1987 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1987 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Boundary disputes
none; occasional source of friction between Spain and UK
Climate
Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers
Coastline
12 km
Comparative area
about one-twentyseventh the size of Washington, D.C.
Continental shelf
200 meters or to depth of exploitation
Environment
natural fresh water sources are very meager so large water catchments (concrete or natural rock) collect rain water
Land boundaries
1.6 km total
Land use
0% arable land; 0% permanent crops; 0% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 100% other
Special notes
strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea
Telecommunications
adequate international radiocommunication facilities; automatic telephone system serving 9,400 telephones (81.5 per 100 popl.); 1 AM, 6 FM, 4 TV stations; 1 Atlantic Ocean satellite station
Terrain
a narrow coastal lowland borders The Rock
Territorial sea
3 nm
Total area
6.5 km?; land area: 6.5 km?
People and Society
Ethnic divisions
mostly Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, and Spanish descent
Labor force
about 14,800 (including non-Gibraltar laborers)
Language
English and Spanish are primary languages; Italian, Portuguese, and Russian also spoken; English used in the schools and for official purposes
Literacy
about 99%
Nationality
noun—Gibraltarian; adjective—Gibraltar
Organized labor
over 6,000
Population
29,048 (July 1987), average annual growth rate 0.36%
Religion
75% Roman Catholic, 8% Church of England, 2.25% Jewish
Government
Branches
parliamentary system comprising the Gibraltar House of the Assembly (15 elected members and 3 ex officio members), the Council of Ministers headed by the Chief Minister, and the Gibraltar Council; the Governor is appointed by the Crown
Capital
Gibraltar
Communists
negligible
Elections
every four years; last held in January 1984 Political parties and leaders: Gibraltar Labor Party/ Association for the Advancement of Civil Rights (GCL/AACR), Sir Joshua Hassan; Democratic Party of British Gibraltar (DPBG), Peter Isola; Socialist Labor Party, Joe Bossano
Government leaders
Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter TERRY, Governor and Commander in Chief (since 1985); Sir Joshua A. HASSAN, Chief Minister (1964-69 and since 1972)
Legal system
English law; constitutional talks in July 1968; new system effected in 1969 after electoral inquiry
Official name
Gibraltar
Other political or pressure groups
Housewives Association, Chamber of Commerce, Gibraltar Representatives Organization
Suffrage
all adult Gibraltarians, plus other UK subjects resident six months or more
Type
British dependent territory
Voting strength
(Jannary 1984) House of the Assembly—GCL/AACR, 8 seats; Socialist Labor, 7 seats
Economy
Budget
revenues, $89 million; expenditures, $84.2 million (FY82)
Electric power
60,000 kW capacity; 200 million kWh produced, 6,570 kWh per capita (1986)
Exports
$47.8 million (1983); principally reexports of tobacco, petroleum, and wine
Imports
$136.8 million (1983); principally manufactured goods, fuels, and foodstuffs; 65% from UK
Major trade partners
UK, Morocco, Portugal, Netherlands
Monetary conversion rate
0.70 Gibraltar pound=0.70 pound sterling=US$1 (November 1986)
Communications
Airfields
1 total, 1 usable with permanent-surface runways 1,220-2,439 m
Civil air
1 major transport aircraft
Highways
50 km, mostly good bitumen and concrete
Ports
1 major (Gibraltar)
Railroads
1.000-meter gauge system in dockyard area only
Military and Security
Branches
Gibraltar Regiment