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.

Land boundaries: 1.2 km with Spain

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

Natural resources: negligible

Land use: arable land: 0%; permanent crops: 0%; meadows and pastures 0%; forest and woodland 0%; other 100%

Geography
Note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

Population: 29,613 (July 1991), growth rate 0.1% (1991)

Nationality: noun--Gibraltarian; adjective--Gibraltar

Ethnic groups: mostly Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, and Spanish descent

Languages: English and Spanish are primary languages; Italian, Portuguese, and Russian also spoken; English used in the schools and for official purposes

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

Birth rate: 18 births/1000 population (1991)

Death rate: 8 deaths/1000 population (1991)

Net migration rate: - 9 migrants/1000 population (1991)

Environment
Current issues: natural freshwater sources are meager so large water catchments (concrete or natural rock) collect rain water

Infant mortality rate: 6 deaths/1000 live births (1991)

Life expectancy at birth: 72 years male, 78 years female (1991)

Total fertility rate: 2.4 children born/woman (1991)

Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

Country name: conventional long form: none

Government type: dependent territory of the UK

Capital: Gibraltar

Administrative divisions: none (dependent territory of the UK)

Independence: none (dependent territory of the UK)

National holiday: Commonwealth Day (second Monday of March), 12 March 1990

Constitution: 30 May 1969

Legal system: English law

Suffrage: universal at age 18, 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 Adm. Sir Derek REFFELL (since NA 1989; Head of Government--Chief Minister Joe BOSSANO (since 25 March 1988)

Legislative branch: British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Court of Appeal

Diplomatic representation
In 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 Gibraltar GibraltarGibraltar

Economy overview: The economy depends heavily on British defense expenditures, revenue from tourists, fees for services to shipping, and revenues from banking and finance activities. 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.

Agriculture products: NA

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

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $136 million; expenditures $139 million, including capital expenditures of NA (FY88)

Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June

Exports: $82 million (1988)
Commodities: (principally reexports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods 41%, other 8%
Partners: UK, Morocco, Portugal, Netherlands, Spain, US, FRG

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

Debt external: $318 million (1987)

Exchange rates: Gibraltar pounds (5G) per US$1--0.5171 (January 1991), 0.5603 (1990), 0.6099 (1989), 0.5614 (1988), 0.6102 (1987), 0.6817 (1986), 0.7714 (1985; note--the Gibraltar pound is at par with the British pound

Electricity
Capacity: 47,000 kW capacity; 200 million kWh produced, 6,670 kWh per capita (1990)

Airports: 1 with permanent-surface runway 1,220-2,439 m

Merchant marine: 30 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,399,594 GRT/2,667,656 DWT; includes 6 cargo, 2 refrigerated cargo, 1 container, 10 petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker, 1 chemical tanker, 1 combination oil/ore, 9 bulk; note--a flag of convenience registry

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