Gibraltar Location : Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southern coast of Spain
Capital City : Gibraltar
Curreny : Gibraltar pound (GIP)
Languages Spoken : English (used in schools and for official purposes), Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian
Climate : Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers
National Holiday : National Day, 10 September (1964); note - day of the national referendum to decide whether to remain with the UK or go with Spain
Background Information
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 a 1967 referendum, Gibraltarians ignored Spanish pressure and voted overwhelmingly to remain a British dependency. Spain and the UK are discussing the issue of Gibraltar and have set the goal of reaching an agreement by mid-2002.
Geographical Note
strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea
Economy
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 11% to the local economy. The financial sector accounts for 20% of GDP; tourism (almost 6 million visitors in 1998), shipping services fees, and duties on consumer goods also generate revenue. 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.
Religions
Roman Catholic 76.9%, Church of England 6.9%, Muslim 6.9%, Jewish 2.3%, none or other 7% (1991)
Ports : Gibraltar
International Disputes - Risks to travellers
: Spain and UK are discussing "total shared sovereignty" to resolve 300-year dispute over Gibraltar, but resolution is subject to a constitutional referendum by Gibraltarians, who have largely expressed opposition to any form of cession to Spain
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