Spain: Geography, Economy, and Cultural Heritage
Classified in Geography
Written on in 
English with a size of 2.6 KB
Geography and Territory of Spain
Spain[7], also called the Kingdom of Spain, is a sovereign country and a member of the European Union. It is established as a social and democratic state of law, whose form of government is a parliamentary monarchy. Its territory, with its capital in Madrid, occupies most of the Iberian Peninsula. To this are added the archipelagos of the Balearic Islands (in the western Mediterranean Sea) and the Canary Islands (in the northeast Atlantic Ocean), as well as the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla in North Africa, and the districts and possessions of the Chafarinas Islands, the Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera, and the Peñón de Alhucemas. The municipality of Llívia, completely surrounded by French territory in the Pyrenees, completes the territories along with the island of Alborán, the Columbretes Islands, and a series of islands and islets off its own coasts.
It has an area of 504,645 km², making it the fourth-largest country on the continent after Russia, Ukraine, and France.[8] With an average altitude of 650 meters, it is one of the most mountainous countries in Europe. It has a population of 46,951,532 inhabitants, according to the municipal census of 2010.
Demographics and Official Languages
According to the Spanish Constitution, Castilian (or Spanish) is the official language of the Spanish state, and all citizens have the duty to know it and the right to use it.[9] In 2006, it was the mother tongue of 89% of Spaniards.[10] Other languages are also recognized as co-official in various regions under their respective statutes of autonomy. The Constitution recognizes that the linguistic modalities of Spain are part of its cultural heritage, which is the object of special respect and protection.[7]
The Spanish Economy
The Spanish economy is the ninth-largest economy in the world in terms of GDP, ahead of Canada and Russia. According to Eurostat, the Spanish GDP per capita stood in 2009 at 103% of the average of the European Union, ahead of Italy.[11]
Borders and International Relations
The mainland shares land borders with France and the Principality of Andorra to the north, Portugal to the west, and the British territory of Gibraltar to the south. In its African territories, it shares land and sea borders with Morocco. It also shares sovereignty with France over Pheasant Island at the mouth of the Bidasoa River, as well as five Pyrenean facerías.[12]