Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula. It has internal self-government.
Europe and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Gibraltar; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGibraltar is a small peninsula at the entrance to the Mediterranean. The limestone Rock rises steeply above surrounding low coastal ground. Its position beside the narrow Strait of Gibraltar gives it a distinctive maritime setting.
Steep eastern slopes contrast with more developed western areas and reclaimed coastal land. Caves and other limestone features occur within the Rock. Much of the territory’s limited level ground has been used for buildings and infrastructure.
Gibraltar has a Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and milder, wetter winters. Its coastal position moderates temperatures.
The strait is an important route for migrating birds. Mediterranean vegetation occupies parts of the upper slopes, while marine habitats surround the peninsula. Limited land area makes the relationship between development and natural space particularly visible.
Two horizontal bands of white (top, double-width) and red with a three-towered red castle in the center of the white band; a gold key hangs from the castle gate and is centered in the red band
The limestone Rock dominates the territory’s compact land area.
Photo: Acediscovery · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
A view from the Rock shows the narrow coast below.
Photo: Nathan Harig · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
English is the official language and is used in schools and public administration. Spanish is also widely spoken.
Llanito, associated with everyday Gibraltarian speech, draws particularly on Spanish and English, with other historical influences. It reflects Gibraltar’s distinctive community history rather than a simple division into two separate language groups.
An Anglo-Dutch force captured Gibraltar in 1704, and Spain ceded it to Britain under the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. It is a British Overseas Territory with internal self-government. Spain continues to claim sovereignty.
Financial services, online gaming, shipping-related services and tourism are important activities. The port and location beside the Strait of Gibraltar support maritime business. A small land area limits agriculture and heavy industry.
tourism, banking and finance, ship repairing, tobacco
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
| Year | People | Thousands of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 26,634 | 26.634 |
| 1980 | 28,675 | 28.675 |
| 1990 | 27,200 | 27.200 |
| 2000 | 27,709 | 27.709 |
| 2010 | 31,248 | 31.248 |
| 2020 | 36,173 | 36.173 |
| 2025 | 40,126 | 40.126 |
A self-governing British Overseas Territory. An elected Parliament and a government headed by the Chief Minister handle domestic affairs. A Governor represents the British monarch, with the UK retaining responsibilities including defence and external affairs.
Three questions about Gibraltar.
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.
