The Falkland Islands, also known as the Malvinas, is a British Overseas Territory located in the South Atlantic Ocean. The archipelago is composed of two main islands, East Falkland and West Falkland, and approximately 776 smaller islands and islets. The capital of the Falkland Islands is Stanley, located on East Falkland.

The Falkland Islands have a population of approximately 3,400 people, the majority of whom are of British descent. The official language is English, and the currency is the Falkland Islands pound.

The Falkland Islands have been a source of controversy between the United Kingdom and Argentina for many years. Argentina claims sovereignty over the islands, and in 1982, Argentina invaded the Falklands. The ensuing conflict between the UK and Argentina resulted in the deaths of hundreds of soldiers and civilians, and ultimately resulted in a British victory. Since then, tensions between the two countries have remained high, and the dispute over the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands has yet to be resolved.

The economy of the Falkland Islands is heavily reliant on fishing, particularly for squid and krill. Sheep farming is also an important industry, and the islands have a small tourism industry. The UK government subsidizes many aspects of life in the Falkland Islands, including healthcare and education.

The Falkland Islands are home to a variety of unique wildlife, including penguins, seals, and albatrosses. The islands also have a rich history, with evidence of human habitation dating back thousands of years.

Geography
Area
total: 12,173 sq km
land: 12,173 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Climate
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

Natural resources
fish, squid, wildlife, calcified seaweed, sphagnum moss

People and Society
Population
3,198 (2016 est.)

Ethnic groups
Falkland Islander 48.3%, British 23.1%, St. Helenian 7.5%, Chilean 4.6%, mixed 6%, other 8.5%, unspecified 2% (2016 est.)

Languages
English 89%, Spanish 7.7%, other 3.3% (2006 est.)

Religions
Christian 57.1%, other 1.6%, none 35.4%, unspecified 6% (2016 est.)

Population growth rate
0.01% (2014 est.)

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

Capital
name: Stanley

Economy
Economic overview
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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$206.4 million (2015 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$70,800 (2015 est.)

Agricultural products
fodder and vegetable crops; venison, sheep, dairy products; fish, squid

Industries
fish and wool processing; tourism

Exports
$257.3 million (2015 est.)

Exports - partners
Spain 78%, United States 6% (2019)

Exports - commodities
mollusks, fish, wool, sheep/goat meats, engine parts (2019)

Imports
$90 million (2004 est.)

Imports - partners
United Kingdom 79%, Netherlands 16% (2019)

Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, spark-ignition engines, stone processing machinery, construction vehicles, cars (2019)