|
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). In the second half of the 20th century, Spain has
played a catch-up role in the western international community.
Continuing concerns are Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) terrorism
and further reductions in unemployment. |
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Location:
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Southwestern Europe,
bordering the Bay of Biscay, Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean,
and Pyrenees Mountains, southwest of France |
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Geographic coordinates:
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40 00 N, 4 00 W |
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Map references:
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Europe |
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Area:
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total: 504,782
sq km
water: 5,240 sq km
note: there are 19 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
land: 499,542 sq km |
|
Area - comparative:
|
slightly more than
twice the size of Oregon |
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Land boundaries:
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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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contiguous zone:
24 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM (applies only to the Atlantic
Ocean)
territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
|
temperate; clear, hot
summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along coast; cloudy,
cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast |
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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 |
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Natural resources:
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coal, lignite, iron
ore, uranium, mercury, pyrites, fluorspar, gypsum, zinc, lead,
tungsten, copper, kaolin, potash, hydropower, arable land |
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Land use:
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arable land: 29%
permanent crops: 9%
other: 62% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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36,400 sq km (1998
est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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periodic droughts |
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Environment - current issues:
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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 |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Air
Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94,
Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty,
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine
Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification |
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Geography - note:
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strategic location
along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar |
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Population:
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40,077,100 (July 2002
est.) |
|
Age structure:
|
0-14 years:
14.5% (male 2,993,747; female 2,812,498)
15-64 years: 68.1% (male 13,699,383; female 13,592,717)
65 years and over: 17.4% (male 2,922,452; female 4,056,303)
(2002 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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0.09% (2002 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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9.29 births/1,000
population (2002 est.) |
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Death rate:
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9.22 deaths/1,000
population (2002 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0.87 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2002 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.07
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 (2002 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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4.85 deaths/1,000 live
births (2002 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population:
79.08 years
female: 82.76 years (2002 est.)
male: 75.63 years |
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Total fertility rate:
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1.16 children
born/woman (2002 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.58% (1999 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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120,000 (1999 est.)
|
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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2,000 (1999 est.) |
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Nationality:
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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% |
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Literacy:
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definition: age
15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: NA%
female: NA% |
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Country name:
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conventional long
form: Kingdom of Spain
conventional short form: Spain
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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Madrid |
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Administrative divisions:
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19 autonomous
communities (comunidades autonomas, singular - comunidad autonoma);
Andalucia, Aragon, Asturias, Baleares (Balearic Islands), Ceuta,
Canarias (Canary Islands), Cantabria, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y
Leon, Cataluna, Communidad Valencian, Extremadura, Galicia, La Rioja,
Madrid, Melilla, Murcia, Navarra, Pais Vasco (Basque Country)
note: three small Spanish possessions are located off the coast
of Morocco: Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez
de la Gomera |
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Independence:
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the Iberian peninsula
was characterized by a variety of independent kingdoms prior to the
Moslem 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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Hispanic Day, 12
October |
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Constitution:
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6 December 1978,
effective 29 December 1978 |
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Legal system:
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civil law system, with
regional applications; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
|
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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 Jose Maria
AZNAR Lopez (since 5 May 1996); First Vice President (and Minister of
Interior) Mariano RAJOY (since 27 April 2000) and Second Vice
President (and Minister of Economy) Rodrigo RATO Figaredo (since 5 May
1996)
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
election results: Jose Maria AZNAR Lopez (PP) elected
president; percent of National Assembly vote - 44.54%; note - the
Popular Party (PP) obtained an absolute majority of seats in both the
Congress of Deputies and the Senate as a result of the March 2000
elections
elections: the monarch is hereditary; president proposed by the
monarch and elected by the National Assembly following legislative
elections; election last held 12 March 2000 (next to be held NA March
2004); vice presidents appointed by the monarch on the proposal of the
president |
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Legislative branch:
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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)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - PP 44.6%,
PSOE 34.1%, CiU 4.2%, PNV 1.5%, CC 1.1%, PIL 0%; seats by party - PP
127, PSOE 61, CiU 8, PNV 6, CC 5, PIL 1; Congress of Deputies -
percent of vote by party - PP 44.5%, PSOE 34%, CiU 4.2%, IU 5.4%, PNV
1.5%, CC 1%, BNG 1.3%; seats by party - PP 183, PSOE 125, CiU 15, IU
8, PNV 7, CC 4, BNG 3, other 5
elections: Senate - last held 12 March 2000 (next to be held NA
March 2004); Congress of Deputies - last held 12 March 2000 (next to
be held NA March 2004) |
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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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Basque Nationalist
Party or PNV [Xabier ARZALLUS Antia]; Batasuna [Arnaldo OTEGI];
Canarian Coalition or CC (a coalition of five parties) [Paulino RIVERO];
Convergence and Union or CiU [Jordi PUJOL i Soley, secretary general]
(a coalition of the Democratic Convergence of Catalonia or CDC [Jordi
PUJOL i Soley] and the Democratic Union of Catalonia or UDC [Josep
Antoni DURAN y LLEIDA]); Galician Nationalist Bloc or BNG [Xose Manuel
BEIRAS]; Party of Independents from Lanzarote or PIL [Dimas MARTIN
Martin]; Popular Party or PP [Jose Maria AZNAR Lopez]; Spanish
Socialist Workers Party or PSOE [Jose Luis RODRIGUEZ ZAPATERO]; United
Left or IU (a coalition of parties including the PCE and other small
parties) [Gaspar LLAMAZARES] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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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;
Workers Confederation or CC.OO |
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International organization participation:
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AfDB, AsDB, Australia
Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU,
FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU,
LAIA (observer), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNU, UPU, WCL,
WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission:
Ambassador Francisco Javier RUPEREZ
chancery: 2375 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles,
Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto
Rico)
FAX: [1] (202) 833-5670
telephone: [1] (202) 452-0100, 728-2340 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission:
Ambassador George L. ARGYROS
embassy: Serrano 75, 28006 Madrid
mailing address: APO AE 09642
telephone: [34] (91) 587-2200
FAX: [34] (91) 587-2303
consulate(s) general: Barcelona |
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Flag description:
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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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Spain's mixed
capitalist economy supports a GDP that on a per capita basis is 80%
that of the four leading West European economies. Its center-right
government successfully worked to gain admission to the first group of
countries launching the European single currency on 1 January 1999.
The AZNAR administration has continued to advocate liberalization,
privatization, and deregulation of the economy and has introduced some
tax reforms to that end. Unemployment has been steadily falling under
the AZNAR administration but remains the highest in the EU at 13%. The
government intends to make further progress in changing labor laws and
reforming pension schemes, which are key to the sustainability of both
Spain's internal economic advances and its competitiveness in a single
currency area. Adjusting to the monetary and other economic policies
of an integrated Europe - and further reducing unemployment - will
pose challenges to Spain over the next few years. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity
- $757 billion (2001 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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2.8% (2001 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity
- $18,900 (2001 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 4%
industry: 28%
services: 68% (2000 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA% |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 25.2% (1990) |
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Distribution of family income - Gini index:
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32.5 (1990) |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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3.8% (2001 est.) |
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Labor force:
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17.1 million (2001)
|
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Labor force - by occupation:
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services 64%,
manufacturing, mining, and construction 29%, agriculture 7% (2001
est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
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13% (2001 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $105
billion
expenditures: $109 billion, including capital expenditures of
$12.8 billion (2000 est.) |
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Industries:
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textiles and apparel
(including footwear), food and beverages, metals and metal
manufactures, chemicals, shipbuilding, automobiles, machine tools,
tourism |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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1% (2001 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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211.64 billion kWh
(2000) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel:
56.78%
hydro: 12.49%
other: 2.9% (2000)
nuclear: 27.83% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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201.159 billion kWh
(2000) |
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Electricity - exports:
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7.832 billion kWh
(2000) |
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Electricity - imports:
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12.166 billion kWh
(2000) |
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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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Exports:
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$118.6 billion (f.o.b.,
2001 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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machinery, motor
vehicles; foodstuffs, other consumer goods |
|
Exports - partners:
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EU 71.2% (France 19.6%,
Germany 11.8%, Portugal 9.9%, Italy 9%, UK 9%), US 4.4%, Latin America
4% (January-October 2001) |
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Imports:
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$150.5 billion (f.o.b.,
2001 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery and
equipment, fuels, chemicals, semifinished goods; foodstuffs, consumer
goods (1997) |
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Imports - partners:
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EU 63.1% (France 16.4%,
Germany 15.5%, Italy 9%, UK 6.9%, Benelux 3.5%), OPEC 5%, US 4.5%,
Japan 2.5%, Latin America 2% (January-October 2001) |
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Debt - external:
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$90 billion (1993 est.)
|
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Economic aid - donor:
|
ODA, $1.33 billion
(1999) |
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Currency:
|
euro (EUR); Spanish
peseta (ESP)
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 |
|
Currency code:
|
EUR; ESP |
|
Exchange rates:
|
euros per US dollar -
1.1324 (January 2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000), 0.9386 (1999);
pesetas per US dollar - 149.40 (1998), 146.41 (1997) |
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Fiscal year:
|
calendar year |
|
Telephones - main lines in use:
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17.336 million (1999)
|
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
|
8.394 million (1999)
|
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Telephone system:
|
general assessment:
generally adequate, modern facilities; teledensity is 44 main lines
for each 100 persons
domestic: NA
international: 22 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth
stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA
Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to adjacent countries |
|
Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 208, FM 715,
shortwave 1 (1998) |
|
Radios:
|
13.1 million (1997)
|
|
Television broadcast stations:
|
224 (plus 2,105
repeaters)
note: these figures include 11 television broadcast stations
and 88 repeaters in the Canary Islands (1995) |
|
Televisions:
|
16.2 million (1997)
|
|
Internet country code:
|
.es |
|
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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56 (2000) |
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Internet users:
|
7.38 million (2001)
|
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Railways:
|
total: 15,171 km
broad gauge: 12,781 km 1.668-m gauge (6,434 km electrified)
standard gauge: 525 km 1.435-m gauge (525 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,837 km 1.000-m gauge (617 km electrified); 28
km 0.914-m gauge (28 km electrified) (2001) |
|
Highways:
|
total: 346,858
km
paved: 343,389 km (including 9,063 km of expressways)
unpaved: 3,469 km (1997) |
|
Waterways:
|
1,045 km (of minor
economic importance) |
|
Pipelines:
|
crude oil 265 km;
petroleum products 1,794 km; natural gas 1,666 km |
|
Ports and harbors:
|
Aviles, Barcelona,
Bilbao, Cadiz, Cartagena, Castellon de la Plana, Ceuta, Huelva, La
Coruna, Las Palmas (Canary Islands), Malaga, Melilla, Pasajes, Gijon,
Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands), Santander, Tarragona,
Valencia, Vigo |
|
Merchant marine:
|
total: 144 ships
(1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,364,751 GRT/1,962,764 DWT
ships by type: bulk 10, cargo 31, chemical tanker 10, container
10, liquefied gas 2, livestock carrier 1, passenger 2, petroleum
tanker 24, refrigerated cargo 8, roll on/roll off 35, short-sea
passenger 8, vehicle carrier 3
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a
flag of convenience: Croatia 1, Cuba 2, Denmark 1, Germany 7, Italy 1,
Netherlands 1, Norway 6, Uruguay 3 (2002 est.) |
|
Airports:
|
133 (2001) |
|
Airports - with paved runways:
|
total: 85
over 3,047 m: 15
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 19
under 914 m: 23 (2001)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18 |
|
Airports - with unpaved runways:
|
total: 48
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 33 (2001) |
|
Heliports:
|
5 (2001) |
|
Military branches:
|
Army, Navy, Air Force,
Marines, Civil Guard, National Police, Coastal Civil Guard |
|
Military manpower - military age:
|
20 years of age (2002
est.) |
|
Military manpower - availability:
|
males age 15-49:
10,520,561 (2002 est.) |
|
Military manpower - fit for military service:
|
males age 15-49:
8,403,430 (2002 est.) |
|
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
|
males: 281,043
(2002 est.) |
|
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
|
$8.6 billion (2002)
|
|
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
|
1.15% (2002) |
|
Transnational Issues |
Spain |
|
Disputes - international:
|
Spain and UK are
discussing "total shared sovereignty" over Gibraltar, subject to a
constitutional referendum by Gibraltarians, who have largely expressed
opposition to any form of cession to Spain; Spain controls the coastal
enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, which Morocco contests, as well as the
islands of Penon de Alhucemas, Penon de Velez de la Gomera, and Islas
Chafarinas; Morocco rejected Spain's unilateral designation of a
median line from the Canary Islands in 2002 to explore undersea
resources and to interdict illegal refugees from Africa |
|
Illicit drugs:
|
key European gateway
country for Latin American cocaine and North African hashish entering
the European market; destination and minor transshipment point for
Southwest Asian heroin |
|
