Introduction |
Facts |
Flag |
History |
Culture |
Geography |
Currency |
Economy |
Demographics |
Language |
Spain is a country, which situated in Southern Europe. It is a democracy, which is organized as a parliamentary monarchy. It is surrounded by Portugal to the west, Gibraltar and through its cities in North Africa to the south, France and Andorra to the northwest. It also includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean and many uninhabited islands on the Mediterranean side of the strait of Gibraltar, which called as Plazas de sobernia. The Iberian Peninsula makes three sovereign nation: - Spain Portugal and Andorra, among them, Spain is the largest country. Madrid is the capital as well as largest city of the country.
| Country Name : | Spain |
| Capital : | Madrid |
| Largest City : | Madrid |
| Official Language : | Basque, Catalan, Galician, Spanish and Valencian |
| Government : | Constitutional Monarchy |
| President : | (King) Juan Carlos I |
| Prime Minister : | Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero |
| Area : | 505,992 kmē |
| Area Rank : | 51st |
| Population : | 44,395,286 |
| Population Rank : | 29th |
| Density : | 87,8/kmē |
| Density Rank : | 106th |
| GDP Total : | $1.212 trillion |
| GDP Total Rank : | 12th |
| GDP per Capita : | $27,320 |
| GDP per Capita Rank : | 25th |
| Currency : | Euro |
| Time Zone : | CET2 (UTC+1) |
| Internet TLD : | .es |
| Calling Code : | +34 |
| Geographic Coordinates : | 40 00 N, 4 00 W |
| Railways : | 14,873 km |
| Highways : | 666,292 km |
| Waterways : | 1,000 km |
| Internet Users : | 17,142,198 |
| Radio Users : | 13.1 million |
| Mobile Users : | 38,646,800 |
| Telephone Users : | 17,934,500 |
| Population Growth : | 0.13% |
| Birth Rate : | 10.06 births/1,000 |
| Death Rate : | 9.72 deaths/1,000 |
| Airport : | 157 |
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 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.
Pre-history: - As per the earliest records, Spain has been inhabited roughly 10,00,000 years ago.
Modern humans in the form of Cro-Magnons began arriving in the Iberian Peninsula from north of the Pyreness some 35,000 years ago. The seafaring Phoenicians, Greeks and Carthaginians settled along the Mediterranean coast and established trading colonies they're over 1100 BCE. The native people, which the Romans met at the time of their invasion at Spain, were the Iberians inhabiting from the Southwest part of the Peninsula through the Northeast part of it and then the Celts, who mostly inhabiting in the north and northwest part of the Peninsula.
Roman Empire: - The Romans arrived in the Iberian Peninsula during the second Punic war in the 2nd century BCE and annexed it after 2 centuries war, with the Celtic and Iberian tribes. These along with the Phoenician Greek and Carthaginian costal colonies become the province of Hispania. The Roman Empire ruled over Spain for about 3 centuries, without any interruption.
Germanic Invasion: - The first hordes of Barbarians to invade Hispania arrived in the 5th century, when the Roman Empire became less powerful. The tribes of Goths, Visigoths, Swebians, Alans, Asdings and Vandals came to Spain, who was all of Germanic origin. This led to the establishment of the Swebian kingdom in Gallaecia, in the northwest and the Visigothic kingdom. The Visigothic kingdom encompassed the entire Iberian Peninsula, with the Roman Catholic conversion of the Goth monarchs.
Muslim Iberia: - In the 8th century, all the Iberian Peninsula was conquered by Barber Muslims who were came from North Africa. Tariq ibn Ziyad was their leader.
Under Islamic rule, Spain became strong, wealthy and sophisticated. That time's capital Cordoba was the richest and most sophisticated city in all of Western Europe.
Muslims ruled over Spain for about 3 centuries.
Fall of Muslims and Christian rule: - Muslims were defeated in the battle of Covadonga in the 11th century. The 11th century also drew to a close most of the north and center of Spain was back under Christian control. As early as 739 Muslim forces were driven out of Galician, which came to host one of Christianity's holiest sites, Santiago de Compostela. Areas in the northern mountains and ground Barcelona were captured by Frankish and local forces. In 1499 they again conquered Muslim uprising and the territory. This is the most significant event in Spanish history.
From the Renaissance: - By 1512, most of the kingdoms of Spain were unified by the crown, not as a modern centralized state. During the 16th century, Habsburg Spain became the most powerful state in Europe. In 1640, under Philip IV, the centralist policy of the Count-Duke of Olivier's provoked wars in Portugal and Catalonia. As a result, Portugal became an independent kingdom again and Catalonia achieved French-supported independence but was quickly returned to the Spanish Crown. The 16th and 17th centuries was the cultural efflorescence known as the Spanish Golden Age? In 1793, French Revolutionary Wars occurred. As a result of these wars, Spain faced disastrous economic situation led by Godoy, ended with his overthrow at the Multiny of Aranjuez on 17th March, 1808 and forced the abdication of Charles IV and his son Ferdinand, Prince of Astoria's, in Bayonne later that year, in favor of Joseph Bonaparte.
The French invasion had numerous consequences for Spain. The war proved disastrous for Spain's economy, reversing the improvements of the 18th century. In 1812, the Liberal Courts of Cadiz redacted a Constitution, bringing to the country a new form of government and one by which future monarchs would have to rule, more or less willingly.
At the end of the 19th century, Spain lost all of its remaining old colonies in the Caribbean and Asia-Pacific regions, including Cuba, Puerto Rico, Philippines and Guam to the US after unwittingly and unwillingly being thrust into the Spanish-American War of 1898.
On January 1, 1999 Spain adopted the Euro as its national currency, ever since the current Constitution was passed in 1978, Spain has had 5 Presidents del Gobierno as of Sep. 2006. Adolfo Suarez Gonzlez won the election for the Union de Cento Democratico, Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo Bustelo also for the UCD, Felipe Gonzalez Marquez who won four consecutive elections heading the ticket during his administration Spain joined NATO and EU and then Jose Maria Aznar Lopez won two consecutive elections for the Partido Popular.
Education: - Education is free and compulsory for children between the ages of 6 and 16, in Spain. The school system consists of
· Preprimary schools, (for 3 to 5 years children)
· Primary schools. (For 6 to 11 years children)
· Secondary schools (for 12 to 16 years children)
After the secondary schooling, students may take either a vocational training course for 1 to 2 years or the 2-year Bchillerato course in preparation for university entrance.
The university system has three cycles. The cycle lasts for three years and leads to the degree of Diplomatara. The second cycle leading to the degree of Licenciatura, lasts for 2 to 3 years while the third cycle leading to the degree of Doctor, lasts for 2 years, after these cycle, students can write a thesis.
Spanish primary schools enrolled 2.5 million pupils and secondary schools enrolled 3.2 million pupils in 20, while Spanish institutions of higher education enrolled 1.8 million students in 2001-2002.the major universities of Spain include the University of Madrid, the Polytechnic University of Madrid, and the Polytechnic University of Barcelona, the Polytechnic University of Granada, the Polytechnic University of Salamanca, the Polytechnic University of Seville, the Polytechnic University of Valencia.
Painting: - Spain is a home of many great painters. El Greco was a great and famous painter of the 16th century; View of Toledo was his well-known painting. Diego Velazquez was famous for his depications of the 17th century Spanish court. Francisco Goya worked for the develpement of modern art during the 18th and 19th centuries. Salvaclor Dali and Pablo Picaso are also great prolific artists of the 20th century.
Music: - Spainsh music has vitality and a rhythm, which reflect the many influences on the culture by the Christians and the Moors. Spain introduced, the zarzuela, which was a form of opera in the 17th century. Antonio Soler was a great music composer of the 18th century. During the 20th century, Joaquin Turina and Manuel de falla became famous for their advanced styles. Andres Segovia and Pablo Casals were well-known Spanish performers of the 20th century. The bolero the flamenco, the jota and the fandango are well-known Spanish dance styles.
Location: - Spain is located in southern Europe, with two small exclaves in north Africa. It is surrounded by Portugal to the west, Gibraltar and through its cities in North Africa to the south and France and Andorra to the northwest. Moreover it has many islands, such as the Baletric Islands in the Mediterranean Sea, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean and many uninhabited islands, on the Mediterranean side o the strait of Gibraltar.
Area: - The total area of Spain is about 5,05,992 sq. km. Spain is the world's 51st largest country.
Population: - According to the 2006 estimate, the total population of Spain was about 44,395,286 and its population density was 878 persons per sq. km.
Mountains: - High plateaus and mountain ranges like the Pyrenees and the Sierra Nevada surround Mainland Spain.
Rivers: - Spain has many rivers like the Tajo, the Ebro, the Duero, the Guadiana and the Guadalquivir. These are major rivers of Spain, among them Guadalquivir is the largest river. While, Segura, Jucar and Turia are medium rivers of Spain.
Sea: - Spain is surrounded by Mediterranean Sea to the south and east the Cantabrian Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west.
Climate: - Spain has varied climate in different regions, such as:
The Northern and Eastern Mediterranean coast: - Warm to hot summers with mild to cool winters precipitations averaging 600 mm a year.
The south East Mediterranean coast: - In this area, there is summers are hot and winter is mild or cool. Here, the climate is dry and it has very low rainfall, which is about 150 mm per year.
Southern Mediterranean Coast: - It has warm summer, but very mild winters. Its average yearly temperature is nearly 20 degrees Celsius.
The Guadalquivir valley: - Here, summers are very hot and dry and winters are very mild.
South West Atlantic Coast: - summers are pleasant, while winters are very mild and temperate.
The inner land plateau: - summers are hot, and winter is cold. The climate is close to the continental climate.
Ebro Valley: - Here, summers are very hot and winters are cold.
Northern Atlantic coast: - It has a very wet climate, with mild summers and mild winters.
The Pyrenees: - Here, summers are cool and winters are cold.
The Canary Islands: - Here, the climate is subtropical, so it is mild and stable throughout the year.
Capital: - Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain.
| 1.00 - (Spain ) | = | USD - (United States Dollars) |
| 1.00 USD - (United States Dollars) | = | - (Spain ) |
| Unit | Currency Name | EUR/Unit | Unit/EUR |
Spain is a developed country with the ninth largest economy in the world. It is a mixed economy.
Economic growth: - In 2003, Spain's economic growth was about 204%, which was increased in 2005 and reached at 3.3%. In the first quarter of 2006, the economic growth was about 3.5% and in the second quarter, it was 3.7%. Spain's model of economic growth is faltering and prove unsets available over the long term.
GDP: - According to the 2005 estimate, Spain's total GDP was about $1.029 trillion, which was very high.
Per capita GDP: - Spain per capita GDP grew by 25% over the last 10 years and according to the 2005 estimate, it was about $26,320, which is comparable to the four leading west European economies.
Unemployment: - Unemployment rate is 7.6%, it was about 20% during last years. It also compares favorably to the other large European countries.
Membership: - It is a member of EU. The Spanish economy has been regarded as one of the most dynamic within the EU.
Weak Points: -
Greenhouse gas emissions: - In Spain Greenhouse gas emissions have raised by 45% since 1990.
Energy consumption: - Spain's energy consumption has doubled over the last 20 years and is currently rising by 6% per annum. This is very worried for a country, whose dependence on imported oil.
Population: - It is grown by 5% between 1990 to 2000.
Other weak points: - Other weak points of Spain's economy include one of the lowest rates of investment in Research and Development and in education in the EU.
Population: - According to the 206 estimates, the total population of Spain was about 4,43,95,286aand its population density was about 87.8 persons per sq. km., which is lower than that of most western European countries.
Immigration in Spain: - Since 200, Spain has experienced high population growth due to immigration flows, despite a birth rate that is only half of the replacement level. Spain has the highest immigration rates within the EU, due to its geographical position, the porosity of its borders, the large size of economy and the strength of the agricultural and construction sectors, which demand more and more labor force.
According to the Spanish government there were 3.7 million foreign residents in Spain in 2005. According to residence permit data for 2005, about 3,00,000 were Moroccan, another half a million were Ecuadorian, more than 2,00,000 were Romanians and 2,70,000 were Colombian. Other foreign communities, which includes British 6.09%, Argentinean 6.10%, German 3.58%, and Bolivian 2.63%.
Religion: - Roman Catholicism is the main religion of Spain. As per several sources; about 81% to 94% of total population are Roman Catholics, while around 6% to 19% identify with either other religions or non-at all.
Today, Islam is the second largest religion in Spain, which possesses about 3% of the total population, Hindus and Sikhs are less than 0.3% in Spain. Judaism is another religion of Spain, which followed by 8% of the total population.
Castilian is an official language throughout Spain, but other regional languages like Catalan, Basque, Galician and Occitan are also widely spoken, and are the primary languages in some of their respective geographic. Moreover these languages are co-official with Spanish.
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