General Information about Spain

Data

Long name: Kingdom of Spain
Short name: Spain
Constitutional monarchy
Capital: Madrid (40 24 N, 3 41 W)

Background

The Spanish Empire losed its international power during XVIII and XIX centuries. Some of the last colonies were Cuba and Philippines until 1898. The country failed to adopt the Industrial Revolution and it caused a backward economic development. Other countries like France, Germany and United Kingdom took advantage of that, put them on the top of the economic, political and social world development, overtaking Spain. The country was neutral in I World War, but suffered a devastating Civil War (1936-39). After Franco's death Spain was an example of a transition to the democracy and a big economic modernization happened (Spain joined the European Economic Community - EEC). Then Spain had a quick and successful economic growth. The State is still facing the terrorist organization ETA (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna).

Location

Southwest of Europe, bordered by the Cantabric Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, east of Portugal, the Pyrenees and southwest of France.
Geographic Coordinates: 40 00 N, 4 00 W

Area

Total: 505,370 sq.km. (51st)
Land: 498,980 sq.km.
Water: 6,390 sq.km.
There are two autonomous cities, Ceuta and Melilla, 17 autonomous communities including the Balearic and Canary Islands, and three small territories on the Moroccan coast, Chafarinas Islands, the Penon de Alhucemas and Velez de la Gomera.

Borders

Total: 1,917.8 km
Bordering 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.

Climate

Temperate with hot summers in interior, more moderate along the coast. Cold winters and cool on the coast.

Terrain

Large, flat on the plateau. Pyrenees in the north.
Extreme heights: Atlantic Ocean 0m (lowest point), Teide (highest) 3,718 m.

Natural Resources

Coal, lignite, iron, copper, lead, zinc, uranium, tungsten, mercury, pyrites, magnesite, fluorspar, gypsum, sepiolite, kaolin, potassium and hydroelectric power.
Land use: Cropland (27.18%), permanent crops (9.85%) and others (62.97%)
Renewable water resources (111.1 km3), water consume (domestic, industrial, agricultural) 37.22 km3/year (13%,19%,68%), per capita 864 m3/year.

Population and human geography

Population: 46,745,807[ (2010) (32nd)
Age structure: 0-14 years 14.5%; 15-64 years 67.4%; older than 65 years 18.1%
Age average: 41.1 years
Population growth: 0.072% (193rd)
Birth rate: 9.72/1,000 (193rd)
Deaths Rate: 9.99/1,000 (55th)
Urban population: 77%
Sex Rate: birth (1.08 males/female), younger than 15 years (1.06 males/female), 15-64 years (1.01 males/female), older than 65 años (0,72 males/female)
Infant mortality: 4.21/1,000 live births (208th)
Life expectancy: 80.05 years (21st)
Fertility rate: 1.31 children/woman (2009)
Religions: Roman Catholics 96%, others 4%
Languages: Castilian/Spanish 74%, catalan 17%, galician 7%, basque 2%
Literacy: 97.9 %

Administrative divisions

17 autonomous communities and 2 autonomous cities *: Andalusia, Aragon, Asturias, Balearic Islands, Ceuta *, Canary Islands, Cantabria, Castile-La Mancha, Castile and Leon, Catalonia, Valencian Community, Extremadura, Galicia, La Rioja, Madrid, Melilla *, Murcia, Navarre, Basque Country.
note: the autonomous cities Ceuta and Melilla plus Chafarinas, the Penon de Alhucemas and Velez de la Gomera, administered by the central government, are all situated on the Moroccan coast and are known as "Places of Sovereignty".

National Day

12th of october (1492). Commemoration of the discovery of America.

Constitution

Approved by Parliament on October 31, 1978 and by a referendum on December 6, 1978. Signed by Juan Carlos I on December 27, 1978.

Suffrage

Universal for older than 18 years old.