Spain
Short landscape
Spain is a highly developed country, member of the European Union and one of the 12 countries which have adopted the Euro as their single currency.
Spain stretches over an area of 505,990 square kilometres in South Western Europe. The territory of Spain covers the greatest part of the Iberian Peninsula which it shares with Portugal, and includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean and the North African cities of Ceuta and Melilla.
A fine climate, abundant sportive and leisure facilities and a rich cultural and social life make for high living conditions. These have been widely recognized by the media; in a recent study by The Economist the quality of life in Spain ranked third in the world in terms of a set of social, political, cultural and economic parameters.
The population in Spain is roughly 44 million people in 2005. Approximately 20% is under 19 years of age; 63% is between 19 and 65 years old, and 17% is over 65. The population density is 83 inhabitants per square kilometre. The most populated cities in Spain are Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Sevilla.
Spanish is the official language although in some Autonomous Communities it is co-official with the local language. Education is mandatory from 6 until the age of 16 and most students study English as their first foreign language at school.
Spain is a parliamentary monarchy. The 1978 Constitution guarantees fundamental civil rights and public freedoms. The Constitution assigns the legislative power to a bicameral Parliament, the executive power to the Government of the nation and the judicial power to independent judges.
According to the Constitution, Spain is organized into 17 Autonomous Communities and two Autonomous Cities (Ceuta and Melilla). Each Autonomous Community, formed by one or several provinces, has a Government, a Legislative Chamber and a High Court of Justice of its own.