Spain
Kingdom of SpainReino de Espana
parliamentary monarchyIndependence 1492
Spain as the 2013 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 166 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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 War 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.
More recently the government has had to focus on measures to reverse a severe economic recession that began in mid-2008. Austerity measures implemented to reduce a large budget deficit and reassure foreign investors have led to one of the highest unemployment rates in Europe.
Geography
Southwestern Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, Bay of Biscay, and Pyrenees Mountains; southwest of France
20 fieldsLand useshare of 505,370 sq km
Note
Location
Southwestern Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, Bay of Biscay, and Pyrenees Mountains; southwest of France
Climate
- temperate;
- clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along coast;
- cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast
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
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
- total:
- 32.46 cu km/yr (18%/22%/61%)
- per capita:
- 698.7 cu m/yr (2008)
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
Environment - current 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
Environment - international 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
Geography - note
- 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
People and Society
34 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2013 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2013 est.)
Male · female
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 and in the Basque-speaking area of Navarre
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.07 male(s)/female
- 0-14 years:
- 1.06 male(s)/female
- 15-24 years:
- 1.08 male(s)/female
- 25-54 years:
- 1.04 male(s)/female
- 55-64 years:
- 0.95 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.74 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 0.97 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
Government
Parliamentary monarchy; King JUAN CARLOS I (since 22 November 1975); President of the Government (Prime Minister equivalent) Mariano RAJOY (since 20 December 2011)
21 fieldsSenate, 350 seats, elected 20 November 2011seats by party
Country name
- conventional long form:
- Kingdom of Spain
- conventional short form:
- Spain
- local long form:
- Reino de Espana
- local short form:
- Espana
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;
- Ceuta*;
- Canarias (Canary Islands);
- Cantabria;
- Castilla-La Mancha;
- Castilla y Leon;
- Cataluna (Castilian), Catalunya (Catalan), Catalonha (Aranese) [Catalonia];
- Comunidad Valenciana (Castilian), Comunitat Valenciana (Valencian) [Valencian Community];
- Extremadura;
- Galicia;
- Illes Baleares (Balearic Islands);
- La Rioja;
- Madrid;
- Melilla*;
- Murcia;
- Navarra (Castilian), Nafarroa (Basque) [Navarre];
- Pais Vasco (Castilian), Euskadi (Basque) [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
Constitution
- previous 1812;
- latest approved by legislature 31 October 1978, passed by referendum 6 December 1978, signed by the king 27 December 1978, effective 29 December 1978;
- amended 1992, 2011 (2013)
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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 theWorld 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 8.1%;
- seats by party - PP 186, PSOE 110, CiU 16, IU 11, Amaiur 7, UPyD 5, EAJ/PNV 5, other 10
Judicial branch
- highest court(s):
- Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo (consists of the court president and organized into the Civil Room with a president and 9 magistrates, the Penal Room with a president and 14 magistrates, the Administrative Room with a president and 32 magistrates, the Social Room with a president and 12 magistrates, and the Military Room with a president and 7 magistrates);
- Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional de Espana (consists of 12 judges)
- judge selection and term of office:
- Supreme Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates proposed by the General Council of the Judicial Power, a 20-member body chaired by the monarch and includes presidential appointees, and lawyers and jurists elected by the National Assembly;
- judge tenure NA;
- Constitutional Court judges appointed by the monarch for 9-year terms
- subordinate courts:
- National Court;
- High Courts of Justice (in each of the autonomous communities);
- provincial courts;
- courts of first instance
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.
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 (since 5 June 2012)
- 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 James COSTOS (since 22 August 2013); note - also accredited to Andorra
- 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
Flag description
- 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
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.
41 fieldsGDP - composition, by sector of origin(2012 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
By end use% of GDP
Economy - overview
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 1.4% 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 7.4% 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.
Gross national saving
18.6% of GDP (2012 est.) · 17.5% of GDP (2011 est.) · 18.3% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 82
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
Distribution of family income - Gini index
32 (2005) · 32.5 (1990) country comparison to the world: 104
Central bank discount rate
1.5% (31 December 2012) · 1.75% (31 December 2010) country comparison to the world: 122 note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area
Commercial bank prime lending rate
8.3% (31 December 2012 est.) · 8.09% (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 114
Stock of narrow money
$785.2 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $778.2 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 8 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
Stock of broad money
$1.969 trillion (31 December 2012 est.) · $2.211 trillion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 8
Stock of domestic credit
$3.045 trillion (31 December 2012 est.) · $3.177 trillion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 10
Current account balance
$-15.14 billion (2012 est.); $-55.07 billion (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 180
Exports - commodities
machinery, motor vehicles; foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, medicines, other consumer goods
Imports - commodities
machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, semifinished goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, measuring and medical control instruments
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$50.59 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $47.1 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 38
Debt - external
$2.311 trillion (31 December 2012) · $2.269 trillion (31 December 2011) country comparison to the world: 10
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$725.3 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $702.7 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 12
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$710.2 billion (31 December 2012 est.) · $720.3 billion (31 December 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 12
Exchange rates
euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.78 (2012 est.) · 0.72 (2011 est.) · 0.76 (2010 est.) · 0.72 (2009 est.) · 0.68 (2008 est.)
Energy
23 fieldsInstalled generating capacity, 101.7 million kW(2010 est.)
Electricity - from fossil fuels
48.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 158
Electricity - from nuclear fuels
7.3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 22
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants
13% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 106
Electricity - from other renewable sources
25.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 3
Natural gas - proved reserves
2.548 billion cu m (1 January 2013 es) country comparison to the world: 99
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy
318.6 million Mt (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 20
Communications
7 fieldsTelephone 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)
Broadcast media
- 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)
Transportation
10 fieldsMerchant marine, 132 ships by type
Airports by runway lengthpaved only
Airports by runway lengthunpaved only
Networkskm
Railways
- total:
- 15,293 km
country comparison to the world: 19
- 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:
- 683,175 km
country comparison to the world: 10
- paved:
- 683,175 km (includes 16,205 km of expressways) (2011)
Ports and terminals
Algeciras, Barcelona, Bilbao, Cartagena, Huelva, Tarragona, Valencia (Spain); Las Palmas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands)
Military
Spanish Armed Forces: Army (Ejercito de Tierra), Spanish Navy (Armada Espanola, AE; includes Marine Corps), Spanish Air Force (Ejercito del Aire Espanola, EdA) (2013)
6 fieldsMilitary branches
Spanish Armed Forces: Army (Ejercito de Tierra), Spanish Navy (Armada Espanola, AE; includes Marine Corps), Spanish Air Force (Ejercito del Aire Espanola, EdA) (2013)
Military service age and obligation
- 18-26 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;
- no conscription, but Spanish Government retains right to 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 (2013)
Manpower available for military service
- males age 16-49:
- 11,759,557
- females age 16-49:
- 11,204,688 (2010 est.)
Transnational Issues
3 fieldsDisputes - international
- 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
Illicit drugs
- 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
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Spain.” The World Factbook 2013. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/spain/2013.