Legend:
 Definition
 Field
Listing
 Rank
Order
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Background:
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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) have given Spain one of the most dynamic
economies in Europe and made it a global champion of
freedom. Continuing challenges include Basque Fatherland and
Liberty (ETA) terrorism and relatively high unemployment.
|
|
Location:
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Southwestern Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay,
Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, and Pyrenees
Mountains, southwest of France |
|
Geographic coordinates:
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40 00 N, 4 00 W
|
|
Map references:
|
Europe |
|
Area:
|
total: 504,782 sq km
land: 499,542 sq km
water: 5,240 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 |
|
Area - comparative:
|
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
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|
Coastline:
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4,964 km |
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (applies only to the
Atlantic Ocean) |
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Climate:
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temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and
cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly
cloudy and cool along coast |
|
Terrain:
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large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills;
Pyrenees in north |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico de Teide (Tenerife) on Canary
Islands 3,718 m |
|
Natural resources:
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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:
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37,800 sq km (2003)
|
|
Natural hazards:
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periodic droughts
|
|
Environment - current 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 |
|
Environment - international 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 |
|
Geography - note:
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strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar
|
|
Population:
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40,448,191 (July 2007 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 14.4% (male 3,005,818/female 2,826,805)
15-64 years: 67.8% (male 13,758,869/female
13,661,295)
65 years and over: 17.8% (male 3,002,585/female
4,192,819) (2007 est.) |
|
Median age:
|
total: 40.3 years
male: 39 years
female: 41.7 years (2007 est.)
|
|
Population growth rate:
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0.116% (2007 est.)
|
|
Birth rate:
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9.98 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
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Death rate:
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9.81 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.063 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.007 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.716 male(s)/female
total population: 0.956 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
|
|
Infant mortality rate:
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total: 4.31 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
|
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 79.78 years
male: 76.46 years
female: 83.32 years (2007 est.)
|
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Total fertility rate:
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1.29 children born/woman (2007 est.)
|
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.7% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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140,000 (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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less than 1,000 (2003 est.) |
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Nationality:
|
noun: Spaniard(s)
adjective: Spanish |
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Ethnic groups:
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composite of Mediterranean and Nordic types |
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Religions:
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Roman Catholic 94%, other 6% |
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Languages:
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Castilian Spanish (official) 74%, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%,
Basque 2%, are official regionally
|
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Literacy:
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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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Country name:
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conventional long form: Kingdom of Spain
conventional short form: Spain
local long form: Reino de Espana
local short form: Espana
|
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Government type:
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parliamentary monarchy |
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Capital:
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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 |
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Administrative divisions:
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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, Comunidad Valenciana, 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) |
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Independence:
|
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 |
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National holiday:
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National Day, 12 October (1492); year when Columbus first
set foot in the Americas |
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Constitution:
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approved by legislature 31 October 1978; passed by
referendum 6 December 1978, effective 29 December 1978 |
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Legal system:
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civil law system, with regional applications; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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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 Deputy Prime
Minister (and Minister of the Presidency) Maria Teresa
FERNANDEZ DE LA VEGA (since 18 April 2004) and Second Vice
President (and Minister of Economy and Finance) Pedro SOLBES
(since 18 April 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers designated by the
president
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 is usually proposed
president by the monarch and elected by the National
Assembly; election last held on 14 March 2004 (next to be
held in March 2008); vice presidents appointed by the
monarch on the proposal of the president
election results: Jose Luis RODRIGUEZ ZAPATERO
elected president; percent of National Assembly vote -
52.29%
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|
Legislative branch:
|
bicameral; General Courts or National Assembly or Las Cortes
Generales consists of the Senate or Senado (259 seats; 208
members directly elected by popular vote and the other 51
appointed by the regional legislatures; to serve four-year
terms) and the Congress of Deputies or Congreso de los
Diputados (350 seats; members are elected by popular vote on
block lists by proportional representation to serve
four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 14 March 2004 (next
to be held in March 2008); Congress of Deputies - last held
on 14 March 2004 (next to be held in March 2008)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party -
PP 49%, PSOE 38%, Entesa Catalona de Progress 5.7%, PNV
2.8%, CC 2.4%, CiU 2%; seats by party - PP 102, PSOE 81,
Entesa Catalona de Progress 12, PNV 6, CiU 4, CC 3; Congress
of Deputies - percent of vote by party - PSOE 43.3%, PP
37.8%, CiU 3.2%, IU 3.2%, ERC 2.5%, PNV 1.6%, CC 0.9%, other
7.5%; seats by party - PSOE 164, PP 148, CiU 10, ERC 8, PNV
7, IU 5, CC 3, other 5
|
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Aragonese Party or CHA [Bizen FUSTER]; Basque Nationalist
Party or PNV [Josu Jon IMAZ]; Basque Solidarity or EA
[Begona ERRAZTI]; Canarian Coalition or CC [Paulino RIVERO
Baute] (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 [Anxo Manuel QUINTANA
Gonzalez]; Initiative for Catalonia Greens or ICV [Joan
SAURA i Laporta]; Navarra yes or Na Bai [Uxue BARKOS
Berruezo] (a coalition of four Navarran parties); Popular
Party or PP [Mariano RAJOY Brey]; Republican Left of
Catalonia or ERC [Josep-Lluis CAROD-ROVIRA]; Spanish
Socialist Workers Party or PSOE [Jose Luis RODRIGUEZ
ZAPATERO]; United Left or IU [Gaspar LLAMAZARES Trigo] (a
coalition of parties including the PCE and other small
parties) |
|
Political pressure groups and leaders:
|
business and landowning interests; Catholic Church; free
labor unions (authorized in April 1977); Socialist General
Union of Workers or UGT and the smaller independent Workers
Syndical Union or USO; university students; Trade Union
Confederation of Workers' Commissions or CC.OO. |
|
International organization participation:
|
AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC,
EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA
(observer), MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen
Convention, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNMEE, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC |
|
Diplomatic representation in the US:
|
chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos WESTENDORP
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 Eduardo AGUIRRE, Jr.
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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Flag description:
|
three horizontal bands of red (top), yellow (double width),
and red with the national coat of arms on the hoist side of
the yellow band; the coat of arms includes the royal seal
framed by the Pillars of Hercules, which are the two
promontories (Gibraltar and Ceuta) on either side of the
eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar |
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Economy - overview:
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The Spanish economy boomed from 1986 to 1990 averaging 5%
annual growth. After a European-wide recession in the early
1990s, the Spanish economy resumed moderate growth starting
in 1994. Spain's mixed capitalist economy supports a GDP
that on a per capita basis is 80% that of the four leading
West European economies. The center-right government of
former President AZNAR successfully worked to gain admission
to the first group of countries launching the European
single currency (the euro) on 1 January 1999. The AZNAR
administration continued to advocate liberalization,
privatization, and deregulation of the economy and
introduced some tax reforms to that end. Unemployment fell
steadily under the AZNAR administration but remains high at
8.1%. Growth averaging 3% annually during 2003-06 was
satisfactory given the background of a faltering European
economy. The Socialist president, RODRIGUEZ ZAPATERO, has
made mixed progress in carrying out key structural reforms,
which need to be accelerated and deepened to sustain Spain's
strong economic growth. Despite the economy's relative solid
footing significant downside risks remain including Spain's
continued loss of competitiveness, the potential for a
housing market collapse, the country's changing demographic
profile, and a decline in EU structural funds. |
|
GDP (purchasing power parity):
|
$1.109 trillion (2006 est.) |
|
GDP (official exchange rate):
|
$1.084 trillion (2006 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
|
3.9% (2006 est.) |
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
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$27,400 (2006 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 3.9%
industry: 29.7%
services: 66.4% (2006 est.)
|
|
Labor force:
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21.58 million (2006 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture: 5.3%
industry: 30.1%
services: 64.6% (2004 est.)
|
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Unemployment rate:
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8.1% (October 2006 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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19.8% (2005)
|
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 26.6% (2000) |
|
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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34.7 (2000)
|
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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3.5% (2006 est.) |
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Investment (gross fixed):
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30.4% of GDP (2006 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $495.8 billion
expenditures: $473.6 billion; including capital
expenditures of $12.8 billion (2006 est.) |
|
Public debt:
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39.9% of GDP (2006 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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grain, vegetables, olives, wine grapes, sugar beets, citrus;
beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; fish |
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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:
|
0.6% (2006 est.) |
|
Electricity - production:
|
270.3 billion kWh (2005) |
|
Electricity - consumption:
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243 billion kWh (2005) |
|
Electricity - exports:
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11.56 billion kWh (2005) |
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Electricity - imports:
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10.21 billion kWh (2005) |
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Oil - production:
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31,250 bbl/day (2004 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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1.573 million bbl/day (2004 est.)
|
|
Oil - exports:
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175,200 bbl/day (2004) |
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Oil - imports:
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1.714 million bbl/day (2004) |
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Oil - proved reserves:
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157.6 million bbl (1 January 2005)
|
|
Natural gas - production:
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151.5 million cu m (2005 est.)
|
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Natural gas - consumption:
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30.58 billion cu m (2005 est.)
|
|
Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2005 est.) |
|
Natural gas - imports:
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31.76 billion cu m (2005) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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2.444 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.) |
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Current account balance:
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-$106.4 billion (2006 est.) |
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Exports:
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$216.5 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
|
|
Exports - commodities:
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machinery, motor vehicles; foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals,
medicines, other consumer goods
|
|
Exports - partners:
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France 18.9%, Germany 11%, Portugal 8.9%, Italy 8.6%, UK
7.8%, US 4.5% (2006) |
|
Imports:
|
$317.1 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
|
|
Imports - commodities:
|
machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, semifinished
goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, measuring and medical
control instruments |
|
Imports - partners:
|
Germany 14.7%, France 13.2%, Italy 8.1%, UK 5%, Netherlands
4.8%, China 4.8% (2006) |
|
Economic aid - donor:
|
ODA, $1.33 billion (1999) |
|
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
|
$19.34 billion (2006 est.) |
|
Debt - external:
|
$996.7 billion (2006 est.) |
|
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
|
$439.4 billion (2006 est.) |
|
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
|
$509.2 billion (2006 est.) |
|
Market value of publicly traded shares:
|
$960 billion (2005)
|
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Currency (code):
|
euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union
introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by the
financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January
2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday
transactions with the member countries |
|
Exchange rates:
|
euros per US dollar - 0.7964 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054
(2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)
|
|
Fiscal year:
|
calendar year
|
|
Airports:
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154 (2007) |
|
Airports - with paved runways:
|
total: 96
over 3,047 m: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 25
under 914 m: 24 (2007)
|
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 58
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 42 (2007) |
|
Heliports:
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8 (2007) |
|
Pipelines:
|
gas 7,962 km; oil 622 km; refined products 3,447 km (2006)
|
|
Railways:
|
total: 14,974 km
broad gauge: 11,919 km 1.668-m gauge (6,950 km
electrified)
standard gauge: 1,099 km 1.435-m gauge (1,054 km
electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,928 km 1.000-m gauge (815 km
electrified); 28 km 0.914-m gauge (28 km electrified) (2006)
|
|
Roadways:
|
total: 666,292 km
paved: 659,629 km (includes 12,009 km of expressways)
unpaved: 6,663 km (2003) |
|
Waterways:
|
1,000 km (2003) |
|
Merchant marine:
|
total: 167 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,365,450 GRT/2,282,245
DWT
by type: bulk carrier 9, cargo 13, chemical tanker
13, container 25, liquefied gas 10, passenger 1,
passenger/cargo 52, petroleum tanker 15, refrigerated cargo
5, roll on/roll off 17, specialized tanker 2, vehicle
carrier 5
foreign-owned: 33 (Cuba 1, Denmark 2, Germany 9,
Italy 1, Mexico 3, Norway 6, US 9, Uruguay 2)
registered in other countries: 106 (Angola 1, Bahamas
11, Belize 2, Brazil 4, Cape Verde 1, Cuba 1, Cyprus 7,
Irland 1, Malta 1, Marshall Islands 3, Nigeria 1, Panama 61,
Portugal 10, St Kitts and Nevis 1, Venezuela 1) (2007) |
|
Ports and terminals:
|
Algeciras, Barcelona, Cartagena, Gijon, Huelva, La Coruna,
Tarragona, Valencia |
|
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) (2006) |
|
Military service age and obligation:
|
20 years of age (2004) |
|
Manpower available for military service:
|
males age 20-49: 9,366,588
females age 20-49: 9,155,057 (2005 est.)
|
|
Manpower fit for military service:
|
males age 20-49: 7,623,356
females age 20-49: 7,434,465 (2005 est.)
|
|
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
|
| |
