would dampen foreign interest in exploiting potential oil reserves. Political tensions between the UK and Argentina rose in early 2010 after a UK company began oil drilling activities in the waters around the Falkland Islands but abated somewhat when the drilling operation failed to discover commercially exploitable oil reserves. Tourism, especially eco-tourism, is increasing rapidly, with about 30,000 visitors in 2001. Another large source of income is interest paid on money the government has in the bank. The British military presence also provides a sizeable economic boost.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$105.1 million (2002 est.) country comparison to the world: 220
GDP (official exchange rate):
$105.1 million (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$35,400 (2002 est.) country comparison to the world: 33
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 95%
industry: NA%
services: NA% (1996)
Labor force:
1,724 (1996) (1996) country comparison to the world: 224
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 95% (mostly sheepherding and fishing)
industry and services: 5% (1996)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
3.6% (1998) country comparison to the world: 105
Agriculture - products:
fodder and vegetable crops; sheep, dairy products; fish, squid
Industries:
fish and wool processing; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
NA%
Electricity - production:
16 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 207
Electricity - consumption:
14.88 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 208
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 176
Oil - consumption:
0 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 205
Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 196
Oil - imports:
271 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 198
Oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 181
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 197
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 186
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 181
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 181
Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 181
Exports:
$125 million (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 187
Exports - commodities:
wool, hides, meat, fish, squid
Imports:
$90 million (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 210
Imports - commodities:
fuel, food and drink, building materials, clothing
Debt - external:
$NA
Exchange rates:
Falkland pounds (FKP) per US dollar - 0.5302 (2008), 0.4993 (2007), 0.5418 (2006), 0.5493 (2005), 0.5462 (2004)
note: the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound
Communications ::Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
Telephones - main lines in use:
2,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 223
Telephones - mobile cellular:
3,300 (2009) country comparison to the world: 212
Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: government-operated radiotelephone and private VHF/CB radiotelephone networks provide effective service to almost all points on both islands
international: country code - 500; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) with links through London to other countries
Broadcast media:
television
