Introduction
Background
Spain ceded the strategically important Gibraltar to Great Britain in 1713. The British garrison there was formally declared a colony in 1830. In a referendum held in 1967, Gibraltarians voted overwhelmingly to remain a British dependency, although Spain has since continued to push for control of Gibraltar.
Geography
Area
total: 7 sq km
land: 6.5 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Climate
Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers
Natural resources
none
People and Society
Population
total: 29,683
male: 14,919
female: 14,764 (2024 est.)
Ethnic groups
Gibraltarian 79%, other British 13.2%, Spanish 2.1%, Moroccan 1.6%, other EU 2.4%, other 1.6% (2012 est.)
Languages
English (used in schools and for official purposes), Spanish, Italian, Portuguese
Religions
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.)
Population growth rate
0.17% (2024 est.)
Government
Government type
parliamentary democracy (Parliament); self-governing overseas territory of the UK
Capital
name: Gibraltar
Executive branch
chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor Sir David STEEL (since 11 June 2020)
head of government: Chief Minister Fabian PICARDO (since 9 December 2011)
Legislative branch
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)
Economy
Economic overview
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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$2.044 billion (2014 est.)
$1.85 billion (2013 est.)
$2 billion (2012 est.)
Real GDP per capita
$61,700 (2014 est.)
$43,000 (2008 est.)
$41,200 (2007 est.)
Agricultural products
none
Industries
tourism, banking and finance, ship repairing, tobacco
Exports
$202.3 million (2014 est.)
$271 million (2004 est.)
Exports - partners
Poland 31%, Netherlands 27%, France 11%, Germany 8%, United States 6% (2019)
Exports - commodities
cars and vehicle parts, ships, refined petroleum, recreational boats, designer watches (2021)
Imports - partners
Spain 19%, US 12%, India 12%, Italy 12%, Netherlands 11%, United Kingdom 7%, Greece 6% (2019)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, recreational boats, cars, coal tar oil, crude petroleum (2019)
Exchange rates
Gibraltar pounds (GIP) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
0.811 (2022 est.)
0.727 (2021 est.)
0.78 (2020 est.)
0.783 (2019 est.)
0.75 (2018 est.)
Page last updated: Wednesday, May 01, 2024
