[cite web|url=http://www.theglobalguru.com/article.php?id=60&offer=GURU001|title="Global Guru" analysis|accessdate=2008-08-13|publisher=The Global Guru] [citeweb|url=http://www.bde.es/informes/be/boleco/coye.pdf|publisher=Bank of Spain|title=Economic report|accessdate=2008-08-13] More recently, the Spanish economy has benefited greatly from the global real estate boom, with construction representing 16% of GDP and 12% of employment.]Demographics
In 2008 Spain officially reached 46 million people registered at the "Padrón municipal", an official record analogous to the British Register office. [cite web|url=http://www.ine.es/jaxi/menu.do?type=pcaxis&path=%2Ft20/e260&file=inebase&L=1|publisher=Instituto Nacional de Estadística (National Statistics Institute)|title=Population Figures|accessdate=2008-08-13] Spain's population density, at 89.6/km² (231/sq mi), is lower than that of most Western European countries and its distribution along the country is very unequal. With the exception of the region surrounding the capital, Madrid, the most populated areas lie around the coast.
The population of Spain doubled during the 20th century, due to the spectacular demographic boom in the 1960s and early 1970s. The pattern of growth was extremely uneven due to large-scale internal migration from the rural interior to the industrial cities during this period. No fewer than eleven of Spain's fifty provinces saw an absolute decline in population over the century. Then, after the birth rate plunged in the 80s and Spain's population growth rate dropped, a new population increase started based initially on the return of many Spaniards who had emigrated to other European countries during the 70s. More recently, it has been boosted by a large numbers of immigrants, mostly from Latin America (39%), Eastern Europe (16%), North Africa (15%) and Sub-Saharan Africa (4%). [cite web|url=http://www.ine.es/inebase/cgi/axi?AXIS_PATH=/inebase/temas/t20/e245/p04/a2005/l0/&FILE_AXIS=00000010.px&CGI_DEFAULT=/inebase/temas/cgi.opt&COMANDO=SELECCION&CGI_URL=/inebase/cgi/|publisher=Instituto Nacional de Estadística|title=Población extranjera por sexo, país de nacionalidad y edad|accessdate=2008-08-13] In 2005, Spain instituted a 3-month amnesty program through which certain hitherto undocumented aliens were granted legal residency. Also there are some significant pockets of population that have come from other EU countries - 21% of foreign residents - especially on the Mediterranean "costas" and Balearic islands, where many Europeans choose to live their retirement or telework. These are mostly English, French, German, and Dutch and, from outside the EU, Norwegian.
Most populous metropolitan areas
See|List of metropolitan areas in Spain by population [citeweb|url=http://alarcos.inf-cr.uclm.es/per/fruiz/pobesp/dat/arc/areas-pob.xls|title=AUDES project|accessdate=2008-08-14|publisher=Grupo Alarcos]
# Madrid 5,603,285
# Barcelona 4,667,136
# Valencia 1,671,189
# Sevilla 1,294,081
# Bilbao 950,829
# Málaga 897,563
Immigration
According to the Spanish government there were 4.5 million foreign residents in Spain in 2007; independent estimates put the figure at 4.8 million people, or 11% of the total population. [cite web|url=http://www.ifrc.org/publicat/wdr2006/|title=World Disasters Report 2006|publisher=Red Cross|accessdate=2008-08-14] According to residence permit data for 2005, about 500,000 were Moroccan, another 500,000 were Ecuadorian, more than 200,000 were Romanian, and 260,000 were Colombian. Other sizeable foreign communities are British (8%), French (8%), Argentine (6%), German (6%) and Bolivian (3%). In 2005, a regularisation programme increased the legal immigrant population by 700,000 people. Since 2000, Spain has experienced high population growth as a result of immigration flows, despite a birth rate that is only half the replacement level. This sudden and ongoing inflow of immigrants, particularly those arriving clandestinely by sea, has caused noticeable social tension. [cite web|url=http://www.ine.es/prodyser/pubweb/anuario06/anu06_02demog.pdf|publisher=Instituto Nacional de Estadística|title=Avance del Padrón Municipal a 1 de enero de 2006. Datos provisionales|format=PDF|accessdate=2008-08-13 See also: cite web|url=http://www.imdiversity.com/villages/hispanic/world_international/pns_immigration_shift_1204.asp|title=Immigration Shift: Many Latin Americans Choosing Spain Over U.S.|accessdate=2008-08-13|publisher=IMDiversity, Inc and cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_21/b4035066.htm|title=Spain: Immigrants Welcome|accessdate=2008-08-13|publisher=Business Week and cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14628564/site/newsweek/print/1/displaymode/1098/|title=Immigrants Fuel Europe's Civilization Clash|accessdate=2008-08-13|publisher=MSNBC and cite web|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/01/22/news/spain.php|title=Spanish youth clash with immigrant gangs|accessdate=2008-08-13|publisher=International Herald Tribune]
Within the EU, Spain has the second highest immigration rate in "percentage" terms after Cyprus, but by a great margin, the highest in actual numbers of immigrants. [cite web|url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_OFFPUB/KS-NK-06-001/EN/KS-NK-06-001-EN.PDF|publisher=Eurostat|title=Population in Europe in 2005|format=PDF|accessdate=2008-08-13] There are a number of reasons for the high level of immigration, including Spain's cultural ties with Latin America, its geographical position, the porosity of its borders, the large size of its underground economy and the strength of the agricultural and construction sectors which demand more low cost labour than can be offered by the national workforce. Another statistically significant factor is the large number of residents of EU origin typically retiring to Spain's Mediterranean coast. In fact, Spain was Europe's largest absorber of migrants from 2002 to 2007, with its immigrant population more than doubling as 2.5 million people arrived. [cite web|url=http://www.ine.es/inebase/cgi/um?M=%2Ft20%2Fe245%2Fp08%2F&O=pcaxis&N=&L=0|title=Population series from 1998|publisher=INE Spanish Statistical Institute|accessdate=2008-08-14] According to the Financial Times, Spain is the most favoured destination for West Europeans considering a move from their own country and seeking jobs elsewhere in the EU. [cite web|url=http://international.ibox.bg/news/id_1406161495|publisher=News.bg|title=Europeans Favour Spain for Expat Jobs|accessdate=2008-08-13]
Minority groups
Spain has a number of descendants of populations from former colonies (especially Equatorial Guinea) and immigrants from several Sub-Saharan and Caribbean countries have been recently settling in Spain. There are also sizeable numbers of Asian immigrants, most of whom are of Chinese, Filipino, Middle Eastern, Pakistani and Indian origins; the population of Spaniards of Latin American descent is sizeable as well and a fast growing segment. Other growing groups are Britons, 760,000 in 2006, Germans and other immigrants from the rest of Europe. [citeweb|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6161705.stm|title=Immigration statistics|publisher=BBC|accessdate=2008-08-13]
Jewish emigration to Spain is primarily the result of three events: after the 19th century, some Jews established themselves in Spain as a result of migration from what was formerly Spanish Morocco, the flight of Jews escaping from Nazi repression, and immigration from Argentina. Spanish law allows Sephardi Jews to claim Spanish citizenship. The arrival of the "Gitanos", a Roma people, began in the 16th century; estimates of the Spanish Gitano population fluctuate around 700,000. [citeweb|url=http://www.eumap.org/reports/2002/eu/international/sections/spain/2002_m_spain.pdf|title=The Situation of Roma in Spain|accessdate=2008-08-14|publisher=Open Society Institute]
Identities
Peoples
The Spanish Constitution of 1978, in its second article, recognises historic entities ("nationalities", a carefully chosen word in order to avoid the more politically charged "nations") and regions, within the context of the Spanish nation. For some people, Spain's identity consists more of an overlap of different regional identities than of a sole Spanish identity. Indeed, some of the regional identities may even conflict with the Spanish one. Distinct cultural groups within Spain include the Basques, Catalans, and Galicians. [citeweb|url=http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2878.htm|title=Kingdom of Spain: People|accessdate=2008-08-13|publisher=US Department of State]
It is this last feature of "shared identity" between the more local level or Autonomous Community and the Spanish level which makes the identity question in Spain complex and far from univocal.
thumb|Spain languages map [">citeweb|url=http://www.ethnologue.com/14/show_country.asp?name=Spain|title=Languages of Spain|accessdate=2008-08-15|publisher=Ethnologue: Languages of the World]
Languages
Spanish ( _es. "español" or _es. "castellano"), also known as "Castilian", is the only language with official status nationwide. Other languages have been declared co-official, along with Spanish, in (some of) their constituent communities where they are spoken:
* Aranese ( _ar. "aranés") (a variant of Occitan), in Catalonia;
* Basque ( _eu. "euskera") in the Basque Country and Navarre;
* Catalan ( _eu. "català") in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands; Valencian ("valencià"), a distinct variant of Catalan, is official in the Valencian Community;
* Galician ( _gl. "galego") in Galicia.
There are also some other surviving Romance minority languages such as Astur-Leonese (which includes Asturian, Leonese, Extremaduran and Cantabrian) and Aragonese. Asturian ( _as. "asturianu") is "protected" in Asturias, Leonese is protected in Castile and León, and Aragonese is vaguely recognized in Aragon. [cite web|url=http://www.jgpa.es/portal.do?TR=C&IDR=45|title=Junta General del Principado de Asturias|accessdate=2008-08-13|publisher=Junta General del Principado de Asturias] But unlike Aranese, Basque, Catalan/Valencian and Galician, they do not have any official status. This might be due to their very small number of speakers, a less significant written tradition in comparison to Catalan or Galician, and lower self-awareness of their speakers which traditionally meant lack of strong popular demand for their recognition in the regions in which they are spoken. [citeweb|url=http://www.proel.org/lenguas2.html|title=Languages of Spain map|accessdate=2008-08-15|publisher=Proel] In the North African Spanish city of Melilla, Tarifit is spoken by a significant part of the population. In the tourist areas of the Mediterranean coast and the islands, English and German are widely spoken by tourists, foreign residents, and tourism workers.
Religion
bar box
title=Spain religiosity
titlebar=#ddd
float=right
bars=Although Chapter 2 of the Constitution states that no religion shall have a state character, Roman Catholicism is the main religion in the country. About 76% of Spaniards identify themselves as Catholics, about 2% identify with another religious faith, and about 19% identify themselves as non-religious. A study conducted in October 2006 by the Spanish Centre of Sociological Investigations shows that of the 76% of Spaniards who identify themselves as Catholics or with another religious faith, 54% hardly ever or never go to church, 15% go to church a few times per year, 10% a few times per month and 19% attend church every Sunday or multiple times per week. About 22% of the entire Spanish population attends religious services at least once per month. [cite web|url=http://mas.lne.es/documentos/archivos/20-11-06-cis.pdf|publisher=Centre of Sociological Investigations|title=October poll, questions 32 and 32a|format=PDF|accessdate=2008-08-13]
Evidence of the secular nature of contemporary Spain can be seen in the widespread support for the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Spain — over 66% of Spaniards support gay marriage according to a 2004 study by the Centre of Sociological Investigations. [cite web|url=http://www.cis.es/cis/opencms/EN/index.html|title=Centre of Sociological Investigations|accessdate=2008-08-13|publisher=Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas] Indeed, in June 2005 a bill was passed by 187 votes to 147 to allow gay marriage, making Spain the third country in the European Union to allow same-sex couples to marry after Belgium and the Netherlands.
Protestant denominations are also present, all of them with less than 50,000 members. Evangelism has been better received among Gypsies than among the general population; pastors have integrated flamenco music in their liturgy. Taken together, all self-described "Evangelicals" slightly surpass Jehovah's Witnesses (105,000) in number. While not Protestants, about 41,000 residents of Spain are members of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. [cite web|url=http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/contact-us/spain|title=Spain|publisher=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |accessdate=2008-08-13]
The recent waves of immigration have led to an increasing number of Muslims, who have about 1 million members. Muslims had not lived in Spain for centuries; however, colonial expansion in Northern and Western Africa gave some number of residents in the Spanish Morocco and the Western Sahara full citizenship. Presently, Islam is the second largest religion in Spain, accounting for approximately 2.3% of the total population. [citeweb|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4385768.stm#spain|publisher=BBC|title=Muslims in Europe: Country guide|accessdate=2008-08-13]
Along with these waves of immigration, a significant number of Latin American people, who tend to be strong Catholic practitioners, have helped the Catholic Church to recover.
Judaism was practically non-existent until the 19th century, when Jews were again permitted to enter the country. Currently there are around 62,000 Jews in Spain, most arrivals in the past century and some descendants of Spanish Jews and accounting for less than 1% of the total number of inhabitants. Approximately 80 000 Jews lived in Spain on the eve of the Spanish Inquisition. [citebook|title=The Spanish Inquisition: A Historical Revision|year=1999|publisher=Yale University Press|authorlink=Henry Kamen|last=Kamen|first=Henry|pages=pp.29-31]
Culture
Spain is known for its culturally diverse heritage, having been influenced by many nations and peoples throughout its history.Spanish culture has its origins in the Iberian, Celtiberian, Latin, Visigothic, Roman Catholic, and Islamic cultures. The definition of a national Spanish culture has been characterized by tension between the centralized state, dominated in recent centuries by Castile, and numerous regions and minority peoples. In addition, the history of the nation and its Mediterranean and Atlantic environment have played strong roles in shaping its culture. After Italy, Spain has the second highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world, with a total of 40. [cite web|url=http://whc.unesco.org/en/list|title=World Heritage List|publisher=UNESCO|accessdate=2008-08-13]
Education
State education in Spain is free and compulsory from the age of 6 to 16. The current education system was established by an educational law of 1990, Ley Organica de Ordenacion General del Sistema Educativo - Law on the General Organization of the Educational System. [cite web|url=http://www.spainexchange.com/educator_info/spain_education.php|title=Spain Education System|publisher=SpainExchange.com|accessdate=2008-08-13]
Literature
The term Spanish literature refers to literature written in the Spanish language, including literature composed in Spanish by writers not necessarily from Spain. For Spanish American literature specifically, see Latin American literature. Due to historic, geographic and generational diversity, Spanish literature has known a great number of influences and it is very diverse. Some major literary movements can be identified within it.
Miguel de Cervantes is probably Spain's most famous author and his Don Quixote is considered the most emblematic work in the canon of Spanish literature and a founding classic of Western literature. [cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2002/may/08/books.booksnews|title=The top 100 books of all time|publisher=The Guardian|accessdate=2008-08-14]
Real Academia Española
The Real Academia Española (Spanish for "Royal Spanish Academy"; RAE) is the institution responsible for regulating the Spanish language. It is based in Madrid, but is affiliated with national language academies in 21 Spanish-speaking nations through the Association of Spanish Language Academies. Its emblem is a fiery crucible, and its motto is "Limpia, fija y da esplendor" ("It cleans, sets, and gives splendor"). [cite web|url=http://www.rae.es/rae/gestores/gespub000001.nsf/voTodosporId/CEDF300E8D943D3FC12571360037CC94?OpenDocument&i=0|title=Origins|publisher=Real Academia Española|accessdate=2008-08-13]
Art
Spanish art is an important and influential type of art in Europe. Spanish art is the name given to the artistic disciplines and works developed in Spain throughout time, and those by Spanish authors world-wide. Due to historical, geographical and generational diversity, Spanish art has known a great number of influences. The Moorish heritage in Spain, especially in Andalusia, is still evident today in cities like Córdoba, Seville, and Granada. European influences include Italy, Germany and France, especially during the Baroque and Neoclassical periods.
Cinema
Spanish cinema has achieved major international success including Oscars for recent films such as Pan's Labyrinth and Volver. [cite book|last=Jordan|first=Barry|coauthors=Rikki Morgan-Tamosunas|title=Contemporary spanish cinema|publisher=Manchester University Press|date=1998] In the long history of Spanish cinema, the great filmmaker Luis Buñuel was the first to achieve world recognition, followed by Pedro Almodóvar in the 1980s. Spanish cinema has also seen international success over the years with films by directors like Segundo de Chomón, Florián Rey, Luis García Berlanga, Carlos Saura, Julio Medem and Alejandro Amenábar.
Architecture
Spanish architecture refers to architecture carried out during any era in what is now modern-day Spain, and by Spanish architects worldwide. The term includes buildings within the current geographical limits of Spain before this name was given to those territories, whether they were called Hispania, Al-Andalus, or were formed of several Christian kingdoms.
Due to its historical and geographical diversity, Spanish architecture has drawn from a host of influences. Córdoba was established as the cultural capital of its time under the Umayyad dynasty. [citebook|first=Jo|last=Cruz|title=Western Views of Islam in Medieval and Early Modern Europe: Perception and Other|editor=Edited by David R. Blanks and Michael Frassetto|location=New York|publisher=Saint Martin's Press|year=1999|pages=p. 56] Simultaneously, the Christian kingdoms gradually emerged and developed their own styles, at first mostly isolated from European architectural influences, and later integrated into Romanesque and Gothic streams, they reached an extraordinary peak with numerous samples along the whole territory. The Mudéjar style, from the 12th to 17th centuries, was characterised by the blending of cultural European and Arabic influences.
The arrival of Modernism in the academic arena produced figures such as Gaudí and much of the architecture of the 20th century. The International style was led by groups like GATEPAC. Spain is currently experiencing a revolution in contemporary architecture and like Rafael Moneo, Santiago Calatrava, Ricardo Bofill as well as many others have gained worldwide renown.
Music
Spanish music is often considered abroad to be synonymous with flamenco, an Andalusian musical genre, which, contrary to popular belief, is not widespread outside that region. Various regional styles of folk music abound in Aragon, Catalonia, Valencia, Castile, the Basque Country, Galicia and Asturias. Pop, rock, hip hop and heavy metal are also popular.
Cuisine
Spanish cuisine consists of a great variety of dishes which stem from differences in geography, culture and climate. It is heavily influenced by seafood available from the waters that surround the country, and reflects the country's deep Mediterranean roots. Spain's extensive history with many cultural influences has led to a unique cuisine.
port
Sport in Spain has been dominated by football since the early 20th century. Basketball, tennis, cycling, handball, motorcycling and, lately, Formula 1 are also important due to presence of Spanish champions in all these disciplines. Today, Spain is a major world sports power, especially since the 1992 Summer Olympics that were hosted in Barcelona and promoted a great variety of sports in the country. The tourism industry has led to an improvement in sports infrastructure, especially for water sports, golf and skiing.
Public holidays
Public holidays celebrated in Spain include a mix of religious (Roman Catholic), national and regional observances. Each municipality is allowed to declare a maximum of 14 public holidays per year; up to nine of these are chosen by the national government and at least two are chosen locally. [cite web|url=http://www.bank-holidays.com/holidays_2007_58.htm|title=Bank holidays in Spain|publisher=bank-holidays.com|accessdate=2008-08-13]
International rankings
*Reporters Without Borders 2007 Worldwide Press Freedom Index: 33 out of 169 countries. [cite web|url=http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=24025/|title=Annual Worldwide Press Freedom Index, 2007|accessdate=2008-08-13]
*Economist Intelligence Unit Quality-of-Life Index (2005): 10 out of 111 countries. [citeweb|url=http://www.economist.com/media/pdf/QUALITY_OF_LIFE.pdf|title=Worldwide Quality-of-Life Index, 2005|publisher=The Economist|accessdate=2008-08-13]
*NationMaster's 1998 list by economic importance: 9 out of 25 countries, only surpassed by G8 members. [citeweb|url=http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_eco_imp-economy-economic-importance|title=Nation Master's list by economic importance|accessdate=2008-08-13|publisher=Nation Master]
*NationMaster's 2001 list by technological achievement: 18 out of 68 countries. [citeweb|url=http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/eco_tec_ach-economy-technological-achievement|title=Nation Master's country ranking by technological achievement|accessdate=2008-08-13|publisher=Nation Master]
Notes
References
*citebook|author=Gates, David|title=The Spanish Ulcer: A History of the Peninsular War|publisher=Da Capo Press|year=2001|isbn=0-306-81083-2|pages=p.20
External links
Overviews
* [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sp.html Spain] : CIA World Factbook entry - updated in May 2006
* [http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/557573/Spain Encyclopaedia Britannica's Spain Portal site]
* [http://www.maps.data-spain.com/ Maps of Spain:] satellite images, relief maps, outlines and themed maps of Spanish autonomous communities, provinces and municipalities
* [http://www.iberianature.com/ IberiaNature] A guide to the environment, geography, climate, wildlife, natural history and landscape of Spain
* [http://www.expatica.com/es/main.html Local Spanish news and features]
* [http://www.economist.com/countries/Spain/ Spain] : The Economist Country Briefings entry
*wikiatlas|Spain
*loc [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/estoc.html Library of Congress Spain Country Series site]
Government
* [http://www.casareal.es/index-iden-idweb.html Casa Real.es] - Spanish Royal Family
* [http://www.la-moncloa.es/default?idioma=en-GB La Moncloa.es] — Prime Minister
* [http://www.060.es/ administracion.es] e-government Portal
* [http://www.congreso.es/portal/page/portal/Congreso/Congreso Congreso de los Diputados] — Congress of Deputies
* [http://www.senado.es/home_i.html El Senado] - Senate
* [http://www.maec.es/es/home/Paginas/HomeEs.aspx Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores] Ministry of Foreign Affairs
* [http://www.ine.es/inebase/cgi/um?L=0 INEBase] — National Institute of Statistics
* [http://www.aeat.es/ Agencia Estatal de Administración Tributaria] — Tax Agency
Other
*
* [http://www.spain.info/TourSpain/?Language=en Official Website of Tourism in Spain]
* [http://eudocs.lib.byu.edu/index.php/History_of_Spain:_Primary_Documents History of Spain Primary history documents]
* [http://www.datesofhistory.com/Spain.index.html Dates in Spanish history]
* [http://www.proel.org/lenguas.html Languages of Spain]