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Local name: Galiza Other names: Galicia (English, Spanish), Galice (French), Galicien (German) Population: 2,767,524 < 20 yrs old: 18% 20-64 yrs old: 60% > 65 yrs old: 22% Surface: - Administrative Galicia: 29,575 km² - Territories of Galician culture: 35,692 km² (Approx. the size of Belgium or Taiwan) Capital: Santiago de Compostela (93,458) Location: North-West corner of the Iberian Peninsula (Southern Atlantic Europe), right above Portugal (map) International code (abbreviation): GZ Currency: Euro (€) Languages: Galician-Portuguese (48% monolinguals), Castilian-Spanish (15% monolinguals). Both are Romance (Latin-based) languages. Ethnic groups: Galician (88%); Spanish (9%); Other (3%) Main cities: Vigo (293,255), Corunha (243,320), Ourense (108,137), Lugo (93,450), Ponte Vedra (80,096), Ferrol (76,399) National holiday: 25th of July National symbols: Flag, coat of arms and national anthem Date of formation: 411 AD (establishment of the Galician Kingdom) Terrain: The territory is highly fragmented, with highlands in the east, central plateaus (chairas), ample estuaries (rias), and a myriad of rivers. Galicia has a climate of transition, from Oceanic to Mediterranean. Pockets of Continental climate are present inland. Weather is in general humid with moderate temperatures. Territory: Administrative Galicia is divided into 53 comarcas or bisbarras (regions), 316 concelhos (municipalities), 3,781 paróquias (parishes). Galicia has more than 33,000 settlements. A number of territories with strong Galician cultural influence remain outside administrative Galicia, in the Spanish regions of Asturias and Castilla y León. Political organisation: Parliamentary democracy. Presidential and local elections are held every four years. Galician citizens are entitled to vote at the European elections. Economy: - GDP: 47,849,716 (in thousands of Euros) - GDP per capita (PPP): €17,280 /year. Actual PPP (estimated): €15,500 /year - Households below poverty line: 10% - Occupation: 19.8% primary sector; 28.4% secondary sector; 51.8% tertiary sector. 12% unemployment - International trade: Imports: 13,757,202 (in thousands of Euros). Exports: 12,162,714 (in thousands of Euros) - Electricity production: 26,613,878 Megawatts Galicia has traditionally been one of the poorest areas of Western Europe due to its colonization. Nonetheless, it has an enormous economic and human potential that is starting to be developed: Galicia is a fishing, seafood and textile/fashion world power, as well as an energy and food exporter. Furthermore, Galicia has a pretty modern and functional transportation and communications infrastructure. Education and health: - Literacy rate: 93.77% - Households with Internet access: 28 % - Education expenditure (from GDP): 4.10% - Health expenditure (from GDP): 5.24% - 310 doctors for each 100,000 inhabitants - Life expectancy at birth: Men 77.19 yrs; Women 84.58 yrs. Average 80.93 yrs International disputes: Full devolution by Spain. Controversies over eastern territories of Galician culture in Spanish territory (outside administrative Galicia). last updated 2007. IGE Download > An Introduction to Galicia < This document is based on a leaflet originally compiled for the Irish Centre for Galician Studies (University College Cork). In order to properly view the original leaflet please install the "Galician fonts" and then proceed to download the document itself. For an in-depth analysis of Galicia's role in the Spanish State and further political, administrative and territorial issues check "The administrative and territorial structure of the Spanish State. Galicia within its framework". This is chapter three of Paredes, X.M. (2004, revised in 2007) Territorial management and planning in Galicia: From its origins to end of Fraga administration, 1950s - 2004 - MPhil Thesis, Dept. of Geography, University College Cork, Ireland © Xoán M. Paredes All materials contained in this site are free to use and distribute if referencing source and author. No alteration, amendment or modification whatsoever is allowed. |
