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Gibraltar
Europe:: Gibraltar
(overseas territory of the
UK)
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Background:
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Strategically important, Gibraltar
was reluctantly ceded to Great Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of
Utrecht; the British garrison was formally declared a colony in 1830. In
a referendum held in 1967, Gibraltarians voted overwhelmingly to remain
a British dependency. The subsequent granting of autonomy in 1969 by
the UK led to Spain closing the border and severing all communication
links. A series of talks were held by the UK and Spain between 1997 and
2002 on establishing temporary joint sovereignty over Gibraltar. In
response to these talks, the Gibraltar Government called a referendum in
late 2002 in which the majority of citizens voted overwhelmingly
against any sharing of sovereignty with Spain. Since the referendum,
tripartite talks on other issues have been held with Spain, the UK, and
Gibraltar, and in September 2006 a three-way agreement was signed. Spain
agreed to remove restrictions on air movements, to speed up customs
procedures, to implement international telephone dialing, and to allow
mobile roaming agreements. Britain agreed to pay increased pensions to
Spaniards who had been employed in Gibraltar before the border closed.
Spain will be allowed to open a cultural institute from which the
Spanish flag will fly. A new noncolonial constitution came into effect
in 2007, but the UK retains responsibility for defense, foreign
relations, internal security, and financial stability.
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Location:
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Southwestern Europe, bordering the
Strait of Gibraltar, which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North
Atlantic Ocean, on the southern coast of Spain
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Geographic coordinates:
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36 08 N, 5 21 W
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Map references:
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Europe
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Area:
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total: 6.5
sq km
41
land:
6.5 sq km
water:
0 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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more than 10 times the
size of The National Mall in Washington, D.C.
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Land boundaries:
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total: 1.2
km
border countries:
Spain 1.2 km
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Coastline:
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12 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 3
nm
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Climate:
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Current Weather
Mediterranean with mild
winters and warm summers
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Terrain:
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a narrow coastal lowland
borders the Rock of Gibraltar
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Mediterranean
Sea 0 m
highest point:
Rock of Gibraltar 426 m
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Natural resources:
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none
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Land use:
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arable land: 0%
permanent crops:
0%
other:
100% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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NA
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Natural hazards:
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NA
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Environment - current issues:
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limited natural
freshwater resources: large concrete or natural rock water catchments
collect rainwater (no longer used for drinking water) and adequate
desalination plant
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Geography - note:
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strategic location on
Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic Ocean and
Mediterranean Sea
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Population:
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28,877 (July 2010 est.)
14
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 20.6%
(male 3,055/female 2,884)
15-64 years:
66.2% (male 9,656/female 9,468)
65 years and over:
13.2% (male 1,835/female 1,979) (2010 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 33.1
years
male:
32.2 years
female:
34.1 years (2010 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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0.27% (2010 est.)
3
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Birth rate:
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14.2 births/1,000
population (2010 est.)
47
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Death rate:
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8.17 deaths/1,000
population (July 2010 est.)
03
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Net migration rate:
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-3.32 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2010 est.)
50
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Urbanization:
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urban population: 100%
of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization:
0.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.071
male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.93 male(s)/female
total population:
1.01 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 6.82
deaths/1,000 live births
1
male:
7.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
5.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 78.53
years
country comparison to the world: 45
male:
75.69 years
female:
81.56 years (2010 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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1.96 children born/woman
(2010 est.)
33
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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NA
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA
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Nationality:
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noun: Gibraltarian(s)
adjective:
Gibraltar
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Ethnic groups:
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Spanish, Italian,
English, Maltese, Portuguese, German, North Africans
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Religions:
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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)
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Languages:
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English (used in schools
and for official purposes), Spanish, Italian, Portuguese
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Literacy:
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definition: NA
total population:
above 80%
male:
NA
female:
NA
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Education expenditures:
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NA
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Country name:
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form:
Gibraltar
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Dependency status:
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overseas territory of the
UK
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Government type:
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NA
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Capital:
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name: Gibraltar
geographic coordinates:
36 08 N, 5 21 W
time difference:
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time:
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
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Administrative divisions:
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none (overseas territory
of the UK)
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Independence:
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none (overseas territory
of the UK)
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National holiday:
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National Day, 10
September (1967); note - day of the national referendum to decide
whether to remain with the UK or join Spain
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Constitution:
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5 June 2006; came into
force 2 January 2007
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Legal system:
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the laws of the UK where
applicable apply
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age;
universal; and British citizens who have been residents six months or
more
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: Queen
ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Vice
Admiral Sir Adrian JOHNS (since 26 October 2009)
head of government:
Chief Minister Peter CARUANA (since 17 May 1996)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed from among the 17
elected members of the Parliament by the governor in consultation with
the chief minister
elections:
the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by
the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority
party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed
chief minister by the governor
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Parliament (18
seats: 17 members elected by popular vote, 1 for the speaker appointed
by Parliament; members serve four-year terms)
elections:
last held on 11 October 2007 (next to be held not
later than October 2011)
election results:
percent of vote by party - GSD 49.3%, GSLP 31.8%,
Gibraltar Liberal Party 13.6%; seats by party - GSD 10, GSLP 4,
Gibraltar Liberal Party 3
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court; Court of
Appeal
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Political parties and leaders:
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Gibraltar Liberal Party
[Joseph GARCIA]; Gibraltar Social Democrats or GSD [Peter CARUANA];
Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party or GSLP [Joseph John BOSSANO]
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Chamber of Commerce;
Gibraltar Representatives Organization; Women's Association
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International organization participation:
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Interpol (subbureau), UPU
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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none (overseas territory
of the UK)
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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none (overseas territory
of the UK)
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Flag description:
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two horizontal bands of
white (top, double width) and red with a three-towered red castle in the
center of the white band; hanging from the castle gate is a gold key
centered in the red band; the design is that of Gibraltar's coat of arms
granted on 10 July 1502 by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain;
the castle symbolizes Gibraltar as a fortress, while the key represents
Gibraltar's strategic importance - the key to the Mediterranean
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Economy - overview:
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Self-sufficient 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.
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$1.106 billion (2006
est.)
96
$1.066
billion (2005 est.)
$769
million (2000 est.)
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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$1.106 billion (2006
est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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3.7% (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
7%
(2005 est.)
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
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$38,400 (2006 est.)
6
$38,200
(2005 est.)
$27,900
(2000 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: NA%
industry:
NA%
services:
NA%
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Labor force:
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12,690 (including
non-Gibraltar laborers) (2001)
13
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Labor force -
by occupation:
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agriculture: negligible
industry:
40%
services:
60% (2001)
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Unemployment rate:
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3% (2005 est.)
2
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Population
below poverty line:
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NA%
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%:
NA%
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Budget:
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revenues: $455.1
million
expenditures:
$423.6 million (2005 est.)
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Public debt:
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15.5% of GDP (2006 est.)
12
15.7%
of GDP (2005 est.)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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2.6% (2005)
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Agriculture - products:
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none
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Industries:
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tourism, banking and
finance, ship repairing, tobacco
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA%
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Electricity -
production:
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146 million kWh (2007
est.)
82
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Electricity -
consumption:
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146 million kWh (2007
est.)
84
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2008 est.)
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2008 est.)
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
81
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Oil - consumption:
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24,000 bbl/day (2008
est.)
20
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Oil - exports:
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0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
55
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Oil - imports:
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25,610 bbl/day (2007
est.)
05
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Oil - proved reserves:
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0 bbl (1 January 2009
est.)
7
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Natural gas -
production:
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
07
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Natural gas -
consumption:
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
81
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
4
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Natural
gas - proved reserves:
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0 cu m (1 January 2009
est.)
5
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Exports:
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$271 million (2004 est.)
6
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Exports - commodities:
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(principally reexports)
petroleum 51%, manufactured goods
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Imports:
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$2.967 billion (2004
est.)
38
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Imports - commodities:
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fuels, manufactured
goods, and foodstuffs
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Debt - external:
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$NA
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Exchange rates:
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Gibraltar pounds (GIP)
per US dollar - 0.6494 (2009), 0.5302 (2008), 0.4993 (2007), 0.5418
(2006), 0.5493 (2005)
note:
the Gibraltar pound is at par with the British
pound
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| Communications
::Gibraltar |
Telephones - main lines in use:
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24,000 (2008)
85
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Telephones -
mobile cellular:
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18,400 (2004)
08
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: adequate,
automatic domestic system and adequate international facilities
domestic:
automatic exchange facilities
international:
country code - 350; radiotelephone; microwave
radio relay; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0
(1998)
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Television
broadcast stations:
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1 (plus 3 repeaters)
(1997)
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Internet country code:
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.gi
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Internet hosts:
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1,955 (2009)
49
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Internet users:
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6,500 (2008)
02
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| Transportation
::Gibraltar |
Airports:
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1 (2009)
26
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m:
1 (2009)
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Roadways:
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total: 29
km
17
paved:
29 km (2007)
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Merchant marine:
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total: 240
by type:
bulk carrier 5, cargo 125, chemical tanker 51,
container 43, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 10, roll on/roll off 5
foreign-owned:
225 (Belgium 2, Cyprus 1, Denmark 7, Finland 3,
Germany 129, Greece 6, Iceland 1, Morocco 4, Netherlands 21, Norway 33,
Sweden 13, UAE 3, UK 2)
registered in other countries:
7 (Liberia 5, Panama 1, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 1) (2008)
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Ports and terminals:
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Gibraltar
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Military branches:
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Royal Gibraltar Regiment (2009)
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Manpower available for military service:
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males age 16-49: 6,949
(2010 est.)
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males age 16-49: 5,955
females age 16-49:
5,687 (2010 est.)
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Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
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male: 250
female:
233 (2010 est.)
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Military - note:
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defense is the
responsibility of the UK; the Royal Gibraltar Regiment replaced the last
British regular infantry forces in 1992
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| Transnational Issues
::Gibraltar |
Disputes - international:
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in 2002, Gibraltar residents voted
overwhelmingly by referendum to reject any "shared sovereignty"
arrangement; the government of Gibraltar insists on equal participation
in talks between the UK and Spain; Spain disapproves of UK plans to
grant Gibraltar even greater autonomy
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