Spain Population: 47,370,542
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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's 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 (2003) |
| Natural hazards: | periodic droughts, occasional flooding volcanism: 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: | 47,370,542 (July 2013 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 15.4% (male 3,747,028/female 3,531,247) 15-24 years: 9.7% (male 2,377,992/female 2,215,742) 25-54 years: 46.2% (male 11,141,726/female 10,749,877) 55-64 years: 11.3% (male 2,600,682/female 2,738,559) 65 years and over: 17.5% (male 3,514,051/female 4,753,638) (2013 est.) population pyramid: |
| Median age: | total: 40.9 years male: 39.7 years female: 42.2 years (2012 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 0.654% (2012 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 10.4 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Death rate: | 8.88 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | 5.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2011 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 3.37 deaths/1,000 live births male: 3.71 deaths/1,000 live births female: 3.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 81.27 years male: 78.26 years female: 84.47 years (2012 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 1.48 children born/woman (2013 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: 97.7% male: 98.5% female: 97% (2010 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) Mariano RAJOY (since 20 December 2011); Vice President (and Minister of the President's Office) Soraya Saenz de SANTAMARIA (since 22 December 2011) 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 20 November 2011 (next to be held in November 2015); vice president and Council of Ministers are appointed by the president election results: Mariano RAJOY elected President of the Government; percent of vote - 44.62% |
| Legislative branch: | bicameral; General Courts or Las Cortes Generales (National Assembly) consists of the Senate or Senado (257 seats as of 2013; 208 members directly elected by popular vote and the other 49 - as of 2013 - 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 20 November 2011 (next to be held by November 2015); Congress of Deputies - last held on 20 November 2011 (next to be held by November 2015) election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PP 136, PSOE 48, CiU 9, Entesa (PSC-PSOE) 7, EAJ/PNV 4, other 4, members appointed by regional legislatures 49; Congress of Deputies - percent of vote by party - PP 44.6%, PSOE 28.8%, CiU 4.2%, IU 6.9%, Amaiur 1.4%, UPyD 4.7%, EAJ/PNV 1.3%, other 3.5%; seats by party - PP 186, PSOE 110, CiU 16, IU 11, Amaiur 7, UPyD 5, EAJ/PNV 5, other 10 |
| Judicial branch: | Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo; Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucioanal de Espana |
| Political parties and leaders: | Amaiur [collective leadership] (a coalition of parties advocating the peaceful Basque independence from Spain); 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 HERRERA i Torres]; Yes to the Future or Geroa Bai [collective leadership] (a coalition of four Navarran parties); Popular Party or PP [Mariano RAJOY Brey]; Republican Left of Catalonia or ERC [Oriol JUNQUERAS i Vies]; Spanish Socialist Workers Party or PSOE [Alfredo PEREZ Rubalcaba]; 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 supporting victims of the Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) terrorist organization); 15-M or 15 May protest movement, which is also known as the Indignados, Spanish for the "indignant ones" (a loose association of grassroots organizations that advocate for greater accountability and transparency in Spanish politics, increased social justice and job creation); 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.; and the smaller independent Workers Syndical Union or USO 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, CAN (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Ramon Gil-Casares SATRUSTEGUI 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 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 | |
| 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 0.3% in 2010; GDP expanded 0.4% in 2011, before contracting 1.3% in 2012. The economy has once again fallen into recession as deleveraging in the private sector, fiscal consolidation, and continued high unemployment weigh on domestic demand and investment, even as exports have shown signs of resiliency. The unemployment rate rose from a low of about 8% in 2007 to 26.0% in 2012. The economic downturn has also hurt Spain's public finances. The government budget deficit peaked at 11.2% of GDP in 2010 and the process to reduce this imbalance has been slow despite the central government's efforts to raise new tax revenue and cut spending. Spain reduced its budget deficit to 9.4% of GDP in 2011, and roughly 6.7% of GDP in 2012, above the 6.3% target negotiated between Spain and the EU. Although Spain's large budget deficit and poor economic growth prospects remain a source of concern for foreign investors, the government's ongoing efforts to cut spending and introduce flexibility into the labor markets are intended to assuage these concerns. The government is also taking steps to shore up the banking system, namely by using up to $130 billion in EU funds to recapitalize struggling banks exposed to the collapsed domestic construction and real estate sectors. | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $1.409 trillion (2012 est.) $1.429 trillion (2011 est.) $1.423 trillion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $1.347 trillion (2012 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | -1.4% (2012 est.) 0.4% (2011 est.) -0.3% (2010 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $30,400 (2012 est.) $31,000 (2011 est.) $30,900 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 3.3% industry: 24.2% services: 72.6% (2012 est.) |
| Labor force: | 23.11 million (2012 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 4.2% industry: 24% services: 71.7% (2009 est.) |
| Unemployment rate: | 26% (2012 est.) 21.7% (2011 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | 21.1% (2012) |
| 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): 2.4% (2012 est.) 3.1% (2011 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 20.6% of GDP (2012 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $485.1 billion expenditures: $584.8 billion (2012 est.) |
| Public debt: | 85.3% of GDP (2012 est.) 68.5% of GDP (2011 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: | 5.9% (2012 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 279.6 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 15 |
| Electricity - consumption: | 249.7 billion kWh (2011 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 13.52 billion kWh (2010 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 5.169 billion kWh (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 52 million cu m (2011 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 33.55 billion cu m (2011 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 1.698 billion cu m (2011 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 35.49 billion cu m (2011 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 2.548 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.) |
| Current account balance: | -$18.8 billion (2012 est.) -$52.28 billion (2011 est.) |
| Exports: | $303.8 billion (2012 est.) $309.6 billion (2011 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | machinery, motor vehicles; foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, medicines, other consumer goods |
| Exports - partners: | France 17.8%, Germany 10.6%, Portugal 8.3%, Italy 8.3%, UK 6.7% (2011) |
| Imports: | $322.7 billion (2012 est.) $364.9 billion (2011 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, semifinished goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, measuring and medical control instruments |
| Imports - partners: | Germany 13%, France 11.8%, Italy 6.7%, China 5.8%, Netherlands 5%, UK 4.5% (2011) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $50.3 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $47.1 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $2.25 trillion (30 September 2012) $2.166 trillion (30 June 2010) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $663.1 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $652.8 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $739.2 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $690.4 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $1.031 trillion (31 December 2011) $1.172 trillion (31 December 2010) $1.297 trillion (31 December 2009) |
| Exchange rates: | euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.7838 (2012 est.) 0.7185 (2011 est.) 0.755 (2010 est.) 0.7198 (2009 est.) 0.6827 (2008 est.) |
| Fiscal year: | calendar year |
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| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 19.867 million (2011) country comparison to the world: 14 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 52.598 million (2011) |
| Telephone system: | general assessment: well-developed, modern facilities; fixed-line teledensity exceeds 40 per 100 persons domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 150 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 (2011) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .es |
| Internet hosts: | 4.228 million (2012) |
| Internet users: | 28.119 million (2009) |
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| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 152 (2012) country comparison to the world: 36 |
| Airports (paved runways): | total: 98 over 3,047 m: 18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 25 under 914 m: 24 (2012) |
| Airports (unpaved runways): | total: 54 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 38 (2012) |
| Heliports: | 10 (2012) |
| 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 (2008) |
| Roadways: | total: 681,298 km paved: 681,298 km (includes 15,152 km of expressways) (2008) |
| Waterways: | 1,000 km (2012) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 132 by type: bulk carrier 7, cargo 19, chemical tanker 8, container 5, liquefied gas 12, passenger/cargo 43, petroleum tanker 18, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 9, vehicle carrier 7 foreign-owned: 27 (Canada 4, Germany 4, Italy 1, Mexico 1, Norway 10, Russia 6, Switzerland 1) registered in other countries: 103 (Angola 1, Argentina 3, Bahamas 6, Brazil 12, Cape Verde 1, Cyprus 6, Ireland 1, Malta 8, Morocco 9, Panama 30, Peru 1, Portugal 18, Uruguay 5, Venezuela 1, unknown 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: | 18 years of age for voluntary military service by a Spanish citizen or legal immigrant, 2-3 year obligation; women allowed to serve in all SAF branches, including combat units; Spanish Government can mobilize citizens 19-25 years of age in a national emergency; mandatory retirement of non-NCO enlisted personnel at age 45 or 58, depending on service length (2012) |
| 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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