Tourism is Spain’s Biggest Industry
Sunny Climate Plus Warm, Friendly People and Rich Culture Draw Visitors Many of Whom Return to Retire or Live and Work

Spain is far more than the celebrity hangout of Ibiza. It has a rich cultural heritage, natural environment and wonderful cuisine to be explored throughout the country. The Spanish mainland occupies the major part of the Iberian Peninsula. The Pyrenees Mountains separate Spain from France, and southward it extends to the Strait of Gibraltar, which separates it from Africa.

The eastern and southeastern coasts of Spain enjoy a Mediterranean coastline and in the west, it borders on the Atlantic Ocean. The Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea and of the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean are also part of Spain.

Government
Spain has been a constitutional monarchy since 1975. The King has the ability to ratify laws, dissolve the legislature, and propose candidates for the office of the prime minister. He is also the head of the armed forces.

The country has a bicameral legislature with representatives elected every four years. The legislature’s powers include the ability to ratify, repeal, or reform laws and to approve international treaties. Spain’s executive branch has a president or prime minister, vice presidents, and heads of ministries.

Each of the autonomous regions of Spain has its own parliament and regional government that has its own legislative and executive authority as outlined by the country’s constitution.

Demographics
Spain has 46.06 million people. Its population density is lower than that of most other Western European countries and most of its residents live either in Madrid, the capital, or in the coastal regions.

Eleven of the country’s 50 provinces saw a decline in population during the 20th Century, but recently population has been boosted by foreign immigrants from Latin America, Eastern Europe and Africa. Its Mediterranean coast and Balearic islands have attracted both retirees and telecommuters from the European Union and Norwegian residents.

The People
The people of Spain have great regional diversity due to its several distinct ethnic groups. These include the Basques, Catalans and Galicians. Roman Catholicism was the official religion until 1978, but its role in Spanish life has declined. Currently, there is also a large population of Muslims as a result of North African immigration.

Spaniards of Latin American descent is a large and rapidly growing population segment. Other groups include Britons, Germans and other immigrants from Western and Eastern Europe as well as Asia and the Caribbean.

Culture
Spain has a rich cultural heritage and shares with the world not only its traditional Flamenco music and dancers, but its bullfights and matadors. Spain is also synmnous with some of the greatest painters in history such as El Greco, Diego Velasquez, Francisco Goya, Pablo Picasso, Juan Gris, Joan Miró and Salvador Dalí.

The country is known for its culturally diverse heritage, having been influenced by many nations and peoples throughout its history. Spanish culture has its origins in the Iberian, Celtiberian, Latin, Visigothic, Roman Catholic and Islamic cultures.

Spain had 49 universities in 1998, including those of Navarre, Salamanca, Madrid, and Barcelona.

Business and Economy
Tourism is Spain’s greatest source of income. Although the country has made economic progress in recent decades, it still trails most of Western Europe and it still has a large trade imbalance. Spain’s greatest trade is with the United States, Germany, France, and Great Britain.

Agriculturally, Spain yields large crops of wheat, sugar beets, barley, tomatoes, olives, citrus fruit, grapes, and cork. Globally, it is the world’s largest producer of olive oil and Europe’s largest producer of lemons, oranges, and strawberries. Wine is also produced in Spain, with the most well known wines coming from the upper Ebro valley, and Andalusia.

Major industries produce include textiles, iron, steel, and chemicals. Motor vehicles, diesel and electric motors, and machinery are manufactured, in addition to a variety of consumer goods. There are also several beverage and tobacco industries.

Spain has considerable natural resources. In Asturias and the Basque Country, the Cantabrian Mountains provide rich mineral resources such as iron, coal, and zinc. Copper is mined extensively at Rio Tinto. Other mineral resources include lead, silver, tin, and mercury. Petroleum is found near Burgos.

Fishing, notably for sardines, tuna, cod, and anchovies, is an important source of livelihood, especially on the Atlantic coast. Fish canning is a major industry.

Language
Castilian Spanish is the only language with official status nationwide, but other languages include Aranese, Catalan, Basque and Galician. In the tourist areas of the Mediterranean coast and the islands, English and German are widely spoken by tourists, foreign residents, and tourism workers.