1833-1982: administration and the war
Britain has administered the islands since 1833; Argentina and the UK fought a war over them in 1982.[1]
· Conflict episode
Falklands War, 1982
Argentina and the UK fought a war following an Argentine military landing on the islands.
2013: the sovereignty referendum
Islanders voted 99.8% to remain British in the 2013 referendum, rejected by Argentina.[2]
· Referendum or popular consultation
2013 Falkland Islands sovereignty referendum
Islanders voted overwhelmingly to remain a British Overseas Territory.
Sources for this page
Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.
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1.
Claim: The Falkland Islands (Las Malvinas to Argentina) have been continuously, peacefully and effectively administered by Britain since 1833; Argentina disputes British sovereignty, and the two countries fought the 1982 Falklands War after Argentina's military government landed troops on the islands.
- Falklands / Malvinas Dispute (GlobalSecurity.org) link, Historical administration and 1982 war section. Source record
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2.
Claim: A referendum was held on 10-11 March 2013 asking Falkland Islanders whether they supported continuing as a British Overseas Territory in view of Argentina's call for sovereignty negotiations; on 92% turnout of registered voters, 99.8% (1,513 to 3) voted to remain a British Overseas Territory.
- 2013 Falkland Islands sovereignty referendum (Wikipedia) link, Referendum result section. Source record
Printed from https://independenceatlas.com/movements/falkland-islands-political-status/history · last substantive update 24 September 2026.