1994 Edition

Administrative divisions

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Affiliation

(dependent territory of the UK)

Agriculture

none

Airports

total: 1 usable: 1 with permanent surface runways: 1 with runways over 3,659 m: with runways 2,440-3,659 m: with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 1

Area

total area: 6.5 sq km land area: 6.5 sq km comparative area: about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Birth rate

15.37 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Branches

British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force

Budget

revenues: $136 million expenditures: $139 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY88)

Capital

Gilbraltar

Climate

Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers

Coastline

12 km

Constitution

30 May 1969

Currency

1 Gibraltar pound (#G) = 100 pence

Death rate

8.87 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Digraph

GI

Diplomatic representation in US

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Economic aid

recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $800,000; Western (non-US) countries and ODA bilateral commitments (1992-93), $2.5 million

Electricity

capacity: 47,000 kW production: 200 million kWh consumption per capita: 6,740 kWh (1992)

Environment

current issues: natural freshwater sources are meager, so large concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rain water natural hazards: NA international agreements: NA

Ethnic divisions

Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, Spanish

Exchange rates

Gibraltar pounds (#G) per US$1 - 0.6699 (January 1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989); note - the Gibraltar pound is at par with the British pound

Executive branch

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor and Commander in Chief Gen. Sir John CHAPPLE (since NA March 1993) head of government: Chief Minister Joe BOSSANO (since 25 March 1988)

Exports

$82 million (f.o.b., 1988) commodities: (principally re-exports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods 41%, other 8% partners: UK, Morocco, Portugal, Netherlands, Spain, US, FRG

External debt

$318 million (1987)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

Flag

two horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and red with a three-towered red castle in the center of the white band; hanging from the castle gate is a gold key centered in the red band

Gibraltar Council

advises the governor cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed from the elected members of the Assembly by the governor in consultation with the chief minister

Highways

total: 50 km paved: 50 km

House of Assembly

elections last held on 16 January 1992 (next to be held January 1996); results - SL 73.3%; seats - (18 total, 15 elected) number of seats by party NA

Imports

$258 million (c.i.f., 1988) commodities: fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs partners: UK, Spain, Japan, Netherlands

Independence

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Industries

tourism, banking and finance, construction, commerce; support to large UK naval and air bases; transit trade and supply depot in the port; light manufacturing of tobacco, roasted coffee, ice, mineral waters, candy, beer, and canned fish

Infant mortality rate

8.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.6% (1988)

International disputes

source of occasional friction between Spain and the UK

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, Court of Appeal

Labor force

14,800 (including non-Gibraltar laborers) note: UK military establishments and civil government employ nearly 50% of the labor force

Land boundaries

total 1.2 km, Spain 1.2 km

Land use

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 0% forest and woodland: 0% other: 100%

Languages

English (used in schools and for official purposes), Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian

Legal system

English law

Legislative branch

unicameral

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 76.33 years male: 73.44 years female: 79.19 years (1994 est.)

Literacy

total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%

Location

Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, which links the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, on the southern coast of Spain

Map references

Africa, Europe

Maritime claims

exclusive fishing zone: 3 nm territorial sea: 3 nm

Member of

INTERPOL (subbureau)

Merchant marine

29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 496,898 GRT/857,140 DWT, bulk 5, cargo 4, chemical tanker 2, container 1, oil tanker 16, refrigerated cargo 1 note: a flag of convenience registry

Names

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Gibraltar

National holiday

Commonwealth Day (second Monday of March)

National product

GNP - exchange rate conversion - $182 million (FY87)

National product per capita

$4,600 (FY87)

National product real growth rate

5% (FY87)

Nationality

noun: Gibraltarian(s) adjective: Gibraltar

Natural resources

negligible

Net migration rate

-0.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Note

strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Other political or pressure groups

Housewives Association; Chamber of Commerce; Gibraltar Representatives Organization

Overview

The British military presence has been severely reduced and now only contributes about 11% to the local economy. The financial sector accounts for 15% of GDP; tourism and shipping services fees also generate income. Because more than 70% of the economy is in the public sector, changes in government spending have a major impact on the level of employment. Construction workers are particularly affected when government expenditures are cut.

Pipelines

none

Political parties and leaders

Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party (SL), Joe BOSSANO; Gibraltar Labor Party/Association for the Advancement of Civil Rights (GCL/AACR), leader NA; Gibraltar Social Democrats, Peter CARUANA; Gibraltar National Party, Joe GARCIA

Population

31,684 (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate

0.58% (1994 est.)

Ports

Gibraltar

Railroads

1.000-meter-gauge system in dockyard area only

Religions

Roman Catholic 74%, Protestant 11% (Church of England 8%, other 3%), Moslem 8%, Jewish 2%, none or other 5% (1981)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal, plus other UK subjects resident six months or more

Telecommunications

adequate, automatic domestic system and adequate international radiocommunication and microwave facilities; 9,400 telephones; broadcast stations - 1 AM, 6 FM, 4 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Terrain

a narrow coastal lowland borders The Rock

Total fertility rate

2.33 children born/woman (1994 est.)

Type

dependent territory of the UK

Unemployment rate

NA%

US diplomatic representation

none (dependent territory of the UK)