The World Factbook (1982)/Gibraltar

by the Central Intelligence Agency

GIBRALTAR

(See reference map V)

LAND

6.5 km²

Land boundaries: 1.6 km

WATER

Limits of territorial waters (claimed): 3 nm

Coastline: 12 km

PEOPLE

Population: 30,000 (July 1982), average annual growth rate 0.8%

Nationality: noun—Gibraltarian; adjective—Gibraltar

Ethnic divisions: mostly Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, and Spanish descent

Religion: predominantly Roman Catholic

Language: English and Spanish are primary languages; Italian, Portuguese, and Russian also spoken; English used in the schools and for all official purposes

Literacy: illiteracy is negligible

Labor force: approx. 14,800, including non-Gibraltar laborers

Organized labor: over 6,000

GOVERNMENT

Official name: Gibraltar

Type: British colony

Capital: none

Legal system: English law; constitutional talks in July 1968; new system effected in 1969 after electoral inquiry

Branches: parliamentary system comprised of the Gibraltar House of the Assembly (15 elected members and 3 ex officio members), the Council of Ministers headed by the Chief Minister, and the Gibraltar Council; the Governor is appointed by the Crown

Government leaders: Governor and Commander in Chief Gen. Sir William JACKSON; Chief Minister Sir Joshua HASSAN

Suffrage: all adult Gibraltarians, plus other UK subjects resident six months or more

Elections: every five years; last held in February 1980

Political parties and leaders: Association for the Advancement of Civil Rights (AACRX Sir Joshua Hassan; Democratic Party of British Gibraltar (DPBG), Peter Isola; Socialist Labor Party, Joe Boscano

Voting strength: (February 1980) AACR, 8 seats; DPBG, 6 seats; Socialist Labor, 3 seats

Communists: negligible

Other political or pressure groups: the Housewives Association; the Chamber of Commerce; Gibraltar Representatives Organization

ECONOMY

Economic activity in Gibraltar centers on commerce and large British naval and air bases; nearly all trade in the well-developed port is transit trade and port serves also as important supply depot for fuel, water, and ships' wares; recently built dockyards and machine shops provide maintenance and repair services to 3,500-4,000 vessels that call at Gibraltar each year; UK military establishments and civil government employ nearly half the insured labor force and a recently announced decision to close the Royal Navy dockyard will significantly add to unemployment; local industry is confined to manufacture of tobacco, roasted coffee, ice, mineral waters, candy, beer, and canned fish; some factories for manufacture of clothing are being developed; a small segment of local population makes its livelihood by fishing; in recent years tourism has increased in importance

Electric power: 40,000 kW capacity (1981); 80 million kWh produced (1981), 2,760 kWh per capita

Exports: $41.3 million (1979); principally reexports of tobacco, petroleum, and wine

Imports: $11.7 million (1979); principally manufactured goods, fuels, and foodstuffs; 69% from UK

Major trade partners: UK ,Morocco, Portugal Netherlands

Budget: (1978-79) revenue $56 million, expenditure $64.7 million

Monetary conversion rate: 1 Gibraltar pound=1 pound sterling=US$2.326 (1980)

COMMUNICATIONS

Railroads: none

Highways: 56 km, mostly paved

Ports: 1 major (Gibraltar)

Civil air: 1 major transport aircraft

Airfields: 1 with permanent-surface runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: adequate international radiocommunication facilities; automatic telephone system serving 9,000 telephones (30.3 per 100 popl.); 1 AM, 1 FM, and 3 TV stations; 1 Atlantic Ocean satellite station

DEFENSE FORCES

Military manpower: males 15-49, about 8,000; about 4,000 fit for military service

Defense is responsibility of United Kingdom