Gibraltar
NAIndependence none (overseas territory of the UK)
Gibraltar as the 2000 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 102 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.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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.
Geography
Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southern coast of Spain
17 fieldsLand useshare of 6.5 sq 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
Environment - current issues
limited natural freshwater resources; large concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rain water
Geography - note
strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea
People
15 fieldsPer 1,000 population(2000 est.)
Religions(1991)
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 21% (male 3,167; female 3,013)
- 15-64 years:
- 65% (male 10,141; female 8,925)
- 65 years and over:
- 14% (male 1,769; female 2,466) (2000 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 1.14 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.72 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 1.05 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
Government
NA; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor and Commander-in-Chief, the Right Honorable Sir Richard LUCE (since 24 February 1997); Chief Minister Peter CARUANA (since 17 May 1996)
20 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
House of Assembly, elected 10 February 2000percent of vote
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal, plus other UK subjects who have been residents six months or more
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor and Commander-in-Chief, the Right Honorable Sir Richard LUCE (since 24 February 1997);
- note - a new governor has been appointed and will arrive in March 2000
- head of government:
- Chief Minister Peter CARUANA (since 17 May 1996)
- cabinet:
- Council of Ministers appointed from among the 15 elected members of the House of Assembly by the governor in consultation with the chief minister
note: there is also a Gibraltar Council that advises the governor
- elections:
- none;
- the monarch is hereditary;
- governor appointed by the monarch;
- chief minister appointed by the governor
Legislative branch
unicameral House of Assembly (18 seats - 15 elected by popular vote, one appointed for the Speaker, and two ex officio members; members serve four-year terms)
- elections:
- last held 10 February 2000 (next to be held NA 2004)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party - SD 54%, GSLA 40%; seats by party - NA
Political parties and leaders
- Gibraltar Labor Party/Association for the Advancement of Civil Rights or GCL/AACR [Adolfo CANEPA];
- Gibraltar Liberal Party or GLP (has become the Gibraltar National Party or NP) [Joe GARCIA];
- Gibraltar Social Democrats or SD [Peter CARUANA];
- Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party or SL [Joe BOSSANO];
- Gibraltar Socialist Liberal Alliance or GSLA [Joe BOSSANO] (includes SL and GLP)
Political pressure groups and leaders
- Chamber of Commerce;
- Gibraltar Representatives Organization;
- Housewives Association
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
Economy
Gibraltar benefits from an extensive shipping trade, offshore banking, and its position as an international conference center.
31 fieldsElectricity
Economy - overview
Gibraltar benefits from an extensive shipping trade, offshore banking, and its position as an international conference center. The British military presence has been sharply reduced and now contributes about 11% to the local economy. The financial sector accounts for 20% of GDP; tourism (almost 6 million visitors in 1998), shipping services fees, and duties on consumer goods also generate revenue.
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.
Industries
- tourism, banking and finance, ship-building and repairing;
- support to large UK naval and air bases;
- tobacco, mineral water, beer, canned fish
Exchange rates
- Gibraltar pounds per US$1 - 0.6092 (January 2000), 0.6180 (1999), 0.6037 (1998), 0.6106 (1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995);
- note - the Gibraltar pound is at par with the British pound
Communications
8 fieldsTelephone system
adequate, automatic domestic system and adequate international facilities
- domestic:
- automatic exchange facilities
- international:
- radiotelephone;
- microwave radio relay;
- satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Transportation
7 fieldsMerchant marine, 26 ships by typeone square, one ship · (1999 est.)
Airports by runway lengthpaved only
Networkskm
Military
British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force
2 fieldsTransnational Issues
1 fieldDisputes - international
source of friction between Spain and the UK [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Gibraltar.” The World Factbook 2000. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/gibraltar/2000.