Spain

Kingdom of Spain

parliamentary monarchyIndependence 1492 (expulsion of the Moors and unification)

Spain as the 1993 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 79 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalMadrid

Area504,750 km2

LocationSouthwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the

Populationas each edition published it

39.21 million July 1993 est. · 39.27m in 1990

Population growth% a year

0.24% 1993 est. · 0.12% in 2025

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 38.7 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

77.51 years 1993 est. · 83 yrs in 2025

Fertility ratechildren per woman

1.38 children per woman 1993 est. · 1.4 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

7 deaths per 1,000 live births 1993 est. · 6 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$13,200 1992 · $48,400 in 2025

GDP real growth% a year

1% 1992 · 3.2% in 2025

Geography

Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the | Mediterranean Sea, between Portugal and France

14 fields

Area

504,750km2

land area: 499,400 km2comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Oregon

Note

note: includes Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, and five places of sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco - Ceuta, Mellila, Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera

Coastline

4,964km

exclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Land boundaries

1,903.2km

total · Andorra 65 km, France 623 km, Gibraltar 1.2 km, Portugal 1,214 km

Irrigated land

33,600km2

(1989 est.)

Location

Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Portugal and France

Map references

Africa, Europe, Standard Time Zones of the World

International disputes

Gibraltar question with UK; Spain controls five places of sovereignty (plazas de soberania) on and off the coast of Morocco - 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

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 in north

Natural resources

coal, lignite, iron ore, uranium, mercury, pyrites, fluorspar, gypsum, zinc, lead, tungsten, copper, kaolin, potash, hydropower

Land use

arable land:: 31%
permanent crops:: 10%
meadows and pastures:: 21%
forest and woodland:: 31%
other:: 7%

Environment

deforestation; air pollution

Note

strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar

People

14 fields

Population

39,207,159

(July 1993 est.)growth rate: 0.24% (1993 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1993 est.)

Birth

10.88Death

8.76Net migration

0.24

Male · female(1993 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years77.51

74.22 · 81.04

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy95%

97% · 93%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1990)

Labor force

14.621million

by occupation: services 53%, industry 24%, agriculture 14%, construction 9% (1988)

Infant mortality rate

7 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.38 children born/woman (1993 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Spaniard(s)
adjective:: Spanish

Ethnic divisions

composite of Mediterranean and Nordic types

Religions

Roman Catholic 99%, other sects 1%

Languages

Castilian Spanish, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Basque 2%

Government

Parliamentary monarchy

21 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

39.6%

PSOE 39.6%PP 25.8%CDS 9%IU 9%CiU 5%PNV 1.2%HB 1%PA 1%other 8.4%

Names

conventional long form:: Kingdom of Spain
conventional short form:: Spain
local short form:: Espana

Digraph

Type

parliamentary monarchy

Capital

Madrid

Administrative divisions

17 autonomous communities (comunidades autonomas, singular - comunidad autonoma);
Andalucia, Aragon, Asturias, Canarias, Cantabria, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y Leon, Cataluna, Communidad Valencia, Extremadura, Galicia, Islas Baleares, La Rioja, Madrid, Murcia, Navarra, Pais Vasco

note: there are five places of sovereignty on and off the coast of Morocco (Ceuta, Mellila, Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera) with administrative status unknown

Independence

1492 (expulsion of the Moors and unification)

Constitution

6 December 1978, effective 29 December 1978

Legal system

civil law system, with regional applications; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday

National Day, 12 October

Political parties and leaders

principal national parties, from right to left:: Popular Party (PP), Jose Maria AZNAR;
Social Democratic Center (CDS), Rafael Calvo ORTEGA;
Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE), Felipe GONZALEZ Marquez, secretary general;
Socialist Democracy Party (DS), Ricardo Garcia DAMBORENEA;
Spanish Communist Party (PCE), Julio ANGUITA;
United Left (IU) a coalition of parties including the PCE, a branch of the PSOE, and other small parties, leader NA
chief regional parties:: Convergence and Unity (CiU), Jordi PUJOL Saley, in Catalonia;
Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), Xabier ARZALLUS;
Basque Solidarity (EA), Carlos GARAICOETXEA Urizza;
Basque Popular Unity (HB), Jon IDIGORAS;
Basque Left (EE), Juan Maria BANDRES;
Basque Socialist Party (PSE);
coalition of the PSE, EE, and PSOE, Jose Maria BANEGAS;
Euskal Ezkerra (EUE), Xabier GURRUTXAGA;
Andalusian Party (PA), Pedro PACHECO;
Independent Canary Group (AIC), leader NA;
Aragon Regional Party (PAR), leader NA;
Valencian Union (UV), leader NA

Other political or pressure groups

on the extreme left, the Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) and the First of October Antifascist Resistance Group (GRAPO) use terrorism to oppose the government;
free labor unions (authorized in April 1977) include the Communist-dominated Workers Commissions (CCOO);
the Socialist General Union of Workers (UGT), and the smaller independent Workers Syndical Union (USO);
the Catholic Church;
business and landowning interests;
Opus Dei;
university students

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Elections

Senate:: last held 29 October 1989 (next to be held NA October 1993);
results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (208 total) PSOE 106, PP 79, CiU 10, PNV 4, HB 3, AIC 1, other 5
Congress of Deputies:: last held 29 October 1989 (next to be held NA October 1993);
results - PSOE 39.6%, PP 25.8%, CDS 9%, IU 9%, CiU 5%, PNV 1.2%, HB 1%, PA 1%, other 8.4%;
seats - (350 total) PSOE 175, PP 106, CiU 18, IU 17, CDS 14, PNV 5, HB 4, other 11

Executive branch

monarch, president of the government (prime minister), deputy prime minister, Council of Ministers (cabinet), Council of State

Legislative branch

bicameral The General Courts or National Assembly (Las Cortes Generales) consists of an upper house or Senate (Senado) and a lower house or Congress of Deputies (Congreso de los Diputados)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo)

Leaders

Chief of State:: King JUAN CARLOS I (since 22 November 1975)
Head of Government:: Prime Minister Felipe GONZALEZ Marquez (since 2 December 1982); Deputy Prime Minister Narcis SERRA y Serra (since 13 March 1991)

Member of

AG (observer), AsDB, Australian Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, COCOM, CSCE, EBRD, AfDB, EC, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, FAO, G-8, GATT, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), LORCS, MTRC, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, ONUSAL, PCA, UN, UNAVEM II, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMOZ, UPU, WCL, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Jaime De OJEDA y Eiseley
chancery:: 2700 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:: (202) 265-0190 or 0191
consulates general:: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador Richard G. CAPEN, Jr.
embassy:: Serrano 75, 28006 Madrid
mailing address:: PSC 61, APO AE 09642
telephone:: [34] (1) 577-4000
FAX:: [34] (1) 577-5735
consulate general:: Barcelona
consulate:: Bilbao

Flag

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

Economy

Spain has done well since joining the EC in 1986.

19 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$13,200

(1992)

Real growth rate

(1992)industrial production growth: growth rate 0.6% (1992 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

(1992 est.)

Unemployment rate

19%

(yearend 1992)

Budget

Revenues

$122.9 billionExpenditures

$140.2 billion

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992 est.)

Overview

Spain has done well since joining the EC in 1986. Foreign and domestic investments have spurred GDP growth at an annual average of more than 4% in 1986-91. As of 1 January 1993, Spain has wholly liberalized its trade and capital markets to EC standards, including integrating agriculture two years ahead of schedule.

Beginning in 1989, Madrid implemented a tight monetary policy to fight 7% inflation. As a result of this action and the worldwide decline in economic growth, Spain's growth rate declined to 1% in 1992. Spain faces a likely recession in first half 1993. The government expects a recovery in the second half, but this depends on stepped-up growth in Germany and France.

The slowdown in growth - along with displacements caused by structural adjustments in preparation for the EC single market - has pushed an already high unemployment rate up to 19%. However, many people listed as unemployed work in the underground economy. If the government can stick to its tough economic policies and push further structural reforms, the economy will emerge stronger at the end of the 1990s.

National product

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $514.9 billion (1992)

Exports

$62 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)

commodities:: cars and trucks, semifinished manufactured goods, foodstuffs, machinery
partners:: EC 71.0%, US 4.9%, other developed countries 7.9% (1991)

Imports

$100 billion (c.i.f., 1992 est.)

commodities:: machinery, transport equipment, fuels, semifinished goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, chemicals
partners:: EC 60.0%, US 8.0%, other developed countries 11.5%, Middle East 2.6% (1991)

External debt

$67.5 billion (1992 est.)

Electricity

46,600,000 kW capacity; 157,000 million kWh produced, 4,000 kWh per capita (1992)

Industries

textiles and apparel (including footwear), food and beverages, metals and metal manufactures, chemicals, shipbuilding, automobiles, machine tools, tourism

Agriculture

accounts for about 5% of GDP and 14% of labor force;
major products - grain, vegetables, olives, wine grapes, sugar beets, citrus fruit, beef, pork, poultry, dairy;
largely self-sufficient in food;
fish catch of 1.4 million metric tons is among top 20 nations

Illicit drugs

key European gateway country for Latin American cocaine entering the European market

Economic aid

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $1.9 billion;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-79), $545.0 million;
not currently a recipient

Currency

1 peseta (Pta) = 100 centimos

Exchange rates

pesetas (Ptas) per US$1 - 114.59 (January 1993), 102.38 (1992), 103.91 (1991), 101.93 (1990), 118.38 (1989), 116.49 (1988)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields

Merchant marine, 242 ships by type

passenger 2short-sea passenger 8cargo 71refrigerated cargo 12container 12roll-on/roll-off cargo 32vehicle carrier 4oil tanker 41chemical tanker 14liquefied gas 7specialized tanker 3bulk 36242 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 2,394,175 GRT/4,262,868 DWT

Railroads

15,430 km total;
Spanish National Railways (RENFE) operates 12,691 km (all 1.668-meter gauge, 6,184 km electrified, and 2,295 km double track);
FEVE (government-owned narrow-gauge railways) operates 1,821 km (predominantly 1.000-meter gauge, 441 km electrified);
privately owned railways operate 918 km (predominantly 1.000-meter gauge, 512 km electrified, and 56 km double track)

Highways

150,839 km total; 82,513 km national (includes 2,433 km limited-access divided highway, 63,042 km bituminous treated, 17,038 km intermediate bituminous, concrete, or stone block) and 68,326 km provincial or local roads (bituminous treated, intermediate bituminous, or stone block)

Inland waterways

1,045 km, but of minor economic importance

Pipelines

crude oil 265 km, petroleum products 1,794 km, natural gas 1,666 km

Ports

Algeciras, Alicante, Almeria, Barcelona, Bilbao, Cadiz, Cartagena, Castellon de la Plana, Ceuta, El Ferrol del Caudillo, Puerto de Gijon, Huelva, La Coruna, Las Palmas (Canary Islands), Mahon, Malaga, Melilla, Rota, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Sagunto, Tarragona, Valencia, Vigo, and 175 minor ports

Airports

total:: 105
usable:: 99
with permanent-surface runways:: 60
with runways over 3,659 m:: 4
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:: 22
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:: 26

Telecommunications

generally adequate, modern facilities;
15,350,464 telephones;
broadcast stations - 190 AM, 406 (134 repeaters) FM, 100 (1,297 repeaters) TV;
22 coaxial submarine cables;
2 communications satellite earth stations operating in INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean);
MARECS, INMARSAT, and EUTELSAT systems;
tropospheric links