Spain

Spain /ˈspeɪn/ (help·info) (Spanish: España, pronounced [esˈpaɲa] ( listen)), or the Kingdom of Spain (Spanish: Reino de España), is a country located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.^{[note 6]} Its mainland is bordered to the south and east by the Mediterranean Sea except for a small land boundary with Gibraltar; to the north by France, Andorra, and the Bay of Biscay; and to the northwest and west by the Atlantic Ocean and Portugal. Spanish territory also includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the African coast, and two autonomous cities in North Africa, Ceuta and Melilla, that border Morocco. With an area of 504,030 km², Spain is the second largest country in Western Europe and the European Union after France.

Because of its location, the territory of Spain was subject to many external influences, often simultaneously, since prehistoric times and through the dawn of Spain as a country. Conversely, the country itself has been an important source of influence to other regions, chiefly during the Modern Era, when it became a global empire that has left a legacy of over 400 million Spanish speakers today.

Spain is a democracy organised in the form of a parliamentary government under a constitutional monarchy. It is a developed country with the ninth largest economy by nominal GDP, and high living standards (16th highest HDI). It is a member of the United Nations, European Union, NATO, OECD, and WTO.

Contents

• 1 Etymology
• 2 Geography
  • 2.1 Climate
• 3 History
  • 3.1 Prehistory and pre-Roman peoples
  • 3.2 Roman Empire and the Germanic Kingdoms
  • 3.3 Muslim Iberia
  • 3.4 Fall of Muslim rule and unification
  • 3.5 Imperial Spain
  • 3.6 Napoleonic rule and its consequences
  • 3.7 Spanish-American War
  • 3.8 20th century
  • 3.9 21st century
• 4 Government
  • 4.1 Constitution
  • 4.2 Branches of government
  • 4.3 Administrative divisions
  • 4.4 Foreign relations
    • 4.4.1 Territorial disputes
      • 4.4.1.1 Territory claimed by Spain
      • 4.4.1.2 Spanish territories claimed by other countries
  • 4.5 Military
• 5 Economy
• 6 Transportation
• 7 Demographics
  • 7.1 Metropolitan areas
  • 7.2 Main cities
  • 7.3 Peoples
  • 7.4 Minority groups
  • 7.5 Immigration
  • 7.6 Languages
• 8 Culture
  • 8.1 Religion
  • 8.2 Schools
  • 8.3 Literature
  • 8.4 Institut d'Estudis Catalans
  • 8.5 Real Academia Española
  • 8.6 Art
  • 8.7 Cinema
  • 8.8 Architecture
  • 8.9 Music
  • 8.10 Cuisine
  • 8.11 Sport
  • 8.12 Public holidays
• 9 See also
• 10 Notes
• 11 References
• 12 External links

Kingdom of Spain Reino de España
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Plus Ultra" (Latin) "Further Beyond"
Anthem: "Marcha Real" (Spanish)[note 1] "Royal March"
Location of Spain (dark green) – on the European continent (light green & dark grey) – in the European Union (light green) — [Legend]
Capital (and largest city)		Madrid 40°26′N 3°42′W / 40.433°N 3.7°W / 40.433; -3.7
Official languages		Spanish[note 2]
Recognised regional languages		Aranese, Basque, Catalan/Valencian and Galician
Ethnic groups		88.7% Spanish, 11.3% Other (Romanian, Moroccan, Ecuadorian, Colombian, British)[1][2]
Demonym		Spanish, Spaniard
Government		Parliamentary democracy and Constitutional monarchy
-	King	Juan Carlos I
-	Prime Minister	José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero (PSOE)
Formation		15th century
-	Dynastic	1479
-	de facto	1516
-	de jure	1716
-	Constitutional democracy	1978
EU accession		1 January 1986
Area
-	Total	504,030 km2 (51st) 195,364 sq mi
-	Water (%)	1.04
Population
-	2009 estimate	46,661,950[3] (27th)
-	Density	90 people/km2 (106th) 231/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2008 estimate
-	Total	$1,397 trillion[4]
-	Per capita	$30,620[4]
GDP (nominal)		2008 estimate
-	Total	$1,611 trillion[4]
-	Per capita	$35,331[4]
Gini (2005)		32[5]
HDI (2006)		▲ 0.949 (high) (16th)
Currency		Euro (€)[note 3] (EUR)
Time zone		CET[note 4] (UTC+1)
-	Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Date formats		dd.mm.yyyy (Spanish; CE)
Drives on the		right
Internet TLD		.es[note 5]
Calling code		34