Spain Economy, GDP, Budget, Industry and Agriculture

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Spain Economy


View the information below regarding the economy of Spain. The summary and statistics contains gdp, industry, agriculture and more for Spain. If you need other information please visit the Spain Country Page.

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    Economy
    GDP (2002): $649.8 billion in current prices (seventh-largest OECD economy).
    Annual growth rate: 1.8%.
    Per capita GDP: $15,771.
    Natural resources: Coal, lignite, iron ore, uranium, mercury, pyrites, fluorspar, gypsum, zinc, lead, tungsten, copper, kaolin, hydroelectric power.
    Agriculture and fisheries (3.6% of GDP, 2001 est.): Products--grains, vegetables, citrus and deciduous fruits, wine, olives and olive oil, sunflowers, livestock.
    Industry (30.2% of GDP, 2001 est.): Types--processed foods, textiles, footwear, petrochemicals, steel, automobiles, consumer goods, electronics.
    Trade (2002): Exports--$122.2 billion: automobiles, fruits, minerals, metals, clothing, footwear, textiles. Major markets--EU 71.3%, U.S. 4.4%. Imports--$156.6 billion: petroleum, oilseeds, aircraft, grains, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, fish, consumer goods. Major sources--EU 63.9%, U.S. 4.6%.
    Avg. exchange rate (2003): 0.895 euros=US$1.

    Economy of Spain
    Spain's accession to the European Community--now European Union (EU)--in January 1986 required the country to open its economy, modernize its industrial base, improve infrastructure, and revise economic legislation to conform to EU guidelines. In doing so, Spain increased GDP growth, reduced the public debt to GDP ratio, reduced unemployment from 23% to 15% in 3 years, and reduced inflation to under 3%. The fundamental challenges remaining for Spain include reducing the public sector deficit, decreasing unemployment further, reforming labor laws and investment regulations, lowering inflation, and raising per capita GDP.

    Following peak growth years in the late 1980s, the Spanish economy entered into recession in mid-1992. The economy recovered during first Aznar administration (1996-2000), driven by a return of consumer confidence and increased private consumption, although growth has slowed in recent years. Unemployment remains a problem at 11.3% (2002 est.), but this still represents a significant improvement from previous levels. Devaluations of the peseta during the 1990s made Spanish exports more competitive, but the strength of the euro since its adoption has raised recent concerns that Spanish exports are being priced out of the range of foreign buyers. However, this has been offset by the facilitation of trade among the euro nations.

    source: http://www.state.gov

  • Spain Government
  • Spain People
  • Spain Geography
  • Spain History