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| Location |
Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay, Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, and Pyrenees Mountains, southwest of France |
| Status |
Parliamentary monarchy (since 1978) |
| Head of state |
King Juan Carlos I (since 22 November 1975) |
| Head of Government |
Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero (since 17 April 2004) |
| Population |
40,491,052 (July 2008 est.) |
| Capital |
Madrid |
| Area |
total: 504,782 sq km land: 499,542 sq km water: 5,240 sq km |
| Size |
506,000M square meters (Spain is the second largest country in Europe after France). |
| Mean Altitude |
600 m. (which makes Spain the second highest country in Europe after Switzerland). |
| Highest Point |
Pico de Teide in Tenerife 3,719 m |
| Nationality |
noun: Spaniard(s) adjective: Spanish |
| Major languages |
Castilian Spanish (official) 74%, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Basque 2%, are official regionally |
| Major religions |
approximately 90% of the population are Catholic and there is freedom of religion in Spain. |
| Climate |
temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast |
| Tourism |
Over 52 million tourists visit Spain each year, Spain is in the top 3 most visited countries in the world. |
| Life expectancy |
79.92 years |
| Monetary unit |
The introduction of the Euro in 2002 replaced the former Spanish Peseta |
| Economy Size |
eighth largest economy worldwide with a Gross Domestic Product just over 1 trillion euros |
| Labour Force |
approximately 20 million |
| Main exports |
machinery, motor vehicles; foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, medicines, other consumer goods |
| Gross Domestic Product |
€27,767 per year, 25th on world ranking |
| Measures |
Weight measured in kilograms, distances measured by the metric system, temperature measured in degrees Celsius |
| Electricity |
220 volts, 50 Hz. European 2-pin plugs are used |
| Time Zone |
+1 GMT except Canary Islands +2 GMT |
| Internet domain |
.es |
| International dialling code |
+34 |
| National Holiday |
National Day, 12 October (1492); year when Columbus first set foot in the Americas |
