Statistical information Gibraltar 1997

Gibraltar in the World
top of pageBackground: 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 pageLocation: 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: 36 11 N, 5 22 W
Map reference:
EuropeAreaTotal: 6.5 km²
Land: 6.5 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Land boundariesTotal: 1.2 km
Border countries: (1) Spain 1.2 kmCoastline: 12 km
Maritime claims: territorial sea:3 nm
Climate: Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers
Terrain: a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
Extremes highest point: Rock of Gibraltar 426 m
Natural resources: NEGL
Land useArable land: NA%
Permanent crops: NA%
Permanent pastures: NA%
Forests and woodland: NA%
Other: 100% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: NA km²
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: NA
GeographyNote: strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea
top of pagePopulation: 28,913 (July 1997 est.)
Growth rate: 0.48% (1997 est.)
NationalityNoun: Gibraltarian(s)
Adjective: Gibraltar
Ethnic groups: Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, Spanish
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%), Muslim 8%, Jewish 2%, none or other 5% (1981)
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 20% (male 3,121; female 2,725)
15-64 years: 66% (male 10,771; female 8,278)
65 years and over: 14% (male 1,629; female 2,389) (July 1997 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 0.48% (1997 est.)
Birth rate: 13.45 births/1000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate: 8.78 deaths/1000 population (1997 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.14 migrant(s)/1000 population (1997 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: limited natural freshwater resources, so large concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rain water
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.14 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.3 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.16 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 6.8 deaths/1000 live births (1997 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 78.01 years
Male: 74.7 years
Female: 81.47 years (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.23 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyDefinition: NA
Total population: above 95%
Male: NA%
Female: NA%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Gibraltar
Government type: NA
Capital: Gibraltar
Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)
Dependent areasIndependence: 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 participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal, plus other UK subjects resident six months or more
Executive branchChief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Admiral Sir Richard LUCE (NA February 1997)
Head of government: Chief Minister Peter CARUANA (since 17 May 1996)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed from among the elected members of the House of Assembly by the governor in consultation with the chief minister
Note: there is also a Gibraltar Council that advises the governor
Elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor appointed by the queen; chief minister appointed by the governor
Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (18 seats, 15 elected; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
Elections: last held 16 May 1996 (next to be held NA 2000)
Election results: percent of vote by party - SD 53%, SL 42%, NP 3%; seats by party - SD 8, SL 7
Judicial branch: Supreme Court; Court of Appeal
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: Interpol (subbureau)
Diplomatic representationIn the us: none (dependent territory of the UK)
From the us: none (dependent territory of the UK)
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 symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: 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 11% to the local economy. The financial sector accounts for 15% of GDP; tourism, shipping services fees, and duties on consumer goods also generate revenue. 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.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: NA%
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $6,600 (1993 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: NA%
Industry: NA%
Services: NA%
Agriculture products: none
Industries: tourism, banking and finance, construction, commerce; support to large UK naval and air bases; tobacco, mineral waters, beer, canned fish
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Labor forceTotal: 14,800 (including non-Gibraltar laborers)
By occupation services: 60%
By occupation industry: 40%
By occupation agriculture: NEGL
Unemployment rate: NA%
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $111.6 million
Expenditures: $115.6 million, including capital expenditures of $N/A (1995-96)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExportsTotal value: $57 million (f.o.b., 1993)
Commodities: (principally reexports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods 41%, other 8%
Partners: UK, Morocco, Portugal, Netherlands, Spain, US, FRG
ImportsTotal value: $708 million (c.i.f., 1993)
Commodities: fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs
Partners: UK, Spain, Japan, Netherlands
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $318 million (1987)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Gibraltar pounds (£G) per US$1 - 0.6023 (January 1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992; note - the Gibraltar pound is at par with the British pound
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 33,000 kW (1993)
Production: 90 million kWh (1994)
Consumption per capita: NA kWh
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones: 19,356 (1994)
Telephone system: adequate, automatic domestic system and adequate international facilities
Domestic: automatic exchange facilities
International: radiotelephone; microwave radio relay; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresMilitary and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 1 (1996 est.)
With paved runways total: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1 (1996 est.)
HeliportsPipelines: 0 km
Railways: total:NA km; 1.000-m gauge system in dockyard area only
RoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marineTotal: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 356,676 GRT/633,152 DWT
Ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 1, chemical tanker 2, container 1, oil tanker 14 (1996 est.)
Ports and terminalstop of pageDisputes international: source of friction between Spain and the UK
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs