ARCHIVE // GI // 1997
Gibraltar
1997 Edition — territory
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Communications
Broadcast media
(Radio broadcast stations)
[time series]
AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0
Radios
[time series]
NA
Telecommunication systems
(Telephone system)
[time series]
adequate, automatic domestic system and adequate international facilities domestic: automatic exchange facilities international: radiotelephone; microwave radio relay; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - fixed lines
(Telephones)
[time series]
19,356 (1994)
Broadcast media
(Television broadcast stations)
[time series]
4
Televisions
[time series]
NA
Economy
Agricultural products
(Agriculture - products)
[time series]
none
Budget
[time series]
revenues: $111.6 million expenditures: $115.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1995-96)
Exchange rates
(Currency)
[time series]
1 Gibraltar pound (£G) = 100 pence
Debt - external
[time series]
$318 million (1987)
Economic aid
[time series]
recipient: ODA, $NA
Economic overview
(Economy - overview)
[time series]
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 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.
Electricity - capacity
[time series]
33,000 kW (1993)
Electricity - consumption per capita
[time series]
NA kWh
Electricity - production
[time series]
90 million kWh (1994)
Exchange rates
[time series]
Gibraltar pounds (£G) per US$1 - 0.6023 (January 1997), 0.6403 (1996), 0.6335 (1995), 0.6529 (1994), 0.6658 (1993), 0.5664 (1992); note - the Gibraltar pound is at par with the British pound
Exports
[time series]
total value: $57 million (f.o.b., 1993) commodities: (principally reexports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods 41%, other 8% partners : UK, Morocco, Portugal, Netherlands, Spain, US, FRG
Fiscal year
[time series]
1 July - 30 June
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
(GDP)
[time series]
purchasing power parity - $205 million (1993 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
(GDP - composition by sector)
[time series]
agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services : NA%
Real GDP per capita
(GDP - per capita)
[time series]
purchasing power parity - $6,600 (1993 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
(GDP - real growth rate)
[time series]
NA%
Imports
[time series]
total value: $708 million (c.i.f., 1993) commodities: fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs partners: UK, Spain, Japan, Netherlands
Industrial production growth rate
[time series]
NA%
Industries
[time series]
tourism, banking and finance, construction, commerce; support to large UK naval and air bases; tobacco, mineral waters, beer, canned fish
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
(Inflation rate - consumer price index)
[time series]
NA%
Labor force
[time series]
total: 14,800 (including non-Gibraltar laborers) by occupation : services 60%, industry 40%, agriculture NEGL
Unemployment rate
[time series]
NA%
Geography
Area
[time series]
total: 6.5 sq km land: 6.5 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
[time series]
about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Climate
[time series]
Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers
Coastline
[time series]
12 km
Elevation
(Elevation extremes)
[time series]
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m highest point: Rock of Gibraltar 426 m
Environment - current issues
[time series]
limited natural freshwater resources, so large concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rain water
International environmental agreements
(Environment - international agreements)
[time series]
party to: NA signed, but not ratified: NA
Geographic coordinates
[time series]
36 11 N, 5 22 W
Geography - note
[time series]
strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea
Irrigated land
[time series]
NA sq km
Land boundaries
[time series]
total: 1.2 km border countries: Spain 1.2 km
Land use
[time series]
arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% permanent pastures: NA% forests and woodland : NA% other: 100% (1993 est.)
Location
[time series]
Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southern coast of Spain
Map references
[time series]
Europe
Maritime claims
[time series]
territorial sea: 3 nm
Natural hazards
[time series]
NA
Natural resources
[time series]
NEGL
Terrain
[time series]
a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar
Government
Administrative divisions
[time series]
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Constitution
[time series]
30 May 1969
Country name
[time series]
conventional long form: none conventional short form: Gibraltar
Data code
[time series]
GI
Dependency status
[time series]
dependent territory of the UK
Diplomatic representation from the US
[time series]
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation in the US
[time series]
none (dependent territory of the UK)
Executive branch
[time series]
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Admiral Sir Richard LUCE (NA February 1997) head of government: Chief Minister Peter CARUANA (since 17 May 1996) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed from among the 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 queen is a hereditary monarch; governor appointed by the queen; chief minister appointed by the governor
Flag
(Flag description)
[time series]
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
Government type
[time series]
NA
Independence
[time series]
none (dependent territory of the UK)
International organization participation
[time series]
Interpol (subbureau)
Judicial branch
[time series]
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal
Legal system
[time series]
English law
Legislative branch
[time series]
unicameral House of Assembly (18 seats, 15 elected; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 16 May 1996 (next to be held NA 2000) election results : percent of vote by party - SD 53%, SL 42%, NP 3%; seats by party - SD 8, SL 7
Capital
(National capital)
[time series]
Gibraltar
National holiday
[time series]
Commonwealth Day (second Monday of March)
Political parties
(Political parties and leaders)
[time series]
Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party or SL [Joe BOSSANO]; Gibraltar Labor Party/Association for the Advancement of Civil Rights or GCL/AACR [Adolfo CANEPA]; Gibraltar Social Democrats or SD [Peter CARUANA]; Gibraltar National Party or NP [Joe GARCIA]
Political parties
(Political pressure groups and leaders)
[time series]
Housewives Association; Chamber of Commerce; Gibraltar Representatives Organization
Suffrage
[time series]
18 years of age; universal, plus other UK subjects resident six months or more
Military
Military - note
[time series]
defense is the responsibility of the UK
Military and security forces
(Military branches)
[time series]
British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force
People
Age structure
[time series]
0-14 years: 20% (male 3,121; female 2,725) 15-64 years: 66% (male 10,771; female 8,278) 65 years and over : 14% (male 1,629; female 2,389) (July 1997 est.)
Birth rate
[time series]
13.45 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate
[time series]
8.78 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Ethnic groups
[time series]
Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, Spanish
Infant mortality rate
[time series]
6.8 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Languages
[time series]
English (used in schools and for official purposes), Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian
Life expectancy at birth
[time series]
total population: 78.01 years male : 74.7 years female: 81.47 years (1997 est.)
Literacy
[time series]
definition: NA total population: above 95% male: NA% female : NA%
Nationality
[time series]
noun: Gibraltarian(s) adjective: Gibraltar
Net migration rate
[time series]
0.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Population
[time series]
28,913 (July 1997 est.)
Population growth rate
[time series]
0.48% (1997 est.)
Religions
[time series]
Roman Catholic 74%, Protestant 11% (Church of England 8%, other 3%), Muslim 8%, Jewish 2%, none or other 5% (1981)
Sex ratio
[time series]
at birth : 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.14 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.3 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female total population: 1.16 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate
[time series]
2.23 children born/woman (1997 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
[time series]
source of friction between Spain and the UK GLORIOSO ISLANDS (possession of France)
Transportation
Airports
[time series]
1 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways
[time series]
total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Roadways
(Highways)
[time series]
total: 49.9 km (including 12.9 km public highways) paved: 49.9 km unpaved: 0 km
Merchant marine
[time series]
total : 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 356,676 GRT/633,152 DWT ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 1, chemical tanker 2, container 1, oil tanker 14 (1996 est.)
Pipelines
[time series]
0 km
Ports
(Ports and harbors)
[time series]
Gibraltar
Railways
[time series]
total : NA km; 1.000-m gauge system in dockyard area only