Spain's population density, lower than that of most European countries, is roughly equivalent to New England's. In recent years, following a longstanding pattern in the rest of Europe, rural populations are moving to cities.
Spain has no official religion. The constitution of 1978 disestablished the Roman Catholic Church as the official state religion, while recognizing the role it plays in Spanish society. More than 90% of the population are at least nominally Catholic.
Compulsory education begins with primary school or general basic education for ages 6-14. It is free in public schools and in many private schools, most of which receive government subsidies. Following graduation, students attend either a secondary school offering a general high school diploma or a school of professional education (corresponding to grades 9-12 in the United States) offering a vocational training program. The Spanish university system offers degree and post-graduate programs in all fields--law, sciences, humanities, and medicine--and the superior technical schools offer programs in engineering and architecture.
Population:
39,996,671 (July 2000 est.)
Age structure:
Population growth rate:
0.11% (2000 est.)
Birth rate:
9.22 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Death rate:
9.03 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)
Sex ratio:
Infant mortality rate:
4.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Total fertility rate:
1.15 children born/woman (2000 est.)
Nationality:
Ethnic groups:
composite of Mediterranean and Nordic types
Religions:
Roman Catholic 99%, other 1%
Languages:
Literacy:
Educational System
About 70% of Spain's student population attends public schools or universities. The remainder attend private schools or universities, the great majority of which are operated by the Catholic Church.
0-14 years:
15% (male 3,046,379; female 2,866,712)
15-64 years:
68% (male 13,702,947; female 13,618,766)
65 years and over:
17% (male 2,830,607; female 3,931,260) (2000 est.)
at birth:
1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.72 male(s)/female
total population:
0.96 male(s)/female (2000 est.)
total population:
78.79 years
male:
75.32 years
female:
82.49 years (2000 est.)
noun:
Spaniard(s)
adjective:
Spanish
Others with no official status:
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
97%
male:
NA%
female:
NA%
