1996 Edition

Description

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

Location

36 11 N, 5 22 W -- Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southern coast of Spain Flag ----

Area

comparative area

about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

land area

6.5 sq km

total area

6.5 sq km

Climate

Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers

Coastline

12 km

Environment

current issues

limited natural freshwater resources, so large concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rain water

international agreements

NA

natural hazards

NA

Geographic coordinates

36 11 N, 5 22 W

Geographic note

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

International disputes

source of friction between Spain and the UK

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

border country

Spain 1.2 km

total

1.2 km

Land use

arable land

0%

forest and woodland

0%

meadows and pastures

0%

other

100%

permanent crops

0%

Location

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

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

territorial sea

3 nm

Natural resources

NEGL

Terrain

a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar

highest point

Rock of Gibraltar 426 m

lowest point

Mediterranean Sea 0 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 20% (male 3,109; female 2,728) 15-64 years: 66% (male 10,668; female 8,292) 65 years and over: 14% (male 1,582; female 2,386) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

13.94 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

8.73 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, Spanish

Infant mortality rate

6.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

81.31 years (1996 est.)

male

74.5 years

total population

77.83 years

Literacy

NA

Nationality

adjective

Gibraltar

noun

Gibraltarian(s)

Net migration rate

0.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

28,765 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

0.54% (1996 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

all ages

1.15 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

at birth

1.04 male(s)/female

under 15 years

1.14 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.29 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

2.26 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Administrative divisions

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Capital

Gibraltar

Constitution

30 May 1969

Data code

GI

Diplomatic representation in US

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Executive branch

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (of the United Kingdom since 6 February 1952), a hereditary monarch, is represented by Governor and Commander in Chief Field Marshal Sir John CHAPPLE (since NA March 1993)

head of government

Chief Minister Joe BOSSANO (since 25 March 1988) was appointed by the governor

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 was appointed from the elected members of the House of Assembly by the governor in consultation with the chief minister

House of Assembly

elections last held 16 January 1992 (next to be held NA January 1996); results - SL 73.3%, SD 20.2%, NP 4.7%, independents 1.8%; seats - (18 total, 15 elected) SL 8, SD 7

Independence

none (dependent territory of the UK)

International organization participation

Interpol (subbureau)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court; Court of Appeal

Legal system

English law

Legislative branch

unicameral

Name of country

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Gibraltar

National holiday

Commonwealth Day (second Monday of March)

Other political or pressure groups

Housewives Association; Chamber of Commerce; Gibraltar Representatives Organization

Political parties and leaders

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

Suffrage

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

Type of government

dependent territory of the UK

US diplomatic representation

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Agriculture

none

Budget

expenditures

$124 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992-93)

revenues

$116 million

Currency

1 Gibraltar pound (LG) = 100 pence

Economic aid

recipient

ODA, $NA

Economic overview

Gibraltar benefits from an extensive shipping trade and offshore banking. The British military presence has been sharply reduced and now contributes about 11% to the local economy. The financial sector accounts for 15% of GDP; tourism, shipping services fees, and duties on consumer goods also generate revenue. 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.

Electricity

capacity

47,000 kW

consumption per capita

2,539 kWh (1993)

production

90 million kWh

Exchange rates

Gibraltar pounds (LG) per US$1 - 0.6535 (January 1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991); note - the Gibraltar pound is at par with the British pound

Exports

$57 million (f.o.b., 1992)

commodities

(principally reexports) 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

GDP

purchasing power parity - $205 million (1993 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

NA%

industry

NA%

services

NA%

GDP per capita

$6,600 (1993 est.)

GDP real growth rate

NA%

Imports

$420 million (c.i.f., 1992)

commodities

fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs

partners

UK, Spain, Japan, Netherlands

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism, banking and finance, construction, commerce; support to large UK naval and air bases; tobacco, mineral waters, beer, canned fish

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

NA%

Labor force

14,800 (including non-Gibraltar laborers)

note

UK military establishments and civil government employ nearly 50% of the labor force

Unemployment rate

NA%

Branches

British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force

Defense note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0

Radios

NA

Telephone system

adequate, automatic domestic system and adequate international facilities

domestic

automatic exchange facilities

international

radiotelephone; microwave radio relay; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones

19,529 (1993 est.)

Television broadcast stations

4

Televisions

NA Defense

Airports

total

1

with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

1 (1995 est.)

Highways

paved

49.9 km

total

49.9 km (including 12.9 km public highways)

unpaved

0 km

Merchant marine

ships by type

bulk 1, cargo 3, chemical tanker 1, container 1, oil tanker 13 (1995 est.)

total

19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 357,730 GRT/635,769 DWT

Pipelines

none

Ports

Gibraltar

Railways

total

NA km; 1.000-m gauge system in dockyard area only