Gibraltar
NAIndependence none (overseas territory of the UK)
Gibraltar as the 2008 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 115 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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 to Spain closing the border and severing all communication links. A series of talks were held by the UK and Spain between 1997 and 2002 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 the referendum, tripartite talks on other issues have been held with Spain, the UK, and Gibraltar, and in September 2006 a three-way agreement was signed. Spain agreed to remove restrictions on air movements, to speed up customs procedures, to implement international telephone dialing, and to allow mobile roaming agreements.
Britain agreed to pay increased pensions to Spaniards who had been employed in Gibraltar before the border closed. Spain will be allowed to open a cultural institute from which the Spanish flag will fly. A new noncolonial constitution came into effect in 2007, but the UK retains responsibility for defense, foreign relations, internal security, and financial stability.
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 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
20 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2008 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2008 est.)
Male · female(2008 est.)
Religions(2001 census)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.06 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 1.04 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.84 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 1 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Government
NA; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Chief Minister Peter CARUANA (since 17 May 1996)
19 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Parliament, 17 seats, elected 11 October 2007one dot, one seat
Percent of vote
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
National holiday
National Day, 10 September (1967); note - day of the national referendum to decide whether to remain with the UK or go with Spain
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Sir Robert FULTON (since 27 October 2006)
- head of government:
- Chief Minister Peter CARUANA (since 17 May 1996)
- 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 monarch 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; to serve four-year terms)
- elections:
- last held 11 October 2007 (next to be held not later than October 2011)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party - GSD 49.3%, GSLP 31.8%, Gibraltar Liberal Party 13.6%; seats by party - GSD 10, GSLP 4, Gibraltar Liberal Party 3
Political parties and leaders
- Gibraltar Liberal Party [Joseph GARCIA];
- Gibraltar Social Democrats or GSD [Peter CARUANA];
- Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party or GSLP [Joseph John BOSSANO]
Political pressure groups and leaders
- Chamber of Commerce;
- Gibraltar Representatives Organization;
- Women's 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
Self-sufficient Gibraltar benefits from an extensive shipping trade, offshore banking, and its position as an international conference center.
39 fieldsTrading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
Economy - overview
Self-sufficient 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 7% to the local economy, compared with 60% in 1984. The financial sector, tourism (almost 5 million visitors in 1998), shipping services fees, and duties on consumer goods also generate revenue.
The financial sector, the shipping sector, and tourism each contribute 25%-30% of GDP. Telecommunications accounts for another 10%. 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.
Exchange rates
Gibraltar pounds (GIP) per US dollar - 0.4993 (2007), 0.5434 (2006), 0.5504 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003) note: the Gibraltar pound is at par with the British pound
Communications
8 fieldsTelephone 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)
Transportation
5 fieldsMerchant marine, 240 ships by type
Airports by runway lengthpaved only
Military
Royal Gibraltar Regiment
5 fieldsMilitary - note
defense is the responsibility of the UK; the Royal Gibraltar Regiment replaced the last British regular infantry forces in 1992
Transnational Issues
1 fieldDisputes - 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
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Gibraltar.” The World Factbook 2008. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/gibraltar/2008.