Gibraltar

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

Gibraltar as the 1995 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 79 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.

CapitalGilbraltar

Area6.5 sq km

LocationSouthwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar,

Populationas each edition published it

31,874 people July 1995 est. · 29,572 in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.62% 1995 est. · 0.53% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 38.8 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

76.61 years 1995 est. · 76.06 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.29 children per woman 1995 est. · 2.4 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

7.9 deaths per 1,000 live births 1995 est. · 6 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$6,600 1993 est. · $4,600 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition 5% in 1993

Geography

Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, | which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on the | southern coast of Spain

14 fields

Land useshare of 6.5 sq km

forest and woodland 0%other 100%arable land 0% in all · permanent crops 0% in all · meadows and pastures 0% in all

Area

6.5sq km

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

Coastline

12km

territorial sea: 3 nm

Land boundaries

1.2km

total · Spain 1.2 km

Location

Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southern coast of Spain

International 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

Environment

current issues:: limited natural freshwater resources, so large concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rain water
natural hazards:: NA
international agreements:: NA

Note

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

People

15 fields

Population

31,874

(July 1995 est.)growth rate: 0.62% (1995 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1995 est.)

Birth

15Death

8.85Net migration

Religions(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

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

Age structure

0-14 years:: 24% (female 3,757; male 3,835)
15-64 years:: 63% (female 9,730; male 10,485)
65 years and over:: 13% (female 2,360; male 1,707) (July 1995 est.)

Infant mortality rate

7.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 76.61 years
male:: 73.7 years
female:: 79.48 years (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Gibraltarian(s)
adjective:: Gibraltar

Ethnic divisions

Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, Spanish

Languages

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

Government

Dependent territory of the UK; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor and Commander in Chief Gen. Sir John CHAPPLE (since NA March 1993); Chief Minister Joe BOSSANO (since 25 March 1988)

21 fields

Names

conventional long form:: none
conventional short form:: Gibraltar

Digraph

Type

dependent territory of the UK

Capital

Gilbraltar

Administrative divisions

none (dependent territory of the UK)

Independence

none (dependent territory of the UK)

National holiday

Commonwealth Day (second Monday of March)

Constitution

30 May 1969

Legal system

English law

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal, 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 Gen. Sir John CHAPPLE (since NA March 1993)
head of government:: Chief Minister Joe BOSSANO (since 25 March 1988)

Gibraltar Council

advises the governor; cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed from the elected members of the Assembly by the governor in consultation with the chief minister

Legislative branch

unicameral

House of Assembly

elections last held on 16 January 1992 (next to be held January 1996);
results - SL 73.3%;
seats - (18 total, 15 elected) number of seats by party NA

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders

Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party (SL), Joe BOSSANO;
Gibraltar Labor Party/Association for the Advancement of Civil Rights (GCL/AACR), leader NA;
Gibraltar Social Democrats, Peter CARUANA;
Gibraltar National Party, Joe GARCIA

Other political or pressure groups

Housewives Association;
Chamber of Commerce;
Gibraltar Representatives Organization

Member of

INTERPOL (subbureau)

Diplomatic representation in US

none (dependent territory of the UK)

US 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

Gibraltar benefits from an extensive shipping trade and | offshore banking.

18 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$6,600

(1993 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

3.6%

(1988)

External debt

$318million

(1987)

Budget

Revenues

$116 millionExpenditures

$124 million (1992-93)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA

Installed generating capacity, 47,000 kW

Electricity production

90 millionElectricity consumption per capita

2,539 (1993)

Overview

Gibraltar benefits from an extensive shipping trade and offshore banking. The British military presence has been severely reduced and now only 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.

National product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $205 million (1993 est.)

National product real growth rate

NA%

Unemployment rate

NA%

Exports

$57 million (f.o.b., 1992)

commodities:: (principally re-exports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods 41%, other 8%
partners:: UK, Morocco, Portugal, Netherlands, Spain, US, FRG

Imports

$420 million (c.i.f., 1992)

commodities:: fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs
partners:: UK, Spain, Japan, Netherlands

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

none

Economic aid

recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $800,000; Western (non-US) countries and ODA bilateral commitments (1992-93), $2.5 million

Currency

1 Gibraltar pound (#G) = 100 pence

Exchange rates

Gibraltar pounds (#G) per US$1 - 0.6350 (January 1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992), 0.5652 (1991), 0.5603 (1990);
note - the Gibraltar pound is at par with the British pound

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

Transportation

6 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 1 in all

1,524 to 2,437 m

PavedUnpaved

Railroads

total: NA km; 1.000-m gauge system in dockyard area only

Highways

total:: 50 km
paved:: 50 km

Pipelines

none

Ports

Gibraltar

Merchant marine

total:: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 419,707 GRT/721,110 DWT
ships by type:: bulk 3, cargo 3, chemical tanker 1, container 2, oil tanker 14