About Spain

Spain is officially called the 'Kingdom of Spain' (Spanish: 'Reino de España'). Anno 2010 the country has nearly 47 million inhabitants. Spain is a constitutional monarchy and covers an area of 505,992 km2. The country covers roughly 80% of the Iberian Peninsula. Spain also includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean and the Spanish enclaves in North Africa.

In northeast Spain borders on France and Andorra, along the entire length of Pyrenees to Portugal in the west and south to the British colony of Gibraltar. The capital of Spain is Madrid, a city of more than 3 million inhabitants located in the middle of the country.

Spain is a divers country with very different cultures, languages, eating habits and climates. The country ranges from the rainy fishing villages in Galicia to the nightlife of Barcelonas tourist coast of the Mediterranean, the flamenco of Andalusia, and bullfighting in many parts of the country and the modern Valencia.

Spain joined NATO in 1982 and is a member of the European Union since 1986.