Page last updated on January 31, 2014
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 War 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) gave Spain a dynamic and rapidly growing economy and made it a global champion of freedom and human rights. More recently the government has had to focus on measures to reverse a severe economic recession that began in mid-2008. Austerity measures implemented to reduce a large budget deficit and reassure foreign investors have led to one of the highest unemployment rates in Europe.
Southwestern Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, Bay of Biscay, and Pyrenees Mountains; southwest of France
total: 505,370 sq km
country comparison to the world: 52
land: 498,980 sq km
water: 6,390 sq km
note: there are two autonomous cities - Ceuta and Melilla - and 17 autonomous communities including Balearic Islands and Canary Islands, and three small Spanish possessions off the coast of Morocco - Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera
slightly more than twice the size of Oregon
total: 1,917.8 km
border countries: Andorra 63.7 km, France 623 km, Gibraltar 1.2 km, Portugal 1,214 km, Morocco (Ceuta) 6.3 km, Morocco (Melilla) 9.6 km
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (applies only to the Atlantic Ocean)
temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast
large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills; Pyrenees Mountains in north
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico de Teide (Tenerife) on Canary Islands 3,718 m
coal, lignite, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, uranium, tungsten, mercury, pyrites, magnesite, fluorspar, gypsum, sepiolite, kaolin, potash, hydropower, arable land
arable land: 24.75%
permanent crops: 9.29%
other: 65.96% (2011)
total: 32.46 cu km/yr (18%/22%/61%)
per capita: 698.7 cu m/yr (2008)
periodic droughts, occasional flooding
volcanism: volcanic activity in the Canary Islands, located off Africa's northwest coast; Teide (elev. 3,715 m) has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; La Palma (elev. 2,426 m), which last erupted in 1971, is the most active of the Canary Islands volcanoes; Lanzarote is the only other historically active volcano
pollution of the Mediterranean Sea from raw sewage and effluents from the offshore production of oil and gas; water quality and quantity nationwide; air pollution; deforestation; desertification
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar; Spain controls a number of territories in northern Morocco including the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, and the islands of Penon de Velez de la Gomera, Penon de Alhucemas, and Islas Chafarinas
noun: Spaniard(s)
adjective: Spanish
composite of Mediterranean and Nordic types
Castilian Spanish (official) 74%, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, and Basque 2%
note: Catalan is official in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and the Valencian Community (where it is known as Valencian); in the northwest corner of Catalonia (Vall d'Aran), Aranese is official along with Catalan; Galician is official in Galicia; Basque is official in the Basque Country and in the Basque-speaking area of Navarre
Roman Catholic 94%, other 6%
47,370,542 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
0-14 years: 15.4% (male 3,747,028/female 3,531,247)
15-24 years: 9.7% (male 2,377,992/female 2,215,742)
25-54 years: 46.2% (male 11,141,726/female 10,749,877)
55-64 years: 11.3% (male 2,600,682/female 2,738,559)
65 years and over: 17.5% (male 3,514,051/female 4,753,638) (2013 est.)
total dependency ratio: 49.5 %
youth dependency ratio: 23 %
elderly dependency ratio: 26.6 %
potential support ratio: 3.8 (2013)
total: 41.3 years
male: 40 years
female: 42.6 years (2013 est.)
0.73% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
10.14 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
8.94 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
6.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18
urban population: 77% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
MADRID (capital) 5.762 million; Barcelona 5.029 million; Valencia 812,000 (2009)
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
6 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 171
total: 3.35 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 214
male: 3.68 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
total population: 81.37 years
country comparison to the world: 16
male: 78.37 years
female: 84.57 years (2013 est.)
1.48 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 191
9.6% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 31
3.96 physicians/1,000 population (2011)
3.2 beds/1,000 population (2010)
0.4% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
130,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
1,600 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
26.6% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 45
5% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 77
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.7%
male: 98.5%
female: 97% (2010 est.)
total: 17 years
male: 17 years
female: 18 years (2011)
total: 53.2%
country comparison to the world: 5
male: 54.4%
female: 51.8% (2012)
conventional long form: Kingdom of Spain
conventional short form: Spain
local long form: Reino de Espana
local short form: Espana
name: Madrid
geographic coordinates: 40 24 N, 3 41 W
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
note: Spain is divided into two time zones including the Canary Islands
17 autonomous communities (comunidades autonomas, singular - comunidad autonoma) and 2 autonomous cities* (ciudades autonomas, singular - ciudad autonoma); Andalucia; Aragon; Asturias; Canarias (Canary Islands); Cantabria; Castilla-La Mancha; Castilla y Leon; Cataluna (Castilian), Catalunya (Catalan), Catalonha (Aranese) [Catalonia]; Ceuta*; Comunidad Valenciana (Castilian), Comunitat Valenciana (Valencian) [Valencian Community]; Extremadura; Galicia; Illes Baleares (Balearic Islands); La Rioja; Madrid; Melilla*; Murcia; Navarra (Castilian), Nafarroa (Basque) [Navarre]; Pais Vasco (Castilian), Euskadi (Basque) [Basque Country]
note: the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla plus three small islands of Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera, administered directly by the Spanish central government, are all along the coast of Morocco and are collectively referred to as Places of Sovereignty (Plazas de Soberania)
1492; the Iberian peninsula was characterized by a variety of independent kingdoms prior to the Muslim occupation that began in the early 8th century A.D. and lasted nearly seven centuries; the small Christian redoubts of the north began the reconquest almost immediately, culminating in the seizure of Granada in 1492; this event completed the unification of several kingdoms and is traditionally considered the forging of present-day Spain
National Day, 12 October (1492); year when Columbus first set foot in the Americas
previous 1812; latest approved by legislature 31 October 1978, passed by referendum 6 December 1978, signed by the king 27 December 1978, effective 29 December 1978; amended 1992, 2011 (2013)
civil law system with regional variations
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: King JUAN CARLOS I (since 22 November 1975); Heir Apparent Prince FELIPE, son of the monarch, born 30 January 1968
head of government: President of the Government (Prime Minister equivalent) Mariano RAJOY (since 20 December 2011); Vice President (and Minister of the President's Office) Soraya SAENZ DE SANTAMARIA (since 22 December 2011)
cabinet: Council of Ministers designated by the president
note: there is also a Council of State that is the supreme consultative organ of the government, but its recommendations are non-binding
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually proposed president by the monarch and elected by the National Assembly; election last held on 20 November 2011 (next to be held in November 2015); vice president and Council of Ministers are appointed by the president
election results: Mariano RAJOY elected President of the Government; percent of vote - 44.62%
bicameral; General Courts or Las Cortes Generales (National Assembly) consists of the Senate or Senado (257 seats as of 2013; 208 members directly elected by popular vote and the other 49 - as of 2013 - appointed by the regional legislatures; members to serve four-year terms) and the Congress of Deputies or Congreso de los Diputados (350 seats; each of the 50 electoral provinces fills a minimum of two seats and the North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla fill one seat each with members serving a four-year term; the other 248 members are determined by proportional representation based on popular vote on block lists who serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 20 November 2011 (next to be held by November 2015); Congress of Deputies - last held on 20 November 2011 (next to be held by November 2015)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PP 136, PSOE 48, CiU 9, Entesa (PSC-PSOE) 7, EAJ/PNV 4, other 4, members appointed by regional legislatures 49; Congress of Deputies - percent of vote by party - PP 44.6%, PSOE 28.8%, CiU 4.2%, IU 6.9%, Amaiur 1.4%, UPyD 4.7%, EAJ/PNV 1.3%, other 8.1%; seats by party - PP 186, PSOE 110, CiU 16, IU 11, Amaiur 7, UPyD 5, EAJ/PNV 5, other 10
highest court(s): Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo (consists of the court president and organized into the Civil Room with a president and 9 magistrates, the Penal Room with a president and 14 magistrates, the Administrative Room with a president and 32 magistrates, the Social Room with a president and 12 magistrates, and the Military Room with a president and 7 magistrates); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional de Espana (consists of 12 judges)
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates proposed by the General Council of the Judicial Power, a 20-member body chaired by the monarch and includes presidential appointees, and lawyers and jurists elected by the National Assembly; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges appointed by the monarch for 9-year terms
subordinate courts: National Court; High Courts of Justice (in each of the autonomous communities); provincial courts; courts of first instance
Amaiur [collective leadership] (a coalition of parties advocating the peaceful Basque independence from Spain)
Association for Victims of Terrorism or AVT (grassroots organization devoted primarily to supporting victims of the Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) terrorist organization)
other: business and landowning interests; Catholic Church; free labor unions (authorized in April 1977); university students
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, CAN (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
chief of mission: Ambassador Ramon GIL-CASARES Satrustegui (since 5 June 2012)
chancery: 2375 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 452-0100, 728-2340
FAX: [1] (202) 833-5670
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)
chief of mission: Ambassador James COSTOS (since 22 August 2013); note - also accredited to Andorra
embassy: Serrano 75, 28006 Madrid
mailing address: PSC 61, APO AE 09642
telephone: [34] (91) 587-2200
FAX: [34] (91) 587-2303
consulate(s) general: Barcelona
three horizontal bands of red (top), yellow (double width), and red with the national coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band; the coat of arms is quartered to display the emblems of the traditional kingdoms of Spain (clockwise from upper left, Castile, Leon, Navarre, and Aragon) while Granada is represented by the stylized pomegranate at the bottom of the shield; the arms are framed by two columns representing the Pillars of Hercules, which are the two promontories (Gibraltar and Ceuta) on either side of the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar; the red scroll across the two columns bears the imperial motto of "Plus Ultra" (further beyond) referring to Spanish lands beyond Europe; the triband arrangement with the center stripe twice the width of the outer dates to the 18th century
note: the red and yellow colors are related to those of the oldest Spanish kingdoms: Aragon, Castile, Leon, and Navarre
name: "Himno Nacional Espanol" (National Anthem of Spain)
lyrics/music: none/unknown
note: officially in use between 1770 and 1931, restored in 1939; the Spanish anthem has no lyrics; in the years prior to 1931 it became known as "Marcha Real" (The Royal March); it first appeared in a 1761 military bugle call book and was replaced by "Himno de Riego" in the years between 1931 and 1939; the long version of the anthem is used for the king, while the short version is used for the prince, prime minister, and occasions such as sporting events
After almost 15 years of above average GDP growth, the Spanish economy began to slow in late 2007 and entered into a recession in the second quarter of 2008. GDP contracted by 3.7% in 2009, ending a 16-year growth trend, and by another 0.3% in 2010; GDP expanded 0.4% in 2011, before contracting 1.4% in 2012. The economy has once again fallen into recession as deleveraging in the private sector, fiscal consolidation, and continued high unemployment weigh on domestic demand and investment, even as exports have shown signs of resiliency. The unemployment rate rose from a low of about 8% in 2007 to 26.0% in 2012. The economic downturn has also hurt Spain's public finances. The government budget deficit peaked at 11.2% of GDP in 2010 and the process to reduce this imbalance has been slow despite the central government's efforts to raise new tax revenue and cut spending. Spain reduced its budget deficit to 9.4% of GDP in 2011, and roughly 7.4% of GDP in 2012, above the 6.3% target negotiated between Spain and the EU. Although Spain''s large budget deficit and poor economic growth prospects remain a source of concern for foreign investors, the government''s ongoing efforts to cut spending and introduce flexibility into the labor markets are intended to assuage these concerns. The government is also taking steps to shore up the banking system, namely by using up to $130 billion in EU funds to recapitalize struggling banks exposed to the collapsed domestic construction and real estate sectors.
$1.388 trillion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
$1.306 trillion (2012 est.)
-1.6% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
$30,100 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
18.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
household consumption: 59.3%
government consumption: 20.2%
investment in fixed capital: 19.2%
investment in inventories: 0.6%
exports of goods and services: 32.7%
imports of goods and services: -31.9%
agriculture: 3.1%
industry: 26.3%
services: 70.7% (2012 est.)
grain, vegetables, olives, wine grapes, sugar beets, citrus; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; fish
textiles and apparel (including footwear), food and beverages, metals and metal manufactures, chemicals, shipbuilding, automobiles, machine tools, tourism, clay and refractory products, footwear, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment
-3.6% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
23.05 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30
agriculture: 4.2%
industry: 24%
services: 71.7% (2009 est.)
25.1% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 26.6% (2000)
32 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 104
revenues: $481.9 billion
expenditures: $623.9 billion (2012 est.)
36.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
-10.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 204
84.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
2.4% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
1.5% (31 December 2012)
country comparison to the world: 122
note: this is the European Central Bank's rate on the marginal lending facility, which offers overnight credit to banks in the euro area
8.3% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
$785.2 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
note: see entry for the European Union for money supply in the euro area; the European Central Bank (ECB) controls monetary policy for the 17 members of the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU); individual members of the EMU do not control the quantity of money circulating within their own borders
$1.969 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8
$3.045 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
$1.031 trillion (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 14
$-15.14 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
$291.6 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
machinery, motor vehicles; foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, medicines, other consumer goods
France 16.8%, Germany 10.8%, Italy 7.7%, Portugal 7.1%, UK 6.5% (2012)
$323.6 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, semifinished goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, measuring and medical control instruments
Germany 11.8%, France 11.5%, Italy 6.7%, China 5.6%, Netherlands 5.4%, UK 4.1% (2012)
$50.59 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
$2.311 trillion (31 December 2012)
country comparison to the world: 10
$725.3 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
$710.2 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
276.8 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
249.7 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
19.59 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
8.209 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
101.7 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
48.7% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158
7.3% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
13% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
25.8% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
29,290 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
1.061 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
150 million bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 65
1.189 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
1.384 million bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
249,500 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
566,200 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
61 million cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
35.82 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
4.414 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
36.75 billion cu m (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
2.548 billion cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 99
318.6 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
19.22 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 15
50.663 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 28
general assessment: well-developed, modern facilities; fixed-line teledensity exceeds 40 per 100 persons
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 150 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 34; submarine cables provide connectivity to Europe, Middle East, Asia, and US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to adjacent countries (2011)
a mixture of both publicly operated and privately owned TV and radio stations; overall, hundreds of TV channels are available including national, regional, local, public, and international channels; satellite and cable TV systems available; multiple national radio networks, a large number of regional radio networks, and a larger number of local radio stations; overall, hundreds of radio stations (2008)
4.228 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 26
28.119 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 14
150 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 38
total: 99
over 3,047 m: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 14
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
914 to 1,523 m: 24
under 914 m: 24 (2013)
total: 51
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m:
gas 10,481 km; oil 616 km; refined products 3,461 km (2013)
total: 15,293 km
country comparison to the world: 19
broad gauge: 11,919 km 1.668-m gauge (6,950 km electrified)
standard gauge: 1,392 km 1.435-m gauge (1,054 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,954 km 1.000-m gauge (815 km electrified); 28 km 0.914-m gauge (2008)
total: 683,175 km
country comparison to the world: 10
paved: 683,175 km (includes 16,205 km of expressways) (2011)
1,000 km (2012)
country comparison to the world: 65
total: 132
country comparison to the world: 44
by type: bulk carrier 7, cargo 19, chemical tanker 8, container 5, liquefied gas 12, passenger/cargo 43, petroleum tanker 18, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 9, vehicle carrier 7
foreign-owned: 27 (Canada 4, Germany 4, Italy 1, Mexico 1, Norway 10, Russia 6, Switzerland 1)
registered in other countries: 103 (Angola 1, Argentina 3, Bahamas 6, Brazil 12, Cabo Verde 1, Cyprus 6, Ireland 1, Malta 8, Morocco 9, Panama 30, Peru 1, Portugal 18, Uruguay 5, Venezuela 1, unknown 1) (2010)
major seaport(s): Algeciras, Barcelona, Bilbao, Cartagena, Huelva, Tarragona, Valencia (Spain); Las Palmas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands)
container port(s) (TEUs): Algeciras (3,608,301), Barcelona (2,033,747), Valencia (4,327,371); Las Palmas (1,287,389)
Spanish Armed Forces: Army (Ejercito de Tierra), Spanish Navy (Armada Espanola, AE; includes Marine Corps), Spanish Air Force (Ejercito del Aire Espanola, EdA) (2013)
18-26 years of age for voluntary military service by a Spanish citizen or legal immigrant, 2-3 year obligation; women allowed to serve in all SAF branches, including combat units; no conscription, but Spanish Government retains right to mobilize citizens 19-25 years of age in a national emergency; mandatory retirement of non-NCO enlisted personnel at age 45 or 58, depending on service length (2013)
males age 16-49: 11,759,557
females age 16-49: 11,204,688 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 9,603,939
females age 16-49: 9,116,928 (2010 est.)
male: 217,244
female: 205,278 (2010 est.)
0.86% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 320
in 2002, Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by referendum to reject any "shared sovereignty" arrangement; the Government of Gibraltar insists on equal participation in talks between the UK and Spain; Spain disapproves of UK plans to grant Gibraltar greater autonomy; Morocco protests Spain's control over the coastal enclaves of Ceuta, Melilla, and the islands of Penon de Velez de la Gomera, Penon de Alhucemas, and Islas Chafarinas, and surrounding waters; both countries claim Isla Perejil (Leila Island); Morocco serves as the primary launching site of illegal migration into Spain from North Africa; Portugal does not recognize Spanish sovereignty over the territory of Olivenza based on a difference of interpretation of the 1815 Congress of Vienna and the 1801 Treaty of Badajoz
stateless persons: 36 (2012)
