Map of Gibraltar | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

top of page


Background: Strategically important Gibraltar was ceded to Great Britain by Spain in 1713. In a 1967 referendum Gibraltarians ignored Spanish pressure and voted overwhelmingly to remain a British dependency.


top of page


Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, which links the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, on the southern coast of Spain

Geographic coordinates

Map reference: Africa, Europe

Area
Total area total: 6.5 km²
Land: 6.5 km²

Land boundaries: total 1.2 km, Spain 1.2 km

Coastline: 12 km

Maritime claims
Exclusive fishing zone: 3 nm
Territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate: Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers

Terrain: a narrow coastal lowland borders The Rock

Elevation

Natural resources: negligible

Land use
Arable land: 0%
Permanent crops: 0%
Meadows and pastures: 0%
Forest and woodland: 0%
Other: 100%

Irrigated land: NA km²

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards: NA

Geography
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK


top of page


Population: 31,684 (July 1994 est.)
Growth rate: 0.58% (1994 est.)

Nationality: noun:Gibraltarian(s)

Ethnic groups

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

Religions: Roman Catholic 74%, Protestant 11% (Church of England 8%, other 3%), Moslem 8%, Jewish 2%, none or other 5% (1981)

Demographic profile

Age structure

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 0.58% (1994 est.)

Birth rate: 15.37 births/1000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate: 8.87 deaths/1000 population (1994 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.73 migrant(s)/1000 population (1994 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: natural freshwater sources are meager, so large concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rain water
International agreements: NA

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 8.1 deaths/1000 live births (1994 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 76.33 years
Male: 73.44 years
Female: 79.19 years (1994 est.)

Total fertility rate: 2.33 children born/woman (1994 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy
Total population: NA%
Male: NA%
Female: NA%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


top of page


Country name
Conventional long form:

Government type: dependent territory of the UK

Capital: Gilbraltar

Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Dependent areas

Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)

National holiday: Commonwealth Day (second Monday of March)

Constitution: 30 May 1969

Legal system: English law

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal, plus other UK subjects resident six months or more

Executive branch
Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor and Commander in Chief Gen. Sir John CHAPPLE (since NA March 1993)
Head of government: Chief Minister Joe BOSSANO (since 25 March 1988)
Gibraltar Council: advises the governor

Legislative branch: British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force
House of Assembly: elections last held on 16 January 1992 (next to be held January 1996); results - SL 73.3%; seats - (18 total, 15 elected) number of seats by party NA

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: INTERPOL (subbureau)

Diplomatic representation
From the us:

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

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


top of page


Economy overview: The British military presence has been severely reduced and now only contributes about 11% to the local economy. The financial sector accounts for 15% of GDP; tourism and shipping services fees also generate income. Because more than 70% of the economy is in the public sector, changes in government spending have a major impact on the level of employment. Construction workers are particularly affected when government expenditures are cut.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 5% (FY87)

Real gdp per capita: $4,600 (FY87)

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: none

Industries: tourism, banking and finance, construction, commerce; support to large UK naval and air bases; transit trade and supply depot in the port; light manufacturing of tobacco, roasted coffee, ice, mineral waters, candy, beer, and canned fish

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Labor force: 14,800 (including non-Gibraltar laborers)
Note: UK military establishments and civil government employ nearly 50% of the labor force

Unemployment rate: NA%

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget: revenues:$136 million

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $82 million (f.o.b., 1988)
Commodities: (principally re-exports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods 41%, other 8%
Partners: UK, Morocco, Portugal, Netherlands, Spain, US, FRG

Imports: $258 million (c.i.f., 1988)
Commodities: fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs
Partners: UK, Spain, Japan, Netherlands

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $318 million (1987)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: Gibraltar pounds (#G) per US$1 - 0.6699 (January 1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989; note - the Gibraltar pound is at par with the British pound


top of page


Electricity
Capacity: 47,000 kW
Production: 200 million kWh
Consumption per capita: 6,740 kWh (1992)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


top of page


Telephones

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


top of page


Military expenditures

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


top of page


National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 1
Usable: 1
With permanent surface runways: 1
With runways over 3659 m: 0
With runways 2440-3659 m: 0
With runways 1220-2439 m: 1

Heliports

Pipelines: none

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


top of page


Disputes international: source of occasional friction between Spain and the UK

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs