Communications
Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]
Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Civil Guard, National Police, Coastal Civil Guard
Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]
exchange rate conversion - $6.3 billion, 1.4% of GDP (1995)
Manpower availability [time series]
males age 15-49: 10,360,209 males fit for military service: 8,370,197 males reach military age (20) annually: 341,670 (1996 est.)
Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]
AM 190, FM 406 (repeaters 134), shortwave 0
Radios [time series]
12 million (1992 est.)
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
generally adequate, modern facilities domestic: NA international: 22 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat, NA Inmarsat, and NA Marecs; tropospheric scatter to adjacent countries
Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]
12.6 million (1990 est.)
Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]
100 (repeaters 1,297)
Televisions [time series]
15.7 million (1992 est.) Defense
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]
grain, vegetables, olives, wine grapes, sugar beets, citrus; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; fish catch of 1.4 million metric tons is among top 20 nations
Budget [time series]
revenues: $96.8 billion expenditures: $122.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.7 billion (1994 est.)
Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]
1 peseta (Pta) = 100 centimos
Economic aid [time series]
donor: ODA, $1.213 billion (1993)
Economic overview [time series]
Spain, with a mixed capitalist economy and a per capita GDP two-thirds that of the four leading economies of Western Europe, has shared with these countries the recession of the early 1990s, the gradual upturn of 1994-95, and the ongoing controversies over the timing and terms of European economic union. Reduction of the budget deficit - at 5.9% of GDP in 1995 - to meet the Maastricht monetary convergence criterion of 3% by 1997 remains the primary goal of Spanish economic policy, but political pressures had kept the Socialist government from implementing the full range of reforms necessary to meet this goal. Spain's official unemployment rate of 23% is the highest in the EU, and the troubled Socialists had been reluctant to cut social spending. Parliament rejected the administration's proposed 1996 budget because of political wrangling - not because of great differences with the substance of the spending plan - forcing the government to continue spending at 1995 levels and use piecemeal decrees to raise consumption taxes to a level consistent with inflation. The conservative opposition Popular Party, now in power after ending 13 years of Socialist rule in the spring of 1996, has promised to cut government spending, loosen regulations on financial markets, and lower taxes to spur job creation. The conservatives have stated support for Spain's role in the EU but also have cautioned against harming Spain's economy by moving too quickly to meet the criteria for monetary union.
Electricity [time series]
capacity: 43,800,000 kW production: 148 billion kWh consumption per capita: 3,545 kWh (1993)
Exchange rates [time series]
pesetas (Ptas) per US$1 - 123.19 (January 1996), 124.69 (1995), 133.96 (1994), 127.26 (1993), 102.38 (1992), 103.91 (1991)
Exports [time series]
$85 billion (f.o.b., 1995) commodities: cars and trucks, semifinished manufactured goods, foodstuffs, machinery partners: EU 68.7%, US 4.9%, other developed countries 7.9% (1994)
Debt - external (External debt) [time series]
$90 billion (1993 est.)
Fiscal year [time series]
calendar year
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]
purchasing power parity - $565 billion (1995 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP composition by sector) [time series]
agriculture: 3.6% industry: 33.6% services: 62.8% (1995 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP per capita) [time series]
$14,300 (1995 est.)
Real GDP growth rate (GDP real growth rate) [time series]
3% (1995 est.)
Illicit drugs [time series]
key European gateway country for Latin American cocaine and North African hashish entering the European market; transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin
Imports [time series]
$110 billion (c.i.f., 1995) commodities: machinery, transport equipment, fuels, semifinished goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, chemicals partners: EU 60.9%, US 7.3%, other developed countries 11.5%, Middle East 6.2% (1994)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
7% (1995 est.)
Industries [time series]
textiles and apparel (including footwear), food and beverages, metals and metal manufactures, chemicals, shipbuilding, automobiles, machine tools, tourism
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
4.3% (1995)
Labor force [time series]
11.837 million by occupation: services 59%, industry 21%, agriculture 11%, construction 9% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate [time series]
22.8% (yearend 1995)
Geography
total area: 504,750 sq km land area: 499,400 sq km comparative area: slightly more than twice the size of Oregon 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
Climate [time series]
temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast
Coastline [time series]
4,964 km
Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]
current issues: pollution of the Mediterranean Sea from raw sewage and effluents from the offshore production of oil and gas; air pollution; deforestation; desertification natural hazards: periodic droughts international agreements: party to - Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Desertification, Law of the Sea
Geographic coordinates [time series]
40 00 N, 4 00 W
Geography - note (Geographic note) [time series]
strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar
Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]
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
Irrigated land [time series]
33,600 sq km (1989 est.)
Land boundaries [time series]
total: 1,903.2 km border countries: Andorra 65 km, France 623 km, Gibraltar 1.2 km, Portugal 1,214 km note: excludes the length of the boundary between the places of sovereignty and Morocco
Land use [time series]
arable land: 31% permanent crops: 10% meadows and pastures: 21% forest and woodland: 31% other: 7%
Location [time series]
Southwestern Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay, Mediterranean Sea, and North Atlantic Ocean, southwest of France
Map references [time series]
Europe
Maritime claims [time series]
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural resources [time series]
coal, lignite, iron ore, uranium, mercury, pyrites, fluorspar, gypsum, zinc, lead, tungsten, copper, kaolin, potash, hydropower
Terrain [time series]
large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills; Pyrenees in north lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Pico de Teide on Canary Islands 3,718 m
Government
Administrative divisions [time series]
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
Capital [time series]
Madrid
Legislative branch (Congress of Deputies (Congreso de los Diputados)) [time series]
elections last held 3 March 1996 (next to be held by March 2000); results - PP 38.9%, PSOE 37.5%, IU 10.7%, CiU 4.6%; seats - (350 total) PSOE 141, PP 156, IU 21, CiU 16, other 16
Constitution [time series]
6 December 1978, effective 29 December 1978
Legislative branch (Council of State) [time series]
is the supreme consultative organ of the government
Data code [time series]
SP
Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation in US) [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Jaime De OJEDA Eiseley chancery: 2375 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 452-0100, 728-2340
Executive branch [time series]
chief of state: King JUAN CARLOS I (since 22 November 1975) is a hereditary monarch head of government: Prime Minister Jose Maria AZNAR (since 5 May 1996) was proposed by the king and voted into office by the National Assembly on 4 May 1996; AZNAR's Popular Party defeated Felipe GONZALEZ Marques's Socialist Workers Party in the 3 March 1996 legislative election; Deputy Prime Minister (vacant) cabinet: Council of Ministers was designated by the prime minister
Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]
[1] (202) 833-5670 consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]
[34] (1) 577-5735 consulate(s) general: Barcelona
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
Independence [time series]
1492 (expulsion of the Moors and unification)
International organization participation [time series]
AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CCC, CE, CERN, EBRD, ECE, ECLAC, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 8, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MTCR, NACC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNPREDEP, UNPROFOR, UNU, UPU, WCL, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO, ZC
Judicial branch [time series]
Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo)
Legal system [time series]
civil law system, with regional applications; does not accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch [time series]
bicameral The General Courts or National Assembly (Las Cortes Generales)
Country name (Name of country) [time series]
conventional long form: Kingdom of Spain conventional short form: Spain local short form: Espana
National holiday [time series]
National Day, 12 October
Political parties (Other political or pressure groups) [time series]
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); Workers Confederation (CC.OO); the Socialist General Union of Workers (UGT), and the smaller independent Workers Syndical Union (USO); business and landowning interests; the Catholic Church; Opus Dei; university students
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
principal national parties from right to left: Popular Party (PP), Jose Maria AZNAR Lopez; Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE), Felipe GONZALEZ Marquez, secretary general; Spanish Communist Party (PCE), Julio ANGUITA Gonzalez; United Left (IU - a coalition of parties including the PCE, a branch of the PSOE, and other small parties), Julio ANGUITA Gonzalez chief regional parties: Convergence and Union (CiU), Jordi PUJOL, secretary general (a coalition of the Democratic Convergence of Catalonia (CDC), Pere ESTEVE, and the Democratic Union of Catalonia (UDC), Josep Antoni DURAN LLEIDA); Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), Xabier ARZALLUS Antia and Jose Antonio ARDANZA; Basque United People (HB or Herri Batasuna, ETA's political wing), Juan Cruz IDIGORAS; Canarian Coalition (CC), a coalition of five parties
Legislative branch (Senate (Senado)) [time series]
elections last held 3 March 1996 (next to be held by March 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (256 total) PP 132, PSOE 96, CiU 11, PNV 6, IU 2, others 9
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Government type (Type of government) [time series]
parliamentary monarchy
Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard N. GARDNER embassy: Serrano 75, 28006 Madrid mailing address: APO AE 09642 telephone: [34] (1) 577-4000, 577-2301
People
Age structure [time series]
0-14 years: 16% (male 3,237,942; female 3,055,881) 15-64 years: 68% (male 13,380,956; female 13,352,582) 65 years and over: 16% (male 2,566,728; female 3,587,025) (July 1996 est.)
Birth rate [time series]
10.04 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate [time series]
8.86 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]
composite of Mediterranean and Nordic types
Infant mortality rate [time series]
6.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Languages [time series]
Castilian Spanish, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Basque 2%
Life expectancy at birth [time series]
total population: 78.26 years male: 74.95 years female: 81.81 years (1996 est.)
Literacy [time series]
age 15 and over can read and write (1986 est.) total population: 96% male: 98% female: 94%
Nationality [time series]
noun: Spaniard(s) adjective: Spanish
Net migration rate [time series]
0.44 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Population [time series]
39,181,114 (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate [time series]
0.16% (1996 est.)
Religions [time series]
Roman Catholic 99%, other sects 1%
Sex ratio [time series]
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female all ages: 0.96 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate [time series]
1.26 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Transportation
Airports [time series]
total: 96 with paved runways over 3 047 m: 15 with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m: 11 with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 15 with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 13 with paved runways under 914 m: 28 with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 2 with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 12 (1995 est.)
Heliports [time series]
2 (1995 est.)
Roadways (Highways) [time series]
total: 331,961 km paved: 328,641 km (including 2,700 km of expressways) unpaved: 3,320 km (1991 est.)
Merchant marine [time series]
total: 147 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 874,688 GRT/1,391,421 DWT ships by type: bulk 9, cargo 36, chemical tanker 11, combination ore/oil 1, container 8, liquefied gas tanker 4, oil tanker 25, passenger 2, refrigerated cargo 12, roll-on/roll-off cargo 32, short-sea passenger 6, specialized tanker 1 (1995 est.)
Pipelines [time series]
crude oil 265 km; petroleum products 1,794 km; natural gas 1,666 km
Aviles, Barcelona, Bilbao, Cadiz, Cartagena, Castellon de la Plana, Ceuta, Huelva, La Coruna, Las Palmas (Canary Islands), Malaga, Melilla, Pasajes, Puerto de Gijon, Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands), Santander, Tarragona, Valencia, Vigo
Railways [time series]
total: 14,343 km broad gauge: 12,139 km 1.668-m gauge (6,510 km electrified; 2,295 km double track) standard gauge: 488 km 1.435-m gauge (488 km electrified) narrow gauge: 1,716 km (privately owned: 1,669 km 1.000-m gauge, 489 km electrified; 28 km 0.914-m gauge, 28 km electrified; government owned: 19 km 1.000-m gauge, all electrified)
Waterways [time series]
1,045 km, but of minor economic importance