POPULATION 40,077,100
ROMAN CATHOLIC 82.1 percent
OTHER 2.0 percent
NONE 14.6 percent
UNKNOWN 1.3 percent

Country Overview

Introduction

The Kingdom of Spain, located on the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe, is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, France, and Andorra to the north, the Mediterranean Sea to the east, the Mediterranean Sea and Gibraltar to the south, and Portugal and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Mountains and rivers separate the peninsula into distinct regions, which helps to explain the divisive regionalism that has marked its history. The Canary Islands and Balearic Islands, as well as the cities of Ceuta and Melilla in North Africa, are part of Spain. Madrid is the capital and largest city.

By the beginning of the Christian era, the Iberian Peninsula was incorporated into the Roman Empire. After the collapse of the empire early in the fifth century, the Visigoths, Germanic invaders from central and northern Europe, swept onto...