MADRID: Spain's government forecast Wednesday faster economic growth in the next two years as the nation emerges from a long downturn with unemployment still topping 26 percent.

Economy Minister Luis de Guindos said the eurozone's fourth-largest economy would expand by an average of 1.5 percent in 2014 and 2015. The government's official forecast is for growth of 1.0 percent in 2014 and 1.5 percent in 2015.