Spain

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)

Internet country code

.es

Internet users

total: 39,123,384 | percent of population: 80.6% (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 20

Telephone system

general assessment: well-developed, modern facilities | domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 145 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 (2016)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 19,557,141 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 40 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 16

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 51,943,202 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 107 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 30

Agriculture - products

grain, vegetables, olives, wine grapes, sugar beets, citrus; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; fish

Budget

revenues: $466.6 billion | expenditures: $522.6 billion (2016 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-4.5% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 148

Central bank discount rate

0.05% (10 September 2014) | 0.25% (13 November 2013) | note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area | country comparison to the world: 145

Commercial bank prime lending rate

2.19% (31 December 2016 est.) | 2.74% (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 175

Current account balance

$23.76 billion (2016 est.) | $16.21 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 14

Debt - external

$2.094 trillion (31 March 2016 est.) | $1.963 trillion (31 March 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 11

Distribution of family income - Gini index

35.9 (2012) | 32 (2005) | country comparison to the world: 90

Economy - overview

After experiencing a prolonged recession in the wake of the global financial crisis that began in 2008, in 2016 Spain marked the third full year of positive economic growth in nine years, largely due to increased private consumption. At the onset of the financial crisis, Spain's GDP contracted by 3.7% in 2009, ending a 16-year growth trend, and continued contracting through most of 2013. In that year, the government successfully shored up struggling banks - exposed to the collapse of Spain's depressed real estate and construction sectors - and in January 2014 completed an EU-funded restructuring and recapitalization program for its financial sector. | Until 2014, credit contraction in the private sector, fiscal austerity, and high unemployment weighed on domestic consumption and investment. The unemployment rate rose from a low of about 8% in 2007 to more than 26% in 2013, but labor reforms prompted a modest reduction to 19.7% in 2016. High unemployment has strained Spain's public finances, as spending on social benefits increased while tax revenues fell. Spain’s budget deficit peaked at 11.4% of GDP in 2010, but Spain gradually reduced the deficit to about 5% of GDP in 2015, and 4.1% of GDP in 2016. Public debt has increased substantially – from 60.1% of GDP in 2010 to nearly 99.5% in 2016. | Exports were resilient throughout the economic downturn and helped to bring Spain's current account into surplus in 2013 for the first time since 1986, where it remained through 2016. Rising labor productivity and an internal devaluation resulting from moderating labor costs and lower inflation have helped to improve foreign investor interest in the economy and positive FDI flows have been restored. | Political gridlock after the national elections in December 2015 and June 2016 and ensuing government formation process constrained the caretaker government’s ability to implement needed labor, pension, health care, tax, and education reforms— in 2016. The European Commission criticized Spain’s 2016 budget for easing austerity measures and for its alleged overly optimistic growth and deficit projections. Spain’s borrowing costs are dramatically lower since their peak in mid-2012, and despite the recent uptick in economic activity, inflation has dropped sharply, from 1.5% in 2013 to a negative 0.3% in 2016.

Exchange rates

euros (EUR) per US dollar - | 0.9214 (2016 est.) | 0.885 (2015 est.) | 0.7525 (2014 est.) | 0.7634 (2013 est.) | 0.7752 (2012 est.)

Exports

$280.5 billion (2016 est.) | $277.4 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 19

Exports - commodities

machinery, motor vehicles; foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, medicines, other consumer goods

Exports - partners

France 15.2%, Germany 11.4%, Italy 7.8%, UK 7.6%, Portugal 7%, US 4.4% (2016)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.233 trillion (2016 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.686 trillion (2016 est.) | $1.613 trillion (2015 est.) | $1.546 trillion (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 17

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 57.8% | government consumption: 18.9% | investment in fixed capital: 19.9% | investment in inventories: 0.5% | exports of goods and services: 33.1% | imports of goods and services: -30.2% (2016 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 2.6% | industry: 23.4% | services: 74.1% (2016 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$36,300 (2016 est.) | $35,200 (2015 est.) | $34,100 (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 52

GDP - real growth rate

3.2% (2016 est.) | 3.2% (2015 est.) | 1.4% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 91

Gross national saving

22.3% of GDP (2016 est.) | 21.4% of GDP (2015 est.) | 20.5% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 74

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.5% | highest 10%: 24% (2011)

Imports

$300.3 billion (2016 est.) | $301.5 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 15

Imports - commodities

machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, semi-finished goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, measuring and medical control instruments

Imports - partners

Germany 14.7%, France 12%, China 7.1%, Italy 6.7%, Netherlands 5.2%, UK 4.4% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate

2.4% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 95

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-0.2% (2016 est.) | -0.6% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 34

Labor force

22.82 million (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 28

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 4.2% | industry: 24% | services: 71.7% (2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$787.2 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $992.9 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $1.117 trillion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 15

Population below poverty line

21.1% (2012 est.)

Public debt

99.4% of GDP (2016 est.) | 99.8% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 20

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$63.14 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $53.97 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 33

Stock of broad money

$1.257 trillion (31 December 2015 est.) | $1.369 trillion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 15

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$696.9 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $644 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 14

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$739.7 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $710.3 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 15

Stock of domestic credit

$2.21 trillion (31 December 2016 est.) | $2.279 trillion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 11

Stock of narrow money

$841.6 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $745 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | note: see entry for the European Union for money supply for the entire euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 18 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 | country comparison to the world: 8

Taxes and other revenues

37.9% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 47

Unemployment rate

19.6% (2016 est.) | 22% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 183

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

276 million Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 24

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 192

Crude oil - imports

1.285 million bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 8

Crude oil - production

2,667 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 86

Crude oil - proved reserves

150 million bbl (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 64

Electricity - consumption

240.4 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 17

Electricity - exports

14.18 billion kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 15

Electricity - from fossil fuels

45.1% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 159

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

13.2% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 113

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

6.7% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 21

Electricity - from other renewable sources

29.5% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 16

Electricity - imports

21.85 billion kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 10

Electricity - installed generating capacity

106.7 million kW (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 12

Electricity - production

267.1 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 16

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2016)

Natural gas - consumption

39.84 billion cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 32

Natural gas - exports

5.065 billion cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 31

Natural gas - imports

32.39 billion cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 13

Natural gas - production

62 million cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 85

Natural gas - proved reserves

2.548 billion cu m (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 100

Refined petroleum products - consumption

1.287 million bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 18

Refined petroleum products - exports

501,100 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 16

Refined petroleum products - imports

421,000 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 20

Refined petroleum products - production

1.342 million bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 14

Area

total: 505,370 sq km | 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 | country comparison to the world: 53

Area - comparative

almost five times the size of Kentucky; slightly more than twice the size of Oregon

Climate

temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast

Coastline

4,964 km

Elevation

mean elevation: 660 m | elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m | highest point: Pico de Teide (Tenerife) on Canary Islands 3,718 m

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

Geographic coordinates

40 00 N, 4 00 W

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

Irrigated land

38,000 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

total: 1,952.7 km | border countries (5): Andorra 63 km, France 646 km, Gibraltar 1.2 km, Portugal 1,224 km, Morocco (Ceuta) 8 km, Morocco (Melilla) 10.5 km | note: an additional 75-meter border segment exists between Morocco and the Spanish exclave of Penon de Velez de la Gomera

Land use

agricultural land: 54.1% | arable land 24.9%; permanent crops 9.1%; permanent pasture 20.1% | forest: 36.8% | other: 9.1% (2011 est.)

Location

Southwestern Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, Bay of Biscay, and Pyrenees Mountains; southwest of France

Map references

Europe

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm | contiguous zone: 24 nm | exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (applies only to the Atlantic Ocean)

Natural hazards

periodic droughts, occasional flooding | volcanism: volcanic activity in the Canary Islands, located off Africa's northwest coast; Teide (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 (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

Natural resources

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

Population - distribution

with the notable exception of Madrid, Sevilla, and Zaragoza, the largest urban agglomerations are found along the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts; numerous smaller cities are spread throughout the interior reflecting Spain's agrarian heritage; dense settlement is found around the capital of Madrid, as well as the port city of Barcelona

Terrain

large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills; Pyrenees Mountains in north

Administrative divisions

17 autonomous communities (comunidades autonomas, singular - comunidad autonoma) and 2 autonomous cities* (ciudades autonomas, singular - ciudad autonoma); Andalucia; Aragon; Asturias; Canarias (Canary Islands); Cantabria; Castilla-La Mancha; Castilla-Leon; Cataluna (Castilian), Catalunya (Catalan), Catalonha (Aranese) [Catalonia]; Ceuta*; 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)

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 has two time zones, including the Canary Islands

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no | citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Spain | dual citizenship recognized: only with select Latin American countries | residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years for persons with no ties to Spain

Constitution

history: previous 1812; latest approved by the General Courts 31 October 1978, passed by referendum 6 December 1978, signed by the king 27 December 1978, effective 29 December 1978 | amendments: proposed by the government, by the General Courts (the Congress or the Senate), or by the self-governing communities submitted through the government; passage requires three-fifths majority vote by both houses and passage by referendum if requested by one-tenth of members of either house; proposals disapproved by both houses are submitted to a joint committee, which submits an agreed upon text for another vote; passage requires two-thirds vote in Congress and simple majority vote in the Senate; amended 1992, 2007, 2011 (2016)

Country name

conventional long form: Kingdom of Spain | conventional short form: Spain | local long form: Reino de Espana | local short form: Espana | etymology: derivation of the name "Espana" is uncertain, but may come from the Phoenician term "span," related to the word "spy," meaning "to forge metals," so, "i-spn-ya" would mean "place where metals are forged"; the ancient Phoenicians long exploited the Iberian Peninsula for its mineral wealth

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Benjamin G. ZIFF (since August 2017) 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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Pedro MORENES Eulate (since 24 April 2017) | 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) | consulate(s): Kansas City (MO)

Executive branch

chief of state: King FELIPE VI (since 19 June 2014); Heir Apparent Princess LEONOR, Princess of Asturias, daughter of the monarch (born 31 October 2005) | head of government: President of the Government or Prime Minister 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 | elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the monarch usually proposes at president the leader of the party or coalition with the largest majority of seats, who is then indirectly elected by the Congress of Deputies; election last held on 26 June 2016 (next to be held in June 2020); vice president and Council of Ministers appointed by the president | election results: percent of National Assembly vote - NA | note: there is also a Council of State that is the supreme consultative organ of the government, but its recommendations are non-binding

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

Government type

parliamentary constitutional monarchy

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

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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, ICC (national committees), ICCt, 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, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNOCI, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

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 judges, the Penal Room with a president and 14 judges, the Administrative Room with a president and 32 judges, the Social Room with a president and 12 judges, and the Military Room with a president and 7 judges); 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 Judiciary Power, a 20-member governing board chaired by the monarch that includes presidential appointees, and lawyers and jurists confirmed by the National Assembly; judges can serve until age 70; Constitutional Court judges nominated by the National Assembly, executive branch, and the General Council of the Judiciary, and appointed by the monarch for 9-year terms | subordinate courts: National High Court; High Courts of Justice (in each of the autonomous communities); provincial courts; courts of first instance

Legal system

civil law system with regional variations

Legislative branch

description: bicameral General Courts or Las Cortes Generales consists of the Senate or Senado (266 seats; 208 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 58 appointed by the regional legislatures; members serve 4-year terms) and the Congress of Deputies or Congreso de los Diputados (350 seats; 348 members directly elected in 50 multi-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote and 2 directly elected from the North African Ceuta and Melilla enclaves by proportional representation vote; members serve 4-year terms or until the government is dissolved) | elections: Senate - last held on 26 June 2016 (next to be held no later than June 2020); Congress of Deputies - last held on 26 June 2016 (next to be held no later than June 2020) | election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PP 149, PSOE 62, Podemos 20, ERC 12, EAJ/PNV 6, other 17; Congress of Deputies - percent of vote by party - PP 33.0%, PSOE 22.7%, Podemos 21.1%, C's 13.0%, ERC-CatSi 2.6%, EAJ/PNV 1.2%, other 6.4%; seats by party - PP 134, PSOE 84, Podemos 67, C's 32, ERC-CatSi 9, EAJ/PNV 5, other 19

National anthem

name: "Himno Nacional Espanol" (National Anthem of Spain) | lyrics/music: no lyrics/unknown | note: officially in use between 1770 and 1931, restored in 1939; the Spanish anthem is the first anthem to be officially adopted, but it 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

National holiday

National Day (Hispanic Day), 12 October (1492); note - commemorates COLUMBUS' arrival in the Americas

National symbol(s)

Pillars of Hercules; national colors: red, yellow

Political parties and leaders

Asturias Forum or FAC [Cristina COTO] | Basque Country Unite (Euskal Herria Bildu) or EH Bildu [Pello URIZAR] (coalition of 4 Basque pro-independence parties) | Basque Nationalist Party or PNV or EAJ [Andoni ORTUZAR] | Canarian Coalition or CCa [Claudina MORALES Rodriguez] (coalition of 5 parties) | Canarian Nationalist Party or PNC [Juan Manuel GARCIA Ramos] | Catalan European Democratic Party or PDeCat [Artur MAS] (formerly Democratic Convergence of Catalonia) | Catalonia Yes or CatSci [Vicenc REDRET] | Ciudadanos Party or C's [Albert RIVERA] | Compromis [Eric MORERA i Catala] | Galician Nationalist Bloc or BNG [Ana PONTON Mondelo] | Gomera Socialist Group or ASG | Initiative for Catalonia Greens or ICV [Joan HERRERA i Torres and Dolors CAMATS] | Unidos Podemos [Pablo IGLESIAS Turrion] (formerly Podemos IU; electoral coalition formed for May 2016 election) | Popular Party or PP [Mariano RAJOY Brey] | Republican Left of Catalan-Catalan Yes or ERC-CatSI [Gabriel RUFIAN] an electoral alliance consisting of Republican Left of Catalonia or ERC [Oriol JUNQUERAS i Vies], Catalan Yes or Cat-Si [Alfred BOSCH] and independents) | Spanish Socialist Workers Party or PSOE [Pedro SANCHEZ] | Union of People of Navarra or UPN [Javier ESPARZA] | Union, Progress and Democracy or UPyD [Gorka MANEIRO de Uralde] | United Left or IU [Alberto GARZON] (coalition includes Communist Party of Spain or PCE and other small parties; ran as Popular Unity or UP in 2016 election) | Yes to the Future or Geroa Bai [Koldo MARTINEZ] (coalition include 4 Navarran 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) | Roman Catholic Church | Socialist General Union of Workers or UGT (includes the smaller independent Workers Syndical Union or USO) | Trade Union Confederation of Workers' Commissions or CC.OO. | Spanish Confederation of Employers' Organizations or CEOE | other: business and landowning interests; free labor unions (authorized in April 1977); university students

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

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 Spain has emerged from a severe economic recession that began in mid-2008, posting three straight years of GDP growth above the EU average. Unemployment has fallen, but remains high especially among youth. Spain is the Eurozone’s fourth largest economy.

Military 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 expenditures

0.91% of GDP (2017) | 1.21% of GDP (2016) | 1.18% of GDP (2015) | 1.23% of GDP (2014) | 1.26% of GDP (2013) | 1.41% of GDP (2012) | country comparison to the world: 110

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)

Age structure

0-14 years: 15.38% (male 3,872,763/female 3,656,549) | 15-24 years: 9.58% (male 2,424,352/female 2,267,429) | 25-54 years: 44.91% (male 11,214,102/female 10,775,039) | 55-64 years: 12.14% (male 2,899,088/female 3,044,111) | 65 years and over: 17.98% (male 3,763,989/female 5,040,737) (2017 est.)

Birth rate

9.2 births/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 204

Death rate

9.1 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 64

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 51 | youth dependency ratio: 22.5 | elderly dependency ratio: 28.5 | potential support ratio: 3.5 (2015 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 100% of population | rural: 100% of population | total: 100% of population | urban: 0% of population | rural: 0% of population | total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

4.3% of GDP (2013) | country comparison to the world: 80

Ethnic groups

composite of Mediterranean and Nordic types

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.4% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 77

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

140,000 (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 32

Health expenditures

9% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 40

Hospital bed density

3.1 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

total: 3.3 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 3.6 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 2.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 212

Languages

Castilian Spanish (official nationwide) 74%, Catalan (official in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and the Valencian Community (where it is known as Valencian)) 17%, Galician (official in Galicia) 7%, Basque (official in the Basque Country and in the Basque-speaking area of Navarre) 2%, Aranese (official in the northwest corner of Catalonia (Vall d'Aran) along with Catalan, <5,000 speakers) | note: Aragonese, Aranese Asturian, Basque, Calo, Catalan, Galician, and Valencian are recognized as regional languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 81.8 years | male: 78.8 years | female: 84.9 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 22

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 98.3% | male: 98.8% | female: 97.7% (2016 est.)

Major urban areas - population

MADRID (capital) 6.199 million; Barcelona 5.258 million; Valencia 810,000 (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

5 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 173

Median age

total: 42.7 years | male: 41.5 years | female: 43.9 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 27

Mother's mean age at first birth

30.7 years (2015 est.)

Nationality

noun: Spaniard(s) | adjective: Spanish

Net migration rate

7.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 14

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

23.8% (2016) | country comparison to the world: 62

Physicians density

3.82 physicians/1,000 population (2014)

Population

48,958,159 (July 2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 28

Population distribution

with the notable exception of Madrid, Sevilla, and Zaragoza, the largest urban agglomerations are found along the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts; numerous smaller cities are spread throughout the interior reflecting Spain's agrarian heritage; dense settlement is found around the capital of Madrid, as well as the port city of Barcelona

Population growth rate

0.78% (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 130

Religions

Roman Catholic 67.8%, atheist 9.1%, other 2.2%, non-believer 18.4%, unspecified 2.5% (2016 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 99.8% of population | rural: 100% of population | total: 99.9% of population | urban: 0.2% of population | rural: 0% of population | total: 0.1% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 18 years | male: 18 years | female: 18 years (2015)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.07 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: 0.98 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.5 children born/woman (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 197

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 44.4% | male: 44% | female: 44.9% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 5

Urbanization

urban population: 80% of total population (2017) | rate of urbanization: 0.52% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.) | note: data include Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla

Disputes - 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; after voters in the UK chose to leave the EU in a June 2016 referendum, Spain again proposed shared sovereignty of Gibraltar; UK officials rejected Spain’s joint sovereignty proposal; 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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 8,205 (Afghanistan) (2016); 8,100 (Ukraine) (2017); note: estimate represents asylum applicants since Ukraine crisis began in 2014 until September 2017 | stateless persons: 1,011 (2016) | note: 38,017 estimated refugee and migrant arrivals (January 2015 - November 2017); 17,491 migrant arrivals in 2017

Airports

150 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 38

Airports - with paved runways

total: 99 | over 3,047 m: 18 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 14 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 | 914 to 1,523 m: 24 | under 914 m: 24 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 51 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 | 914 to 1,523 m: 13 | under 914 m: 36 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

EC (2016)

Heliports

10 (2013)

Merchant marine

total: 132 | 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, Cabo Verde 1, Cyprus 6, Ireland 1, Malta 8, Morocco 9, Panama 30, Peru 1, Portugal 18, Uruguay 5, Venezuela 1, unknown 1) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 44

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 20 | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 414 | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 60,809,228 | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 1,040,913,279 mt-km (2015)

Pipelines

gas 10,481 km; oil 616 km; refined products 3,461 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Algeciras, Barcelona, Bilbao, Cartagena, Huelva, Tarragona, Valencia (all in Spain); Las Palmas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife (in the Canary Islands) | container port(s) (TEUs): Algeciras (4,516,000), Barcelona (1,965,000), Valencia (4,615,000) (2015) | LNG terminal(s) (import): Barcelona, Bilbao, Cartagena, Huelva, Mugardos, Sagunto

Railways

total: 16,101.5 km | broad gauge: 11,873 km 1.668-m gauge (6,488 km electrified) | standard gauge: 2,312 km 1.435-m gauge (2,312 km electrified) | narrow gauge: 1,884.9 km 1.000-m gauge (807 km electrified); 28 km 0.914-m gauge (28 km electrified); 3.6 km 0.600-m gauge (2014) | country comparison to the world: 17

Roadways

total: 683,175 km | paved: 683,175 km (includes 16,205 km of expressways) (2011) | country comparison to the world: 11

Waterways

1,000 km (2012) | country comparison to the world: 63