Gibraltar

dependent territory of the UKIndependence none (dependent territory of the UK)

Gibraltar as the 1991 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 66 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalGibraltar

Area6.5 km2

Populationas each edition published it

29,613 people July 1991 · 29,572 in 1990

Population growth% a year

Not in this edition 0.53% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 38.8 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

Not in this edition 76.06 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.4 children per woman 1991 · 2.4 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

6 deaths per 1,000 live births 1991 · 6 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

Not in this edition $4,600 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition 5% in 1993

Geography

11 fields

Total area

6.5km2

land area: 6.5 km2Comparative area: about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries

1.2km with Spain

Coastline

12 km Exclusive fishing zone: 3 nm; Territorial sea: 3 nm

Disputes

source of occasional friction between Spain and the UK

Climate

Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers

Terrain

a narrow coastal lowland borders The Rock

Land use

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

Environment

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

Note

strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea

People

14 fields

Population

29,613

(July 1991), growth rate 0.1% (1991)

Per 1,000 population(1991)

Birth

18Death

Religion(1981)

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

Labor force

14,800

about · (including non-Gibraltar laborers); UK military establishments and civil government employ nearly 50% of the labor force

Nationality

noun--Gibraltarian; adjective--Gibraltar

Ethnic divisions

mostly Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, and Spanish descent

Language

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

Government

Dependent territory of the UK

16 fields

Legislature, 15 seatsone dot, one seat

-(18 total, 15 elected) SL 8GCL/AACR 7

National holiday

Commonwealth Day (second Monday of March), 12 March 1990

Executive branch

British monarch, governor, chief minister, Gibraltar Council, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Supreme Court, Court of Appeal 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) Socialist Labor Party (SL), Joe BOSSANO;

Gibraltar Labor Party/Association for the Advancement of Civil Rights (GCL/AACR), Adolfo CANEPA; Independent Democratic Party, Joe PITALUGA

Suffrage

universal at age 18, plus other UK subjects resident six months or more House of Assembly: last held on 24 March 1988 (next to be held March 1992);
results--percent of vote by party NA;
seats--(18 total, 15 elected) SL 8, GCL/AACR 7

Communists

negligible

Other political or pressure groups

Housewives Association, Chamber of Commerce, Gibraltar Representatives Organization

Diplomatic representation

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Flag

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

Economy

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

16 fields

Inflation, consumer prices

3.6%

(1988)

External debt

$318million

(1987)

Exports $82 million (1988)commodities, where a share is given

(principally reexports) petroleum

51%manufactured goods

41%other

; partners--UK, Morocco, Portugal, Netherlands, Spain, US, FRG

Budget

Revenues

$136 millionExpenditures

$139 million

expenditures, including capital expenditures of NA (FY88)

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.

GNP

$182 million, per capita $4,600; real growth rate 5% (FY87)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Imports

$258 million (1988);
commodities--fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs;
partners--UK, Spain, Japan, Netherlands

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Electricity

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

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

Agriculture

Economic aid

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $0.8 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $187 million

Currency

Gibraltar pound (plural--pounds); 1 Gibraltar pound (5G) = 100 pence

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

Fiscal year

1 July-30 June

Communications

7 fields

Merchant marine, 30 ships by typeone square, one ship

cargo 6refrigerated cargo 2container 1petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker 10chemical tanker 1combination oil/ore 1bulk; note--a flag of convenience registry 930 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,399,594 GRT/2,667,656 DWT

adequate international radiocommunication facilities;
automatic telephone system with 14,000 telephones;
stations--1 AM, 6 FM, 4 TV;
1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station

Defense Forces

British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force

2 fields

Branches

British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force

Note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Central Intelligence Agency. “Gibraltar.” The World Factbook 1991. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/gibraltar/1991.

How to cite ← 1990 edition 1992 edition →