Gibraltar

<p>Spain reluctantly ceded the strategically important Gibraltar to Great Britain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht, and the British garrison at Gibraltar was formally declared a colony in 1830. In a referendum held in 1967, Gibraltarians voted overwhelmingly to remain a British dependency. After the UK granted Gibraltar autonomy in 1969, Spain closed the border and severed 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 2002 in which the majority of citizens voted overwhelmingly against sharing sovereignty with Spain. Since 2004, Spain, the UK, and Gibraltar have held tripartite talks to resolve problems that affect the local population, and work continues on cooperation agreements in areas such as taxation and financial services, communications and maritime security, 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 2008. The UK retains responsibility for defense, foreign relations, internal security, and financial stability.</p> <p>Spain and the UK continue to spar over the territory. In 2009, for example, 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. Spain renewed its demands for an eventual return of Gibraltar to Spanish control after the UK’s 2016 vote to leave the EU, but London has dismissed any connection between the vote and its sovereignty over Gibraltar. </p>

Land

6.5 sq km

Total

7 sq km

Water

0 sq km

more than 10 times the size of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers

12 km

Europe

Highest point

Rock of Gibraltar 426 m

Lowest point

Mediterranean Sea 0 m

36 08 N, 5 21 W

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

NA

Border countries

Spain 1.2 km

number of neighbors

1

Total

1.2 km

Agricultural land

0% (2022 est.)

Forest

0% (2022 est.)

Other

100% (2022 est.)

No

Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southern coast of Spain

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/CEoHAs1t6byCBhHFA

OpenStreetMap

https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/1278736

Europe

Territorial sea

3 nm

occasional droughts; no streams or large bodies of water on the peninsula (all potable water comes from desalination)

none

Southern Europe

a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar

UTC+01:00

number of time zones

1

0-14 years

20% (male 3,045/female 2,895)

15-64 years

62.5% (male 9,383/female 9,179)

65 years and over

17.5% (2024 est.) (male 2,491/female 2,690)

13.55 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

8.71 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

adult female

35 per 1,000

adult male

66 per 1,000

Elderly dependency ratio

28 (2025 est.)

Potential support ratio

3.6 (2025 est.)

Total dependency ratio

60 (2025 est.)

Youth dependency ratio

32.1 (2025 est.)

improved total

100%

Improved: total

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

8.6% national budget (2025 est.)

Gibraltarian 79%, other British 13.2%, Spanish 2.1%, Moroccan 1.6%, other EU 2.4%, other 1.6% (2012 est.)

note

<strong>note:</strong> data represent population by nationality

0.92 (2025 est.)

Female

5.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

6.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

5.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

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

languages

English

number of languages

1

Female

83.8 years

Male

78.1 years

Total population

80.9 years (2024 est.)

35,000 GIBRALTAR (capital) (2018)

Female

37.5 years

Male

36.2 years

Total

37.1 years (2025 est.)

9 births/1,000 women 15-19

Adjective

Gibraltar

Noun

Gibraltarian(s)

-3.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Female

14,810

Male

14,923

Total

29,733 (2025 est.)

0.16% (2025 est.)

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.)

Improved: total

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.93 male(s)/female

At birth

1.05 male(s)/female

Total population

1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

1.88 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Rate of urbanization

0.45% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Urban population

100% of total population (2023)

Daylight saving time

+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Etymology

from the Spanish derivation of the Arabic <em>jabal tariq</em>, which means "Mountain of Tariq" and refers to the Berber chief who captured the peninsula in A.D. 711

Geographic coordinates

36 08 N, 5 21 W

Name

Gibraltar

Time difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

see United Kingdom

svg

https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/gi.svg

Amendment process

proposed by Parliament and requires 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 &ndash; only sections 1 through 15 in Chapter 1 (Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms) can be amended by Parliament

History

previous 1969; latest passed by referendum 30 November 2006, entered into effect 14 December 2006, entered into force 2 January 2007

alternative spellings

GI

Conventional long form

none

Conventional short form

Gibraltar

Etymology

from the Spanish derivation of the Arabic <em>jabal tariq</em>, which means "Mountain of Tariq" and refers to the Berber chief who captured the peninsula in A.D. 711

FIFA code

GIB

local long form (eng)

Gibraltar

overseas territory of the UK

Embassy

none (overseas territory of the UK)

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed from among the 17 elected members of Parliament by the governor, in consultation with the chief minister

Chief of state

King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Sir David STEEL (since 11 June 2020)

Election/appointment process

the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the governor usually appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as chief minister

Head of government

Chief Minister Fabian PICARDO (since 9 December 2011)

<strong>description:</strong> two horizontal bands of white (top, double-width) and red with a three-towered red castle in the center of the white band; a gold key hangs from the castle gate and is centered in the red band<br><br><strong> meaning:</strong> the castle symbolizes Gibraltar as a fortress, and the key represents Gibraltar's strategic importance -- the key to the Mediterranean<br><br><strong>history:</strong> the design comes from Gibraltar's coat of arms, which King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain granted on 10 July 1502 

The flag of Gibraltar has two horizontal bands of white (double-width) and red, with a three-towered red castle in the center of the white band. A gold key hangs from the castle gate and is centered in the red band.

svg

https://flagcdn.com/gi.svg

parliamentary democracy (Parliament); self-governing overseas territory of the UK

none (overseas territory of the UK)

ICC (NGOs), Interpol (subbureau), UPU

Highest court(s)

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)&nbsp;

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 tenure can be extended 3 years

Note

<strong>note:</strong> appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)

Subordinate courts

Court of First Instance; Magistrates' Court; specialized tribunals for issues relating to social security, taxes, and employment

the laws of the UK apply

Electoral system

plurality/majority

Expected date of next election

October 2027

Legislative structure

unicameral

Legislature name

Parliament

Most recent election date

10/12/2023

Number of seats

18 (17 directly elected, 1 appointed)

Parties elected and seats per party

GSLP-Liberal Alliance (9) (GSLP 7, LPG 2); GSD (8)

Percentage of women in chamber

38.5%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

4 years

King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain granted this coat of arms to Gibraltar in 1502; the castle in the center of the shield represents Gibraltar as a fortress, and the gold key represents its strategic position as the gateway to the Mediterranean; below the shield is the national motto, <em>Montis Insignia Calpe</em> (“Badge of the Rock of Gibraltar”); the coat of arms uses the national colors of red, white, and yellow

red, white, yellow

National Day, 10 September (1967)

note

<strong>note:</strong> day of the national referendum to decide whether to remain with the UK or join Spain

Barbary partridge

Gibraltar Liberal Party or Liberal Party of Gibraltar or LPG <br>Gibraltar Social Democrats or GSD <br>Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party or GSLP <br>GSLP-Liberal Alliance <br>Together Gibraltar or TG 

Monday

18 years of age; universal; and British citizens with six months residence or more

No

none

code

GIP

name

Gibraltar pound (GIP) [£]

British territorial high-income economy; Brexit caused significant economic disruption to longstanding financial services, shipping, and tourism industries; ongoing negotiations to rejoin EU Schengen Area; independent taxation authority

Currency

Gibraltar pounds (GIP) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

0.78 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.727 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

0.811 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

0.805 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

0.782 (2024 est.)

refined petroleum, natural gas, ships, cars, scrap iron (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Netherlands 38%, France 26%, Cyprus 7%, Poland 7%, Sweden 6% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

$2.044 billion (2014 est.)

refined petroleum, crude petroleum, coal tar oil, natural gas, ships (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Italy 26%, Greece 12%, Spain 10%, Netherlands 9%, India 9% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

tourism, banking and finance, ship repairing, tobacco

Consumption

213.744 million kWh (2023 est.)

consumption per capita

5,424 kWh

Installed generating capacity

50,000 kW (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses

6.256 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

6,522 kg of oil equivalent

Consumption

77.196 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Imports

77.196 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption

91,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

0%

per 100 inhabitants

61 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

61 (2022 est.)

Total

23,000 (2022 est.)

Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) provides TV and radio 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

.gi

Percent of population

94% (2016 est.)

+350

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

46 (2022 est.)

Total subscriptions

17,200 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100

98 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

98 (2022 est.)

Total subscriptions

36,700 (2022 est.)

1 (2025)

VP-G

Right

By type

bulk carrier 8, container ship 5, general cargo 31, oil tanker 16, other 69

Total

129 (2023)

Key ports

Europa Point

Large

0

Medium

1

Ports with oil terminals

1

Small

0

Total ports

1 (2024)

Very small

0

GBZ

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Royal Gibraltar Regiment (UK) (2025)

From consumed natural gas

150,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids

15.458 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Total emissions

15.608 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

limited natural freshwater resources

1 % of total land area

Municipal solid waste generated annually

17,000 tons (2024 est.)