Gibraltar
British Overseas Territory on the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Gibraltar (/dʒɪˈbrɔːltər/ jih-BRAWL-tər, Spanish: [xiβɾalˈtaɾ]) is a British Overseas Territory[lower-alpha 1] and city[7] located at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula.[8][9] It has an area of 6.7 km2 (2.6 sq mi) and is bordered to the north by Spain (Campo de Gibraltar). The landscape is dominated by the Rock of Gibraltar, at the foot of which is a densely populated town area, home to some 32,688 people (2022 estimate), primarily Gibraltarians.[10]
Gibraltar | |
|---|---|
| Motto: | |
| Anthem: "God Save the King" | |
| Song: "Gibraltar Anthem" | |
 Location of Gibraltar (dark green) United Kingdom shown in pale green | |
 Map of Gibraltar | |
| Sovereign state |  United Kingdom |
| Capture from Spain | 4 August 1704 |
| Cession to Great Britain | 11 April 1713 |
| National Day | 10 September 1967 |
| Accession to EEC | 1 January 1973 |
| Withdrawal from the EU | 31 January 2020 |
| Official languages | English |
| Spoken languages | |
| Demonym(s) |
|
| Government | Devolved representative democratic parliamentary dependency under a constitutional monarchy |
• Monarch | Charles III |
• Governor | Sir David Steel |
| Fabian Picardo | |
• Mayor | Carmen Gomez[2] |
| Legislature | Parliament |
| Government of the United Kingdom | |
• Minister | Leo Docherty |
| Area | |
• Total | 6.8 km2 (2.6 sq mi) |
• Water (%) | 0 |
| Highest elevation | 426 m (1,398 ft) |
| Population | |
• 2020 estimate | 34,003[3] (220th) |
• 2022 census | 32,688 |
• Density | 5,000/km2 (12,949.9/sq mi) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2013 estimate |
• Total | £1.64 billion (not ranked) |
• Per capita | £50,941 (not ranked) |
| GDP (nominal) | estimate |
• Total | £2.441 billion[4] |
| HDI (2018) | 0.961[5] very high · 3rd |
| Currency | Pound sterling Gibraltar pound (£) (GIP) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| UTC+02:00 (CEST) | |
| Driving side | right |
| Calling code | +350 |
| Postcode | GX11 1AA |
| Internet TLD | .gi |
| Website | www |
In 1704, Anglo-Dutch forces captured Gibraltar from Spain during the War of the Spanish Succession. The territory was ceded to Great Britain in perpetuity under the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. It became an important base for the Royal Navy, particularly during the Napoleonic Wars and World War II, as it controlled the narrow entrance and exit to the Mediterranean Sea, the Strait of Gibraltar, which is only 14.3 km (8.9 mi) wide. This choke point remains strategically important, with half the world's seaborne trade passing through it.[11][12][13] Gibraltar's economy is based largely on tourism, online gambling, financial services, and bunkering.[14][15][16][17] With one of the world's lowest unemployment rates, the largest part of the labour force are resident in Spain or non-Gibraltarians, especially in the private sector.
The sovereignty of Gibraltar is a point of contention in Anglo-Spanish relations, as Spain asserts a claim to the territory.[15][18] Gibraltarians overwhelmingly rejected proposals for Spanish sovereignty in a 1967 referendum, and for shared sovereignty in a 2002 referendum. Nevertheless, Gibraltar maintains close economic and cultural links with Spain, with many Gibraltarians speaking Spanish as well as a local dialect known as Llanito.
Since Brexit, Gibraltar is not a member of the European Union but negotiations are under way to have it participate in the Schengen Agreement to facilitate border movements between Gibraltar and Spain.[19] As of March 2023[update], talks seem deadlocked.[20]
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