ABSTRACT
Spain is a country in south-east Europe, covering most of the Iberian Peninsula, which also comprises Portugal. It borders on France and the Principality of Andorra in the north, on Portugal in the west and on the British territory of Gibraltar in the south. The coastline comprises the Mediterranean and Cantabrian seas and the Atlantic Ocean on the north-western side. The country covers a total area of 505,645 km2 and has a population of 47,212,990, including 5,711,040 foreigners (EU and non-EU nationals). According to the National Statistical Office (INE 2010), the gender ratio is 49.3 per cent men and 50.7 per cent women. Some 15.8 per cent of the population are under the age of 16, 41.1 per cent are between 16 and 44 years old and 43.1 per cent are 45 years or older.
