| Spain (Spanish: España), officially - kingdom of Spain (Spanish and Galician: Reino de España, Catalan: Regne d'Espanya, Basque: Espainiako Erresuma, Occitan: Reialme d'Espanha, Asturian: Reinu d'España) - is a country in the southwest of Europe. It occupies the major part of the Iberian Peninsula. The name of the country originates from the Phoenician expression "hi-shpanim" – “coast of rabbits”.
Spain borders with:
1. Portugal in the west by the Iberian Peninsula;
2. The British overseas territory of Gibraltar in the south by the Iberian Peninsula;
3. Morocco in Northern Africa (Ceuta and Melila enclaves);
4. France and Andora in the north.
Spain is touched by the Atlantic Ocean in the north and West and also the Mediterranean sea in the south and east.
The national holiday in Spain is Hispanic Day, which is celebrated on the 12th of October.
Economy:
Present day Spain is a developed country. On industrial production in 1995, the country was in tenth place in the world and fifth place in Western Europe. GDP per capita constitutes 14000 dollars (1999). The main development took place in the last decade. After the Second World War, Spain was in isolation. The USA did not provide any aid to the country (according to Marshall Plan) and Spain began to develop its closed self-sufficient economy. It caused a high level of State intervention in market growth and an increased share of state ownership.
The stabilization plan later known as the “Spanish Miracle” began in the early sixties. In 1960-1974 economic indicators grew on the average on 6.6% a year that was more than at any other country in the world (except Japan). The major role was played by portraying Spain as the world’s major tourist destination.
During 1959-1974, more than 3 million Spaniards migrated to other countries in search of work in order to send the earnings back to Spain. The energy crisis of 1973 had struck across Spain. Due to its strong dependence on other countries unemployment grew to 21% in 1975. But in the 1980s Spain’s economic growth began. Though the growth figures were below those of the 1960s, all of them remained constantly high in Western Europe. But now, the production growth was accompanied by inflation and high unemployment (up to 22% of the physically able population).
In the 1990s, the country became one of the leaders of the EU (though till now it receives the grant for support in agriculture and some areas from common European funds).
In the national economy strong positions are held by the USA, France, Germany, Great Britain and Switzerland. More than 50 percent of the enterprises of mechanical engineering and metallurgy belong to them .Today, about 40% of the actionable share capital is shared by 8 of the largest Spanish financial, industrial and bank groups (Marchej, Ferro, Urkiho, Garrigesov, Ruis-Mateos, etc.).
In the year 2004, Spanish exports exceeded 135 billions Euro, import — approx 190 billions Euro. The main partners in foreign trade include the EU countries, the USA and Latin America.
Ports: Bilbao, Barcelona; oil ports — Algeciras, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Tarragona, coal ports — Gijon. Spain — one of the largest centers of international tourism (62 million people in 1997, 95% of tourists — from the EU countries; the main tourist spots — Madrid and Barcelona), and also resorts — Kosta Bravo, the Kosta-Dorada, the Kosta-Blanca, and Kosta-del-Sol. In 2004 Spain had 53.6 million foreign tourists (2nd place in the world).
Branch incomes in 2004 — were 35 billion euros. More than 65% of tourists were from EU countries.
Original branch — preparation and export of a pith bark.
The banking system of Spain is one of the most stable in Europe. Among its distinctive features includes a high degree of holdings by the banking capital along with a small amount of credit institutions (395), considerable foreign currency reserves (13,9 billion Euro), the branched out network of private banks and the state savings banks. The major role is played by the national banks with 100% Spanish capital. The leader in cost of market actives - financial group "Banquo Santander Sentral Ispano", was formed in 1999 as a result of the merger of two big banks.
Gross national product — 798,67 billion € (2004). Its growth constitutes 2.6%.
Population of Spain:
2009 — 46,66 million.
Urban population is about 76 percent. Population density is 79,7 people per square kilometer.
Official language - Mainly Spanish, other languages (Catalan-Valencian-Balearic in Catalonia, Valencia and on Balearic islands, Basque in Basque Provinces & Navarre, Galician in Galicia, Aranese in Catalonia) are also official languages.
95% of the population is Catholic. Despite this, 67% of the Spanish population has supported the idea of unisex marriages. Since July 2005 law legalizing unisex marriages and the adoption of children by unisex couples has come into force in the country.
Over 2.7 million Spaniards reside outside the country including in the countries of North and South America – 1.7 million and in Western Europe - over 1 million (mainly in France and Germany).
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Spain won the 2010 World Cup in the toughest final game against the Netherlands. This marks the first time ever for Spain to win the World Cup and makes this victory extra special for the Spanish team and all its fans. Spanish communities are celebrating this victory all over the world. The king of Spain, Juan Carlos I, said that every player in the Spain soccer team is a national hero and invited the whole team to be personally congratulated by the king in the Royal Palace of Madrid.
