Spain ’92 / A Medal Year : Speaking Of: : The New Spain

The past decade has been a good time to be a Spaniard.

Spain has gotten more prosperous since joining the 12-nation European Community in 1986. Its economy, plumped by huge infusions of investment capital, has expanded faster than any other EC member’s. And although it is beginning to feel some growth pangs, such as a heavy trade deficit, and still has high unemployment (16.5%), the economic carriage is not about to turn into a pumpkin. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development predicts growth of 2.6% this year and 3.2% next year--faster than the forecast for the rest of Europe.

Compared to Americans, Spaniards lead simpler, less affluent lives with fewer conveniences. But they also may be healthier, with more doctors and a lower rate of infant mortality.

HUMMING ALONG

Spain’s average economic growth from its entry into the European Community in 1986 through 1991, compared with that of the world’s seven biggest industrial economies.

Source: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

VITAL STATISTICS

Compared with the United States

Population, millions (mid-1991): Spain: 39.5 United States: 252.7

Area, square miles Spain: 194,896 United States: 3,618,770

GDP per capita (1991) Spain: $13,399 United States: $21,956

Economic growth (1991) Spain: 2.4% United States: -0.7%

Unemployment (April) Spain: 16.5% United States: 7.2

Job growth (1991) Spain: 0.2% United States: -0.9%

Inflation (12 months ending in May) Spain: 6.5% United States: 3.0

Trade deficit, billions (1991) Spain: $31.7 United States: $73.6

Budget deficit, share of GDP (1991) Spain: 4.3% United States: 3.5%

Sources: Eurostat, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, U.S. Labor Department

LIVING STANDARDS

Compared with the United States

Spain U.S.

Cars per 1,000 persons (1988): Spain: 263 United States: 559

Telephones per 1,000 persons (1987): Spain: 396 United States: 650

Televisions per 1,000 persons (1986): Spain: 322 United States: 813

Newspaper circulation per 1,000 persons (1990): Spain: 76 United States: 255

Doctors per 1,000 persons (1989) Spain: 3.7 United States: 2.3

Infant deaths per 1,000 live births (1989) Spain: 7.8 United States: 9.7

Sources: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, World Almanac

Catalonia is a fiercely independent region with a 1,000-year history. Its 6 mllion people are the wealthiest in Spain, and they have their own language, Catalans, and their own Parliament.

Seville, host of the 1992 World’s Fair, is an ancient port with roots in the Roman Empire. It is renowned as Spain’s capital of bullfighting and as the heart of the huge but poor Andalusian region. Population: about 678,000.

Madrid (population 3.1 million) is Spain’s capital, biggest city and chief transportation center.

Barcelona (population 1.7 million) is Spain’s second-largest city, its cultural center and host of the XXV Olympiad. It has undergone a massive facelift.