Spain

National name

Reino de España

Government

Parliamentary monarchy.

Geography

Spain occupies 85% of the Iberian Peninsula, which it shares with Portugal, in southwest Europe. Africa is less than 16 km south at the Strait of Gibraltar. A broad central plateau slopes to the south and east, crossed by a series of mountain ranges and river valleys. Principal rivers are the Ebro in the northeast, the Tajo in the central region, and the Guadalquivir in the south. Off Spain’s east coast in the Mediterranean are the Balearic Islands (5,014 sq km), the largest of which is Majorca.

Historical Background
Spain's powerful world empire of the 16th and 17th centuries ultimately yielded command of the seas to England. Subsequent failure to embrace the mercantile and industrial revolutions caused the country to fall behind Britain, France, and Germany in economic and political power. Spain remained neutral in World Wars I and II, but suffered through a devastating civil war (1936-39). A peaceful transition to democracy following the death of dictator Francisco FRANCO in 1975, and rapid economic modernization (Spain joined the EU in 1986), have given Spain one of the most dynamic economies in Europe and made it a global champion of freedom. In the March 2008 election, Prime Minister Zapatero of the Socialist Party was reelected.

Name

Spain

Capital

(and largest city) Madrid 40°26′N 3°42′W

Language

Spanish

Area

Total 504,030 km2 ,195,364 sq mi-Water (%) 1.04

Population

2010 estimate 46,030,109 (27th)-Density 93/km2 231/sq mi

Currency

Euro (€)[note 3] (EUR)