Gibraltar

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Gibraltar's Information


Capital	Gibraltar
Languages	English (used in schools and for official purposes), Spanish, Italian, Portuguese
Ethnic Groups	Gibraltarian 79%, other British 13.2%, Spanish 2.1%, Moroccan 1.6%, other EU 2.4%, other 1.6% (2012 est.)
Religion	Roman Catholic 72.1%, Church of England 7.7%, other Christian 3.8%, Muslim 3.6%, Jewish 2.4%, Hindu 2%, other 1.1%, none 7.1%, unspecified 0.1% (2012 est.)
Government	Parliamentary democracy (Parliament); self-governing overseas territory of the UK
Independance	None (overseas territory of the UK)
Area	7.00 km²
Land Area	7.00 km²
Population	29,328.00
Location	Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southern coast of Spain
No. Bordering Countries	1
Bordering Countries	Spain 1.2 km
GDP(PPP)	$2,044,000,000.00 (USD)
GDP (Per Capita)	$61,700.00 (USD)
Export Commodities	Its main exports are primarily reexports and include petroleum and manufactured goods.
Import Commodities	Its major imports include fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs.
Climate	Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers
Terrain	A narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar

Where is Gibraltar?

Located in Southwestern Europe, Gibraltar has a 1.00 km border with Spain. It has a 12.00 km coastline. In 2002, Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by referendum to reject any "shared sovereignty" arrangement.

The capital of the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar is Gibraltar. It is situated to the extreme northwest side of the Rock of Gibraltar, which is among the pillars safeguarding the northeastern edge of the Strait of Gibraltar that connects the Mediterranean to the Atlantic Ocean. The city lies between the Atlas Mountains to the south and the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the North. The city has been a British overseas territory since 1713. Gibraltar’s population is approximately 29,000, out of the whole Island’s population of 32,000, with the growth rate being 0.23%. Major attractions in Gibraltar include Gibraltar Nature Reserve, Gibraltar Botanical Gardens, Moorish Castle, Gibraltar Museum, St. Michaels’s Cave, Europa Point, and The Great Siege Tunnels. The city of Gibraltar experiences the Mediterranean or subtropical climate which comprises of summer, winter, autumn, and spring. Two prevailing winds are also found in Gibraltar- the Levante, which blows from the Sahara, and Poniente, which blows from the western side. Due to location and the presence of the Rock of Gibraltar the winters are mild, and the heat is not so severe.

Geography

Gibraltar has a mean elevation of 0 m above sea level.

It has a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and hot summers. Its terrain is made up mostly of lowlands.

Population

Gibraltar has a population of 29,328 making it the 217th largest in the world.

English, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese all spoken. The major ethnic group repoted is Gibraltarian. The majority of the country identifies as Roman Catholic.

The official language of Gibraltar is English, though most of the people in the region speak in a Gibraltarian accent. Nonetheless, it is common for residents to also use Spanish due to Gibraltar’s proximity to Spain. Moreover, most locals speak Llanito, the chief vernacular in the Island. It is a form of Spanish mixed with English and other Mediterranean languages. Llanito is also fascinating because it sounds unique and exciting to an outsider. Gibraltar is ethnically diverse due to the immigrants that settled a couple of decades ago. For this reason, Portuguese, Genoese, Italian, Arabic, and Hindi languages exist in the British territory.

Government

It is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom. Its constitution was last ratified in 2006.

Gibraltar has a democratically elected government with a governor as the Queen's representative. Gibraltar has a unicameral parliamentary system, with 17 members who are elected after every five years.

Economy

Factoring in Purchasing Power Parity, Gibraltar's GDP is $2,044,000,000.00 (USD) with $61,700.00 (USD) per capita. This makes it the 194th largest economy and its citizens the 16th richest in the world. The currency of Gibraltar is the Pound (GIP).

Its major imports include fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs.

Flag

The flag of Gibraltar has a top white and bottom red horizontal stripe. At the center of the white stripe is a red castle. The castle has three towers, each with a black door and window. A golden key is suspended from the middle tower and extends into the red stripe. The current version of the flag received royal approval and was made official on November 8, 1982, although it had been in use since 1966. The white color on the flag stands for peace and harmony in the nation. The red color is a symbol of courage of the people fighting for sovereignty. The red castle represents the fortress of Gibraltar and the golden key hanging from it indicates the strategic position of Gibraltar at the gateway to the Mediterranean. The design of the flag was inspired by the coat of arms which was adopted on July 10, 1502, through a royal warrant by Castile’s Queen Isabella I. The flag of Gibraltar, unlike those of other British Territories, does not feature the Union Jack of Great Britain. Before the official flag was adopted, the government ensign was used alongside the flag of the governor. A few alterations were made on the badge before 1982.