Spain is found in southwestern Europe. It occupies what is known as the Iberian Peninsula, along with Portugal. Spain also borders the Bay of Biscay to the north and the Mediterranean Sea to the east and south.
Quick Facts
Population: 49.331 million
Ethnic Groups: Spanish (86.4%), Morocco (1.8%), Romania (1.3%), Other (10.5%)
Languages: Castilian Spanish (Official) (74%), Catalan (17%), Galician (7%), and Basque (2%), Aranese (<5000 speakers)
Religions: Roman Catholic (68.9%), Atheist (11.3%), Agnostic (7.6%), Other (2.8%), None (8.2%), Unspecified (1.1%)
Capital: Madrid
CIA: The World Factbook — Last Updated December 26, 2019
Spanish in Canada
Spanish Population in Canada
396,460
Useful Links
Since 1978, Spain has transformed from an isolated, poor dictatorship to a free and more prosperous country. Spain’s economy was revitalized when it entered the European Union in 1986 (although today it has slowed, as it was hit hard by the recent economic recession). Spaniards enjoy a high standard of living. Catholicism was once the state religion in Spain, and non-Catholics were subject to discrimination. However, the 1978 constitution guaranteed equality of rights for all religions. Today, Spain is moving from a traditional Catholic society to a more secular one. Nevertheless, Catholicism remains dominant. Most Spaniards observe baptism and other Catholic rites. Immigration has brought more religious diversity to Spain, which now has a Muslim population of over 1 million.
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