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Europe :: Spain
page last updated on October 22, 2012
Flag of Spain
(CONTAINS DESCRIPTION)
Location of Spain
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Introduction ::Spain
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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) 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 ::Spain
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Southwestern Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, Bay of Biscay, and Pyrenees Mountains; southwest of France
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40 00 N, 4 00 W
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total: 505,370 sq km
country comparison to the world: 52
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
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slightly more than twice the size of Oregon
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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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4,964 km
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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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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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large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills; Pyrenees Mountains in north
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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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coal, lignite, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, uranium, tungsten, mercury, pyrites, magnesite, fluorspar, gypsum, sepiolite, kaolin, potash, hydropower, arable land
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arable land: 27.18%
permanent crops: 9.85%
other: 62.97% (2005)
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38,000 sq km (2003)
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111.1 cu km (2005)
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total: 37.22 cu km/yr (13%/19%/68%)
per capita: 864 cu m/yr (2002)
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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
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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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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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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
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People ::Spain
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noun: Spaniard(s)
adjective: Spanish
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composite of Mediterranean and Nordic types
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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
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Roman Catholic 94%, other 6%
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47,042,984 (July 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
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0-14 years: 15.3% (male 3,698,174/ female 3,483,844)
15-64 years: 67.5% (male 16,075,243/ female 15,668,611)
65 years and over: 17.3% (male 3,444,027/ female 4,673,085) (2012 est.)
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total: 40.9 years
male: 39.7 years
female: 42.2 years (2012 est.)
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0.654% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
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10.4 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
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8.88 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
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5.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
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urban population: 77% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
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MADRID (capital) 5.762 million; Barcelona 5.029 million; Valencia 812,000 (2009)
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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.)
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6 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 172
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total: 3.37 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 214
male: 3.71 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)
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total population: 81.27 years
country comparison to the world: 15
male: 78.26 years
female: 84.47 years (2012 est.)
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1.48 children born/woman (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
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9.7% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 34
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3.705 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
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3.22 beds/1,000 population (2008)
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0.4% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
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130,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
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1,600 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
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15.6% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 34
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4.3% of GDP (2007)
country comparison to the world: 94
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.7%
male: 98.5%
female: 97% (2010 est.)
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total: 16 years
male: 16 years
female: 17 years (2008)
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total: 37.9%
country comparison to the world: 9
male: 39.1%
female: 36.4% (2009)
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Government ::Spain
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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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parliamentary monarchy
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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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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)
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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
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National Day, 12 October (1492); year when Columbus first set foot in the Americas
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approved by legislature 31 October 1978; passed by referendum 6 December 1978; signed by the king 27 December 1978
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civil law system with regional variations
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accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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18 years of age; universal
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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) 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 Opens in New Window)
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 appointed by the monarch on the proposal of the president
election results: Mariano RAJOY elected President of the Government; percent of vote - NA
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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 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, EAJ/PNV 4, Amaiur 3, other 8, members appointed by regional legislatures 56; 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 2.4%, other 7.1%; seats by party - PP 186, PSOE 110, CiU 16, IU 11, Amaiur 7, UPyD 5, EAJ/PNV 5, other 10
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Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo; Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucioanal de Espana
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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 [Josep Antoni DURAN i LLEIDA] (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 HERRA 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 [Oril JUNQUERAS i Vies]; Spanish Socialist Workers Party or PSOE; 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)
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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.
other: business and landowning interests; Catholic Church; free labor unions (authorized in April 1977); university students
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ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, CBSS (observer), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, 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, SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
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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 Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)
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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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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 is quartered to display the emblems of the traditional kingdoms of Spain (clockwise from upper left, Castile, Leon, Navarre, and Aragon) while Granada is represented by the stylized pomegranate at the bottom of the shield; the arms are framed by two columns representing the Pillars of Hercules, which are the two promontories (Gibraltar and Ceuta) on either side of the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar; the red scroll across the two columns bears the imperial motto of "Plus Ultra" (further beyond) referring to Spanish lands beyond Europe; the triband arrangement with the center stripe twice the width of the outer dates to the 18th century
note: the red and yellow colors are related to those of the oldest Spanish kingdoms: Aragon, Castile, Leon, and Navarre
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Pillars of Hercules
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name: "Himno Nacional Espanol" (National Anthem of Spain)
lyrics/music: none/unknown
note: officially in use between 1770 and 1931, restored in 1939; the Spanish anthem has no lyrics; in the years prior to 1931 it became known as "Marcha Real" (The Royal March); it first appeared in a 1761 military bugle call book and was replaced by "Himno de Riego" in the years between 1931 and 1939; the long version of the anthem is used for the king, while the short version is used for the prince, prime minister, and occasions such as sporting events
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Economy ::Spain
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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 0.1% in 2010, before turning positive in 2011, 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 over 20% in 2011. 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. Madrid cut the deficit to 8.5% of GDP in 2011, a larger deficit than the 6% target negotiated between Spain and the EU. 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.
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$1.432 trillion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
$1.421 trillion (2010 est.)
$1.422 trillion (2009 est.)
note: data are in 2011 US dollars
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$1.494 trillion (2011 est.)
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0.7% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
-0.1% (2010 est.)
-3.7% (2009 est.)
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$31,000 (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43
$30,900 (2010 est.)
$31,000 (2009 est.)
note: data are in 2011 US dollars
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agriculture: 3.2%
industry: 25.8%
services: 71% (2011 est.)
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23.1 million (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
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agriculture: 4.2%
industry: 24%
services: 71.7% (2009 est.)
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21.7% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
20.1% (2010 est.)
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19.8% (2005)
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lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 26.6% (2000)
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32 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 104
32.5 (1990)
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21.7% of GDP (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
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revenues: $545.2 billion
expenditures: $672.1 billion (2011 est.)
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36.5% of GDP (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
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-8.5% of GDP (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
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68.1% of GDP (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 34
61.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
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3.1% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
2% (2010 est.)
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1.75% (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 127
1.75% (31 December 2010)
note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area
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8.3% (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
7.223% (31 December 2010 est.)
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$778.1 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
$811 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 17 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders
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$2.488 trillion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
$2.388 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
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$3.683 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
$3.451 trillion (31 December 2008 est.)
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$1.031 trillion (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 14
$1.172 trillion (31 December 2010)
$1.297 trillion (31 December 2009)
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grain, vegetables, olives, wine grapes, sugar beets, citrus; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; fish
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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
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-1.4% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
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-$55.1 billion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 188
-$64.34 billion (2010 est.)
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$303.6 billion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
$253 billion (2010 est.)
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machinery, motor vehicles; foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, medicines, other consumer goods
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France 18.2%, Germany 10.4%, Portugal 8.1%, Italy 8.1%, UK 6.5% (2011)
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$363.1 billion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
$315.3 billion (2010 est.)
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machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, semifinished goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, measuring and medical control instruments
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Germany 12.6%, France 11.5%, Italy 6.9%, China 6%, Netherlands 5%, UK 4.3%, Portugal 4% (2011)
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$47.1 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
$31.91 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
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$2.57 trillion (30 June 2011)
country comparison to the world: 9
$2.166 trillion (30 June 2010)
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$641.5 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
$621.8 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
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$662.9 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
$644.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
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euros (EUR) per US dollar -
0.7194 (2011 est.)
0.755 (2010 est.)
0.7198 (2009 est.)
0.6827 (2008 est.)
0.7345 (2007 est.)
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calendar year
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Energy ::Spain
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279.6 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
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256.6 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
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13.52 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
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5.169 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
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96.28 million kW (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
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48.7% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
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7.6% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
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13.7% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
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24.4% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
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12,090 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
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0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
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1.046 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
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150 million bbl (1 January 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
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1.211 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
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1.384 million bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
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240,700 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
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528,400 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
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52 million cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
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33.55 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
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1.698 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 40
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35.49 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13
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2.548 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
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316.4 million Mt (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
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Communications ::Spain
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19.667 million (2011)
country comparison to the world: 15
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53.067 million (2011)
country comparison to the world: 26
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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
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a mixture of both publicly-operated and privately-owned TV and radio stations; overall, hundreds of TV channels are available including national, regional, local, public, and international channels; satellite and cable TV systems available; multiple national radio networks, a large number of regional radio networks, and a larger number of local radio stations; overall, hundreds of radio stations (2008)
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.es
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4.232 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 25
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28.119 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 14
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Transportation ::Spain
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152 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 36
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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)
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total: 54
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 38 (2012)
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10 (2012)
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gas 9,359 km; oil 560 km; refined products 3,441 km (2010)
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total: 15,293 km
country comparison to the world: 18
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)
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total: 681,298 km
country comparison to the world: 10
paved: 681,298 km (includes 15,152 km of expressways) (2008)
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1,000 km (2012)
country comparison to the world: 64
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total: 132
country comparison to the world: 44
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)
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Algeciras, Barcelona, Bilbao, Cartagena, Huelva, Tarragona, Valencia (Spain); Las Palmas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands)
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Military ::Spain
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Spanish Armed Forces: Army (Ejercito de Tierra), Spanish Navy (Armada Espanola, AE; includes Marine Corps), Spanish Air Force (Ejercito del Aire Espanola, EdA) (2010)
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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)
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males age 16-49: 11,759,557
females age 16-49: 11,204,688 (2010 est.)
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males age 16-49: 9,603,939
females age 16-49: 9,116,928 (2010 est.)
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male: 217,244
female: 205,278 (2010 est.)
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1.2% of GDP (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
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Transnational Issues ::Spain
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in 2002, Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by referendum to reject any "shared sovereignty" arrangement; the government of Gibraltar insists on equal participation in talks between the UK and Spain; Spain disapproves of UK plans to grant Gibraltar greater autonomy; Morocco protests Spain's control over the coastal enclaves of Ceuta, Melilla, and the islands of Penon de Velez de la Gomera, Penon de Alhucemas, and Islas Chafarinas, and surrounding waters; both countries claim Isla Perejil (Leila Island); Morocco serves as the primary launching site of illegal migration into Spain from North Africa; Portugal does not recognize Spanish sovereignty over the territory of Olivenza based on a difference of interpretation of the 1815 Congress of Vienna and the 1801 Treaty of Badajoz
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despite rigorous law enforcement efforts, North African, Latin American, Galician, and other European traffickers take advantage of Spain's long coastline to land large shipments of cocaine and hashish for distribution to the European market; consumer for Latin American cocaine and North African hashish; destination and minor transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin; money-laundering site for Colombian narcotics trafficking organizations and organized crime
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  The online Factbook is updated weekly. ISSN 1553-8133
For additional information on government leaders in selected foreign countries, go to World Leaders.