Gibraltar

Code: GI | Region: Europe

Introduction

Background

text

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.

Geography

Location

text

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

Geographic coordinates

text

36 08 N, 5 21 W

Map references

text

Europe

Area

total

text

7 sq km

land

text

6.5 sq km

water

text

0 sq km

Area - comparative

text

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

Land boundaries

total

text

1.2 km

border countries

text

Spain 1.2 km

Coastline

text

12 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea

text

3 nm

Climate

text

Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers

Terrain

text

a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar

Elevation

highest point

text

Rock of Gibraltar 426 m

lowest point

text

Mediterranean Sea 0 m

Natural resources

text

none

Land use

agricultural land

text

0% (2022 est.)

forest

text

0% (2022 est.)

other

text

100% (2022 est.)

Irrigated land

text

Natural hazards

text

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

Geography - note

text

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

People and Society

Population

total

text

29,733 (2025 est.)

male

text

14,923

female

text

14,810

Nationality

noun

text

Gibraltarian(s)

adjective

text

Gibraltar

Ethnic groups

text

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

note

note: data represent population by nationality

Languages

text

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

Religions

text

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.)

Age structure

0-14 years

text

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

15-64 years

text

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

65 years and over

text

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

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio

text

60 (2025 est.)

youth dependency ratio

text

32.1 (2025 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

text

28 (2025 est.)

potential support ratio

text

3.6 (2025 est.)

Median age

total

text

37.1 years (2025 est.)

male

text

36.2 years

female

text

37.5 years

Population growth rate

text

0.16% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

text

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

Death rate

text

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

Net migration rate

text

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

Urbanization

urban population

text

100% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization

text

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

Major urban areas - population

text

35,000 GIBRALTAR (capital) (2018)

Sex ratio

at birth

text

1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years

text

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years

text

1.02 male(s)/female

65 years and over

text

0.93 male(s)/female

total population

text

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

Infant mortality rate

total

text

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

male

text

6.8 deaths/1,000 live births

female

text

5.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

total population

text

80.9 years (2024 est.)

male

text

78.1 years

female

text

83.8 years

Total fertility rate

text

1.88 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

text

0.92 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban

text

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

text

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

text

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

text

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban

text

urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

text

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

text

urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

text

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

text

8.6% national budget (2025 est.)

Environment

Environmental issues

text

limited natural freshwater resources

Climate

text

Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers

Land use

agricultural land

text

0% (2022 est.)

forest

text

0% (2022 est.)

other

text

100% (2022 est.)

Urbanization

urban population

text

100% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization

text

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

Carbon dioxide emissions

total emissions

text

15.608 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

text

15.458 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas

text

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

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

text

17,000 tons (2024 est.)

Government

Country name

conventional long form

text

none

conventional short form

text

Gibraltar

etymology

text

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

Government type

text

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

Dependency status

text

overseas territory of the UK

Capital

name

text

Gibraltar

geographic coordinates

text

36 08 N, 5 21 W

time difference

text

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

daylight saving time

text

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

etymology

text

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

Legal system

text

the laws of the UK apply

Constitution

history

text

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

amendment process

text

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

Citizenship

text

see United Kingdom

Suffrage

text

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

Executive branch

chief of state

text

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

head of government

text

Chief Minister Fabian PICARDO (since 9 December 2011)

cabinet

text

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

election/appointment process

text

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

Legislative branch

legislature name

text

Parliament

legislative structure

text

unicameral

number of seats

text

18 (17 directly elected, 1 appointed)

electoral system

text

plurality/majority

scope of elections

text

full renewal

term in office

text

4 years

most recent election date

text

10/12/2023

parties elected and seats per party

text

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

percentage of women in chamber

text

38.5%

expected date of next election

text

October 2027

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

text

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

text

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

text

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

note

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

Political parties

text

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

text

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US

embassy

text

none (overseas territory of the UK)

International organization participation

text

ICC (NGOs), Interpol (subbureau), UPU

Independence

text

none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday

text

National Day, 10 September (1967)

note

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

Flag

text

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

National symbol(s)

text

Barbary partridge

National color(s)

text

red, white, yellow

National coat of arms

text

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 anthem(s)

title

text

"God Save the King"

lyrics/music

text

unknown

history

text

official anthem, as an overseas UK territory

Economy

Economic overview

text

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

GDP (official exchange rate)

text

$2.044 billion (2014 est.)

Agricultural products

text

none

Industries

text

tourism, banking and finance, ship repairing, tobacco

Exports - partners

text

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

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

Exports - commodities

text

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

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

text

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

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Imports - commodities

text

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

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Exchange rates

Currency

text

Gibraltar pounds (GIP) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2024

text

0.782 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

text

0.805 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

text

0.811 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

text

0.727 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

text

0.78 (2020 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

electrification - total population

text

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity

text

50,000 kW (2023 est.)

consumption

text

213.744 million kWh (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

text

6.256 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

text

100% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

text

91,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

text

77.196 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

imports

text

77.196 million cubic meters (2023 est.)

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions

text

17,200 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

text

46 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions

text

36,700 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

text

98 (2022 est.)

Broadcast media

text

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

text

.gi

Internet users

percent of population

text

94% (2016 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total

text

23,000 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

text

61 (2022 est.)

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

text

VP-G

Airports

text

1 (2025)

Merchant marine

total

text

129 (2023)

by type

text

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

Ports

total ports

text

1 (2024)

large

text

medium

text

small

text

very small

text

ports with oil terminals

text

key ports

text

Europa Point

Military and Security

Military and security forces

text

Royal Gibraltar Regiment (UK) (2025)

Military - note

text

defense is the responsibility of the UK