Gibraltar

Gibraltar is a small British Overseas Territory and city at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula, on the Bay of Gibraltar, near where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean through the Strait of Gibraltar. It is only 6.8 km² (2.6 sq mi) in size, but it is important because of its location. The famous Rock of Gibraltar dominates the area, with a town at its base. About 34,000 people, called Gibraltarians, live there.

An aerial view

The history of Gibraltar began in 1160 when it was founded as a watchtower. Over time, it changed hands many times. In 1704, British and Dutch forces took Gibraltar from Spain during a war, and it was officially given to Britain in 1713. Since then, it has been an important base for the Royal Navy, especially during big conflicts.

Today, the ownership of Gibraltar is discussed between the United Kingdom and Spain. The people of Gibraltar have voted to stay British. The economy of Gibraltar depends on industries such as online gambling, financial services, tourism, and its port. After Brexit, Gibraltar is not part of the European Union, but there is a plan for it to join the Schengen Agreement and the European Union customs union, though this has not been approved yet.

Name

The name Gibraltar comes from an Arabic word, Jabal Ṭāriq, which means "Mount of Tariq." It was named after a leader called Tariq ibn Ziyad. He led a group of people across the sea to a place called the Iberian Peninsula in the year 711.

History

Main article: History of Gibraltar

View of the northern face of the Moorish Castle's Tower of Homage

Gibraltar has a long and interesting history. People lived there as far back as 50,000 years ago. Many different groups lived there or passed through, including the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths, and Moors.

In more recent times, Gibraltar was captured by Britain in 1704 during the War of the Spanish Succession. Since then, it has been a British territory, even though Spain tried to take it back. During World War II, Gibraltar was an important naval base. Today, Gibraltar is still a British Overseas Territory, valued for its special location.

Governance

Main article: Politics of Gibraltar

Gibraltar has its own government. It has a parliament with 17 elected members. The head of state is the British monarch, currently King Charles III. A governor represents the monarch. The governor helps with decisions but follows the advice of Gibraltar’s parliament. For important matters like defense, the governor reports to the British government.

Gibraltar’s people vote to choose their leaders. The leader is called the Chief Minister. Gibraltar was part of the European Union through the United Kingdom. Although the UK decided to leave the EU, the people of Gibraltar want to keep their self-governance and not become part of Spain.

Members of Parliament
Socialist Labour	7
Social Democrats	8
Liberal	2
17

International relations

Gibraltar is a territory of the United Kingdom, so the UK handles its international relations. After Brexit, Gibraltar left the European Union but joined the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement. In 2025, the UK, Spain, and the European Union agreed to remove border checks between Gibraltar and Spain. Under this plan, Spanish police will work with Gibraltar authorities at the port and airport, and the land border will be fully open for people and goods. The agreement also includes joint efforts on customs and taxation, while British sovereignty over Gibraltar stays the same.

Geography

View of the Rock of Gibraltar from the Mediterranean Steps

Gibraltar is a small land area covering just 6.8 km² (2.6 sq mi). It shares a short border with Spain. It has a shoreline that stretches for 12 km (7.5 mi) along the coast. The area is mostly made up of the famous Rock of Gibraltar, a tall limestone formation. Most people live on a narrow strip of land around the Rock.

Gibraltar has a warm Mediterranean climate, with mild winters and hot summers. The Rock of Gibraltar is home to many different plants, including some that grow only there in Europe. The upper part of the Rock is a nature reserve and is home to around 230 Barbary macaques, often called the "apes" of Gibraltar. These monkeys are special because they are the only wild apes or monkeys found in Europe. The area also has many birds, and dolphins and whales can sometimes be seen in the nearby Bay of Gibraltar.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Gibraltar

The semi-wild Barbary macaques are an integral feature in Gibraltar's tourism.

Gibraltar's economy depends on four main areas: financial services, online gambling, maritime services, and tourism. The British military used to be very important, but it is smaller now. Tourism is very important, with many people visiting for shopping, cruises, and to see the famous Rock of Gibraltar.

Many people in Gibraltar work in private businesses. A lot of these workers live in nearby Spain. The economy also includes some manufacturing and services like banking, keeping Gibraltar busy and active.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Gibraltar

Gibraltar is one of the most crowded places in the world. In 2012, about 32,000 people lived there, in a very small area of just 6.8 square kilometers. To give more space for people, land has been built out into the sea. Now, over 40% of the population lives on this new land.

Main article: Languages of Gibraltar

English is the official language of Gibraltar and is used in government and schools. Most people can also speak Spanish. Because Gibraltar has people from many different places, other languages such as Berber, Arabic, Hindi, and Maltese are also spoken. Many Gibraltarians speak a special mix called Llanito, which blends Andalusian Spanish with British English and words from other languages.

Approximately 72% of people in Gibraltar are Roman Catholics. Other religions represented include Islam, Hinduism, the Baháʼí Faith, and Judaism, with several synagogues and kosher places available. About 7% of the population reports having no religious affiliation.

Usually-resident population and persons present in Gibraltar
Resident Census	1981	1991	2001	2012
Gibraltarian	74.9%	75.0%	83.2%	79.0%
UK and other British	14.0%	14.3%	9.6%	13.2%
Moroccan	8.1%	6.7%	3.5%	1.6%
Other nationalities (*)	3.1%	4.0%	3.7%	6.2%
Spanish	–	–	1.19%	2.1%
Other EU	–	–	1.0%	1.6%

Education

Main article: Education in Gibraltar

Education in Gibraltar follows the English model. It uses a three-tier system and teaches the National Curriculum. There are 15 state schools, two private schools, and a college called Gibraltar College. The government secondary schools are Bayside Comprehensive School and Westside School. Both schools are coeducational.

In 2015, the University of Gibraltar opened. This gave students a chance to study for degree level courses locally for the first time. Before this, students had to study elsewhere.

Health care

Main article: Healthcare in Gibraltar

Gibraltar has a modern healthcare system. It offers medical services to both residents and visitors. The system includes hospitals and clinics. These facilities provide many types of treatments and care. This helps make sure people in Gibraltar can get the health services they need.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Gibraltar

The culture of Gibraltar is a mix of many different people. Many Gibraltarians come from Spain, especially Andalusia, and also from Britain, Genoa, Malta, Portugal, and other places. English is commonly used in government, schools, and media because of British influence.

Gibraltar has special days like Gibraltar National Day on September 10. On this day, people wear red and white, the colors of the nation. In the past, they released red and white balloons, but this stopped to protect wildlife. Other events celebrate important moments in Gibraltar’s history. The place also has its own television, radio stations, and newspapers like the Gibraltar Chronicle.

Cultural references

Gibraltar has inspired many writers, musicians, and artists. Poet Letitia Elizabeth Landon wrote about Gibraltar in the 1800s. Famous writers like Mark Twain and James Joyce have also written about it.

Musicians have mentioned Gibraltar in their work. The Beatles wrote a song about marriages there, and Kanye West used the phrase “the rock of Gibraltar.” Gibraltar appears in video games like Overwatch and in movies such as The Silent Enemy.

Sport

Main article: Sport in Gibraltar

Football is a popular sport in Gibraltar. The Gibraltar Football Association worked hard to join UEFA, Europe’s football organization, and they joined in 2013. Gibraltar’s national team played in the qualifications for the Euro 2016 tournament, and they won their first-ever match in a UEFA competition in 2018.

Rugby union is also growing in popularity in Gibraltar. The Gibraltar Rugby Football Union is working to become a member of Europe’s rugby governing body. Gibraltar is thought to be where the rugby variant Tag Rugby began.

Communications

Main article: Communications in Gibraltar

Gibraltar has modern telephone services with digital technology and fibre optic connections. The main telephone company, Gibtelecom, also runs mobile phone networks. The internet is widely available across the area.

Gibraltar uses the country code .gi for its internet addresses. It was given the international calling code +350, which Spain agreed to accept in February 2007.

Transport

Main article: Transport in Gibraltar

Gibraltar has several ways to get around. The most common way is by car, and motorcycles are also popular. There is a good bus service. Unlike in the UK, people drive on the right side of the road, and speed limits are in kilometers per hour because Gibraltar is next to Spain.

Gibraltar has an airport with flights to cities in the UK such as London, Manchester, Birmingham, and Bristol. The airport is special because the runway crosses a main road. When planes land or take off, the road has to close. New roads and a tunnel were built to help with this, and the new airport terminal opened in March 2023.

Ferry services connect Gibraltar with Tangier in Morocco and Algeciras in Spain. The Gibraltar Cruise Terminal is busy with many cruise ships visiting each year. The area is also a major shipping route because of its location near the Strait of Gibraltar.

Water supply and sanitation

Main article: Water supply and sanitation in Gibraltar

Gibraltar gets its drinking water from desalination, a process that turns seawater into clean water. There is also a separate supply of saltwater for other uses. Both types of water come from large underground reservoirs dug under the Rock of Gibraltar.

In the past, Gibraltar had trouble getting enough water because there are no rivers or big lakes there. People used to collect rainwater and get water from wells, but this wasn’t enough as the population grew. Later, new ways were found to make seawater safe to drink, which helped a lot.

Police

The Royal Gibraltar Police and Gibraltar Defence Police are the main law enforcement groups in Gibraltar. The Royal Gibraltar Police is one of the oldest police forces outside the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1830. The police officers often wear traditional hats, like those worn by British police. Their vehicles look like those used by police in the UK. The Royal Gibraltar Police has many units that do different jobs, such as investigations and traffic safety.

Armed forces

The British government defends Gibraltar through British Forces Gibraltar. This includes the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, which is part of the British Army and based at Devil's Tower Camp. The Royal Navy has patrol boats at the Rock to protect British Gibraltar Territorial Waters. Their shore base is called HMS Rooke.

The Royal Air Force station at Gibraltar welcomes RAF aircraft and has a section from the Met Office. Gibraltar helps the United Kingdom with information from the Mediterranean and North Africa. In the past, Gibraltar was one of four important Imperial fortress colonies, along with Bermuda, Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Malta.

Main article: British Forces Gibraltar

Sister cities and twin towns

Gibraltar has one sister city, as named by Sister Cities International: Raleigh in the United States.

Gibraltar is also twinned with four other places: Goole in England, Ballymena in Northern Ireland, Funchal in Madeira, Portugal, and Kingston in Jamaica.