Gibraltar is situated at the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula. It borders Spain to the north and the Strait of Gibraltar. It is a British overseas territory. Gibraltar is ranked the 5th best in the list of the most stable and prosperous British Territories. The country is a major base of British Armed Forces and Royal Navy. Earlier Gibraltar was known as one of the Pillars of Hercules- the Mons Calpe. The defense affairs are looked after by the United Kingdom. Gibraltar has a Royal Gibraltar Regiment. The city of Gibraltar is the capital of Gibraltar.
HISTORY:- The Phoenicians inhabited in the region around 850 BC. Later Carthaginians settled in the region for a very short span of time, followed by the Romans. After the fall Roman Empire, Gibraltar came under Visigothic Kingdom of Hispania. During that time, Gibraltar was known as one of the Pillars of Hercules. Moorish rule started when Granada Empire annexed Gibraltar in 1309. The 750 years of Moorish rule was ended when Duke of Medina Sidonia conquered the land in 1462. In 1501, the region came under Spanish Crown. During the War of the Spanish Succession in 1704, Gibraltar was captured by the Anglo-Dutch troop. Gibraltar was ceded to Britain by Spain in 1713 with the Treaty of Utrech. Spain tried several times to re-possess Gibraltar. In 1967, a referendum was organized to find out whether the inhabitants of Gibraltar wanted British sovereignty or Spanish sovereignty. The voters overwhelmingly elected British sovereignty. In 1969, Gibraltar gained the status of autonomy by the British. As a consequence Spain blocked the border and all links with Gibraltar in the next year. The border was reopened in 1985. In 2002 referendum, the proposal of sharing the sovereignty of Gibraltar between Britain and Spain, was unanimously rejected.
GEOGRAPHY:- Gibraltar is located at 36 08 N, 5 21 W in the southwestern Europe. The small country occupies total 6.5 sq km area without any internal water source. The coastline is 12 km long. Gibraltar has two coasts- the East side and the West side. The lowest point is Mediterranean Sea (0 m) and the highest point is Rock of Gibraltar (426 m). Gibraltar is mainly formed of narrow coastal lowland bordering the Rock of Gibraltar.
CLIMATE:- The climate of the country is mostly Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers.
GOVERNMENT:- Gibraltar is an overseas territory of United Kingdom. The constitution was adopted on 5th June 2006 and imposed on 2nd January 2007. The legal system is based on the British law. The three branches of the government are:
Executive branch comprises the Queen (chief of state), the Governor, the Chief Minister (head of government), and cabinet. The Queen is represented by the Governor. The leader of the majority party is appointed the Chief Minister. The cabinet ministers are appointed by the Governor from among the 17 members of the Parliament.
Legislative branch comprises the unicameral Parliament (18 seats; 17 elected by vote; 1 speaker is appointed by the Parliament)
Judicial branch comprises the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal.
Prominent political parties include Gibraltar Liberal Party, Gibraltar Social Democrats and Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party. Voting rights are imposed universally at the age of 18. For the British citizens, they have to reside in the country for at least 6 months to gain suffrage.
Executive branch comprises the Queen (chief of state), the Governor, the Chief Minister (head of government), and cabinet. The Queen is represented by the Governor. The leader of the majority party is appointed the Chief Minister. The cabinet ministers are appointed by the Governor from among the 17 members of the Parliament.
Legislative branch comprises the unicameral Parliament (18 seats; 17 elected by vote; 1 speaker is appointed by the Parliament)
Judicial branch comprises the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal.
Prominent political parties include Gibraltar Liberal Party, Gibraltar Social Democrats and Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party. Voting rights are imposed universally at the age of 18. For the British citizens, they have to reside in the country for at least 6 months to gain suffrage.
Head of state Queen Elizabeth II
Governor Robert Fulton
Chief Minister Peter Caruana
Governor Robert Fulton
Chief Minister Peter Caruana
ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Gibraltar is not divided into any administrative zones. But the country can be divided into 7 major Residential Areas.
CULTURE:- The influences of the Andalusian and British culture are prominent in all the cultural aspects of Gibraltar, be it music or cuisine. In the cuisine, Andalucian Spaniard and the British fusion is clear. Malta, Genoa, Portugal and Andalusia cuisine also influence the cuisine of Gibraltar. Albert Hammond is the most popular musician of the country. Cricket and football are the two most famous sports of Gibraltarians.
ECONOMY:- The British military used to play an important role in economy of the country. The developed economy of Gibraltar is dominated by shipping trade, financial services, tourism and offshore banking.
GDP/PPP (2000 est.): $769 million; per capita $27,900.
Real growth rate: N.A
Inflation: 1.5% (1998).
Unemployment: 2% (2001 est.).
Arable land: 0%.
Agriculture: None.
Labor force: 14,800; services 60%, industry 40%, agriculture: n.a.
Industries: Tourism, banking and finance, ship repairing, tobacco.
Budget:
Revenues: $455.1 million
Expenditures: $423.6 million (2005 est.)
Revenues: $455.1 million
Expenditures: $423.6 million (2005 est.)
Public debt: 15.7% of GDP (2005 est.)
Natural resources: Negligible.
Exports: $271 million f.o.b. (2004 est.): (principally re-exports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods 41%, other 8%.
Partners: UK 30.8%, Spain 22.7%, Germany 13.7%, Turkmenistan 10.4%, Switzerland 8.3%, Italy 6.7% (2006)
Partners: UK 30.8%, Spain 22.7%, Germany 13.7%, Turkmenistan 10.4%, Switzerland 8.3%, Italy 6.7% (2006)
Imports: $2.967 billion c.i.f. (2004 est.): fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs.
Partners: Spain 23.4%, Russia 12.3%, Italy 12%, UK 9%, France 8.9%, Netherlands 6.8%, US 4.7% (2006)
Major trading partners: France, Spain, Turkmenistan, Switzerland, Germany, UK, Greece, Russia, Italy, U.S., Sweden (2004).
Monetary unit: Gibraltar pound
LANGUAGE:- English is the official language, used in schools and for official purposes. Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese are also spoken.
CITIES:- The capital Gibraltar city is the largest city.
POPULATION:- The estimated population is 27,967 with a growth rate of 0.1%.
Density per sq mi: 12,072
Literacy rate: above 80% (2003 est.)
Density per sq mi: 12,072
Literacy rate: above 80% (2003 est.)
RACE:- The Spanish, Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, German, North Africans reside in the country.
RELIGION:-
Roman Catholic 78.1%,
Church of England 7%
Other Christian 3.2%
Muslim 4%
Jewish 2.1%
Hindu 1.8%
Other or unspecified 0.9%
None 2.9%
(2001 census)
Roman Catholic 78.1%,
Church of England 7%
Other Christian 3.2%
Muslim 4%
Jewish 2.1%
Hindu 1.8%
Other or unspecified 0.9%
None 2.9%
(2001 census)
HEALTH:-
Birth rate: 10.71 births/ 1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate: 9.46 deaths/ 1,000 population (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 4.91 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 80.06 years
Total fertility rate: 1.65 children born/ woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Birth rate: 10.71 births/ 1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate: 9.46 deaths/ 1,000 population (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 4.91 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 80.06 years
Total fertility rate: 1.65 children born/ woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
TRANSPORTATION:-
Railways: total: N.A.
Highways: total: 29 km; paved: 29 km; unpaved: 0 km (2002).
Ports and harbors: Gibraltar.
Airports: 1 (2002).
Railways: total: N.A.
Highways: total: 29 km; paved: 29 km; unpaved: 0 km (2002).
Ports and harbors: Gibraltar.
Airports: 1 (2002).
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