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Compare British Indian Ocean Territory (2007) - Gibraltar (2008)

Compare British Indian Ocean Territory (2007) z Gibraltar (2008)

 British Indian Ocean Territory (2007)Gibraltar (2008)
 British Indian Ocean TerritoryGibraltar
Administrative divisions - none (overseas territory of the UK)
Age structure - 0-14 years: 17.2% (male 2,460/female 2,343)


15-64 years: 66.3% (male 9,470/female 9,070)


65 years and over: 16.5% (male 2,090/female 2,534) (2007 est.)
Agriculture - products - none
Airports 1 (2007) 1 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)
total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Area total: 54,400 sq km


land: 60 sq km; Diego Garcia 44 sq km


water: 54,340 sq km


note: includes the entire Chagos Archipelago of 55 islands
total: 6.5 sq km


land: 6.5 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative land area is about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC a little less than one half the size of Rhode Island
Background Established as a territory of the UK in 1965, a number of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) islands were transferred to the Seychelles when it attained independence in 1976. Subsequently, BIOT has consisted only of the six main island groups comprising the Chagos Archipelago. The largest and most southerly of the islands, Diego Garcia, contains a joint UK-US naval support facility. All of the remaining islands are uninhabited. Former agricultural workers, earlier residents in the islands, were relocated primarily to Mauritius but also to the Seychelles, between 1967 and 1973. In 2000, a British High Court ruling invalidated the local immigration order that had excluded them from the archipelago, but upheld the special military status of Diego Garcia. 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 non-colonial constitution came into effect in 2007, but the UK retains responsibility for defense, foreign relations, internal security, and financial stability.
Birth rate - 10.69 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Budget - revenues: $455.1 million


expenditures: $423.6 million (2005 est.)
Capital - 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
Climate tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers
Coastline 698 km 12 km
Constitution - 5 June 2006; came into force 2 January 2007
Country name conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territory


conventional short form: none


abbreviation: BIOT
conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Gibraltar
Death rate - 9.4 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Debt - external - $NA
Dependency status overseas territory of the UK; administered by a commissioner, resident in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London overseas territory of the UK
Diplomatic representation from the US none (overseas territory of the UK) none (overseas territory of the UK)
Diplomatic representation in the US none (overseas territory of the UK) none (overseas territory of the UK)
Disputes - international Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia; in 2001, the former inhabitants of the Chagos Archipelago, evicted in 1967 and 1973 and now residing chiefly in Mauritius, were granted UK citizenship and the right to repatriation; in May 2006, the High Court of London reversed U.K. Government's 2004 orders of council that banned habitation on the islands; a small group of Chagossians visited Diego Garcia in April 2006; repatriation is complicated by the exclusive US military lease of Diego Garcia that restricts access to the largest viable island in the chain 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
Economic aid - recipient - $NA
Economy - overview All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island of Diego Garcia, where a joint UK-US military facility is located. Construction projects and various services needed to support the military installation are performed by military and contract employees from the UK, Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. There are no industrial or agricultural activities on the islands. When the native Ilois return, they plan to reestablish sugarcane production and fishing. The territory makes money by selling fishing licenses and postage stamps. 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.
Electricity - consumption NA kWh 141 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports - 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports - 0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - production NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by the US military 141 million kWh (2005)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m


highest point: unnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 m
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m


highest point: Rock of Gibraltar 426 m
Environment - current issues NA limited natural freshwater resources: large concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rainwater (no longer used for drinking water) and adequate desalination plant
Ethnic groups - Spanish, Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, German, North Africans
Exchange rates - Gibraltar pounds per US dollar - 0.4993 (2007), 0.5434 (2006), 0.5504 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003)


note: the Gibraltar pound is at par with the British pound
Executive branch chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)


head of government: Commissioner Leigh TURNER (since July 2006); Administrator Tony HUMPHRIES (since February 2005); note - both reside in the UK and are represented by the officer commanding British Forces on Diego Garcia


cabinet: NA


elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; commissioner and administrator appointed by the monarch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Sir Robert FULTON (since 27 October 2006)


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: none; the monarch 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
Exports - 0 bbl/day (2004)
Exports - commodities - (principally reexports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods 41%, other 8%
Exports - partners - UK 30.8%, Spain 22.7%, Germany 13.7%, Turkmenistan 10.4%, Switzerland 8.3%, Italy 6.7% (2006)
Fiscal year - 1 July - 30 June
Flag description white with six blue wavy horizontal stripes; the flag of the UK is in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the striped section bears a palm tree and yellow crown centered on the outer half of the flag 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
GDP - composition by sector - agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: NA%
GDP - real growth rate - 7% (2005 est.)
Geographic coordinates 6 00 S, 71 30 E; note - Diego Garcia 7 20 S, 72 25 E 36 08 N, 5 21 W
Geography - note archipelago of 55 islands; Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location in central Indian Ocean; island is site of joint US-UK military facility strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea
Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Imports - 24,350 bbl/day (2004)
Imports - commodities - fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs
Imports - partners - Spain 23.4%, Russia 12.3%, Italy 12%, UK 9%, France 8.9%, Netherlands 6.8%, US 4.7% (2006)
Independence - none (overseas territory of the UK)
Industrial production growth rate - NA%
Industries - tourism, banking and finance, ship repairing, tobacco
Infant mortality rate - total: 4.98 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 5.54 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 4.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) - 2.9% (2005)
International organization participation - Interpol (subbureau), UPU
Irrigated land 0 sq km NA
Judicial branch - Supreme Court; Court of Appeal
Labor force - 12,690 (including non-Gibraltar laborers) (2001)
Labor force - by occupation - agriculture: negligible


industry: 40%


services: 60% (2001)
Land boundaries 0 km total: 1.2 km


border countries: Spain 1.2 km
Land use arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (2005)
arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (2005)
Languages - English (used in schools and for official purposes), Spanish, Italian, Portuguese
Legal system the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply
Legislative branch - unicameral Parliament (18 seats: 17 members elected by popular vote, 1 for the Speaker appointed by Parliament; to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 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
Life expectancy at birth - total population: 79.93 years


male: 77.05 years


female: 82.96 years (2007 est.)
Literacy - definition: NA


total population: above 80%


male: NA


female: NA
Location archipelago in the Indian Ocean, south of India, about one-half the way from Africa to Indonesia Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southern coast of Spain
Map references Political Map of the World Europe
Maritime claims territorial sea: 3 nm


exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 3 nm
Merchant marine - total: 216 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,422,155 GRT/1,866,572 DWT


by type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 5, cargo 117, chemical tanker 39, container 31, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 13, roll on/roll off 7, specialized tanker 1


foreign-owned: 201 (Belgium 3, Cyprus 5, Denmark 9, Finland 3, France 1, Germany 117, Greece 8, Iceland 1, Italy 1, Netherlands 11, Norway 27, Sweden 10, UAE 2, UK 3)


registered in other countries: 7 (Liberia 7) (2007)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the UK; the US lease on Diego Garcia expires in 2016 defense is the responsibility of the UK; the Royal Gibraltar Regiment replaced the last British regular infantry forces in 1992
Military branches - Royal Gibraltar Regiment
National holiday - National Day, 10 September (1967); note - day of the national referendum to decide whether to remain with the UK or go with Spain
Nationality - noun: Gibraltarian(s)


adjective: Gibraltar
Natural hazards NA NA
Natural resources coconuts, fish, sugarcane none
Net migration rate - 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Political parties and leaders - Gibraltar Liberal Party [Joseph GARCIA]; Gibraltar Social Democrats or GSD [Peter CARUANA]; Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party or GSLP [Joseph John BOSSANO]
Political pressure groups and leaders - Chamber of Commerce; Gibraltar Representatives Organization; Women's Association
Population no indigenous inhabitants


note: approximately 1,200 former agricultural workers resident in the Chagos Archipelago, often referred to as Chagossians or Ilois, were relocated to Mauritius and the Seychelles in the 1960s and 1970s; in November 2000 they were granted the right of return by a British High Court ruling, though no timetable has been set; in November 2004, there were approximately 4,000 UK and US military personnel and civilian contractors living on the island of Diego Garcia
27,967 (July 2007 est.)
Population below poverty line - NA%
Population growth rate - 0.129% (2007 est.)
Radio broadcast stations AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)
Religions - 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)
Sex ratio - at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.044 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.825 male(s)/female


total population: 1.005 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Suffrage - 18 years of age; universal; and British citizens who have been residents six months or more
Telephone system general assessment: separate facilities for military and public needs are available


domestic: all commercial telephone services are available, including connection to the Internet


international: country code (Diego Garcia) - 246; international telephone service is carried by satellite (2000)
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)
Telephones - main lines in use NA 24,512 (2002)
Telephones - mobile cellular - 9,797 (2002)
Television broadcast stations 1 (1997) 1 (plus 3 repeaters) (1997)
Terrain flat and low (most areas do not exceed two meters in elevation) a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar
Total fertility rate - 1.65 children born/woman (2007 est.)
Unemployment rate - 3% (2005 est.)
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