- Capital city: Madrid
- Total area: 504 782 km²
- Population: 43.8 million
- Currency: euro
Spain is located in the south-west of Europe and occupies about 80% of the Iberian Peninsula and is bordered by France to the north and Portugal to the west. Included in the Spanish territory are the Islands of Majorca, Minorca and Ibiza which are situated in the Mediterranean Sea, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean and Ceuta and Melilla in North Africa.
Spain has a population density of 78 people per km2 with an estimated five million people living in the capital. An estimated 1.5 million foreigners live in Spain, mainly from the United Kingdom, Portugal and Germany.
Spain has a market economy and relies heavily on exports for its income. It is one of the world's largest vehicle exporters. Other important industries include shipbuilding, chemicals, steel, fishing (one of the largest in the world), textiles and footwear. Some key imports include mineral fuels, plastic and plastic products, motor vehicles and also telecommunications equipment. More than half the land surface is used for agriculture and principal crops include citrus, fruits, grapes, olives, wine and olive oil. Tourism is also a great contributor to the Spanish economy.
Spain is a constitutional hereditary monarchy and parliamentary democracy. The King is the Head of State and Commander-In-Chief of the army. The Spanish Parliament consists of two houses, the Congress of Deputies composed of 350 members and the Senate composed of 225 senators. Spain has 17 autonomous regions, each with its own regional Parliament and executive.
Spain
