1998 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1998 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 6.5 sq km land: 6.5 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area-comparative
about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Climate
Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers
Coastline
12 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Rock of Gibraltar 426 m
Environment-current issues
limited natural freshwater resources, so large concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rain water
Environment-international agreements
party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geographic coordinates
36 11 N, 5 22 W
Geography-note
strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea
Irrigated land
NA sq km
Land boundaries
total: 1.2 km border countries: Spain 1.2 km
Land use
arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland: NA% other: 100% (1993 est.)
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 hazards
NA
Natural resources
NEGL
Terrain
a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 20% (male 3,131; female 2,731) 15-64 years: 66% (male 10,835; female 8,262) 65 years and over: 14% (male 1,684; female 2,402) (July 1998 est.)
Birth rate
13.01 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Death rate
8.78 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Ethnic groups
Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, Spanish
Infant mortality rate
6.61 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)
Languages
English (used in schools and for official purposes), Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 78.19 years male: 74.9 years female: 81.64 years (1998 est.)
Literacy
definition: NA total population: above 95% male: NA% female: NA%
Nationality
noun: Gibraltarian(s) adjective: Gibraltar
Net migration rate
0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)
Population
29,045 (July 1998 est.)
Population growth rate
0.43% (1998 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic 74%, Protestant 11% (Church of England 8%, other 3%), Muslim 8%, Jewish 2%, none or other 5% (1981)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.15 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.31 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Total fertility rate
2.19 children born/woman (1998 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Constitution
30 May 1969
Country name
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Gibraltar
Data code
GI
Dependency status
dependent territory of the UK
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Admiral Sir Richard LUCE (24 February 1997) head of government: Chief Minister Peter CARUANA (since 17 May 1996) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed from among the elected members of the House of Assembly by the governor in consultation with the chief minister note: there is also a Gibraltar Council that advises the governor elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor appointed by the queen; chief minister appointed by the governor
Flag 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
Government type
NA
Independence
none (dependent territory of the UK)
International organization participation
Interpol (subbureau) Diplomatic representation in the US: none (dependent territory of the UK) Diplomatic representation from the US: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal Political parties and leaders: Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party or SL [Joe BOSSANO]; Gibraltar Labor Party/Association for the Advancement of Civil Rights or GCL/AACR [Adolfo CANEPA]; Gibraltar Social Democrats or SD [Peter CARUANA]; Gibraltar National Party or NP [Joe GARCIA] Political pressure groups and leaders: Housewives Association; Chamber of Commerce; Gibraltar Representatives Organization
Legal system
English law
Legislative branch
unicameral House of Assembly (18 seats, 15 elected, the Speaker, and 2 ex officio; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 16 May 1996 (next to be held NA May 2000) election results: percent of vote by party-SD 53%, SL 42%, NP 3%; seats by party-SD 8, SL 7
National capital
Gibraltar
National holiday
Commonwealth Day (second Monday of March)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal, plus other UK subjects resident six months or more
Economy
Agriculture-products
none
Budget
revenues: $111.6 million expenditures: $115.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995/96)
Currency
1 Gibraltar pound (£G) = 100 pence
Debt-external
$NA
Economic aid
recipient: ODA, $NA
Economy-overview
Gibraltar benefits from an extensive shipping trade, offshore banking, and its position as an international conference center. 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 (more than 5 million visitors in 1995), 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
30,000 kW (1995)
Electricity-consumption per capita
2,667 kWh (1995)
Electricity-production
85 million kWh (1995)
Exchange rates
Gibraltar pounds (£G) per US$1-0.6115 (January 1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993); note - the Gibraltar pound is at par with the British pound
Exports
total value: $83.7 million (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: (principally reexports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods 41%, other 8% partners: UK, Morocco, Portugal, Netherlands, Spain, US, FRG
Fiscal year
1 July-30 June Communications
GDP
purchasing power parity-$500 million (1997 est.)
GDP-composition by sector
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
GDP-per capita
purchasing power parity-$17,500 (1997 est.)
GDP-real growth rate
NA%
Imports
total value: $778 million (c.i.f., 1995) commodities: fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs partners: UK, Spain, Japan, Netherlands
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
tourism, banking and finance, ship-building and repairing; support to large UK naval and air bases; tobacco, mineral waters, beer, canned fish
Inflation rate-consumer price index
2.1% (1996)
Labor force
total: 14,800 (including non-Gibraltar laborers) by occupation: services 60%, industry 40%, agriculture NEGL
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
19,356 (1994)
Television broadcast stations
4
Televisions
NA
Unemployment rate
13.5% (1996)
Transportation
Airports
1 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1997 est.)
Highways
total: 49.9 km (including 12.9 km public highways) paved: 49.9 km unpaved: 0 km
Merchant marine
total: 18 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 360,880 GRT/627,429 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 1, chemical tanker 2, container 1, oil tanker 12, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1 (1997 est.)
Pipelines
0 km Ports and harbors: Gibraltar
Railways
total: NA km; 1.000-m gauge system in dockyard area only
Military and Security
Military branches
British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force
Military-note
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Transnational Issues
Disputes-international
source of friction between Spain and the UK GLORIOSO ISLANDS (possession of France)