Falkland Islands - Demographics

Demographics

See also: Falkland Islanders and Origins of Falkland Islanders

The population of the Falkland Islands is primarily of British descent (about 70 percent of the population), mainly as a result of Scottish and Welsh immigration to the islands. In the 2006 census, some Islanders identified themselves as of French, Gibraltarian, and Scandinavian descent. Other minorities include those from Chile and Saint Helena, many of whom have become assimilated. Among the few Argentines currently residing in the islands is Maria Strange, wife of the author and historian Ian Strange.

Residents of the Falklands are often called "Kelpers" or "Islanders". The legal term for having the right of residence is "belonging to the islands". From 1 January 1983, as provided in the British Nationality (Falkland Islands) Act 1983, the islanders have been full British citizens.

A population decline leading up to the Falklands War has reversed, with the population bolstered by immigration from the British island of Saint Helena, and Chile though figures for immigration are skewed by including children born to Falkland Islander women who for medical reasons travelled abroad for their confinement as being "born abroad". Historical census figures show that the population rose from an estimate of 287 in 1851 to 2,272 in 1911. The population was 2,094 in 1921 and 2,392 in 1931, but it then declined to 1,813 in 1980. However, the population recorded in the 2001 census was higher than at any previous point in history. By 2006 the population had increased to 2,955 of whom 2,115 lived in Stanley and 477 in Mount Pleasant, 194 in the rest of East Falkland, 127 in West Falkland and 42 in the other islands. These figures exclude all military personnel and their families, but include 477 people who were present in the Falkland Islands in connection with the military garrison.

The age distribution of the islands residents is skewed towards people of working age (20–60) – 65% as opposed to 21% aged below 20 and 14% aged above 60. Males outnumber females by 53% to 47% with the deviation being most prominent in the 20–60 age group. In the 2006 census, 67.2% of the islanders identified themselves as being Christians, 31.5% either declined to answer or had no religious affiliation and the remaining 1.3% (39 individuals) identified themselves as adherents of other faiths. The islands have three churches, one for each of the Church of England, Roman Catholic and United Free Church communities.