ARCHIVE // GI // 2018
Gibraltar
2018 Edition — territory
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2018
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Communications
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
[time series]
total: 17,373 (2017 est.) | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 59 (2017 est.)
Broadcast media
[time series]
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)
Internet country code
[time series]
.gi
Internet users
[time series]
total: 27,699 (July 2016 est.) | percent of population: 94.4% (July 2016 est.)
Telecommunication systems
(Telephone system)
[time series]
general assessment: adequate, automatic domestic system and adequate international facilities (2017) | domestic: automatic exchange facilities; 67 per 100 fixed-line and 140 per 100 mobile-cellular (2017) | international: country code - 350; radiotelephone; microwave radio relay; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2015)
Telephones - fixed lines
[time series]
total subscriptions: 19,753 (2017 est.) | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 67 (2017 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
[time series]
total subscriptions: 41,035 (2017 est.) | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 140 (2017 est.)
Economy
Agricultural products
(Agriculture - products)
[time series]
none
Budget
[time series]
revenues: 475.8 million (2008 est.) | expenditures: 452.3 million (2008 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
[time series]
1.1% (of GDP) (2008 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. 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. 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. The financial sector, tourism (over 11 million visitors in 2012), 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%.
Exchange rates
[time series]
Gibraltar pounds (GIP) per US dollar - | 0.885 (2017 est.) | 0.903 (2016 est.) | 0.9214 (2015 est.) | 0.885 (2014 est.) | 0.7634 (2013 est.)
Exports
[time series]
$202.3 million (2014 est.) | $271 million (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities
[time series]
(principally reexports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods (2010 est.)
Exports - partners
[time series]
Spain 27.1%, Germany 20.4%, Netherlands 10.8%, Poland 8.6%, France 6.6%, Italy 5.7%, Cote dIvoire 4.5% (2017)
Fiscal year
[time series]
1 July - 30 June
GDP (official exchange rate)
[time series]
$2.044 billion (2014 est.) (2014 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
(GDP (purchasing power parity))
[time series]
$2.044 billion (2014 est.) | $1.85 billion (2013 est.) | $2 billion (2012 est.) | note: data are in 2014 dollars
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
[time series]
agriculture: 0% (2016 est.) | industry: 0% (2008 est.) | services: 100% (2016 est.)
Real GDP per capita
(GDP - per capita (PPP))
[time series]
$61,700 (2014 est.) | $43,000 (2008 est.) | $41,200 (2007 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
[time series]
lowest 10%: NA | highest 10%: NA
Imports
[time series]
$2.967 billion (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities
[time series]
fuels, manufactured goods, foodstuffs
Imports - partners
[time series]
Spain 15.6%, Italy 13.4%, US 13.3%, Netherlands 10.9%, Greece 8.5%, Russia 6.6%, UK 5.8%, Belgium 4.4% (2017)
Industrial production growth rate
[time series]
NA
Industries
[time series]
tourism, banking and finance, ship repairing, tobacco
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
[time series]
2.5% (2013 est.) | 2.2% (2012 est.)
Labor force
[time series]
24,420 (2014 est.)
Labor force - by occupation
[time series]
agriculture: NEGL | industry: 1.8% | services: 98.2% (2014 est.)
Population below poverty line
[time series]
NA
Public debt
[time series]
7.5% of GDP (2008 est.) | 8.4% of GDP (2006 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
[time series]
23.3% (of GDP) (2008 est.)
Unemployment rate
[time series]
1% (2016 est.)
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions
(Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy)
[time series]
13.34 million Mt (2017 est.)
Crude oil - exports
[time series]
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - imports
[time series]
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Crude oil - production
[time series]
0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Crude oil - proved reserves
[time series]
0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
Electricity - consumption
[time series]
230.8 million kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - exports
[time series]
0 kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels
[time series]
100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants
[time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from nuclear fuels
[time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - from other renewable sources
[time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
Electricity - imports
[time series]
0 kWh (2016 est.)
Electricity - installed generating capacity
[time series]
43,000 kW (2016 est.)
Electricity - production
[time series]
238.8 million kWh (2016 est.)
Natural gas - consumption
[time series]
0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - exports
[time series]
0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - imports
[time series]
0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - production
[time series]
0 cu m (2017 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves
[time series]
0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
Refined petroleum products - consumption
[time series]
78,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
Refined petroleum products - exports
[time series]
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - imports
[time series]
74,200 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Refined petroleum products - production
[time series]
0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
Geography
Area
[time series]
total: 6.5 sq km | land: 6.5 sq km | water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
[time series]
more than 10 times the size of The National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Climate
[time series]
Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers
Coastline
[time series]
12 km
Elevation
[time series]
0 m lowest point: Mediterranean Sea | 426 highest point: Rock of Gibraltar
Environment - current issues
[time series]
limited natural freshwater resources: more than 90% of drinking water supplied by desalination, the remainder from stored rainwater; a separate supply of saltwater used for sanitary services
Geographic coordinates
[time series]
36 08 N, 5 21 W
Geography - note
[time series]
note 1: strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea note 2: one of only two British territories where traffic drives on the right, the other being the island of Diego Garcia in the British Indian Ocean Territory
Irrigated land
[time series]
NA
Land boundaries
[time series]
total: 1.2 km | border countries (1): Spain 1.2 km
Land use
[time series]
agricultural land: 0% (2011 est.) | arable land: 0% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 0% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 0% (2011 est.) | forest: 0% (2011 est.) | other: 100% (2011 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]
occasional droughts; no streams or large bodies of water on the peninsula (all potable water comes from desalination)
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
Citizenship
[time series]
see United Kingdom
Constitution
[time series]
history: previous 1969; latest passed by referendum 30 November 2006, entered into effect 14 December 2006, entered into force 2 January 2007 (2016) | amendments: proposed by Parliament and require prior consent of the British monarch (through the Secretary of State); passage requires at least three-fourths majority vote in Parliament followed by simple majority vote in a referendum; note – only sections 1 through 15 in Chapter 1 (Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms) can be amended by Parliament (2016)
Country name
[time series]
conventional long form: none | conventional short form: Gibraltar | etymology: from the Spanish derivation of the Arabic "Jabal Tariq," which means "Mountain of Tariq" and which refers to the Rock of 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 Lt. Gen. Edward DAVIS (since 19 January 2016) | head of government: Chief Minister Fabian PICARDO (since 9 December 2011) | cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed from among the 17 elected members of Parliament by the governor in consultation with the chief minister | elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition 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; 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
Government type
[time series]
parliamentary democracy (Parliament); self-governing overseas territory of the UK
Independence
[time series]
none (overseas territory of the UK)
International organization participation
[time series]
ICC (NGOs), Interpol (subbureau), UPU
Judicial branch
[time series]
highest courts: Court of Appeal (consists of at least 3 judges, including the court president); Supreme Court of Gibraltar (consists of the chief justice and 3 judges); note - appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London) | 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 judges 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
Legal system
[time series]
the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply
Legislative branch
[time series]
description: unicameral Parliament (18 seats; 17 members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by majority vote and 1 appointed by Parliament as speaker; members serve 4-year terms) | elections: last held on 26 November 2015 (next to be held not later than December 2019) | election results: percent of vote by party - GSLP-Liberal Alliance 68.4% (GSLP 47.8%, LPG 20.6%), GSD 31.6%; seats by party - GSLP-Liberal Alliance 10 (GSLP 7, LPG 3), GSD 7; composition - men 15, women 2, percent of women 11.8%
National anthem(s)
(National anthem)
[time series]
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" is official (see United Kingdom)
National holiday
[time series]
National Day, 10 September (1967); note - day of the national referendum to decide whether to remain with the UK or join Spain
National symbol(s)
[time series]
Barbary macaque; national colors: red, white, yellow
Political parties
(Political parties and leaders)
[time series]
Gibraltar Liberal Party or Liberal Party of Gibralta or LPG[Joseph GARCIA] Gibraltar Social Democrats or GSD [Keith AZOPARDI] Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party or GSLP [Fabian PICARDO] GSLP-Liberal Alliance (includes GSLP and LPG) Progressive Democratic Party [Nick CRUZ]
Suffrage
[time series]
18 years of age; universal; and British citizens with six months residence 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 Spain to close the border and sever 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. A new noncolonial constitution came into force 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. Spain and the UK continue to spar over the territory. 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 following a dispute over Gibraltar's creation of an artificial reef in those waters. Spain renewed its demands for an eventual return of Gibraltar to Spanish control after the UK’s June 2016 vote to leave the EU, but London has dismissed any connection between the vote and its continued sovereignty over Gibraltar. The EU has said that Gibraltar will be ouside the territorial scope of any future UK-EU trade deal and that separate agreements between the EU and UK regarding Gibraltar would require Spain's prior approval.
Military and Security
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
People and Society
Age structure
[time series]
0-14 years: 20.29% (male 3,064 /female 2,915) | 15-24 years: 13.76% (male 2,110 /female 1,944) | 25-54 years: 40.35% (male 6,094 /female 5,794) | 55-64 years: 9.31% (male 1,183 /female 1,560) | 65 years and over: 16.28% (male 2,336 /female 2,461) (2018 est.) | population pyramid: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Europe :: Gibraltar Print Image Description This is the population pyramid for Gibraltar. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends. For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.
Birth rate
[time series]
13.9 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
Death rate
[time series]
8.5 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
Education expenditure
(Education expenditures)
[time series]
NA
Ethnic groups
[time series]
Gibraltarian 79%, other British 13.2%, Spanish 2.1%, Moroccan 1.6%, other EU 2.4%, other 1.6% (2012 est.) | note: data represent population by nationality
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
[time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths
[time series]
NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
[time series]
NA
Infant mortality rate
[time series]
total: 5.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.) | male: 6.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.) | female: 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
Languages
[time series]
English (used in schools and for official purposes), Spanish, Italian, Portuguese
Life expectancy at birth
[time series]
total population: 79.7 years (2018 est.) | male: 76.8 years (2018 est.) | female: 82.8 years (2018 est.)
Major urban areas - population
[time series]
35,000 GIBRALTAR (capital) (2018)
Median age
[time series]
total: 35 years | male: 34.1 years | female: 36 years (2018 est.)
Nationality
[time series]
noun: Gibraltarian(s) | adjective: Gibraltar
Net migration rate
[time series]
-3.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)
Population
[time series]
29,461 (July 2018 est.)
Population growth rate
[time series]
0.21% (2018 est.)
Religions
[time series]
Roman Catholic 72.1%, Church of England 7.7%, other Christian 3.8%, Muslim 3.6%, Jewish 2.4%, Hindu 2%, other 1.1%, none 7.1%, unspecified 0.1% (2012 est.)
Sex ratio
[time series]
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | 15-24 years: 1.1 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | 25-54 years: 1.03 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | 55-64 years: 0.81 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | 65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female (2017 est.) | total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
Total fertility rate
[time series]
1.9 children born/woman (2018 est.)
Urbanization
[time series]
urban population: 100% of total population (2018) | rate of urbanization: 0.45% annual rate of change (2015-20 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 (2013)
Airports - with paved runways
[time series]
total: 1 (2017) | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2017)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
[time series]
VP-G (2016)
Merchant marine
[time series]
total: 291 (2017) | by type: bulk carrier 8, container ship 31, general cargo 116, oil tanker 20, other 116 (2017)
Ports
(Ports and terminals)
[time series]
major seaport(s): Gibraltar
Roadways
[time series]
total: 29 km (2007) | paved: 29 km (2007)