Facts about Spain

The Kingdom of Spain is known to Spaniards as Espana. The chief of state is King JUAN CARLOS I (since 22 November 1975). His Heir Apparent is Prince FELIPE. The head of the Spanish government at present is President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero a socialist who has changed Spain’s poilitical direction. Under Zapatero Spain has now become the most progressive, liberal country in Europe, if not the world. One of his first acts as president was to withdraw Spain’s troops from Iraq. Another liberal achievement of Zapatero’s government was the legalization of gay marriage, which was strongly opposed by the Catholic church.

Espana is a member of the European Union and the European Monetary Union, using the Euro as its official currency. Espana is a co-signer of the so-called Schengen Agreement in Europe, and has relaxed border controls with it’s Euro neighbors, but be prepared to carry the proper identification at all times.

Area:

504,782 square kilometers. Includes 19 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.

Population:

40 million estimated as of 2002.

Life Expectancy:

female: 82
male: 75

Languages:

Castilian Spanish (official) 74%, Catalan/Valencian 17%, Galician 7%, Basque 2%

Major Industries:

textiles and apparel (including footwear), food and beverages, metals and metal manufacturing, chemical production, shipbuilding, auto manufacturing, machine tools, and of course tourism – with over 40 million visitors per year.