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 abolished 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.

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.

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.

Metropolitan areas

The most important metropolitan areas in 2003 are:

1. Madrid 5.603.285
2. Barcelona 4.667.136
3. Valencia 1.465.423
4. Sevilla 1.294.081
5. Malaga 1.019.292
6. Bilbao 946.829
7. Asturias (Gijon-Oviedo) 850.097
8. Alicante 676.237
9. Zaragoza 656.922
10. Las Palmas 609.628
11. Murcia 557.583
12. Palma of Mallorca 462.010
13. Granada 450.439
14. Vigo 420.672
15. Santa Cruz of Tenerife 409.621
16. Cadiz 406.095
17. San Sebastian 395.758
18. La Coruña 388.692
19. Valladolid 377.562
20. Tarragona 348.921
21. Cordoba 318.628

Statistical indicators

From CIA World Factbook.

Population: 42,717,064 (January 2003 est.)

Age structure (2000 est.):
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.)

Population growth rate: 2,1% (2003 est.)

Birth rate: 10.5 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate: 9.16 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Net migration rate: 0.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Sex ratio:
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.)

Infant mortality rate: 4.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 78.79 years
male: 75.32 years
female: 82.49 years (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate: 1.15 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Spaniard(s)
adjective: Spanish

Ethnic groups: composite of Mediterranean and Nordic types

Religions: Roman Catholic 99%, other 1%

Languages:

• Castilian Spanish (official) 74%
• Catalan 17% (co-official in Catalonia, Balearic Islands, and Valencia — see Valencian)
• Galician 7% (co-official in Galicia)
• Basque 2% (co-official in Basque Country).
• Aranese (a variant of Gascon Occitan) is co-official in Val d'Aran, a small valley in the Pyreenes.

Others with no official status:

• Asturian (in Asturias and part of Leon province)
• Aragonese (in Huesca province, Aragon)
• Berber (Ceuta and Melilla)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: NA%
female: NA%

See also

• Spain