2010 Edition

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 late 2004, tripartite talks among Spain, the UK, and Gibraltar have been held with the aim of cooperatively resolving problems that affect the local population, and work continues on cooperation agreements in areas such as taxation and financial services; communications and maritime security; policy, legal and customs services; environmental protection; and education and visa services. Throughout 2009, a dispute over Gibraltar's claim to territorial waters extending out three miles gave rise to periodic non-violent maritime confrontations between Spanish and UK naval patrols. A new noncolonial constitution came into effect in 2007, and the European Court of First Instance recognized Gibraltar's right to regulate its own tax regime in December 2008, but the UK retains responsibility for defense, foreign relations, internal security, and financial stability.

Area

land

6.5 sq km

total

6.5 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

more than 10 times the size of The National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Climate

Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers

Coastline

12 km

Elevation extremes

highest point

Rock of Gibraltar 426 m

lowest point

Mediterranean Sea 0 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

border countries

Spain 1.2 km

total

1.2 km

Land use

arable land

0%

other

100% (2005)

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 hazards

NA

Natural resources

none

Terrain

a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar

Age structure

0-14 years: 20.9% (male 3,088/female 2,922) 15-64 years: 66.4% (male 9,667/female 9,467) 65 years and over: 12.7% (male 1,754/female 1,898) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

14.2 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

8.17 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 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

female

5.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

7.6 deaths/1,000 live births

total

6.82 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

81.56 years (2010 est.)

male

75.69 years

total population

78.53 years

Literacy

definition: NA

female

NA

male

NA

total population

above 80%

Median age

female

34.1 years (2010 est.)

male

32.2 years

total

33.1 years

Nationality

adjective

Gibraltar

noun

Gibraltarian(s)

Net migration rate

-3.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

28,877 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

0.27% (2010 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

1.071 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.96 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

100% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Capital

daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

geographic coordinates

36 08 N, 5 21 W

name

Gibraltar

time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed from among the 17 elected members of the Parliament by the governor in consultation with the chief minister (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Vice Admiral Sir Adrian JOHNS (since 26 October 2009)

elections

the monarchy 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

head of government

Chief Minister Peter CARUANA (since 17 May 1996)

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; the design is that of Gibraltar's coat of arms granted on 10 July 1502 by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain; the castle symbolizes Gibraltar as a fortress, while the key represents Gibraltar's strategic importance - the key to the Mediterranean

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; members serve four-year terms)

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

elections

last held on 11 October 2007 (next to be held not later than October 2011)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Peter EMBERLEY note: adopted 1994; serves as a local anthem; as a territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen" remains official (see United Kingdom)

name

"Gibraltar Anthem"

National holiday

National Day, 10 September (1967); note - day of the national referendum to decide whether to remain with the UK or join 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

Agriculture - products

none

Debt - external

$NA

Economy - overview

Self-sufficient Gibraltar benefits from an extensive shipping trade, offshore banking, and its position as an international conference center. Tax rates are low to attract foreign investment. 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), gaming revenues, shipping services fees, and duties on consumer goods also generate revenue. The financial sector, tourism, and the shipping sector contribute 30%, 30%, and 25%, respectively, of GDP. Telecommunications, e-commerce, and e-gaming account for the remaining 15%. 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

146 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

146 million kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates

Gibraltar pounds (GIP) per US dollar - 0.6494 (2009), 0.5302 (2008), 0.4993 (2007), 0.5418 (2006) note: the Gibraltar pound is at par with the British pound

Exports

$271 million (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

(principally reexports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

0%

industry

0%

services

100% (2008)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$38,400 (2006 est.) $38,200 (2005 est.) $27,900 (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

3.7% (2006) 7% (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.106 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.106 billion (2006 est.) $1.066 billion (2005 est.) $769 million (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$2.967 billion (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism, banking and finance, ship repairing, tobacco

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.6% (2006) 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 (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

21,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

25,610 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

15.5% of GDP (2006) 15.7% of GDP (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

3% (2005 est.)

Broadcast media

Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) provides television and radio broadcasting services via 1 television station and 4 radio stations; British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) operates 1 radio station; broadcasts from Spanish radio and TV stations are accessible (2008)

Internet country code

.gi

Internet hosts

2,053 (2010)

Internet users

20,200 (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

automatic exchange facilities

general assessment

adequate, automatic domestic system and adequate international facilities

international

country code - 350; radiotelephone; microwave radio relay; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

24,000 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

28,600 (2009)

Airports

1 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 1, cargo 139, chemical tanker 65, container 35, liquefied gas 2, petroleum tanker 11, roll on/roll off 4, vehicle carrier 8

foreign-owned

250 (Belgium 2, Cyprus 1, Denmark 6, Finland 2, Germany 125, Greece 7, Iceland 1, Italy 4, Jersey 1, Morocco 4, Netherlands 33, Norway 42, Singapore 1, Sweden 12, UAE 5, UK 4)

registered in other countries

6 (Liberia 5, Panama 1) (2010)

total

265

Ports and terminals

Gibraltar

Roadways

paved

29 km (2007)

total

29 km

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 6,949 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 5,955 females age 16-49: 5,687 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

233 (2010 est.)

male

250

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 (2009)

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 page last updated on January 26, 2011 ======================================================================