Gibraltar

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 23,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 61 (2022 est.)

Broadcast media

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

Internet country code

.gi

Internet users

percent of population: 94% (2016 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 17,200 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 46 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 36,700 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 98 (2022 est.)

Agricultural products

none

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

Exchange rates

Gibraltar pounds (GIP) per US dollar - 0.782 (2024 est.) 0.805 (2023 est.) 0.811 (2022 est.) 0.727 (2021 est.) 0.78 (2020 est.)

Exports - commodities

refined petroleum, natural gas, ships, cars, scrap iron (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

Netherlands 38%, France 26%, Cyprus 7%, Poland 7%, Sweden 6% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.044 billion (2014 est.)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, crude petroleum, coal tar oil, natural gas, ships (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

Italy 26%, Greece 12%, Spain 10%, Netherlands 9%, India 9% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industries

tourism, banking and finance, ship repairing, tobacco

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 50,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 213.744 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 6.256 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Natural gas

consumption: 77.196 million cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 77.196 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption: 91,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

15.608 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 15.458 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 150,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Climate

Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers

Environmental issues

limited natural freshwater resources

Land use

agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.) forest: 0% (2022 est.) other: 100% (2022 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 100% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.45% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 17,000 tons (2024 est.)

Area

total : 7 sq km land: 6.5 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

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

Climate

Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers

Coastline

12 km

Elevation

highest point: Rock of Gibraltar 426 m lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m

Geographic coordinates

36 08 N, 5 21 W

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

NA

Land boundaries

total: 1.2 km border countries (1): Spain 1.2 km

Land use

agricultural land: 0% (2022 est.) forest: 0% (2022 est.) other: 100% (2022 est.)

Location

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

Europe

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 3 nm

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

none

Terrain

a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar

Capital

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

Citizenship

see United Kingdom

Constitution

history: previous 1969; latest passed by referendum 30 November 2006, entered into effect 14 December 2006, entered into force 2 January 2007 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 only sections 1 through 15 in Chapter 1 (Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms) can be amended by Parliament

Country name

conventional long form: none conventional short form: Gibraltar etymology: from the Spanish derivation of the Arabic jabal tariq , which means "Mountain of Tariq" and refers to the Berber chief who captured the peninsula in A.D. 711

Dependency status

overseas territory of the UK

Diplomatic representation from the US

embassy: none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation in the US

none (overseas territory of the UK)

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

Flag

description: 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 meaning: the castle symbolizes Gibraltar as a fortress, and the key represents Gibraltar's strategic importance -- the key to the Mediterranean history: the design comes from Gibraltar's coat of arms, which King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain granted on 10 July 1502

Government type

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

Independence

none (overseas territory of the UK)

International organization participation

ICC (NGOs), Interpol (subbureau), UPU

Judicial branch

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) 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 subordinate courts: Court of First Instance; Magistrates' Court; specialized tribunals for issues relating to social security, taxes, and employment note: appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)

Legal system

the laws of the UK apply

Legislative branch

legislature name: Parliament legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 18 (17 directly elected, 1 appointed) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 10/12/2023 parties elected and seats per party: GSLP-Liberal Alliance (9) (GSLP 7, LPG 2); GSD (8) percentage of women in chamber: 38.5% expected date of next election: October 2027

National anthem(s)

title: "Gibraltar Anthem" lyrics/music: Peter EMBERLEY history: adopted 1994; serves as a local anthem _____ title: "God Save the King" lyrics/music: unknown history: official anthem, as an overseas UK territory

National coat of arms

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, Montis Insignia Calpe ( Badge of the Rock of Gibraltar ); the coat of arms uses the national colors of red, white, and yellow

National color(s)

red, white, yellow

National holiday

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)

Barbary partridge

Political parties

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

Suffrage

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

Background

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. 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.

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Military and security forces

Royal Gibraltar Regiment (UK) (2025)

Age structure

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)

Birth rate

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

Death rate

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

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 60 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 32.1 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 28 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 3.6 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

8.6% national budget (2025 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Gross reproduction rate

0.92 (2025 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 5.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births female: 5.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 80.9 years (2024 est.) male: 78.1 years female: 83.8 years

Major urban areas - population

35,000 GIBRALTAR (capital) (2018)

Median age

total: 37.1 years (2025 est.) male: 36.2 years female: 37.5 years

Nationality

noun: Gibraltarian(s) adjective: Gibraltar

Net migration rate

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

Population

total: 29,733 (2025 est.) male: 14,923 female: 14,810

Population growth rate

0.16% (2025 est.)

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.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 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 total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.88 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 100% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.45% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Airports

1 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

VP-G

Merchant marine

total: 129 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 8, container ship 5, general cargo 31, oil tanker 16, other 69

Ports

total ports: 1 (2024) large: 0 medium: 1 small: 0 very small: 0 ports with oil terminals: 1 key ports: Europa Point