Demographics

The population of Spain in 2010 was 47 million people, with a population density of more than 93 inhabitants per square kilometer.

Spain is a markedly urban society as evidenced by the fact that more than 32% of the population lives in the capitals of the provinces. The main figures are given in the table below.

POPULATION
Total Population	47,021,031
Distribution by Age	0-15: 15.56%
	16-64: 67.85%
	65+: 16.97%
Population Density	93.15 inhabitants/km2
Urban Population	82.25%
Working Population	59.99%
Working Population by Industry(See more)	Agriculture 4.37%
	Industry 14.25%
	Construction 8.54%
	Services 72.84%
Demographic Composition (See more)	87.78% Spaniards / 12.22% foreign population
Religion	76.63% - Catholic
Official Language	Castilian is the official State language. Other Spanish languages also have official status in their respective Autonomous Communities, in accordance with their Charters of Autonomy. (Article 3 of the Constitution)

Source: National Statistics Institute. Data at January 1, 2010. Municipal Register report. Working population with data from Q4 of 2010.

Variation in working population by industry (%)

	2008	2009	2010
Agriculture	4.05	4.19	4.37
Industry	15.32	14.38	14.25
Construction	10.98	9.67	8.54
Services	69.65	71.76	72.84

Source: National Statistics Institute. Q4 2010.

Foreigners resident in Spain by continent of origin

	2008	2009	2010
Europe	1,917,069	1,963,108	2,126,991
The Americas	1,354,158	1,466,121	1,338,274
Asia	270,210	295,668	300,091
Africa	922,635	980,964	986,382
Oceania	1,839	1,923	1,750
Unknown	7,588	7,973	1,014
TOTAL	4,473,499	4,715,757	4,754,502

Source: Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. Figures at September 30, 2010

 

Political Structure

POLITICAL FRAMEWORK
Political structure of State	Parliamentary Monarchy
Head of State	King Juan Carlos I
Prime Minister	José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, since April 17th, 2004 and has been reelected on March 9th, 2008.
Parliament	Lower House (350 members) and Upper House (259 members)
Party in power	Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE)
Territorial organization	Territorially, the State is organized into municipalities, provinces and autonomous communities. There are 17 autonomous communities and two cities (Ceuta and Melilla).
European Union	Member State since 1986

 

Economy

Spain is a dynamic country with an advanced economic model, in which the services sector and industry represent approximately 87% of Spain´s GDP.

ECONOMIC DATA
Currency	Euro, divided into 100 cents
Real growth in GDP	-0.15%*
GDP per capita (2008)	22,886 euros
Inflation	-3.0**
Public Accounts	Budget deficit 3.7 % of GDP in 2010 (Bank of Spain)***

* Data 2010
** Aggregate average until December 2010
*** The State recorded a deficit 3.7% until November 2010 of Spain's GDP (Bank of Spain)

Source: Eurostat, National Statistics Institute, Bank of Spain

 

Trade and investment

In recent years, the rapid growth in imports and exports has made Spain one of the most internationally-oriented countries in the world, with figures for Spanish foreign investment reaching $16,000 million in 2009¹.

Spain's main trading partners are the 27-nation EU Member States, accounting for 67.8% of total exports and 54.8% of imports, followed by Asia and Africa (respectively accounting for 7.5% and 5.6% of total exports and for 19.4% and 8.8% of total imports) which have displaced Latin and North America from their traditional role as Spain’s main trade partners outside the EU².

Spain is one of the most active countries trading goods and services. With regards to the trading of goods, it is ranked 16th in the world as an exporter and 13th as an importer; while in the trading of services it occupies 7th place as an exporter and 9th place as an importer.

The Spanish share in global export and import of goods (Spanish exports/global exports) is 1.70% and 2.30% respectively. The Spanish share in global export and import of services stands at 3.60% and 2.80%³.

The breakdown by industry of foreign trade is relatively diversified, as can be seen in the following table:

Breakdown of main exports and imports in 2010* (as % of total)

EXPORTS		IMPORTS
Capital goods	20.1%	Capital goods	19.9%
Automobile industry	16.3%	Energy products	18.2%
Chemical products	15.4%	Chemical products	15.2%
Food	14.9%	Consumer goods	10.8%
Semi-manufactured non-chemical products	12.2%	Food	10.4%
Consumer goods	8.5%	Automobile industry	10.4%
Energy products	5.0%	Semi-manufactured non-chemical products	7.5%
Other goods	3.4%	Raw materials	3.7%
Raw materials	2.4%	Durable consumer goods	3.4%
Durable consumer goods	1.9%	Other goods	0.4%

* Data available at January-November 2010
Source: Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade

With regard to investment, it is worth highlighting the increase in inward investment received since 1996. In recent years, Spain has been one of the main recipients of foreign direct investment. According to the World International Report 2010, in 2009 Spain ranked seventh worlwide in foreign direct investment.

Proof of how highly developed the Spanish economy is, is the fact that, since 1997, the outward investment flows have outstripped inward investment flows.

* Data available at January-March 2011.

With regard to the graphic above the data by the end of January-November 2009 is the following: Direct Investment 16.33; Portfolio Investment 52.92; Total 69.25 (in € billion).

Infrastructure

Spain is ranked 1st in the EU in terms of the number of high-capacity toll roads and highways and 1st in terms of the number of kilometers of high-speed railway tracks. In addition, it boasts 49 airports and 46 international ports which, when combined with the country´s geostrategic position, make Spain one of the leading hubs for passenger and goods transportation.

Of even greater importance is the Transportation Infrastructure Strategic Plan, with total investments of €248 billion projected for the 2005-2020 period. The table below sets out some of the more noteworthy facts and figures relating to Spain's infrastructure:

INFRASTRUCTURE
Investment	248,892 million until 2020
Highways	14,000 km (high capacity)
Railway	16,530 km
Airports	250 airlines at 49 airports
Ports	46 international ports
Technology	Extensive fiber optic cable network and one of the largest undersea cable and satellite-link networks.

¹ World Investment Report 2010.
² Data available Jan-Nov. 2010. Source: Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade.
³ Internacional Trade Statistics 2010.

 

For further information, visit the extended version of our online Guide to Business:

Spain profile

 

Prepared by Garrigues

Last updated: 01|07|2011