians.  Most of the remaining population comprises of people from the UK mainland and third countries working under contract at either the Mount Pleasant Airfield, or in certain government positions that require specialist skills.  

The Falkland Islands are one of fourteen British Overseas Territories.  As such, the UK recognises and encourages the Islanders’ right to self determination, including their right to remain British if that is the wish, freely and democratically expressed, of its people.

The Falklands have been continuously, peacefully and effectively inhabited and administered by Britain since 1833.  The only exception to this was the brief illegal occupation by Argentine military forces in 1982.

DID YOU KNOW?

• In 1690 John Strong, a British naval captain, took part in the first recorded landing of the then uninhabited Falkland Islands.  He named the Islands after Viscount Falkland, who shortly afterwards became the First Lord of the Admiralty.
  
• Since 1992, the Islanders have been financially self sufficient in all areas except defence.
  
• 62,203 cruise ship passengers were cleared to land in the Falklands between October 2007 and April 2008.
  
• The Falkland Islands have their own British postcode, FIQQ 1ZZ, and commission their own postage stamps, coins and banknotes.  
  

 

 

 

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