World Factbook
South Georgia
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: blue with the UK flag in the upper-left quadrant; the islands' coat of arms is centered on the right half of the flag and has a green shield with a golden lion holding a torch; a fur seal is to the left of the shield and a Macaroni penguin to the right; a reindeer appears above the crest, and below the shield on a scroll is the motto LEO TERRAM PROPRIAM PROTEGAT (Let the Lion Protect its Own Land) meaning: the lion represents the UK and discovery; the seal, penguin, and reindeer are native to the islands
Country name
etymology
Captain James COOK originally named it "the Isle of Georgia" in 1775 in honor of British King GEORGE III; the word "South" was later added to distinguish these islands from the other Sandwich Islands, now known as the Hawaiian Islands
abbreviation
SGSSI
conventional long form
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
conventional short form
South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
Legal system
the laws of the UK apply
Dependency status
overseas territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina; administered from the Falkland Islands by a commissioner, who is concurrently governor of the Falkland Islands, representing the British monarch
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (administered by the UK, claimed by Argentina)
Diplomatic representation from the US
none (administered by the UK, claimed by Argentina)
International organization participation
UPU