- Inhabitants
Five of the forty million inhabitants of Spain reside in the Province of Madrid, with more than three million in the capital city, and this number increases due to migratory movements toward Spain's greatest population concentration. Did you know Madrid has more than fifty thousand homes rented by foreigners?
- The City
In a metropolitan area that encompasses three million inhabitants, the population is distributed in both the city and suburban towns. Many of them began as small towns outside and independent of the capital that with the city's growth have transformed themselves into small cities with excellent transportation to the center. Others, that once were distinct and independent towns, have been absorbed by the city and nowadays are quite popular districts.
The entrances to the city have been extended and improved remarkably. Formerly the M-30 served as a belt that surrounded the suburbs enabling travelers to zip from one side to the other the city without having to traverse the always complicated center. Now that Madrid is much larger, the M-40 has been created and the M-50 helps the old M-30 to keep traffic functioning relatively smoothly. Moving about within the city, you will recognize that although an old Madrid still exists, with its zig-zag disorganized side streets like in any antique quarter in Spain, the newly constructed zones have been laid out according to organized plans for channels that extend throughout the city serving as arteries for the most traffic clogged areas.
- Flats
When we speak of apartments in Madrid, you should know that they are somewhat expensive in relation to the GNP per capita [national yearly earnings average] of $14,350 (€15.350). If you are looking for temporary residence and you do not have the most luxurious salary, we recommend sharing a flat. If you do not want to be forced to share a flat, you might want to check out an interior efficiency-studio apartment. If you have the money, you'll see that you're not going to have any problems when it comes to all types of real estate services. At the moment, Madrid's housing establishments tally 180 hotels, 462 hostals/inns and 24 camping facilities compromising roughly eighty thousand beds for your lodging. Check out www.CasaWeb.com, that's our advice.
- Parks
The great lungs of Madrid, that enable the city to breathe freely, are la Casa de Campo, the Buen Retiro park, the Parque del Oeste, Juan Carlos I park and Dehesa de la Villa. Of all, the most popular is the Retiro, whose name comes from it's creation was a part of the royal residence. The most modern is the park of Juan Carlos I. And, without a doubt, the most extensive is the Casa de Campo which houses the Parque de Atracciones (amusement/theme park) and zoo.
- Work
Like in practically all metropolises, the majority of the population dedicates itself to the service sector, followed by the industrial sector at a distant second. The average salary currently rests at 250,000 pts ($1400) per month. It is no wonder being the capital that Madrid is the center of businesses and, alongside Barcelona, the most important city in Spain.
- Studying
In all of Europe, Spain is the country with the most university students under thirty years of age. In Madrid alone, there are currently thirteen universities that aggregately total nearly three hundred thousands (300.000). We even have the Naval Engineering studies center, albeit the sea is a little ways away.
- Health Services
For every thousand Madrileños there are five doctors to take care of our health, distributing themselves amongst 70 health centers throughout the province. And speaking of health, almost forty percent of the inhabitants of Madrid smoke, with cancer being number one on the mortality list. If you have any health problems, the logical thing is to go to one of the numerous Health Centers. If you need immediate and serious attention, you need not worry-you have several great hospitals, some of them considered the most prestigous in Europe.
