Population: 40.5 million
Capital: Madrid
Area: 504, 780 sq. km

Borders: Spain borders the Bay of Biscay on the north, the Mediterranean Sea and the Balearic Sea on the south and south-east, and the North Atlantic Ocean on its southwest. Spain has land borders with Portugal on the west, and Andorra and France to its east along the Pyrenees Mountains. Spain also borders Gibraltar on its south, and Morocco, through its cities in North Africa (Ceuta and Melilla).

Language: Spanish
Currency: Euro
Time Zone: CET (GMT+1 standard time/GMT+2 summer time)
Dialling Code: + 34
Electricity: 220 V
Political Structure: Parliamentary Monarchy
Mean Altitude: 600 metres
Highest Altitude: 3719 metres (Pico de Teide in Tenerife)

Geography: Most of mainland Spain is made up of a high plateau known as the Meseta Central, which is divided by several mountain ranges. Other landforms in Spain include coastal plains and lowland river valleys of which the Andalusia Plain in the southwest is the most prominent. Spain can be divided up into ten natural regions or sub regions, which are the Meseta Central, the Cordillera Cantabrica, the Iberico region, the Pyrenees, the Penibetico region, the Andalusia plain, the Ebro Basin, the coastal plains, the Balearic Islands and the Canaries.

Climate: Typically Mediterranean climate in most southern and central regions with warm summers and cool winters. The northern coast is typically colder with an Atlantic climate. Alpine temperatures are found in the mountainous parts of Spain with snow common in the winters.

Religion: Roman Catholic
Measurements: Metric System
Economy: 8th largest economy in the world.
GDP was $1.35 trillion in 2007
Emergency Numbers: General Emergency: 112
Ambulance: 061
Fire Brigade: 080
National Police: 091
Municipal Police: 092
Civil Guard: 062

Opening Hours: Most of Spain enjoys a siesta in the afternoon although times vary between regions. Stores generally open around 9 am, and then close at around 1 pm for the siesta during the hottest parts of the day. They reopen around 5 pm.

Bank Times: Banks are generally open between 9 am and 2 pm from Monday to Friday and between 9 am and 1 pm on Saturdays.

Pharmacies: Pharmacies are marked with a green cross and located in all big cities and towns. Some pharmacies are open 24 hours a day.

Transport: Spain has an extensive travel network throughout the country. Buses, trains, and domestic air travel are all quick and efficient options to get you from one city to the next. Hiring a car is another option. You have to be 18 to drive in Spain, but 21 to hire a car. Spain has good motorways and roads, and driving is on the right side of the road.