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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.gi

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

1,955 (2009) country comparison to the world: 149

Internet users [time series]

6,500 (2008) country comparison to the world: 202

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

24,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 185

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

18,400 (2004) country comparison to the world: 207

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (plus 3 repeaters) (1997)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

none

Budget [time series]

revenues: $455.1 million expenditures: $423.6 million (2005 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$NA

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

146 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 183

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

146 million kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 182

Exchange rates [time series]

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

Exports [time series]

$271 million (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 177

Exports - commodities [time series]

(principally reexports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods 41%, other 8%

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$1.066 billion (2005 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]

$1.066 billion (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 197 $769 million (2000 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 (PPP)) [time series]

$38,200 (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 26 $27,900 (2000 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

7% (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 37

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$2.967 billion (2004 est.) country comparison to the world: 141

Imports - commodities [time series]

fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA%

Industries [time series]

tourism, banking and finance, ship repairing, tobacco

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2.9% (2005) country comparison to the world: 36

Labor force [time series]

12,690 (including non-Gibraltar laborers) (2001) country comparison to the world: 207

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: negligible industry: 40% services: 60% (2001)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 180

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 172

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 176

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 105

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 176

Oil - consumption [time series]

24,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 118

Oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 200

Oil - imports [time series]

25,610 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 107

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 194

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 177

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Public debt [time series]

15.7% of GDP (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 100

Unemployment rate [time series]

3% (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 32

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 6.5 sq km country comparison to the world: 241 land: 6.5 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly less than one-half the size of Rhode Island

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: large concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rainwater (no longer used for drinking water) and adequate desalination plant

Geographic coordinates [time series]

36 08 N, 5 21 W

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 1.2 km border countries: Spain 1.2 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 0% permanent crops: 0% other: 100% (2005)

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]

Natural resources [time series]

none

Terrain [time series]

a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Capital [time series]

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

Constitution [time series]

5 June 2006; came into force 2 January 2007

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Gibraltar

Dependency status [time series]

overseas territory of the UK

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Executive branch [time series]

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

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]

Independence [time series]

none (overseas territory of the UK)

International organization participation [time series]

Interpol (subbureau), UPU

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court; Court of Appeal

Legal system [time series]

the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply

Legislative branch [time series]

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 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

National holiday [time series]

National Day, 10 September (1967); note - day of the national referendum to decide whether to remain with the UK or go with Spain

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Gibraltar Liberal Party [Joseph GARCIA]; Gibraltar Social Democrats or GSD [Peter CARUANA]; Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party or GSLP [Joseph John BOSSANO]

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

Chamber of Commerce; Gibraltar Representatives Organization; Women's Association

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal; and British citizens who have been residents six months or more

Introduction

Background [time series]

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.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 6,308 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 5,234 females age 16-49: 5,242 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 186 female: 179 (2009 est.)

Military - note [time series]

defense is the responsibility of the UK; the Royal Gibraltar Regiment replaced the last British regular infantry forces in 1992

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Royal Gibraltar Regiment (2009)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 16.7% (male 2,393/female 2,276) 15-64 years: 66.9% (male 9,532/female 9,219) 65 years and over: 16.5% (male 2,125/female 2,489) (2009 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

10.67 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 180

Death rate [time series]

9.56 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 70

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

Ethnic groups [time series]

Spanish, Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, German, North Africans

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 4.83 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 194 male: 5.37 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 80.19 years country comparison to the world: 20 male: 77.3 years female: 83.22 years (2009 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: NA total population: above 80% male: NA female: NA

Median age [time series]

total: 40.5 years male: 39.9 years female: 41 years (2009 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Gibraltarian(s) adjective: Gibraltar

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 85

Population [time series]

28,034 (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 214

Population growth rate [time series]

0.111% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 190

Religions [time series]

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)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

1.65 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 177

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 100% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 0.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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

Transportation

Airports [time series]

1 (2009) country comparison to the world: 231

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2009)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 240 country comparison to the world: 32 by type: bulk carrier 5, cargo 125, chemical tanker 51, container 43, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 10, roll on/roll off 5 foreign-owned: 225 (Belgium 2, Cyprus 1, Denmark 7, Finland 3, Germany 129, Greece 6, Iceland 1, Morocco 4, Netherlands 21, Norway 33, Sweden 13, UAE 3, UK 2) registered in other countries: 7 (Liberia 5, Panama 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2008)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Gibraltar

Roadways [time series]

total: 29 km country comparison to the world: 216 paved: 29 km (2007)