2023 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. A new noncolonial constitution came into force 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. Spain and the UK continue to spar over the territory. 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. Spain renewed its demands for an eventual return of Gibraltar to Spanish control after the UK’s June 2016 vote to leave the EU, but London has dismissed any connection between the vote and its continued sovereignty over Gibraltar. 

Area

land

6.5 sq km

total

7 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

highest point

Rock of Gibraltar 426 m

lowest point

Mediterranean Sea 0 m

Geographic coordinates

36 08 N, 5 21 W

Geography - note

note 1: strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea note 2: one of only two British territories where traffic drives on the right, the other being the island of Diego Garcia in the British Indian Ocean Territory

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

border countries

Spain 1.2 km

total

1.2 km

Land use

agricultural land

0% (2011 est.)

other

100% (2018 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

occasional droughts; no streams or large bodies of water on the peninsula (all potable water comes from desalination)

Natural resources

none

Terrain

a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar

Age structure

0-14 years

19.99% (male 3,034/female 2,888)

15-64 years

62.62% (male 9,357/female 9,197)

65 years and over

17.39% (2023 est.) (male 2,523/female 2,630)

Birth rate

13.8 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current health expenditure

NA

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

40.7% (2023 est.)

Death rate

8.7 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

32.7

potential support ratio

3.1 (2021)

total dependency ratio

60.1

youth dependency ratio

27.4

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: NA

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: NA

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

Gibraltarian 79%, other British 13.2%, Spanish 2.1%, Moroccan 1.6%, other EU 2.4%, other 1.6% (2012 est.)

note

note: data represent population by nationality

Gross reproduction rate

0.93 (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

5.3 deaths/1,000 live births

male

6.9 deaths/1,000 live births

total

6.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

83.6 years

male

77.8 years

total population

80.7 years (2023 est.)

Literacy

female

NA

male

NA

total population

NA

Major urban areas - population

35,000 GIBRALTAR (capital) (2018)

Median age

female

37.2 years

male

36 years

total

36.6 years (2023 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Gibraltar

noun

Gibraltarian(s)

Net migration rate

-3.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Physicians density

NA

Population

29,629 (2023 est.)

Population growth rate

0.19% (2023 est.)

Religions

Roman Catholic 72.1%, Church of England 7.7%, other Christian 3.8%, Muslim 3.6%, Jewish 2.4%, Hindu 2%, other 1.1%, none 7.1%, unspecified 0.1% (2012 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: NA

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: NA

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.96 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.9 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.45% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

100% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Capital

daylight saving time

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

etymology

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

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

amendments

proposed by Parliament and requires prior consent of the British monarch (through the Secretary of State); passage requires at least three-fourths majority vote in Parliament followed by simple majority vote in a referendum; note – only sections 1 through 15 in Chapter 1 (Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms) can be amended by Parliament

history

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

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

embassy

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 Parliament by the governor in consultation with the chief minister

chief of state

King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Sir David STEEL (since 11 June 2020)

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

parliamentary democracy (Parliament); self-governing overseas territory of the UK

Independence

none (overseas territory of the UK)

International organization participation

ICC (NGOs), Interpol (subbureau), UPU

Judicial branch

highest 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 judges normally appointed until retirement at age 67 but tenure 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-Liberal Alliance 58.8% (GSLP 41.2%, LPG 17.6%), GSD 35.3%, TG 5.8%, independent 1.4%; seats by party - GSLP-Liberal Alliance 10 (GSLP 7, LPG 3), GSD 6, TG 1; composition including Parliament speaker - men 16, women 2, percent of women 11.1%

elections

last held on 17 October 2019 (next to be held by February 2024)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Peter EMBERLEY

name

"Gibraltar Anthem"

note

note: adopted 1994; serves as a local anthem; as an overseas territory of the United Kingdom, "God Save the King" is 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 or Liberal Party of Gibraltar or LPG [Joseph GARCIA]Gibraltar Social Democrats or GSD [Keith AZOPARDI]Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party or GSLP [Fabian PICARDO]Together Gibraltar or TG [Marlene HASSAN-NAHON]

Suffrage

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

Agricultural products

none

Budget

expenditures

$452.3 million (2008 est.)

revenues

$475.8 million (2008 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

1.1% (of GDP) (2008 est.)

Debt - external

NA

Economic overview

British territorial high-income economy; Brexit caused significant economic disruption to longstanding financial services, shipping, and tourism industries; ongoing negotiations to rejoin EU Schengen Area; independent taxation authority

Exchange rates

Currency

Gibraltar pounds (GIP) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2017

0.777 (2017 est.)

Exchange rates 2018

0.75 (2018 est.)

Exchange rates 2019

0.783 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

0.78 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.727 (2021 est.)

Exports

Exports 2004

$271 million (2004 est.)

Exports 2014

$202.3 million (2014 est.)

Exports - commodities

cars and vehicle parts, ships, refined petroleum, recreational boats, designer watches (2021)

Exports - partners

Poland 31%, Netherlands 27%, France 11%, Germany 8%, United States 6% (2019)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

0% (2016 est.)

industry

0% (2008 est.)

services

100% (2016 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.044 billion (2014 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA

lowest 10%

NA

Imports

Imports 2004

$2.967 billion (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, recreational boats, cars, coal tar oil, crude petroleum (2019)

Imports - partners

Spain 19%, US 12%, India 12%, Italy 12%, Netherlands 11%, United Kingdom 7%, Greece 6% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate

NA

Industries

tourism, banking and finance, ship repairing, tobacco

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2012

2.2% (2012 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2013

2.5% (2013 est.)

Labor force

24,420 (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

NEGL

industry

1.8%

services

98.2% (2014 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA

Public debt

Public debt 2006

8.4% of GDP (2006 est.)

Public debt 2008

7.5% of GDP (2008 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2014 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2012

$2 billion (2012 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2013

$1.85 billion (2013 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014

$2.044 billion (2014 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2007

$41,200 (2007 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2008

$43,000 (2008 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2014

$61,700 (2014 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

23.3% (of GDP) (2008 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2016

1% (2016 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas

111,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

14.146 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

total emissions

14.256 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Coal

consumption

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

exports

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

imports

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

production

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves

0 metric tons (2019 est.)

Electricity

consumption

198.86 million kWh (2019 est.)

exports

0 kWh (2019 est.)

imports

0 kWh (2019 est.)

installed generating capacity

43,000 kW (2020 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

7 million kWh (2019 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2021)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

geothermal

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

hydroelectricity

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

nuclear

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

solar

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

tide and wave

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

wind

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2019

0 Btu/person (2019 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

74.756 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

exports

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

imports

56.719 million cubic meters (2019 est.)

production

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

proven reserves

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil and lease condensate exports

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate imports

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves

0 barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

83,700 bbl/day (2019 est.)

total petroleum production

0 bbl/day (2021 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

74,200 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

62 (2020 est.)

total

21,009 (2020 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

Internet country code

.gi

Internet users

percent of population

94.4% (2021 est.)

total

31,152 (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

53 per 100 fixed-line and 100 per 100 mobile-cellular (2021)

general assessment

Gibraltar’s population is urban-based, served by a digital telephone exchange supported by a fiber optic and copper infrastructure; near universal mobile and Internet use (2019)

international

country code - 350; landing point for the EIG to Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East via submarine cables; radiotelephone; microwave radio relay; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

53 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

17,000 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

100 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

34,000 (2021 est.)

Airports

1 (2021)

Airports - with paved runways

1

note

note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

VP-G

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 8, container ship 12, general cargo 36, oil tanker 16, other 83

total

155 (2022)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Gibraltar

Roadways

paved

29 km (2007)

total

29 km (2007)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Military and security forces

Royal Gibraltar Regiment (2023)

Military and security service personnel strengths

the Royal Gibraltar Regiment has more than 400 personnel (2023)

Disputes - international

the status of Gibraltar and how to police the border with Spain has been a point of contention since the UK's 2016 vote to leave the EU; the peninsula was excluded from the exit deal reached between Britain and the EU; informal arrangements are in place while the two sides negotiate over Gibraltar, which overwhelmingly backed remaining in the EU in the Brexit referendum

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

0.63 megatons (2016 est.)

Climate

Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers

Environment - current issues

limited natural freshwater resources: more than 90% of drinking water supplied by desalination, the remainder from stored rainwater; a separate supply of saltwater used for sanitary services

Land use

agricultural land

0% (2011 est.)

other

100% (2018 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

0.45% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

urban population

100% of total population (2023)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

16,954 tons (2012 est.)