2015 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 Spain to close the border and sever all communication links. Between 1997 and 2002, the UK and Spain held a series of talks 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, Spain, the UK, and Gibraltar have held tripartite talks 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 and in 2013, the British reported a record number of entries by Spanish vessels into waters claimed by Gibraltar following a dispute over Gibraltar's creation of an artificial reef in those waters. 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. 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 (1)

Spain 1.2 km

total

1.2 km

Land use

arable land 0%; permanent crops 0%; permanent pasture 0%

agricultural land

0%

forest

0%

other

100% (2011 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

none

Terrain

a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar

Age structure

0-14 years

20.11% (male 3,014/female 2,870)

15-24 years

15.58% (male 2,383/female 2,174)

25-54 years

38.44% (male 5,678/female 5,569)

55-64 years

10.47% (male 1,418/female 1,644)

65 years and over

15.41% (male 2,216/female 2,292) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

14.08 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Death rate

8.37 deaths/1,000 population (2015 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

5.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

6.85 deaths/1,000 live births

total

6.16 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

82.34 years (2015 est.)

male

76.43 years

total population

79.28 years

Major urban areas - population

GIBRALTAR (capital) 29,000 (2014)

Median age

female

35.2 years (2015 est.)

male

33.3 years

total

34.2 years

Nationality

adjective

Gibraltar

noun

Gibraltarian(s)

Net migration rate

-3.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Population

29,258 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

0.24% (2015 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 78.1%, Church of England 7%, Muslim 4%, other Christian 3.2%, Jewish 2.1%, Hindu 1.8%, other 0.9%, none 2.9% (2001 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.1 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.02 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.86 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.97 male(s)/female

at birth

1.07 male(s)/female

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.91 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.07% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

100% of total population (2015)

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)

Citizenship

see United Kingdom

Constitution

previous 1969; latest passed by referendum 30 November 2006, entered into effect 14 December 2006, entered into force 2 January 2007 (2015)

Country name

conventional long form

none

conventional short form

Gibraltar

etymology

from the Spanish derivation of the Arabic "Jabal Tariq," which means "Mountain of Tariq" and which refers to the Rock of 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

chief of state

Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Sir James DUTTON (since 6 December 2013); note - Governor DUTTON has resigned and left his post on 28 September 2015; Alison MACMILLAN becomes acting governor; Lt. Gen. Edward DAVIS was appointed governor on 1 October 2015 and will take office in early 2016

elections/appointments

the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed chief minister by the governor

head of government

Chief Minister Fabian PICARDO (since 9 December 2011)

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

ICC (NGOs), Interpol (subbureau), UPU

Judicial branch

highest resident court(s)

Court of Appeal (consists of at least 3 judges, including the court president); Supreme Court of Gibraltar (consists of the chief justice and 3 judges); note - appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)

judge selection and term of office

Court of Appeal and Supreme Court judges appointed by the governor upon the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, a 7-member body of judges and appointees of the governor; tenure of the Court of Appeal president based on terms of appointment; Supreme Court chief justice and judge normally appointed until retirement at age 67, but can be extended 3 years

subordinate courts

Court of First Instance; Magistrates' Court; specialized tribunals for issues relating to social security, taxes, and employment

Legal system

the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply

Legislative branch

description

unicameral Parliament (18 seats; 17 members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by majority vote and 1 appointed by Parliament as speaker; members serve 4-year terms)

election results

percent of vote by party - GSLP 68.4%, GSD 31.6%; seats by party - GSLP 10, GSD 7

elections

last held on 26 November 2015 (next to be held not later than December 2019)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Peter EMBERLEY

name

"Gibraltar Anthem"

note

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

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

Barbary macaque; national colors: red, white, yellow

Political parties and leaders

Gibraltar Liberal Party [Joseph GARCIA]

Gibraltar Social Democrats or GSD [Daniel FEETHAM]

Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party or GSLP [Fabian PICARDO]

Progressive Democratic Party [Nick CRUZ]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Chamber of Commerce

Gibraltar Representatives Organization

Women's Association

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal; and British citizens with six months residence or more

Agriculture - products

none

Budget

expenditures

$452.3 million (2008 est.)

revenues

$475.8 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

1.3% of GDP (2008 est.)

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 (over 11 million visitors in 2012), 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.

Exchange rates

Gibraltar pounds (GIP) per US dollar -

0.7489 (2014 est.)

0.7634 (2013 est.)

0.64 (2012)

0.624 (2011)

0.6472 (2010)

Exports

$271 million (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

(principally reexports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods (2010 est.)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

0%

industry

0%

services

100% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$43,000 (2008 est.)

$41,200 (2007 est.)

$38,400 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

6% (2008 est.)

8.8% (2007 est.)

0% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.85 billion (2013 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.85 billion (2013 est.)

$2 billion (2012 est.)

$1.106 billion (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$2.967 billion (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

fuels, manufactured goods, foodstuffs

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

tourism, banking and finance, ship repairing, tobacco

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.5% (2013 est.)

2.2% (2012 est.)

Labor force

22,910 (2001) (2013 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

NEGL

industry

40%

services

60% (2001)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

7.5% of GDP (2008 est.)

9.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

25.7% of GDP (2008 est.)

Unemployment rate

3% (2005 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

3.946 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2015 est.)

Electricity - consumption

160 million kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

43,000 kW (2012 est.)

Electricity - production

165 million kWh (2012 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

53,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

53,970 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Broadcast media

Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) provides TV and radio broadcasting services via 1 TV 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 users

percent of population

70.14% (2009)

total

20,200

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)

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 - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

80 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

23,400

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

130 (2014 est.)

total

38,000

Television broadcast stations

1 (plus 3 repeaters) (1997)

Airports

1 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2013)

total

1

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 3, cargo 146, chemical tanker 64, container 28, liquefied gas 2, petroleum tanker 14, roll on/roll off 2, vehicle carrier 8

foreign-owned

254 (Belgium 1, Cyprus 1, Denmark 7, Finland 2, Germany 123, Greece 8, Iceland 1, Italy 4, Jersey 1, Morocco 4, Netherlands 34, Norway 46, Sweden 11, UAE 5, UK 6)

registered in other countries

6 (Liberia 5, Panama 1) (2010)

total

267

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Gibraltar

Roadways

paved

29 km (2007)

total

29 km

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49

7,037 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

5,706 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

6,017

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

220 (2010 est.)

male

228

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 (2013)

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