Background: 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 Spain to close the border and sever all communication links. Between 1997 and 2002, the UK and Spain held a series of talks 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 late 2004, Spain, the UK, and Gibraltar have held tripartite talks with the aim of cooperatively resolving problems that affect the local population, and work continues on cooperation agreements in areas such as taxation and financial services; communications and maritime security; policy, legal and customs services; environmental protection; and education and visa services. A new noncolonial constitution came into force in 2007, and the European Court of First Instance recognized Gibraltar's right to regulate its own tax regime in December 2008. The UK retains responsibility for defense, foreign relations, internal security, and financial stability.

Geographic coordinates: 36 08 N, 5 21 W

Map reference: Europe

Area
Total: 7 km²
Land: 6.5 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: more than 10 times the size of The National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Land boundaries
Total: 1.2 km
Border countries: (1) Spain 1.2 km

Coastline: 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

Elevation
Highest point: Rock of Gibraltar 426 m
Lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m

Natural resources: none

Land use
Agricultural land: 0% (2011 est.)
Other: 100% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: NA

Natural hazards: occasional droughts; no streams or large bodies of water on the peninsula (all potable water comes from desalination)

Population: 29,516 (July 2021 est.)
Growth rate: 0.19% (2021 est.)
Below poverty line: NA

Nationality
Noun: Gibraltarian(s)
Adjective: Gibraltar

Ethnic groups: Gibraltarian 79%, other British 13.2%, Spanish 2.1%, Moroccan 1.6%, other EU 2.4%, other 1.6% (2012 est.)
Note: data represent population by nationality

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

Religions: Roman Catholic 72.1%, Church of England 7.7%, other Christian 3.8%, Muslim 3.6%, Jewish 2.4%, Hindu 2%, other 1.1%, none 7.1%, unspecified 0.1% (2012 est.)

Age structure
0-14 years: 20.24% (male 3,080/female 2,907)
15-24 years: 13.07% (male 2,000/female 1,866)
25-54 years: 41.28% (male 6,289/female 5,922)
55-64 years: 8.71% (male 1,082/female 1,495)
65 years and over: 16.7% (male 2,378/female 2,562) (2020 est.)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: NA
Youth dependency ratio: NA
Elderly dependency ratio: NA
Potential support ratio: NA

Median age
Total: 35.5 years
Male: 34.4 years
Female: 36.6 years (2020 est.)

Population growth rate: 0.19% (2021 est.)

Birth rate: 13.99 births/1000 population (2021 est.)

Death rate: 8.81 deaths/1000 population (2021 est.)

Net migration rate: -3.25 migrant(s)/1000 population (2021 est.)

Urbanization
Urban population: 100% of total population (2021)
Rate of urbanization: 0.45% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 35,000 GIBRALTAR (capital) (2018)

Environment
Current issues: limited natural freshwater resources: more than 90% of drinking water supplied by desalination, the remainder from stored rainwater; a separate supply of saltwater used for sanitary services

Air pollutants
Carbon dioxide emissions: 0.63 megatons (2016 est.)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.72 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 6.38 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 7.2 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 5.52 deaths/1000 live births (2021 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 80.2 years
Male: 77.34 years
Female: 83.2 years (2021 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.91 children born/woman (2021 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA

Drinking water source
Improved urban: 100% of population
Improved total: 100% of population
Unimproved urban: 0% of population
Unimproved total: 0% of population (2017 est.)

Current health expenditure: NA

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban: 100% of population
Improved total: 100% of population
Unimproved urban: 0% of population
Unimproved total: 0% of population (2017)

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: NA
People living with hivaids: NA
Deaths: NA

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA

Education expenditures: NA

Country name
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Gibraltar
Etymology: from the Spanish derivation of the Arabic 'Jabal Tariq,' which means 'Mountain of Tariq' and which refers to the Rock of Gibraltar

Government type: parliamentary democracy (Parliament); self-governing overseas territory of the UK

Capital
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
Etymology: from the Spanish derivation of the Arabic 'Jabal Tariq,' which means 'Mountain of Tariq' and which refers to the Rock of Gibraltar

Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of the UK)

Independence: none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday: National Day, 10 September (1967); note - day of the national referendum to decide whether to remain with the UK or join Spain

Constitution
History: previous 1969; latest passed by referendum 30 November 2006, entered into effect 14 December 2006, entered into force 2 January 2007
Amendments: proposed by Parliament and requires prior consent of the British monarch (through the Secretary of State); passage requires at least three-fourths majority vote in Parliament followed by simple majority vote in a referendum; note – only sections 1 through 15 in Chapter 1 (Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms) can be amended by Parliament

Legal system: the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply

Citizenship: see United Kingdom

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; and British citizens with six months residence or more

Executive branch
Chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Sir David STEEL (since 11 June 2020)
Head of government: Chief Minister Fabian PICARDO (since 9 December 2011)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed from among the 17 elected members of Parliament by the governor in consultation with the chief minister
Elections and appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed chief minister by the governor

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral Parliament (18 seats; 17 members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by majority vote and 1 appointed by Parliament as speaker; members serve 4-year terms) (e.g. 2019)
Elections: last held on 17 October 2019 (next to be held in 2023) (e.g. 2019)
Election results: percent of vote by party - GSLP-Liberal Alliance 52.5% (GSLP 37.0%, LPG 15.5%), GSD 25.6%; seats by party - GSLP-Liberal Alliance 10 (GSLP 7, LPG 3), GSD 6; composition of elected members - men 15, women 2, percent of women 11.8% (e.g. 2019)

Judicial branch
Highest courts: Court of Appeal (consists of at least 3 judges, including the court president); Supreme Court of Gibraltar (consists of the chief justice and 3 judges); note - appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)
Judge selection and term of office: Court of Appeal and Supreme Court judges appointed by the governor upon the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, a 7-member body of judges and appointees of the governor; tenure of the Court of Appeal president based on terms of appointment; Supreme Court chief justice and judges normally appointed until retirement at age 67 but tenure can be extended 3 years
Subordinate courts: Court of First Instance; Magistrates' Court; specialized tribunals for issues relating to social security, taxes, and employment

Political parties and leaders: Gibraltar Liberal Party or Liberal Party of Gibraltar or LPG [Joseph GARCIA]
Gibraltar Social Democrats or GSD [Keith AZOPARDI]
Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party or GSLP [Fabian PICARDO]
GSLP-Liberal Alliance (includes GSLP and LPG)
Together Gibraltar or TG [Marlene HASSAN-NAHON]

International organization participation: ICC (NGOs), Interpol (subbureau), UPU

Diplomatic representation
In the us: none (overseas territory of the UK)
From the us embassy: none (overseas 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; the design is that of Gibraltar's coat of arms granted on 10 July 1502 by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain; the castle symbolizes Gibraltar as a fortress, while the key represents Gibraltar's strategic importance - the key to the Mediterranean

National symbols: Barbary macaque; national colors: red, white, yellow

National anthem
Name: Gibraltar Anthem
Lyrics and music: Peter EMBERLEY
Note: adopted 1994; serves as a local anthem; as a territory of the United Kingdom, 'God Save the Queen' is official (see United Kingdom)

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $2.044 billion (2014 est.)
Note: data are in 2014 dollars

Real gdp per capita: $61,700 (2014 est.)

$43,000 (2008 est.)

$41,200 (2007 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 0% (2016 est.)
Industry: 0% (2008 est.)
Services: 100% (2016 est.)

Agriculture products: none

Industries: tourism, banking and finance, ship repairing, tobacco

Industrial production growth rate: NA

Labor force: 24,420 (2014 est.)
By occupation agriculture: NEGL
By occupation industry: 1.8%
By occupation services: 98.2% (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate: 1% (2016 est.)

Population below poverty line: NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: NA
Highest 10: NA

Budget
Revenues: $475.8 million (2008 est.)
Expenditures: $452.3 million (2008 est.)
Surplus or deficit: $1.1% (of GDP) (2008 est.)

Taxes and other revenues: 23.3% (of GDP) (2008 est.)

Public debt: 7.5% of GDP (2008 est.)

8.4% of GDP (2006 est.)

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

Inflation rate consumer prices: 2.5% (2013 est.)

2.2% (2012 est.)

Exports: $202.3 million (2014 est.)

$271 million (2004 est.)
Partners: Poland 31%, Netherlands 27%, France 11%, Germany 8%, United States 6% (2019)
Commodities: cars, ships, refined petroleum, fish, recreational boats (2019)

Imports: $2.967 billion (2004 est.)
Partners: Spain 19%, US 12%, India 12%, Italy 12%, Netherlands 11%, United Kingdom 7%, Greece 6% (2019)
Commodities: refined petroleum, recreational boats, cars, coal tar oil, crude petroleum (2019)

Debt external: NA

Exchange rates:

Electricity
Access electrification total population: 100% (2020)
Production: 238.8 million kWh (2016 est.)
Consumption: 230.8 million kWh (2016 est.)
Exports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Imports: 0 kWh (2016 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 43,000 kW (2016 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Generation sources nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Generation sources other renewable sources: 0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Petroleum
Petroleum total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil imports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil proven reserves: 0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Refined petroleum
Products production: 0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Products consumption: 78,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Products exports: 0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Products imports: 74,200 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Consumption: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Exports: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Imports: 0 m³ (2017 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 m³ (1 January 2014 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 16,968 (2019)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 50.35 (2019 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 40,537 (2019)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 120.3 (2019 est.)

Broadcast media: Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) provides TV and radio broadcasting services via 1 TV station and 4 radio stations; British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) operates 1 radio station; broadcasts from Spanish radio and TV stations are accessible

Internet
Country code: .gi
Users total: 31,800 31,800 (2021 est.)
Users percent of population: 94.44% (2019 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 19,497 (2019)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 57.85 (2019 est.)

Military and security forces: Royal Gibraltar Regiment (2021)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: VP-G

Airports
Total: 1 (2013)
With paved runways total: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1 (2017)

Roadways
Total: 29 km (2007)
Paved: 29 km (2007)

Merchant marine
Total: 202
By type: bulk carrier 8, container ship 19, general cargo 55, oil tanker 20, other 100 (2021)

Ports and terminals
Major seaport: Gibraltar

Disputes international: 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