Spain Population: 46,754,784
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| Background | |
| Spain's powerful world empire of the 16th and 17th centuries ultimately yielded command of the seas to England. Subsequent failure to embrace the mercantile and industrial revolutions caused the country to fall behind Britain, France, and Germany in economic and political power. Spain remained neutral in World Wars I and II but suffered through a devastating civil war (1936-39). A peaceful transition to democracy following the death of dictator Francisco FRANCO in 1975, and rapid economic modernization (Spain joined the EU in 1986) gave Spain a dynamic and rapidly growing economy and made it a global champion of freedom and human rights. The government continues to battle the Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) terrorist organization, but its major focus for the immediate future will be on measures to reverse the severe economic recession that started in mid-2008. |
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| Geography | |
| Strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar; Spain controls a number of territories in northern Morocco including the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, and the islands of Penon de Velez de la Gomera, Penon de Alhucemas, and Islas Chafarinas | |
| Location: | Southwestern Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, Bay of Biscay, and Pyrenees Mountains; southwest of France |
| Geographic coordinates: | 40 00 N, 4 00 W |
| Area: | total: 505,370 sq km land: 498,980 sq km water: 6,390 sq km note: there are two autonomous cities - Ceuta and Melilla - and 17 autonomous communities including Balearic Islands and Canary Islands, and three small Spanish possessions off the coast of Morocco - Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera Size comparison: slightly more than twice the size of Oregon |
| Land Boundaries: | total: 1,917.8 km border countries: Andorra 63.7 km, France 623 km, Gibraltar 1.2 km, Portugal 1,214 km, Morocco (Ceuta) 6.3 km, Morocco (Melilla) 9.6 km |
| Coastline: | 4,964 km |
| Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (applies only to the Atlantic Ocean) |
| Climate: | temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast |
| Terrain: | large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills; Pyrenees Mountains in north |
| Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Pico de Teide (Tenerife) on Canary Islands 3,718 m |
| Natural resources: | coal, lignite, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, uranium, tungsten, mercury, pyrites, magnesite, fluorspar, gypsum, sepiolite, kaolin, potash, hydropower, arable land |
| Land use: | arable land: 27.18% permanent crops: 9.85% other: 62.97% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | 38,000 sq km (2008) |
| Natural hazards: | periodic droughts, occasional flooding volcanism: Spain experiences volcanic activity in the Canary Islands, located off Africa's northwest coast; Teide (elev. 3,715 m) has been deemed a "Decade Volcano" by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; La Palma (elev. 2,426 m), which last erupted in 1971, is the most active of the Canary Islands volcanoes; Lanzarote is the only other historically active volcano |
| Current Environment Issues: | pollution of the Mediterranean Sea from raw sewage and effluents from the offshore production of oil and gas; water quality and quantity nationwide; air pollution; deforestation; desertification |
| International Environment Agreements: | party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants |
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| People | |
| Population: | 46,754,784 (July 2011 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 15.1% (male 3,646,614/female 3,435,311) 15-64 years: 67.7% (male 16,036,556/female 15,637,090) 65 years and over: 17.1% (male 3,389,681/female 4,609,532) (2011 est.) |
| Median age: | total: 40.5 years male: 39.3 years female: 41.9 years (2011 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 0.574% (2011 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 10.66 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) |
| Death rate: | 8.8 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | 3.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.065 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2011 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 3.39 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3.74 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 81.17 years male: 78.16 years female: 84.37 years (2011 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 1.47 children born/woman (2011 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.4% (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 130,000 (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | 1,600 (2009 est.) |
| Nationality: | noun: Spaniard(s) adjective: Spanish |
| Ethnic groups: | composite of Mediterranean and Nordic types |
| Religions: | Roman Catholic 94%, other 6% |
| Languages: | Castilian Spanish (official) 74%, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, and Basque 2% note: Catalan is official in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and the Valencian Community (where it is known as Valencian); in the northwest corner of Catalonia (Vall d'Aran), Aranese is official along with Catalan; Galician is official in Galicia; Basque is official in the Basque Country |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 97.9% male: 98.7% female: 97.2% (2003 est.) |
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| Government | |
| Country name: | conventional long form: Kingdom of Spain conventional short form: Spain local long form: Reino de Espana local short form: Espana |
| Government type: | parliamentary monarchy |
| Capital: | name: Madrid geographic coordinates: 40 24 N, 3 41 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 note: Spain is divided into two time zones including the Canary Islands |
| Administrative divisions: | 17 autonomous communities (comunidades autonomas, singular - comunidad autonoma) and 2 autonomous cities* (ciudades autonomas, singular - ciudad autonoma); Andalucia, Aragon, Asturias, Baleares (Balearic Islands), Ceuta*, Canarias (Canary Islands), Cantabria, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y Leon, Cataluna (Catalonia), Comunidad Valenciana (Valencian Community), Extremadura, Galicia, La Rioja, Madrid, Melilla*, Murcia, Navarra, Pais Vasco (Basque Country) note: the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla plus three small islands of Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera, administered directly by the Spanish central government, are all along the coast of Morocco and are collectively referred to as Places of Sovereignty (Plazas de Soberania) |
| Independence: | 1492; the Iberian peninsula was characterized by a variety of independent kingdoms prior to the Muslim occupation that began in the early 8th century A.D. and lasted nearly seven centuries; the small Christian redoubts of the north began the reconquest almost immediately, culminating in the seizure of Granada in 1492; this event completed the unification of several kingdoms and is traditionally considered the forging of present-day Spain |
| National holiday: | National Day, 12 October (1492); year when Columbus first set foot in the Americas |
| Constitution: | approved by legislature 31 October 1978; passed by referendum 6 December 1978; signed by the king 27 December 1978 |
| Legal system: | civil law system with regional variations |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: King JUAN CARLOS I (since 22 November 1975); Heir Apparent Prince FELIPE, son of the monarch, born 30 January 1968 head of government: President of the Government (Prime Minister equivalent) Jose Luis Rodriguez ZAPATERO (since 17 April 2004); First Vice President (and Minister of the Interior) Alfredo Perez RUBALCABA (since 20 October 2010), Second Vice President (and Minister of Economy and Finance) Elena SALGADO Mendez (since 8 April 2009), and Third Vice President (and Minister of Regional Affairs) Manuel CHAVES Gonzalez (since 8 April 2009) cabinet: Council of Ministers designated by the president (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) note: there is also a Council of State that is the supreme consultative organ of the government, but its recommendations are non-binding elections: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually proposed president by the monarch and elected by the National Assembly; election last held on 9 and 11 April 2008 (next to be held in March 2012); vice presidents appointed by the monarch on the proposal of the president election results: Jose Luis Rodriguez ZAPATERO reelected President of the Government; percent of National Assembly vote - 46.9% |
| Legislative branch: | bicameral; General Courts or Las Cortes Generales (National Assembly) consists of the Senate or Senado (264 seats as of 2008; 208 members directly elected by popular vote and the other 56 - as of 2008 - appointed by the regional legislatures; members to serve four-year terms) and the Congress of Deputies or Congreso de los Diputados (350 seats; each of the 50 electoral provinces fills a minimum of two seats and the North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla fill one seat each with members serving a four-year term; the other 248 members are determined by proportional representation based on popular vote on block lists who serve four-year terms) elections: Senate - last held on 9 March 2008 (next to be held by March 2012); Congress of Deputies - last held on 9 March 2008 (next to be held by March 2012) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PP 101, PSOE 88, Entesa Catalona de Progress 12, CiU 4, PNV 2, CC 1, members appointed by regional legislatures 56; Congress of Deputies - percent of vote by party - PSOE 43.6%, PP 40.1%, CiU 3.1%, PNV 1.2%, ERC 1.2%, other 10.8%; seats by party - PSOE 169, PP 154, CiU 10, PNV 6, ERC 3, other 8; note - seats by party in the Congress of Deputies as of 15 December 2009 - PSOE 169, PP 153, CiU 10, PNV 6, ERC 3, other 9 |
| Judicial branch: | Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo |
| Political parties and leaders: | Basque Nationalist Party or PNV or EAJ [Inigo URKULLU Renteria]; Canarian Coalition or CC [Claudina MORALES Rodriquez] (a coalition of five parties); Convergence and Union or CiU [Artur MAS i Gavarro] (a coalition of the Democratic Convergence of Catalonia or CDC [Artur MAS i Gavarro] and the Democratic Union of Catalonia or UDC [Josep Antoni DURAN i LLEIDA]); Entesa Catalonia de Progress (a Senate coalition grouping four Catalan parties - PSC, ERC, ICV, EUA); Galician Nationalist Bloc or BNG [Guillerme VAZQUEZ Vazquez]; Initiative for Catalonia Greens or ICV [Joan SAURA i Laporta]; Navarra Yes or NaBai [collective leadership] (a coalition of four Navarran parties); Popular Party or PP [Mariano RAJOY Brey]; Republican Left of Catalonia or ERC [Joan PUIGCERCOS i Boixassa]; Spanish Socialist Workers Party or PSOE [Jose Luis Rodriguez ZAPATERO]; Union of People of Navarra or UPN [Yolanda BARCINA Angulo]; Union, Progress and Democracy or UPyD [Rosa DIEZ Gonzalez]; United Left or IU [Cayo LARA Moya] (a coalition of parties including the Communist Party of Spain or PCE and other small parties) |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | Association for Victims of Terrorism or AVT (grassroots organization devoted primarily to opposing ETA terrorist attacks and supporting its victims); Basta Ya (Spanish for "Enough is Enough"); grassroots organization devoted primarily to opposing ETA terrorist attacks and supporting its victims); Nunca Mais (Galician for "Never Again"; formed in response to the oil Tanker Prestige oil spill); Socialist General Union of Workers or UGT and the smaller independent Workers Syndical Union or USO; Trade Union Confederation of Workers' Commissions or CC.OO. other: business and landowning interests; Catholic Church; free labor unions (authorized in April 1977); university students |
| International organization participation: | ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, CBSS (observer), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUSCO, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SECI (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Jorge DEZCALLAR de Mazarredo chancery: 2375 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 452-0100, 728-2340 FAX: [1] (202) 833-5670 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico) |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Alan D. SOLOMONT embassy: Serrano 75, 28006 Madrid mailing address: PSC 61, APO AE 09642 telephone: [34] (91) 587-2200 FAX: [34] (91) 587-2303 consulate(s) general: Barcelona |
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| Economy | |
| Spain's mixed capitalist economy is the 13th largest in the world, and its per capita income roughly matches that of Germany and France. However, after almost 15 years of above average GDP growth, the Spanish economy began to slow in late 2007 and entered into a recession in the second quarter of 2008. GDP contracted by 3.7% in 2009, ending a 16-year growth trend, and by another 0.2% in 2010, making Spain the last major economy to emerge from the global recession. The reversal in Spain's economic growth reflected a significant decline in construction amid an oversupply of housing and falling consumer spending, while exports actually have begun to grow. Government efforts to boost the economy through stimulus spending, extended unemployment benefits, and loan guarantees did not prevent a sharp rise in the unemployment rate, which rose from a low of about 8% in 2007 to 20% in 2010. The government budget deficit worsened from 3.8% of GDP in 2008 to 9.2% of GDP in 2010, more than three times the euro-zone limit. Spain's large budget deficit and poor economic growth prospects have made it vulnerable to financial contagion from other highly-indebted euro zone members despite the government's efforts to cut spending, privatize industries, and boost competitiveness through labor market reforms. Spanish banks' high exposure to the collapsed domestic construction and real estate market also poses a continued risk for the sector. The government oversaw a restructuring of the savings bank sector in 2010, and provided some $15 billion in capital to various institutions. Investors remain concerned that Madrid may need to bail out more troubled banks. The Bank of Spain, however, is seeking to boost confidence in the financial sector by pressuring banks to come clean about their losses and consolidate into stronger groups. | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.369 trillion (2010 est.) $1.371 trillion (2009 est.) $1.424 trillion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $1.41 trillion (2010 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | -0.1% (2010 est.) -3.7% (2009 est.) 0.9% (2008 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $29,400 (2010 est.) $29,600 (2009 est.) $31,000 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 3.3% industry: 26% services: 70.7% (2010 est.) |
| Labor force: | 23.09 million (2010 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 4.2% industry: 24% services: 71.7% (2009 est.) |
| Unemployment rate: | 20.1% (2010 est.) 18% (2009 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | 19.8% (2005) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 26.6% (2000) |
| Distribution of family income - Gini index: | 32 (2005) 32.5 (1990) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (2010 est.) -0.2% (2009 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 22.5% of GDP (2010 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $503.1 billion expenditures: $633.3 billion (2010 est.) |
| Public debt: | 60.1% of GDP (2010 est.) 53.2% of GDP (2009 est.) |
| Agriculture - products: | grain, vegetables, olives, wine grapes, sugar beets, citrus; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; fish |
| Industries: | textiles and apparel (including footwear), food and beverages, metals and metal manufactures, chemicals, shipbuilding, automobiles, machine tools, tourism, clay and refractory products, footwear, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment |
| Industrial production growth rate: | 0.8% (2010 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 275.1 billion kWh (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - consumption: | 267.5 billion kWh (2008 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 14.86 billion kWh (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 8.104 billion kWh (2009 est.) |
| Oil - production: | 29,970 bbl/day (2010 est.) |
| Oil - consumption: | 1.441 million bbl/day (2010 est.) |
| Oil - exports: | 240,700 bbl/day (2009 est.) |
| Oil - imports: | 1.584 million bbl/day (2009 est.) |
| Oil - proved reserves: | 150 million bbl (1 January 2011 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 48 million cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 35.82 billion cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 1.152 billion cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 36.71 billion cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 2.548 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.) |
| Current account balance: | -$63.65 billion (2010 est.) -$75.31 billion (2009 est.) |
| Exports: | $253 billion (2010 est.) $228.7 billion (2009 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | machinery, motor vehicles; foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, medicines, other consumer goods |
| Exports - partners: | France 18.7%, Germany 10.7%, Portugal 9.1%, Italy 9%, UK 6.3% (2010) |
| Imports: | $315.3 billion (2010 est.) $287.7 billion (2009 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, semifinished goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, measuring and medical control instruments |
| Imports - partners: | Germany 12.6%, France 11.5%, Italy 7.3%, China 6.8%, Netherlands 5.6%, UK 4.9% (2010) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $31.91 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $28.2 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $2.166 trillion (30 June 2010) $2.317 trillion (31 December 2008) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $603.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $628.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $655.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $645 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $1.172 trillion (31 December 2010) $1.297 trillion (31 December 2009) $946.1 billion (31 December 2008) |
| Exchange rates: | euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.755 (2010) 0.7198 (2009) 0.6827 (2008) 0.7345 (2007) 0.7964 (2006) |
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| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 20.057 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 13 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 50.991 million (2009) |
| Telephone system: | general assessment: well developed, modern facilities; fixed-line teledensity is roughly 50 per 100 persons domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is nearly 175 telephones per 100 persons international: country code - 34; submarine cables provide connectivity to Europe, Middle East, Asia, and US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to adjacent countries |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .es |
| Internet hosts: | 3.822 million (2010) |
| Internet users: | 28.119 million (2009) |
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| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 154 (2010) country comparison to the world: 35 |
| Airports (paved runways): | total: 97 over 3,047 m: 18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 13 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 24 under 914 m: 24 (2010) |
| Airports (unpaved runways): | total: 57 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 16 under 914 m: 38 (2010) |
| Heliports: | 9 (2010) |
| Pipelines: | gas 9,359 km; oil 560 km; refined products 3,441 km (2010) |
| Railways: | total: 15,293 km broad gauge: 11,919 km 1.668-m gauge (6,950 km electrified) standard gauge: 1,392 km 1.435-m gauge (1,054 km electrified) narrow gauge: 1,954 km 1.000-m gauge (815 km electrified); 28 km 0.914-m gauge (2010) |
| Roadways: | total: 681,298 km paved: 681,298 km (includes 15,152 km of expressways) (2008) |
| Waterways: | 1,000 km (2009) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 138 by type: bulk carrier 7, cargo 17, chemical tanker 12, container 8, liquefied gas 13, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 40, petroleum tanker 17, refrigerated cargo 5, roll on/roll off 13, vehicle carrier 5 foreign-owned: 26 (Canada 5, Denmark 2, Germany 5, Italy 1, Mexico 2, Norway 10, Switzerland 1) registered in other countries: 107 (Angola 1, Argentina 3, Bahamas 9, Belize 1, Brazil 12, Cape Verde 1, Cyprus 7, France 1, Malta 10, Nigeria 1, Panama 40, Portugal 15, Uruguay 5, Venezuela 1) (2010) |
| Ports and terminals: | Algeciras, Barcelona, Bilbao, Cartagena, Huelva, Tarragona, Valencia (Spain); Las Palmas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands) |
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| Military | |
| Military branches: | Spanish Armed Forces: Army (Ejercito de Tierra), Spanish Navy (Armada Espanola, AE; includes Marine Corps), Spanish Air Force (Ejercito del Aire Espanola, EdA) (2010) |
| Military service age and obligation: | 20 years of age (2004) |
| Manpower available for military service: | males age 16-49: 11,759,557 females age 16-49: 11,204,688 (2010 est.) |
| Manpower fit for military service: | males age 16-49: 9,603,939 females age 16-49: 9,116,928 (2010 est.) |
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