Gibraltar is one of the most densely populated areas in the world, with 5,000 inhabitants per square kilometer. 75 percent of the population are Gibraltarians with British citizenship, i.e. people born in Gibraltar before 1925 and their descendants. Most Gibraltarians are of Genoese, Portuguese and Maltese descent. English is the official language, but Spanish, Italian and Portuguese are also spoken. Three quarters of the inhabitants belong to the Catholic Church.

  • The population is estimated to be around ≈ 40,000 in 2025.
  • Visitor numbers: More than 9,800,000 border crossings are reported in 12 months.
    • If we divide that by 365 days, we get an average of about 25,400 visitors per day ≈178,000 visitors per week as a rough average.
  • The same source also mentions that there are around 300,000 cruise tourists per year and approximately 205,000 air arrivals.

Our history

The history of Gibraltar is both dramatic and extremely interesting – a story of strategic location, wars, colonies and identity. Here is a clear summary:

🏺 Antiquity

  • The Phoenicians were probably the first to settle there, around 900 BC.
  • Later came the Carthaginians and then the Romans, who called the place Mons Calpe.
  • Along with Mount Jebel Musa in Morocco, it became known as one of the Pillars of Heracles, marking the border of the known world.

🕌 Middle Ages (711-1462)

  • In 711, the Berber commander Tariq ibn Ziyad crossed from North Africa to Spain. The mountain was then named Jabal Tariq – “Tariq’s mountain” – which later became Gibraltar.
  • Under the control of the Moors for several centuries, the site became an important fortress.
  • 1462: The Spaniards under the Kingdom of Castile recaptured Gibraltar from the Moors.

⚔️ Early modern era

  • After the reconquest, Gibraltar became part of Spain, but in the 16th and 17th centuries it was attacked several times by English and Dutch forces.
  • During the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714), a British-Dutch fleet captured Gibraltar in 1704.
  • 1713: The Peace of Utrecht gave Britain formal sovereignty over Gibraltar, but Spain has since never relinquished its claim to the area.

🏰 British time (1704-present)

  • Gibraltar was developed as a British naval base, particularly important during the Napoleonic Wars.
  • During the Second World War, Gibraltar was a key point for the Allies. The civilian population was evacuated, and tunnels were blasted into the rock to house troops and supplies.
  • After the war, the civilian population returned and Gibraltar developed a strong local self-government.

🗳️ Identity and autonomy

  • 1967: Gibraltar held a referendum – over 99% voted to remain British.
  • 1969: New constitution gave more autonomy. Spain responded by closing the border, which remained closed until 1985.
  • 2002: New referendum on shared British-Spanish sovereignty – rejected by 98% of voters.
  • Gibraltar was given its own constitution in 2006, which provided extended autonomy (but not full independence).

Today we

  • Gibraltar is a British overseas territory, with its own parliament, judiciary and government, but a British king as head of state.
  • Spain continues to assert sovereignty claims, but the majority of the population (around 34,000 inhabitants) identify as Gibraltarians and wish to remain under British rule.
  • Since Brexit, there have been negotiations on Gibraltar’s relationship with the EU – particularly on border control and customs.