The 2022 Census offers the clearest picture yet of who lives in Gibraltar, how people work and where they live. As you’d expect, there’s A LOT of data in there and we totally recommend that you check out the Census in full, but in the meantime, here’s is a concise explainer of the key findings and what they mean for the local economy and different sectors.

What the numbers say:

• Population: 37,936 usually resident on Census Day (14 Nov 2022), up 17.8% since 2012 and the highest ever recorded. Subsequent in-migration means the real figure by late 2025 is likely above 41,000.
• Who lives here: 76.6% are Gibraltarian. The UK and other British community grew to 5,511 people, a rise of 29.7%. The Moroccan-born population fell to 252 residents, a drop of 51.7%.
• Ageing: Working age residents (15 to 64) grew by 15.3% in absolute terms but slipped slightly as a share of the total, while over-65s increased by 36.4% and now make up 18.9% of the population.
• Growth drivers: Population growth averaged about 562 people a year. The report links this to both natural increase and strong economic growth that has pulled in overseas labour. Thousands of cross-frontier workers continue to supplement the local labour force.
• Education: One in three adults now has a degree or professional qualification, more than double the level in 2012. Fewer 15 to 24 year olds are in work, as more stay in education. Full-time employment in education rose by 78%.
• Housing: There are 14,530 dwellings, up 23% in a decade. Just over half the population lives in owner-occupied homes. Nearly 46% of owners have no mortgage, about 32% do, and the rest are in co-ownership. Around one third live in government rental housing and under 14% in private rentals. Co-ownership has expanded and new elderly housing reflects the ageing trend.

In a nutshell: Gibraltar is bigger, older and more highly educated, with a housing stock that has grown fast to keep up.

Sector-specific insights:

Small Businesses

• More people, many of them economically active professionals, mean a bigger domestic market for small firms in retail, food, personal services, trades and creative industries.
• Household patterns are changing. Fewer households with children and more single or divorced adults favour convenience services, smaller homes and social and wellness offers.
• Labour shortages and competition for staff remain a challenge, pushing SMEs to be flexible on recruitment, training and use of technology.
• Widespread home ownership and government housing support help keep spending power in the local economy, but high commercial rents and input costs remain a constraint.

Takeaway: SMEs can grow by tailoring services to an older, more diverse and more time-pressed population, while using digital tools to counter a tight labour market and high costs.

Retail

• A population increase of almost 18% and sustained immigration give retailers a larger customer base.
• High levels of outright home ownership suggest many households have reasonable disposable income, supporting spend on household goods and lifestyle products.
• An older population means greater demand for healthcare, pharma and convenience goods, while a well educated working-age majority is likely to look for quality, choice and branded products.
• Growth in British and other international residents points to demand for UK and global brands, which local retailers can use to differentiate their offer.

Takeaway: Retailers who adjust their mix for an older but relatively secure customer base, while still serving younger, tech-savvy shoppers, can benefit from steady demand.

Tourism and Hospitality

• More residents, especially expatriates, tend to generate more “visiting friends and relatives” trips, which supports hotels, restaurants and attractions.
• Visitor numbers dwarf the local population, so the sector will still live or die by external tourism. The census, however, confirms a growing local market for leisure, dining and events.
• Fewer young people in the workforce and near full employment mean ongoing reliance on cross-frontier staff for hotels, bars and restaurants.
• A better educated local population can support higher value tourism activities, such as specialist tours, events and conference services.

Takeaway: The sector should plan for continued labour constraints while using a more skilled local base to lift the quality of the visitor offer.

Property and Construction

• An extra 2,720 homes in a decade confirms a construction boom driven by demographic pressure. Major schemes on reclaimed land and across the districts have absorbed most of the growth.
• Owner-occupation has overtaken government renting. This strengthens the middle class and may drive demand for upgrades, second homes and investment properties.
• The small private rental sector suggests tight supply and potentially strong rental yields, which may attract investors but can push affordability pressures.
• More over-65s and smaller households point to demand for retirement accommodation, assisted living and smaller, well located flats for singles and downsizers.

Takeaway: Demand for housing remains strong, but future growth will require smarter use of limited land, more vertical building and refurbishment of existing stock.

Finance and Tech

• With around one third of adults holding higher qualifications, Gibraltar has a growing pool of talent for finance, e-gaming, fintech and other digital industries.
• An ageing, often mortgage-free population will need pensions, wealth management, insurance and estate planning, creating opportunities for financial firms.
• A large working-age majority and many new homes support ongoing demand for retail banking, mortgages and consumer credit.
• Rising numbers of British and other expatriate residents, many working in finance and tech, reinforce Gibraltar’s position as a base for international business.

Takeaway: The census underpins a cautiously positive outlook for finance and tech, provided Gibraltar continues to attract and train skilled workers and maintains cross-border mobility.

Our predictions

• Population growth is likely to continue, though at a more controlled pace given capacity limits and recent steps to manage residency.
• The share of older residents will rise further, creating a larger “silver economy” potentially driving growth in pensions and services aimed at this demographic and adding pressure on health and care services.
• Labour shortages may drive greater use of automation and AI, particularly in finance, e-gaming and retail, while reliance on cross-frontier workers will remain.
• Housing demand will stay firm, which could see more innovative developments and continued use of co-ownership and elderly housing schemes.
• Sectors best placed for growth include healthcare and care services, property and construction, financial services, digital industries and tourism that leverages Gibraltar’s heritage and global links.

To summarise: The Census depicts Gibraltar as a growing, ageing and increasingly skilled community. For local businesses, it signals steady demand, a more sophisticated customer base and ongoing pressure on space and labour. Now is the time to look ahead and shape your strategy to ensure you continue to thrive in the next decade.

Sources: Government of Gibraltar, Census 2022 Report | Gibraltar Chronicle coverage of Census 2022 findings | Gibraltar Chronicle, “Census shows increase of nearly 3000 homes in a decade” | GBC News, “2022 census shows Gibraltar’s population at close to 38,000” | Gibraltar Government Statistics Office, tourism and employment data