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(opens in new window) Strategically important, Gibraltar was
ceded to Great Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht; the British
garrison was formally declared a colony in 1830. In referendums held in 1967
and 2002, Gibraltarians ignored Spanish pressure and voted overwhelmingly to
remain a British dependency. Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait
of Gibraltar, which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic
Ocean, on the southern coast of Spain 36 8 N, 5 21 W total: 6.5 sq
km Mediterranean with mild winters and warm
summers a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock
of Gibraltar lowest point:
Mediterranean Sea 0 m limited natural freshwater resources:
large concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rainwater (no longer
used for drinking water) and adequate desalination plant strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar
that links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea 27,833 (July 2004 est.) Spanish, Italian, English, Maltese,
Portuguese Roman Catholic 76.9%, Church of England
6.9%, Muslim 6.9%, Jewish 2.3%, none or other 7% (1991) English (used in schools and for official
purposes), Spanish, Italian, Portuguese overseas territory of the UK Gibraltar National Day, 10 September (1967); note -
day of the national referendum to decide whether to remain with the UK or go
with Spain English law Gibraltar benefits from an extensive
shipping trade, offshore banking, and its position as an international
conference center. The British military presence has been sharply reduced
and now contributes about 7% to the local economy, compared with 60% in
1984. The financial sector, tourism (almost 5 million visitors in 1998),
shipping services fees, and duties on consumer goods also generate revenue.
The financial sector, the shipping sector, and tourism each contribute
25%-30% of GDP. Telecommunications accounts for another 10%. 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. 1.5% (1998) 14,800 (including non-Gibraltar laborers)
(1999) agriculture negligible, industry 40%,
services 60% 2% (2001 est.) revenues:
$307 million tourism, banking and finance, ship
repairing, tobacco (principally reexports) petroleum 51%,
manufactured goods 41%, other 8% Germany 23.4%, France 22.7%, Switzerland
16.5%, UK 13.1%, Turkmenistan 8.6%, Spain 5.2% (2003 est.) fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs
Spain 27.9%, UK 15.6%, Russia 8.6%, Italy
6.9%, Netherlands 6.8%, France 5.6%, Germany 4.8%, Japan 4.1% (2003 est.)
Gibraltar pound (GIP) 24,512 (2002) 9,797 (2002) total: 29 km
Gibraltar total: 133
ships (1,000 GRT or over) 980,636 GRT/1,254,661 DWT 1 (2003 est.) total: 1 Royal Gibraltar Regiment defense is the responsibility of the UK;
the last British regular infantry forces left Gibraltar in 1992, replaced by
the Royal Gibraltar Regiment since Gibraltar residents voted
overwhelmingly by referendum in 2003 against a "total shared sovereignty"
arrangement, talks between the UK and Spain over the fate of the
300-year-old UK colony have stalled; Spain disapproves of UK plans to grant
Gibraltar greater autonomy |
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