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Background: Although first sighted by an English navigator in 1592, the first landing (English) did not occur until almost a century later in 1690, and the first settlement (French) was not established until 1764. The colony was turned over to Spain two years later and the islands have since been the subject of a territorial dispute, first between Britain and Spain, then between Britain and Argentina. The UK asserted its claim to the islands by establishing a naval garrison there in 1833. Argentina invaded the islands on 2 April 1982. The British responded with an expeditionary force that landed seven weeks later and after fierce fighting forced Argentine surrender on 14 June 1982.
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Common Name: Falkland Islands
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Local Official Name: Falkland Islands
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Abbreviated Name: Falkland Islands
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Official Name: Falkland Islands
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Official Script Name: Falkland Islands
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Local Common Name: Falkland Islands
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Former Name: Falkland Islands
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Territory of: UK
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Head of State: Queen ELIZABETH II
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Government Type: overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina
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Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Arg
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Constitution: 1985 October 3; amended 1997 and 1998
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National Holiday: Liberation Day, 14 June
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International Organization Participation: ICFTU, UPU
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Administrative Divisions: none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)
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Dependent Areas: NA
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Legal System: English common law
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Suffrage: 18 years of age years
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Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches: Executive Branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Governor Alan HUCKLE (since 25 August 2006); Chief Executive Chris SIMPKINS (since March 2003); Financial Secretary Derek F. HOWATT (since NA)
cabinet: Executive Council; three members elected by the Legislative Council, two ex officio members (chief executive and the financial secretary), and the governor
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch
Legislative Branch:
unicameral Legislative Council (10 seats - two ex officio, eight elected by popular vote, members serve four-year terms); presided over by the governor
elections: last held 17 November 2005 (next to be held November 2009)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 8
Judicial Branch:
Supreme Court (chief justice is a nonresident); Magistrates Court (senior magistrate presides over civil and criminal divisions); Court of Summary Jurisdiction
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Party Leaders: none; all independents
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International Disputes: Argentina, which claims the islands in its constitution and briefly occupied them by force in 1982, agreed in 1995 to no longer seek settlement by force; UK continues to reject Argentine requests for sovereignty talks
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Illicit Drugs: NA
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Location of Falkland Islands: Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of southern Argentina
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Continent: South America
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Land Area Total: 12,173 sq km
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Region: South Atlantic |
Land Area Land: 12,173 sq km
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Capitol City: Stanley
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Land Area Water: 0 sq km
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Current: -4
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Latitude: 051 45 S
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Border Boundary Land: 0 km
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Longitude: 059 00 W
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Border Boundary Coastline: 1,288 km
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Arable Land: 0.00 %
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Pastures: 0.00 %
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Crops: 0.00 %
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Woodlands and Forests: 0.00
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Highest Elevation: 705 m
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Location: Mount Usborne
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Lowest Elevation: 0 m
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Location: Atlantic Ocean
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Largest City in Falkland Islands:
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Largest City Population: 0
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Threatened Species: 0
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Environmental Issues: overfishing by unlicensed vessels is a problem; reindeer were introduced to the islands in 2001 for commercial reasons; this is the only commercial reindeer herd in the world unaffected by the Chornobyl disaster
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Environmental Agreements: NA
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Irrigated Land: 0
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Bordering Countries: NA
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Natural Resources: fish, wildlife
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Geographical Terrain: rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains
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Comparative Area of Falkland Islands: slightly smaller than Connecticut
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Falkland Islands's Geography: deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing season
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Click Here for detailed information about the weather conditions in Falkland Islands.
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General Climate: cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain occurs on more than half of days in year; occasional snow all year, except in January and February, but does not accumulate
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Natural Hazards: strong winds persist throughout the year
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Economic Overview: The economy was formerly based on agriculture, mainly sheep farming, but today fishing contributes the bulk of economic activity. In 1987 the government began selling fishing licenses to foreign trawlers operating within the Falkland Islands' exclusive fishing zone. These license fees total more than $40 million per year, which goes to support the island's health, education, and welfare system. Squid accounts for 75% of the fish taken. Dairy farming supports domestic consumption; crops furnish winter fodder. Exports feature shipments of high-grade wool to the UK and the sale of postage stamps and coins. The islands are now self-financing except for defense. The British Geological Survey announced a 200-mile oil exploration zone around the islands in 1993, and early seismic surveys suggest substantial reserves capable of producing 500,000 barrels per day; to date, no exploitable site has been identified. An agreement between Argentina and the UK in 1995 seeks to defuse licensing and sovereignty conflicts that would dampen foreign interest in exploiting potential 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.
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GDP: $75,000,000 USD
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Currency: Falkland pound
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GDP per Capita: $25,000 USD
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Currency Code: FKP
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GDP Growth Rate: 0.00 %
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One $USD Equals: %fincurrencyequals% FKP
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Currency Exchange Rate History: Falkland pounds per US dollar - 0.55 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003), 0.6672 (2002), 0.6947 (2001)
note: the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound
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GDP of Agriculture: 95.00 %
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GDP of Industry: 0.00 %
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GDP of Services: 0.00 % |
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Inflation Rate: 3.60 % |
Population in Poverty: 0.00 %
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Unemployment Rate: 0.00 %
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Tourism: 0.00 visitors each year
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Consumption by lowest 10%: 0.00 %
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Budget Revenue in USD: $66,200,000 USD
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Consumption by upper 10%: 0.00 %
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Budget Expenditures in USD: $67,900,000 USD
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Electricity Production: 22,230,000 kWh
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Electricity Exports: 0 kWh
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Electricity Consumption: 20,680,000 kWh
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Electricity Imports: 0 kWh
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Electricity Production by Source:
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Fossil Fuel Electricity Production: 100.00%
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Nuclear Electricity Production: 0.00%
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Hydro Electricity Production: 0.00%
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Other Electricity Production: 0.00%
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Oil Production: 0 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Production: 0 cu m
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Oil Consumption: 200 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Consumption: 0 cu m
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Oil Exports: 0 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Exports: 0 cu m
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Oil Imports: 0 barrels per day
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Natural Gas Imports: 0 cu m
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Proven Oil Reserves: 0 barrels
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Proven Natural Gas Reserves: 0 cu m
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External Debt: $0 USD |
Received in economic aid: $0 USD
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Donated in economic aid: $0 USD
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Agricultural Products: fodder and vegetable crops; sheep, dairy products
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Primary Industries: fish and wool processing; tourism
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Industrial Growth Rate: 0.00 %
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Import Amount in USD: $90,000,000 USD - fuel, food and drink, building materials, clothing
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Import Partners: UK 72.5%, US 15.1%, Netherlands 8.5%
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Export Amount in USD: $125,000,000 USD - wool, hides, meat
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Export Partners: Spain 81.9%, US 6%, UK 4.5%
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GINI Index: 0.00%
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Labor Force Number of People: 1,724
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Labor Force by Occupations: agriculture: 95% (mostly sheepherding and fishing), industry and services: 5%
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Radio Broadcast Stations: 8 |
Number of People with Radios: 1,000 |
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Television Broadcast Stations: 2 |
Number of People with Televisions: 1,000 |
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Number of People with Mainline Telephones: 2,400 |
Number of People with Mobile Phones: 0 |
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Internet Service Providers: 103 |
Internet Users: 1,900 |
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Internet Country Code: .fk |
Newspapers: 0 |
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Two Letter Country Code: FK |
Weights and Measures: |
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Phone Country Code: 500 |
Electricity Voltage: 240 Volts |
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Telephone Systems: 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
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Highways: 50 km |
Railways: 0 km
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Gas And Oil Pipelines: 0 km |
Waterways: 0 km
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Airports: 2 |
Heliports: 0
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Motor Vehicles: 0 per 1,000 people |
CO2 Emissions: 0 Metric Tons of CO2 per year |
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Per capita CO2 emissions: 0.00 Metric Tons of CO2 per year |
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Merchant Marines: NA
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Ports and Harbors: Stanley
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Population: 2,967 people type - nationality |
Birth Rate: 0.00 births per 1,000 people |
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Population Density: 0.00 people per sq km |
Death Rate: 0.00 deaths per 1,000 people |
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Population Growth: 2.44% per year |
Fertility Rate per Women: 0.00 babies born per woman |
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Population Male 0-14: 0 |
Population Female 0-14: 0 |
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Population Male 15-64: 0 |
Population Female 15-64: 0 |
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Population Male 65+: 0 |
Population Female 65+: 0 |
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Population 0-14: 0.00% |
Literacy Rate: 0.00% |
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Population 15-64: 0.00% |
Literacy rate of Males: 0.00% |
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Population 65+: 0.00% |
Literacy rate of Females: 0.00% |
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Population that is Male: 0.00
% |
Population that is Female: 0.00% |
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Life expectancy at birth in years: 0.00 years |
Infant mortality rate - baby deaths per 1000 births: 0.00 Babies die per 1,000 births |
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Life expectancy at birth for Males: 0.00 years |
Life expectancy at birth for Females: 0.00 years |
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Rate of AIDS/HIV infection: 0.00%
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Number of people living with AIDS or HIV: 0
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Number of people who died of AIDS: 0 |
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Disease Risk:
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Diseases:
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Net Migration Rate per 1,000 people: 0.00
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Nationality: FALKLAND ISLAND
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Ethnic Groups: British
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Primary Language: English
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Other Languages: English
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Primary Religion: primarily Anglican
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Other Religions: primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Free Church, Evangelist Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-Day Adventist
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Branches: no regular military forces
(defense is the responsibility of the UK )
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Manpower Fit to Serve: NA years
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Manpower Available: 0 People
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Manpower Fit to Serve: 0 People
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Amount of Manpower Available each Year: 0 People per year
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Expenditures: $0 USD per year
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Expenditures as a Percentage of GDP: 0.00
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Note: Phrasebase uses a variety of sources when compiling the facts and information presented above. This information is continually updated throughout the year.
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Falkland Islands Spa and Resort Directory
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Falkland Islands Home Exchanges and Home Swaps
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Falkland Islands Vacation Rentals And Holiday Villas
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Falkland Islands City Information Game Earn Real Money
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