Country Guide

Gibraltar Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

Location:
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 08 N, 5 21 W


Map references:
Europe


Area:
total:6.5 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 243
land:6.5 sq km
water:0 sq km


Area - comparative:
more than 10 times the size of The National Mall in Washington, D.C.


Land boundaries:
total:1 km
border countries:Spain 1 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 extremes:
lowest point:Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point:Rock of Gibraltar 426 m


Natural resources:
none


Land use:
arable land:0%
permanent crops:0%
other:100% (2011)


Irrigated land:
NA


Natural hazards:
NA


Environment - current issues:
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:
strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea

People and Society

Nationality:
noun: Gibraltarian(s)
adjective:Gibraltar


Ethnic groups:
Spanish, Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, German, North Africans


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


Religions:
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)


Population:
29,185 (July 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 219


Age structure:
0-14 years:20.1% (male 3,009/female 2,862)
15-24 years:16% (male 2,433/female 2,225)
25-54 years:38.1% (male 5,593/female 5,524)
55-64 years:10.8% (male 1,488/female 1,664)
65 years and over:14.6% (male 2,156/female 2,231) (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:34 years
male:33.1 years
female:35 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
0.25% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 176


Birth rate:
14.15 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 139


Death rate:
8.33 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 87


Net migration rate:
-3.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 183


Urbanization:
urban population:100% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:0.08% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


    Sex ratio:
at birth:1.07 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.05 male(s)/female
15-24 years:1.09 male(s)/female
25-54 years:1.01 male(s)/female
55-64 years:1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.95 male(s)/female
total population:1.01 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


Infant mortality rate:
total:6.29 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 166
male:6.99 deaths/1,000 live births
female:5.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


Life expectancy at birth:
total population:79.13 yearscountry comparison to the world: 46
male:76.28 years
female:82.18 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
1.92 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 137


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
NA


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA


Education expenditures:
NA

Literacy:
definition:NA
total population:above 80%
male:NA
female:NA

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form:Gibraltar


Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK


Government type:
NA


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


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:
previous 1969; latest passed by referendum 30 November 2006, entered into effect 14 December 2006, entered into force 2 January 2007; amended 2009 (2009)


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


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 James DUTTON (since 6 December 2013)
head of government:Chief Minister Fabian PICARDO (since 9 December 2011)
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 monarchy 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:
unicameral Parliament (18 seats: 17 members elected by popular vote, 1 for the speaker appointed by Parliament; members serve four-year terms)
elections:last held on 8 December 2011 (next to be held not later than 8 December 2015)
election results:percent of vote by party - GSD 48%, GSLP 46.8%, Progressive Democratic Party 4.4%, other 0.8%; seats by party - GSD 10, GSLP 7


Judicial branch:
highest court(s):Court of Appeal (consists of at least three 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 judge normally appointed until retirement at age 67, but 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 [Joseph GARCIA]
Gibraltar Social Democrats or GSD [Daniel FEETHAM]
Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party or GSLP [Fabian PICARDO]
Progressive Democratic Party [Nick CRUZ]


Political pressure groups and leaders:
Chamber of Commerce


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


Diplomatic representation in the US:
name:'Gibraltar Anthem'
lyrics/music:Peter EMBERLEY
note:adopted 1994; serves as a local anthem; as a territory of the United Kingdom, 'God Save the Queen' remains official (see United Kingdom)

Economy

Economy - overview:
Self-sufficient Gibraltar benefits from an extensive shipping trade, offshore banking, and its position as an international conference center. Tax rates are low to attract foreign investment. 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 (over 11 million visitors in 2012), gaming revenues, shipping services fees, and duties on consumer goods also generate revenue. The financial sector, tourism, and the shipping sector contribute 30%, 30%, and 25%, respectively, of GDP. Telecommunications, e-commerce, and e-gaming account for the remaining 15%. 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):
$1.275 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
$1.203 billion (2007 est.)
$1.106 billion (2006 est.)


GDP (official exchange rate):
$1.106 billion (2006 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
6% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
8.8% (2007 est.)
0% (2006 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$43,000 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
$41,200 (2007 est.)
$38,400 (2006 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:0%
industry:0%
services:100% (2008 est.)


Agriculture - products:
none


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


Industrial production growth rate:
NA%


Labor force:
12,690 (2001) (2001)
country comparison to the world: 215


Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:negligible
industry:40%
services:60% (2001)


    Unemployment rate:
3% (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22

Population below poverty line:
NA%


Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:NA%
highest 10%:NA%


Budget:
revenues:$475.8 million
expenditures:$452.3 million (2008 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
43% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
2.1% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17


Public debt:
7.5% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
13.5% of GDP (2006 est.)


Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.8% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 108
2.6% (2006)


Exports:
$271 million (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182

Exports - commodities:
(principally reexports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods


Imports:
$2.967 billion (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148

Imports - commodities:
fuels, manufactured goods, foodstuffs


Debt - external:
$NA


Exchange rates:
Gibraltar pounds (GIP) per US dollar -
0.6307 (2014)
0.6391 (2013)
0.6472 (2010)
0.6175 (2009)
0.5302 (2008)

Energy

Electricity - production:
166.4 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185


Electricity - consumption:
154.7 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190


Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141


Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
43,000 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 194


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 171


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178


Crude oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173


Crude oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118


Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136


Refined petroleum products - production:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
24,920 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121


Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180


Refined petroleum products - imports:
28,380 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94


Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135


Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149


Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107


Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197


Natural gas - proved reserves:
0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
4.905 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
23,100 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 184


Telephones - mobile cellular:
34,750 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 206


Telephone system:
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)



    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 (2008)


Internet country code:
.gi


Internet hosts:
3,509 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 151


Internet users:
20,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 193

Transportation

Airports
1 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 217


Airports - with paved runways
total:1
1,524 to 2,437 m:1 (2013)


Roadways
total:29 kmcountry comparison to the world: 220
paved:29 km (2007)


Merchant marine
total:267country comparison to the world: 32
by type:bulk carrier 3, cargo 146, chemical tanker 64, container 28, liquefied gas 2, petroleum tanker 14, roll on/roll off 2, vehicle carrier 8
foreign-owned:254 (Belgium 1, Cyprus 1, Denmark 7, Finland 2, Germany 123, Greece 8, Iceland 1, Italy 4, Jersey 1, Morocco 4, Netherlands 34, Norway 46, Sweden 11, UAE 5, UK 6)
registered in other countries:6 (Liberia 5, Panama 1) (2010)



    Ports and terminals
major seaport(s):Gibraltar

Military

Military branches
Royal Gibraltar Regiment (2013)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:7,037 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:6,017
females age 16-49:5,706 (2010 est.)


    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:228
female:220 (2010 est.)


Military - note
defense is the responsibility of the UK; the Royal Gibraltar Regiment replaced the last British regular infantry forces in 1992
 Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook