Useful Information
Below you can find some useful information and facts about Spain.
General Information about Spain
Spain is located in the south-western part of Europe, in the Iberian Peninsula which is shared with the neighboring Portugal. Apart from Portugal, Spain has borders with France and Andorra to the north and in the south it is separated from Africa by the Strait of Gibraltar which is less than 15km (10 miles) wide. Spain also has a number of important islands, including the Balearic Islands lying to the east of the peninsula, and the Canary Islands, which are located more than 1,000 km. south of the Peninsula, just off the coast of Africa. Apart from this, Spain also has two cities (Ceuta and Melilla) located in the north of Africa which also form part of the nation.
Facts about Spain
- Size: 506,000MM square meters (Spain is the second largest country in Europe after France).
- Population size: 42 million.
- Density: 80 inhabitants per square meter.
- Mean Altitude: 600 m.
- Highest Point: Pico de Teide (Tenerife), 3,719 m.
- Tourism: Over 45 million tourists visit Spain each year (Spain is the second most visited country in the world).
- Political Structure: Parliamentary monarchy (since 1978).
- Regions: Spain is made up of 17 autonomous regions.
- Time zone: +1 GMT.
- Currency: Euros ( before 2002, pesetas).
- Language: Spanish (Catalan, Valencian, Gallego, Euskera are independent languages spoken in Catalonia, Valencia, Galicia and The Basque Country).
- Foreign Languages: Studying foreign languages abroad is becoming more and more popular in Spain and the Spanish education ministry spends more than 50 million euro a year on grants and scholarships (Becas MEC) for Spanish students to learn a language abroad.
- Religion: 98% of the population is Catholic (there is freedom of religion in Spain).
- Measures: The metric system (weight in grams and kilograms, distance in meters and kilometers) and temperatures in Celsius. Electricity: 220volts (standard European plugs).
- GDP - per capita (purchasing power parity): $23,300 (2004).
