Gibraltar

Gibraltar is a small British Overseas Territory and city located 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. Despite its small size of just 6.8 km² (2.6 sq mi), it is an important place because of its strategic location. The area is dominated by the famous Rock of Gibraltar, with a densely populated town at its base. About 34,000 people, known as Gibraltarians, live there.

An aerial view

The history of Gibraltar dates back to 1160 when it was founded as a watchtower by the Almohads. Over the centuries, it changed hands between various groups, including the Nasrids, Castilians, and Marinids. In 1704, Anglo-Dutch forces captured Gibraltar from Spain during the War of the Spanish Succession, and it was officially given to Great Britain in 1713 under the Treaty of Utrecht. Since then, it has served as a key base for the Royal Navy, especially during major conflicts like the Napoleonic Wars and World War II, due to its control of the narrow entrance to the Mediterranean Sea.

Today, the sovereignty of Gibraltar remains a topic of discussion between the United Kingdom and Spain, though the people of Gibraltar have shown strong support for remaining British through referendums in 1967 and 2002. 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 a draft treaty from June 2025 aims to let it join the Schengen Agreement and the European Union customs union, though this treaty has not yet been approved.

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 who led a big group of people across the sea to a place called the Iberian Peninsula a long time ago 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. Evidence shows that people lived there as far back as 50,000 years ago. Over time, many different groups, including the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths, and Moors, lived there or passed through.

In more recent times, Gibraltar was captured by Britain in 1704 during the War of the Spanish Succession. Since then, it has remained a British territory, despite many efforts by Spain to reclaim it. During World War II, Gibraltar played an important role as a naval base. Today, Gibraltar continues to be a British Overseas Territory, valued for its strategic location.

Governance

Main article: Politics of Gibraltar

Main Street entrance to the Governor's Residence, The Convent

Gibraltar has its own government, led by a parliament with 17 elected members. The head of state is the British monarch, currently King Charles III, who is represented by a governor. The governor helps with daily decisions but follows the advice of Gibraltar’s parliament and reports to the British government for important matters like defense and foreign policy.

Gibraltar’s people choose their leaders in elections. The leader is called the Chief Minister. Gibraltar was part of the European Union through the United Kingdom, but voted to remain in the EU during the 2016 referendum. However, the UK overall decided to leave, and Gibraltar left with the UK. The people of Gibraltar strongly 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), sharing 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, with a narrow strip of land around it where most people live.

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 the home of around 230 Barbary macaques, which are 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 is mainly based on four key areas: financial services, online gambling, maritime services, and tourism. In the past, the British military played a big role, but today it is much smaller. Tourism is very important, with many visitors coming for shopping, cruises, and to see the famous Rock of Gibraltar.

The workplace in Gibraltar has many jobs, with most people working in private businesses. A lot of these workers live in nearby Spain. The economy also includes some manufacturing and services like banking, making Gibraltar a busy and active place.

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, packed tightly into just 6.8 square kilometers. To make space for more people, land has been built out into the sea, and this reclaimed land now holds over 40% of the population.

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 and uses a three-tier system with the Key Stage approach to teach the National Curriculum. There are 15 state schools, two private schools, and a college of further education called Gibraltar College. The government secondary schools are Bayside Comprehensive School and Westside School, both of which are coeducational.

In 2015, the University of Gibraltar opened, providing higher education opportunities locally for the first time. Before this, students had to study elsewhere for degree level and other courses.

Health care

Main article: Healthcare in Gibraltar

Gibraltar has a modern healthcare system that provides medical services to its residents and visitors. The system includes hospitals, clinics, and other health facilities that offer a range of treatments and care. This system ensures that people in Gibraltar have access to necessary health services.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Gibraltar

The culture of Gibraltar is a colorful mix due to the diverse backgrounds of its people. Many Gibraltarians have roots in Spain, especially Andalusia, as well as Britain, but also from places like Genoa, Malta, Portugal, and more. English is widely used in government, schools, and media thanks to British influence.

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

Cultural references

Gibraltar has inspired many writers, musicians, and artists over the years. Poet Letitia Elizabeth Landon wrote several pieces about Gibraltar in the 1800s, and famous writers like Mark Twain and James Joyce have also mentioned it in their work.

Musicians have used Gibraltar as a reference too—from The Beatles’ song mentioning marriages there to Kanye West’s line calling someone “the rock of Gibraltar.” The territory even 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 after some challenges, they succeeded 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 after resolving a long-standing disagreement.

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 too. 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 that offers 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. This led to health problems. 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, formed in 1830. The police officers often wear traditional hats similar to those worn by British police. Their vehicles look much like those used by police in the UK. The Royal Gibraltar Police has many different units that handle various tasks, such as investigations and traffic safety.

Armed forces

The defence of Gibraltar is handled by the British government 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 also has a squadron of patrol vessels at the Rock, responsible for securing British Gibraltar Territorial Waters. Their shore base is called HMS Rooke.

The Royal Air Force station at Gibraltar supports various RAF aircraft visits and houses a section from the Met Office. Gibraltar also plays a key role in signals intelligence gathering for the United Kingdom in the Mediterranean and North Africa. Historically, Gibraltar was one of four 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 designated by Sister Cities International: Raleigh, 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.