Gibraltar
(overseas territory of the UK)
 
Flag of Gibraltar
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This page was last updated on 4 September 2008


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. 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    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 08 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
a little less than one half the size of Rhode Island
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
28,002 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
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.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 40.3 years
male: 39.8 years
female: 40.7 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
0.125% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
10.71 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
9.46 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 0.985 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
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.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 80.06 years
male: 77.17 years
female: 83.09 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.65 children born/woman (2008 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
Education expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
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: 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
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
5 June 2006; came into force 2 January 2007
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply
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 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
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
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
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
$1.066 billion (2005 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$1.066 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$38,200 (2005 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% (2001)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3% (2005 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
2.9% (2005)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $455.1 million
expenditures: $423.6 million (2005 est.)
Public debt:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
15.7% of GDP (2005 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
141 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
141 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2005)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
25,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
24,350 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (1 January 2006 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% (2006)
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% (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
$NA
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$NA
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
Gibraltar pound (GIP)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
Gibraltar pounds 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
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
380 (2007)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6,200 (2002)
   Transportation    Gibraltar Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 29 km
paved: 29 km (2002)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 230 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,554,440 GRT/2,105,789 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 122, chemical tanker 50, container 35, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 10, roll on/roll off 6
foreign-owned: 216 (Belgium 2, Cyprus 4, Denmark 7, Finland 4, Germany 120, Greece 7, Iceland 1, India 1, Italy 1, Morocco 4, Netherlands 18, Norway 31, Sweden 12, UAE 2, UK 2)
registered in other countries: 9 (Liberia 7, Panama 1, St Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2008)
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 16-49: 6,308 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 16-49: 5,244 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Definition Field Listing
males age 16-49: 190 (2008 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 4 September 2008


 

Source : The World Factbook