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  Gibraltar
(overseas territory of the UK)
 
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This page was last updated on 8 March, 2007


Map of Gibraltar



Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Gibraltar Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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. Although the current 1969 Constitution for Gibraltar states that the British government will never allow the people of Gibraltar to pass under the sovereignty of another state against their freely and democratically expressed wishes, 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 Gibraltarian Government set up a referendum in late 2002 in which a majority of the citizens voted overwhelmingly against any sharing of sovereignty with Spain. Since the referendum, tripartite talks have been held with Spain, the UK, and Gibraltar, and in September 2006 a three-way agreement was signed. Spain agreed to allow airlines other than British to serve Gibraltar, to speed up customs procedures, and to add more telephone lines into Gibraltar. Britain agreed to pay pensions to Spaniards who had been employed in Gibraltar before the border closed in 1969. Spain will be allowed to open a cultural institute from which the Spanish flag will fly.
   Geography    Gibraltar Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southern coast of Spain
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
36 8 N, 5 21 W
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Europe
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 6.5 sq km
land: 6.5 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1.2 km
border countries: Spain 1.2 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
12 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Rock of Gibraltar 426 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
none
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
limited natural freshwater resources: large concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rainwater (no longer used for drinking water) and adequate desalination plant
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea
   People    Gibraltar Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
27,928 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 17.5% (male 2,499/female 2,388)
15-64 years: 66% (male 9,443/female 8,999)
65 years and over: 16.5% (male 2,059/female 2,540) (2006 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 39.8 years
male: 39.4 years
female: 40.1 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
0.14% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
10.74 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
9.31 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 5.06 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.63 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 79.8 years
male: 76.92 years
female: 82.83 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.65 children born/woman (2006 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Gibraltarian(s)
adjective: Gibraltar
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Spanish, Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, German, North Africans
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
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)
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
English (used in schools and for official purposes), Spanish, Italian, Portuguese
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: NA
total population: above 80%
male: NA
female: NA
   Government    Gibraltar Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Gibraltar
Dependency status:
Definition Field Listing
overseas territory of the UK
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
NA
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
name: Gibraltar
geographic coordinates: 39 11 N, 5 22 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
Administrative divisions:
Definition Field Listing
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
none (overseas territory of the UK)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
National Day, 10 September (1967); note - day of the national referendum to decide whether to remain with the UK or go with Spain
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
30 May 1969
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
English law
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal; and British citizens who have been residents six months or more
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
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 15 elected members of the House of Assembly by the governor in consultation with the chief minister
elections: none; 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
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
unicameral House of Assembly (18 seats - 15 elected by popular vote, 1 appointed for the Speaker, and 2 ex officio members; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 27 November 2003 (next to be held not later than February 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - GSD 58%, GSLP 41%; seats by party - GSD 8, GSLP 7
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
Chamber of Commerce; Gibraltar Representatives Organization; Women's Association
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
Interpol (subbureau), UPU
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
none (overseas territory of the UK)
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
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
   Economy    Gibraltar Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$769 million (2000 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
NA
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$27,900 (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
12,690 (including non-Gibraltar laborers) (2001)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: negligible
industry: 40%
services: 60%
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.5% (1998)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $307 million
expenditures: $284 million; including capital expenditures of $NA (FY00/01 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
none
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
tourism, banking and finance, ship repairing, tobacco
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA%
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
131.2 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
122 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
24,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2004 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$271 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
(principally reexports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods 41%, other 8%
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
UK 30.8%, Spain 22.7%, Germany 13.7%, Turkmenistan 10.4%, Switzerland 8.3%, Italy 6.7% (2005)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$2.967 billion c.i.f. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Spain 23.4%, Russia 12.3%, Italy 12%, UK 9%, France 8.9%, Netherlands 6.8%, US 4.7% (2005)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$NA (2000 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
$NA
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
Gibraltar pound (GIP)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
Gibraltar pounds per US dollar - 0.5434 (2006), 0.5504 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003), 0.6672 (2002), note, the Gibraltar pound is at par with the British pound
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
1 July - 30 June
   Communications    Gibraltar Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
24,512 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
9,797 (2002)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
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)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
1 (plus 3 repeaters) (1997)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.gi
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
641 (2006)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6,200 (2002)
   Transportation    Gibraltar Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 29 km
paved: 29 km (2002)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 180 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,129,379 GRT/1,437,754 DWT
by type: barge carrier 3, bulk carrier 1, cargo 105, chemical tanker 26, container 26, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 11, roll on/roll off 6, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 165 (Belgium 2, Cyprus 1, Denmark 1, Finland 3, France 1, Germany 108, Greece 7, Iceland 1, Ireland 1, Italy 6, Latvia 2, Netherlands 5, Norway 18, Sweden 5, UK 4) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Gibraltar
   Military    Gibraltar Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Royal Gibraltar Regiment
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 5,959 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 4,893 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 187 (2005 est.)
Military - note:
Definition Field Listing
defense is the responsibility of the UK; the Royal Gibraltar Regiment replaced the last British regular infantry forces in 1992
   Transnational Issues    Gibraltar Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
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 8 March, 2007


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