2008 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2008 (Project Gutenberg)
Introduction
Background
Strategically important, Gibraltar was reluctantly ceded to Great Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht; the British garrison was formally declared a colony in 1830. In a referendum held in 1967, Gibraltarians voted overwhelmingly to remain a British dependency. The subsequent granting of autonomy in 1969 by the UK led to Spain closing the border and severing all communication links. A series of talks were held by the UK and Spain between 1997 and 2002 on establishing temporary joint sovereignty over Gibraltar. In response to these talks, the Gibraltar Government called a referendum in late 2002 in which the majority of citizens voted overwhelmingly against any sharing of sovereignty with Spain. Since the referendum, tripartite talks on other issues have been held with Spain, the UK, and Gibraltar, and in September 2006 a three-way agreement was signed. Spain agreed to remove restrictions on air movements, to speed up customs procedures, to implement international telephone dialing, and to allow mobile roaming agreements. Britain agreed to pay increased pensions to Spaniards who had been employed in Gibraltar before the border closed. Spain will be allowed to open a cultural institute from which the Spanish flag will fly. A new noncolonial constitution came into effect in 2007, but the UK retains responsibility for defense, foreign relations, internal security, and financial stability.
Geography
Area
total: 6.5 sq km land: 6.5 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
a little less than one half the size of Rhode Island
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: large concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rainwater (no longer used for drinking water) and adequate desalination plant
Geographic coordinates
36 08 N, 5 21 W
Geography - note
strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea
Irrigated land
NA
Land boundaries
total: 1.2 km border countries: Spain 1.2 km
Land use
arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)
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
none
Terrain
a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 16.9% (male 2,426/female 2,309) 15-64 years: 66.6% (male 9,507/female 9,153) 65 years and over: 16.5% (male 2,103/female 2,504) (2008 est.)
Birth rate
10.71 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate
9.46 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Education expenditures
NA
Ethnic groups
Spanish, Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, German, North Africans
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
NA
Infant mortality rate
total: 4.91 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.46 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Languages
English (used in schools and for official purposes), Spanish, Italian, Portuguese
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 80.06 years male: 77.17 years female: 83.09 years (2008 est.)
Literacy
definition: NA total population: above 80% male: NA female: NA
Median age
total: 40.3 years male: 39.8 years female: 40.7 years (2008 est.)
Nationality
noun: Gibraltarian(s) adjective: Gibraltar
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Population
28,002 (July 2008 est.)
Population growth rate
0.125% (2008 est.)
Religions
Roman Catholic 78.1%, Church of England 7%, other Christian 3.2%, Muslim 4%, Jewish 2.1%, Hindu 1.8%, other or unspecified 0.9%, none 2.9% (2001 census)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.65 children born/woman (2008 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Capital
name: Gibraltar geographic coordinates: 36 08 N, 5 21 W time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Constitution
5 June 2006; came into force 2 January 2007
Country name
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Gibraltar
Dependency status
overseas territory of the UK
Diplomatic representation from the US
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Sir Robert FULTON (since 27 October 2006) head of government: Chief Minister Peter CARUANA (since 17 May 1996) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed from among the 17 elected members of the Parliament by the governor in consultation with the chief minister elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed chief minister 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 (overseas territory of the UK)
International organization participation
Interpol (subbureau), UPU
Judicial branch
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal
Legal system
the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply
Legislative branch
unicameral Parliament (18 seats: 17 members elected by popular vote, 1 for the Speaker appointed by Parliament; to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 11 October 2007 (next to be held not later than October 2011) election results: percent of vote by party - GSD 49.3%, GSLP 31.8%, Gibraltar Liberal Party 13.6%; seats by party - GSD 10, GSLP 4, Gibraltar Liberal Party 3
National holiday
National Day, 10 September (1967); note - day of the national referendum to decide whether to remain with the UK or go with Spain
Political parties and leaders
Gibraltar Liberal Party [Joseph GARCIA]; Gibraltar Social Democrats or GSD [Peter CARUANA]; Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party or GSLP [Joseph John BOSSANO]
Political pressure groups and leaders
Chamber of Commerce; Gibraltar Representatives Organization; Women's Association
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal; and British citizens who have been residents six months or more
Economy
Agriculture - products
none
Budget
revenues: $455.1 million expenditures: $423.6 million (2005 est.)
Currency (code)
Gibraltar pound (GIP)
Currency code
GIP
Debt - external
$NA
Economic aid - recipient
$NA
Economy - overview
Self-sufficient 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 7% to the local economy, compared with 60% in 1984. The financial sector, tourism (almost 5 million visitors in 1998), shipping services fees, and duties on consumer goods also generate revenue. The financial sector, the shipping sector, and tourism each contribute 25%-30% of GDP. Telecommunications accounts for another 10%. In recent years, Gibraltar has seen major structural change from a public to a private sector economy, but changes in government spending still have a major impact on the level of employment.
Electricity - consumption
142 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production
142 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - production by source
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Exchange rates
Gibraltar pounds (GIP) per US dollar - 0.4993 (2007), 0.5434 (2006), 0.5504 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003) note: the Gibraltar pound is at par with the British pound
Exports
$271 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities
(principally reexports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods 41%, other 8%
Exports - partners
UK 30.8%, Spain 22.7%, Germany 13.7%, Turkmenistan 10.4%, Switzerland 8.3%, Italy 6.7% (2006)
Fiscal year
1 July - 30 June
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$38,200 (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
7% (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$1.066 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$1.066 billion (2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$2.967 billion c.i.f. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities
fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs
Imports - partners
Spain 23.4%, Russia 12.3%, Italy 12%, UK 9%, France 8.9%, Netherlands 6.8%, US 4.7% (2006)
Industrial production growth rate
NA%
Industries
tourism, banking and finance, ship repairing, tobacco
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
2.9% (2005)
Labor force
12,690 (including non-Gibraltar laborers) (2001)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: negligible industry: 40% services: 60% (2001)
Natural gas - consumption
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - production
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Oil - consumption
22,620 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports
0 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports
25,080 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - production
0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - proved reserves
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Public debt
15.7% of GDP (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate
3% (2005 est.)
Communications
Internet country code
.gi
Internet hosts
1,904 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
2 (2000)
Internet users
6,200 (2002)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios
37,000 (1997)
Telephone system
general assessment: adequate, automatic domestic system and adequate international facilities domestic: automatic exchange facilities international: country code - 350; radiotelephone; microwave radio relay; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use
24,512 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular
9,797 (2002)
Television broadcast stations
1 (plus 3 repeaters) (1997)
Televisions
10,000 (1997)
Transportation
Airports
1 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Merchant marine
total: 240 by type: bulk carrier 5, cargo 125, chemical tanker 51, container 43, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 10, roll on/roll off 5 foreign-owned: 225 (Belgium 2, Cyprus 1, Denmark 7, Finland 3, Germany 129, Greece 6, Iceland 1, Morocco 4, Netherlands 21, Norway 33, Sweden 13, UAE 3, UK 2) registered in other countries: 7 (Liberia 5, Panama 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals
Gibraltar
Roadways
total: 29 km paved: 29 km (2007)
Military and Security
Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49: 6,308 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49: 5,244 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male: 190 female: 185 (2008 est.)
Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the UK; the Royal Gibraltar Regiment replaced the last British regular infantry forces in 1992
Military branches
Royal Gibraltar Regiment
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
in 2002, Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by referendum to reject any "shared sovereignty" arrangement; the government of Gibraltar insists on equal participation in talks between the UK and Spain; Spain disapproves of UK plans to grant Gibraltar even greater autonomy This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008