Page last updated on January 29, 2014
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. Between 1997 and 2002, the UK and Spain held a series of talks 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 late 2004, Spain, the UK, and Gibraltar have held tripartite talks with the aim of cooperatively resolving problems that affect the local population, and work continues on cooperation agreements in areas such as taxation and financial services; communications and maritime security; policy, legal and customs services; environmental protection; and education and visa services. Throughout 2009, a dispute over Gibraltar's claim to territorial waters extending out three miles gave rise to periodic non-violent maritime confrontations between Spanish and UK naval patrols and in 2013, the British reported a record number of entries by Spanish vessels into waters claimed by Gibraltar. A new noncolonial constitution came into effect in 2007, and the European Court of First Instance recognized Gibraltar's right to regulate its own tax regime in December 2008. The UK retains responsibility for defense, foreign relations, internal security, and financial stability.
Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southern coast of Spain
total: 6.5 sq km
country comparison to the world: 243
land: 6.5 sq km
water: 0 sq km
more than 10 times the size of The National Mall in Washington, D.C.
total: 1.2 km
border countries: Spain 1.2 km
Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers
a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Rock of Gibraltar 426 m
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2011)
limited natural freshwater resources: large concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rainwater (no longer used for drinking water) and adequate desalination plant
strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea
noun: Gibraltarian(s)
adjective: Gibraltar
Spanish, Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, German, North Africans
English (used in schools and for official purposes), Spanish, Italian, Portuguese
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)
29,111 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 219
0-14 years: 20.1% (male 3,013/female 2,845)
15-24 years: 16.4% (male 2,481/female 2,284)
25-54 years: 37.7% (male 5,493/female 5,493)
55-64 years: 11.2% (male 1,580/female 1,667)
65 years and over: 14.6% (male 2,081/female 2,174) (2013 est.)
total: 33.8 years
male: 32.9 years
female: 34.8 years (2013 est.)
0.26% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
14.19 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
8.28 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
-3.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
urban population: 100% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 0.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
total: 6.42 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 166
male: 7.14 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
total population: 78.98 years
country comparison to the world: 47
male: 76.13 years
female: 82.03 years (2013 est.)
1.93 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
definition: NA
total population: above 80%
male: NA
female: NA
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Gibraltar
overseas territory of the UK
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
none (overseas territory of the UK)
none (overseas territory of the UK)
National Day, 10 September (1967); note - day of the national referendum to decide whether to remain with the UK or join Spain
previous 1969; latest passed by referendum 30 November 2006, entered into effect 14 December 2006, entered into force 2 January 2007; amended 2009 (2009)
the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply
18 years of age; universal; and British citizens who have been residents six months or more
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
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
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)
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
Gibraltar Liberal Party [Joseph GARCIA]
ICC (NGOs), Interpol (subbureau), UPU
none (overseas territory of the UK)
none (overseas territory of the UK)
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; the design is that of Gibraltar's coat of arms granted on 10 July 1502 by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain; the castle symbolizes Gibraltar as a fortress, while the key represents Gibraltar's strategic importance - the key to the Mediterranean
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)
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 (almost 5 million visitors in 1998), 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.
$1.275 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
$1.106 billion (2006 est.)
6% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 46
$43,000 (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
agriculture: 0%
industry: 0%
services: 100% (2008 est.)
tourism, banking and finance, ship repairing, tobacco
12,690 (2001) (2001)
country comparison to the world: 215
agriculture: negligible
industry: 40%
services: 60% (2001)
3% (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
revenues: $475.8 million
expenditures: $452.3 million (2008 est.)
43% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
2.1% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
7.5% of GDP (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
2.8% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 81
$271 million (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
(principally reexports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods
$2.967 billion (2004 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
fuels, manufactured goods, foodstuffs
Gibraltar pounds (GIP) per US dollar -
166.4 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
154.7 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
43,000 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 135
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
24,920 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 122
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
28,380 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 142
4.905 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 126
23,100 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 184
34,750 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 206
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)
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)
3,509 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 151
20,200 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 193
1 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 217
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
total: 29 km
country comparison to the world: 220
paved: 29 km (2007)
total: 267
country 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)
major seaport(s): Gibraltar
Royal Gibraltar Regiment (2013)
males age 16-49: 7,037 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 6,017
females age 16-49: 5,706 (2010 est.)
male: 228
female: 220 (2010 est.)
defense is the responsibility of the UK; the Royal Gibraltar Regiment replaced the last British regular infantry forces in 1992
