Population: 40,341,462 (July 2005 est.)
Capital: Madrid
Languages: Castilian Spanish
74%, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Basque 2%; note - Castilian is the official language nationwide; the other languages are
official regionally
Religions: Roman Catholic 94%, other 6%
Government: parliamentary monarchy
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
Geography: strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar
Ethnic groups: composite of Mediterranean and Nordic types
Economy: The Spanish economy boomed from 1986 to 1990, averaging five percent annual growth. After a
European-wide recession in the early 1990s, the Spanish economy resumed moderate growth starting in 1994. Spain's mixed
capitalist economy supports a GDP that on a per capita basis is 80% that of the four leading West European economies. The
center-right government of former President AZNAR successfully worked to gain admission to the first group of countries
launching the European single currency (the euro) on 1 January 1999. The AZNAR administration continued to advocate
liberalization, privatization, and deregulation of the economy and introduced some tax reforms to that end. Unemployment fell
steadily under the AZNAR administration but remains high at 10.1%. Growth of 2.5% in 2003, 2.6% in 2004, and 3.3% in 2005 was
satisfactory given the background of a faltering European economy. The socialist president, RODRIGUEZ ZAPATERO, has initiated
economic and social reforms that are generally popular among the masses of people but that are anathema to religious and other
conservative elements. Adjusting to the monetary and other economic policies of an integrated Europe, reducing unemployment,
and absorbing widespread social changes will pose challenges to Spain over the next few years.
GDP per capita: purchasing power parity - $25,100 (2005 est.)
GDP real growth: 3.3% (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate: 10.1% (2005 est.)
Internet country code: .es
Dial code: +34
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; it joined the EU in 1986. Continuing
challenges include Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) terrorism and further reductions in unemployment.