Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
38 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
18.2 million (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
mix of publicly operated and privately owned TV and radio stations; hundreds of TV channels available, including national, regional, local, public, and international channels; satellite and cable TV available; multiple national radio networks, large number of regional radio networks, and larger number of local radio stations (2019)
Communications: Internet country code
.es
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
95.76% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
38 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
18.431 million (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
124 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
61.2 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
milk, olives, pork, grapes, wheat, tomatoes, barley, sugar beets, maize, oranges (2023)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on alcohol and tobacco
4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on food
12.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$549.772 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$512.57 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
$28.305 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
$23.960 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
$24.569 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
$39.256 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
$37.387 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
$26.649 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
$29.751 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
$10.567 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
$11.179 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
$4.482 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
$43.012 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
$52.182 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
0.923890 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
euros (EUR) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
0.752945 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
0.752728 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
0.901296 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
0.903421 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
0.885206 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
0.846773 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
0.893276 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
0.875506 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
0.845494 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
0.949624 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
0.924840 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
0.923890 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
cars, packaged medicine, refined petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories, garments (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$437.173 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$458.508 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$401.637 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$417.368 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$461.297 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$499.283 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$486.670 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$393.139 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$493.274 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$573.598 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$616.648 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$642.358 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
38.1% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
19.5% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
54.3% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-34.1% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
19.7% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
1.3% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
2.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
19.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
69.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$57,965 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$1.723 trillion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$2.832 trillion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2015
36.2 (2015 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016
35.8 (2016 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017
34.7 (2017 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2018
34.7 (2018 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2019
34.3 (2019 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2020
34.9 (2020 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2021
33.9 (2021 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022
33.6 (2022 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2023
33.4 (2023 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
24.8% (2022 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
2.3% (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
crude petroleum, cars, garments, vehicle parts/accessories, natural gas (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$383.637 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$365.267 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$368.077 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$413.274 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$460.053 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$444.777 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$373.587 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$478.813 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$561.448 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$552.948 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$568.502 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
2.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
-0.50% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
-0.20% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
1.96% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
1.67% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
0.70% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
-0.32% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
3.09% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
8.39% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
3.53% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
2.77% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
24.386 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
20.20% (2022 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2013
91.87% (2013 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2014
104.93% (2014 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
105.97% (2016 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2017
106.58% (2017 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2018
107.20% (2018 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2019
111.29% (2019 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2020
138.96% (2020 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2021
132.55% (2021 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2022
109.02% (2022 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2023
107.39% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$1.569 trillion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$1.635 trillion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$1.747 trillion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$1.855 trillion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$2.075 trillion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$1.863 trillion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$2.099 trillion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$2.229 trillion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$2.289 trillion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$2.361 trillion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
4.06% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
2.92% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
2.90% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
2.40% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
1.96% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-10.94% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
6.68% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
6.37% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
2.46% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
3.46% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$33,761 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$35,229 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$37,613 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$39,825 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$44,043 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$39,328 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$44,252 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$51,399 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$55,682 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$3.036 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$3.130 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$2.673 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$3.063 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
$3.950 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
0.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
0.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
0.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$53.974 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$63.040 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$69.400 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$70.633 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$74.731 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$81.288 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$92.201 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$92.905 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$103.089 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$107.774 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
15% (of GDP) (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
14.10% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
15.53% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
14.91% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
13.03% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
12.18% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
11.40% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
27.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
26.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
27% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
7.388 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: exports
1.629 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
9.798 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: production
1.28 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: proven reserves
1.187 billion metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
2.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
28% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
8.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: nuclear
20.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
17.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: wind
23.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
227.187 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: exports
25.279 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
11.315 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
130.366 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
24.532 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
101.12 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: consumption
29.041 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: exports
6.576 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: imports
35.252 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: production
34.124 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: proven reserves
2.549 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy: Nuclear energy: Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors
7.12GW (2025 est.)
Energy: Nuclear energy: Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down
3 (2025)
Energy: Nuclear energy: Number of operational nuclear reactors
7 (2025)
Energy: Nuclear energy: Percent of total electricity production
20.3% (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: crude oil estimated reserves
150 million barrels (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
1.325 million bbl/day (2024 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: total petroleum production
47,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
13.39 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from consumed natural gas
59.105 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
182.327 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
254.823 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast
Environment: Environmental issues
pollution of the Mediterranean Sea from raw sewage and effluents from oil and gas production; drought; air pollution; deforestation; desertification
Environment: Geoparks: global geoparks and regional networks
Basque Coast UNESCO; Cabo de Gata-Níjar; Cabo Ortegal; Calatrava Volcanoes. Ciudad Real; Central Catalonia; Costa Quebrada; Courel Mountains; El Hierro; Granada; Lanzarote and Chinijo Islands; Las Loras; Maestrazgo; Molina-Alto; Origens; Sierra Norte de Sevilla; Sierras Subbéticas; Sobrarbe-Pirineos: Villuercas Ibores Jara (2025)
Environment: Geoparks: total global geoparks and regional networks
18 (2025)
Environment: International environmental agreements: party to
Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
49.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 23% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 10.2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 19.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
38.2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
12.3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
8.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
111.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
18.96 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
5.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
4.56 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
0.24% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
80.32% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
22.409 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
27.7% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
almost five times the size of Kentucky; slightly more than twice the size of Oregon
Geography: Area: land
498,980 sq km
Geography: Area: water
6,390 sq km
Geography: Coastline
4,964 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Pico de Teide (Tenerife) on Canary Islands 3,718 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
660 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
40 00 N, 4 00 W
Geography: Geography - note
strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar; Spain controls a number of territories in northern Morocco, including the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla and the islands of Penon de Velez de la Gomera, Penon de Alhucemas, and Islas Chafarinas; Spain's Canary Islands are one of four North Atlantic archipelagos that make up Macaronesia; the others are the Azores (Portugal), Madeira (Portugal), and Cabo Verde
Geography: Irrigated land
38,012 sq km (2022)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Andorra 63 km; France 646 km; Gibraltar 1.2 km; Portugal 1,224 km; Morocco (Ceuta) 8 km and Morocco (Melilla) 10.5 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
1,952.7 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
49.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 23% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 10.2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 19.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
38.2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
12.3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major rivers (by length in km)
Tagus river source (shared with Portugal [m]) - 1,006 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Geography: Map references
Europe
Geography: Maritime claims: contiguous zone
24 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm (applies only to the Atlantic Ocean)
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
periodic droughts, occasional flooding volcanism: volcanic activity in the Canary Islands, located off Africa's northwest coast; Teide (3,715 m) has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; La Palma (2,426 m) is the most active of the Canary Islands volcanoes; Lanzarote is the only other historically active volcano
Geography: Population distribution
with the notable exception of Madrid, Sevilla, and Zaragoza, the largest urban agglomerations are found along the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts; numerous smaller cities are spread throughout the interior; very dense settlement around the capital of Madrid, as well as the port city of Barcelona
Geography: Terrain
large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills; Pyrenees Mountains in north
Government: Administrative divisions
17 autonomous communities ( comunidades autonomas , singular - comunidad autonoma ) and 2 autonomous cities* ( ciudades autonomas , singular - ciudad autonoma ); Andalucia; Aragon; Asturias; Canarias (Canary Islands); Cantabria; Castilla-La Mancha; Castilla-Leon; Cataluña (Castilian), Catalunya (Catalan), Catalonha (Aranese) [Catalonia]; Ceuta*; Comunidad Valenciana (Castilian), Comunitat Valenciana (Valencian) [Valencian Community]; Extremadura; Galicia; Illes Baleares (Balearic Islands); La Rioja; Madrid; Melilla*; Murcia; Navarra (Castilian), Nafarroa (Basque) [Navarre]; Pais Vasco (Castilian), Euskadi (Basque) [Basque Country]
Government: Capital: daylight saving time
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Government: Capital: etymology
the meaning and origin of the name is unclear; the city grew from a small Moorish fort that was called Majerit in the first recorded mention in A.D. 932; some trace the modern-day name back to the Roman era, with the Latin word materia (materials) as a possible source
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
40 24 N, 3 41 W
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Capital: time zone note
Spain has two time zones, including the Canary Islands (UTC 0)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Spain
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
only with select Latin American countries
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
10 years for persons with no ties to Spain
Government: Constitution: amendment process
proposed by the government, by the General Courts (the Congress or the Senate), or by the self-governing communities submitted through the government; passage requires three-fifths majority vote by both houses and passage by referendum if requested by one tenth of the members of either house; proposals disapproved by both houses are submitted to a joint committee, which submits an agreed upon text for another vote; passage requires two-thirds majority vote in Congress and simple majority vote in the Senate
Government: Constitution: history
several previous; latest approved by the General Courts 31 October 1978, passed by referendum 6 December 1978, signed by the king 27 December 1978, effective 29 December 1978
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Spain
Government: Country name: etymology
derivation of the name España is uncertain; the Basque words ezpain or espan ("edge," as in a river bank) are possible sources, or the Punic word span , meaning "rabbit;" some academics tie it to the god Hesperus from Greco-Roman mythology
Government: Country name: local long form
Reino de España
Government: Country name: local short form
España
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Rian Harker HARRIS (since 15 July 2024); note - also accredited to Andorra
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: consulate(s) general
Barcelona
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
askACS@state.gov https://es.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
Calle de Serrano, 75, 28006 Madrid
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[34] (91) 587-2303
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
8500 Madrid Place, Washington DC 20521-8500
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[34] (91) 587-2200
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
2375 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Ángeles MORENO Bau (since 27 February 2024)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s) general
Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
emb.washington@maec.es https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Embajadas/washington/en/Paginas/index.aspx
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 833-5670
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 452-0100
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Council of Ministers designated by the president
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
King FELIPE VI (since 19 June 2014)
Government: Executive branch: election results
Congress of Deputies vote - 179 to 171 (16 November 2023)
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the monarch usually proposes as president the leader of the majority party or coalition, who is then indirectly elected by the Congress of Deputies; vice president and Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
31 July 2027
Government: Executive branch: head of government
President of the Government of Spain (prime minister-equivalent) Pedro SANCHEZ PEREZ-CASTEJON (since 2 June 2018)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
23 July 2023
Government: Flag
description: three horizontal bands of red (top), yellow (double-width), and red, with the national coat of arms on the left side of the yellow band; the coat of arms shows the emblems of the area's former kingdoms (clockwise from upper left: Castile, Leon, Navarre, and Aragon), which also used red and yellow as their colors; the stylized pomegranate at the bottom of the shield represents Granada; the two columns represent the Pillars of Hercules, which are promontories (Gibraltar and Ceuta) on the Strait of Gibraltar; a red scroll bears the imperial motto of "Plus Ultra" (further beyond), referring to Spanish lands outside Europe
Government: International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: International organization participation
ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, CABEI, CAN (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo (consists of the court president and organized into the Civil Room, with a president and 9 judges; the Penal Room, with a president and 14 judges; the Administrative Room, with a president and 32 judges; the Social Room, with a president and 12 judges; and the Military Room, with a president and 7 judges); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional de Espana (consists of 12 judges)
Government: Judicial branch: judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates proposed by the General Council of the Judiciary Power, a 20-member governing board chaired by the monarch; judges can serve until age 70; Constitutional Court judges nominated by the National Assembly, executive branch, and the General Council of the Judiciary, and appointed by the monarch for 9-year terms
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
National High Court; High Courts of Justice (in each of the autonomous communities); provincial courts; courts of first instance
Government: Legal system
civil law system with regional variations
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name
Congress of Deputies (Congreso de los Diputados)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: electoral system
proportional representation
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: expected date of next election
July 2027
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: most recent election date
7/23/2023
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: number of seats
350 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: parties elected and seats per party
People's Party (PP) (136); Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) (122); Vox (33); SUMAR (31); Other (28)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: percentage of women in chamber
44.3%
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: term in office
4 years
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name
Senate (Senado)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: electoral system
mixed system
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: expected date of next election
July 2027
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: most recent election date
7/23/2023
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: number of seats
265 (208 directly elected; 57 indirectly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: parties elected and seats per party
People's Party (PP) (120); Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) (72); Other (16)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: percentage of women in chamber
42.5%
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: term in office
4 years
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
bicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
The Cortes (Las Cortes Generales)
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1942;officially in use between 1770 and 1931, restored in 1939; the Spanish anthem was the first to be officially adopted; it first appeared in a 1761 military bugle-call book and was replaced by "Himno de Riego" in the years between 1931 and 1939; the long version of the anthem is used for the king, and the short version is used for the prince, prime minister, and occasions such as sporting events
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
no lyrics/unknown
Government: National color(s)
red, yellow
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain (c); Works of Antoni Gaudí (c); Santiago de Compostela (Old Town) (c); Historic City of Toledo (c); Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida (c); Tower of Hercules (c); Doñana National Park (n); Pyrénées - Mont Perdu (m); Alhambra, Generalife, and Albayzín in Granada (c); Old City of Salamanca (c); Teide National Park (n); Historic Walled Town of Cuenca (c); Old Town of Segovia and its Aqueduct (c); Historic Cordoba (c); Royal Site of Saint Lorenzo de El Escorial (c); Cathedral, Alcázar, and Archivo de Indias in Seville
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
50 (44 cultural, 4 natural, 2 mixed)
Government: National holiday
National Day (Hispanic Day), 12 October (1492)
Government: National symbol(s)
Pillars of Hercules
Government: Political parties
Asturias Forum or FAC Basque Country Unite (Euskal Herria Bildu) or EH Bildu (coalition of 4 Basque pro-independence parties) Basque Nationalist Party or PNV or EAJ Canarian Coalition or CC (coalition of 5 parties) Ciudadanos Party (Citizens Party) or Cs Compromis - Compromise Coalition Navarrese People's Union or UPN Together for Catalonia or Junts People's Party or PP Republican Left of Catalonia or ERC Spanish Socialist Workers Party or PSOE Teruel Existe or TE Unidas (Unite) or Sumar (electoral coalition formed in March 2022) (formerly Unidas Podemos or UP) Vox or VOX
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: Background
Spain's powerful world empire of the 16th and 17th centuries ultimately yielded command of the seas to England. Spain remained neutral during both World Wars but suffered through a devastating civil war (1936-39) resulting in a dictatorship. A peaceful transition to democracy after the death of dictator Francisco FRANCO in 1975 and rapid economic modernization after Spain joined the EU in 1986 gave Spain a dynamic and rapidly growing economy. After a severe recession in the wake of the global financial crisis in 2008, Spain has posted solid years of GDP growth above the EU average. Unemployment has fallen but remains high, especially among youth. Spain is the euro-zone's fourth-largest economy. The country has faced increased domestic turmoil in recent years due to the independence movement in its restive Catalonia region.
Military and Security: Military - note
the Spanish military has a wide range of responsibilities, including protecting the country’s national interests, sovereignty, and territory, providing support during natural disasters, and fulfilling Spain’s responsibilities to European and international security; it maintains garrisons in the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla, conducts operations worldwide, and participates in a variety of EU-, NATO-, and UN-led missions; Spain joined NATO in 1982 and is fully integrated into the NATO structure; it routinely conducts exercises with NATO (and EU) partners, and hosts one of NATO’s two combined air operations centers the Spanish military's history goes back to the 13th century; the Army has an infantry regiment, formed in the 13th century, that is considered the oldest still active military unit in the Western world; the Marine Corps, which traces its roots back to 1537, is the oldest naval infantry force in the world; Spain created a Spanish Legion for foreigners in 1920, but early on the Legion was primarily filled by native Spaniards due to difficulties in recruiting foreigners, and most of its foreign members were from the Republic of Cuba; it was modeled after the French Foreign Legion and its purpose was to provide a corps of professional troops to fight in Spain's colonial campaigns in North Africa; in more recent years, it has been used in NATO peacekeeping deployments; today’s Legion includes a mix of native Spaniards and foreigners with Spanish residency (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
Spanish Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas de España): Army (Ejército de Tierra), Spanish Navy (Armada Espanola; includes Marine Corps), Air and Space Force (Ejército del Aire y del Espacio), Emergency Response Unit (Unidad Militar de Emergencias); Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) Ministry of the Interior: Spanish National Police (Cuerpo Nacional de Policía, CNP) (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 120,000 active-duty military personnel; approximately 80,000 Guardia Civil (2025)
Military and Security: Military deployments
Spain has up to 3,000 military personnel deployed on 17 missions supporting the EU, NATO, and the UN on four continents, as well as naval missions in the Mediterranean and the seas off the Horn of Africa; its largest deployments are up to 700 troops in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and about 1,700 personnel in Eastern Europe supporting NATO missions in Latvia, Romania, and Slovakia (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military's inventory is comprised of weapons and equipment that were produced domestically, co-produced with or imported from other European countries, or acquired from the US; key suppliers of major armaments include Germany and the US; Spain's defense industry manufactures land, air, and sea weapons systems and is integrated within the European defense-industrial sector (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
1.26% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
1.13% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
1.22% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
1.25% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
1.22% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
1.35% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
1.41% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
1.47% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
1.43% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2025
2% of GDP (2025 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (upper age limits depend on branch of service, roles, specialties, etc); 24-36 month initial obligation; no conscription, but the Spanish Government retains the right to mobilize citizens 19-25 years of age in a national emergency; 18-58 for the voluntary reserves (2026)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
13% (male 3,147,019/female 3,012,821)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
66.1% (male 15,662,492/female 15,585,138)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
20.9% (2024 est.) (male 4,259,816/female 5,613,147)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
4.67 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0.19 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
2.34 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
10.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
3.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
7.16 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
9.22% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
50.2% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
9.98 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
31.6 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
3.2 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
51.3 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
19.7 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
4.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
9.9% national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
4.59% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Spanish 84.8%, Moroccan 1.7%, Romanian 1.2%, other 12.3% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
0.65 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
10.7% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
15.2% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.30% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
2.9 beds/1,000 population (2023 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
2.1 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
2.7 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
2.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Languages: Languages
Castilian Spanish (official) 74%, Catalan (official in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and the Valencian Community) 17%, Galician (official in Galicia) 7%, Basque (official in the Basque Country and Navarre) 2%, Aranese (official in part of Catalonia) <5,000 speakers
People and Society: Languages: major-language sample(s)
La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
86.5 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
81.4 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
99.6% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
99.8% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
99.70% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
6.751 million MADRID (capital), 5.687 million Barcelona, 838,000 Valencia (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
3 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
47.8 years
People and Society: Median age: male
45.7 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
31.2 years (2020 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Spanish
People and Society: Net migration rate
3.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
23.8% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
4.29 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
People and Society: Population
48,848,840 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
with the notable exception of Madrid, Sevilla, and Zaragoza, the largest urban agglomerations are found along the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts; numerous smaller cities are spread throughout the interior; very dense settlement around the capital of Madrid, as well as the port city of Barcelona
People and Society: Population growth rate
0.12% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
24,211,106
People and Society: Population: male
23,069,327
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
18 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
17 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
18 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.04 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
1 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.76 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
22% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
25.8% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
23.9% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
1.10 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
0.24% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
80.32% (2024 est.)
Space: Key space-program milestones
1960s - began working with the US/NASA and the European Space Research Organization (ESRO), the forerunner of the ESA; sounding rocket program (ended in the 1990s) 1974 - first satellite (IntaSat) launched by US 1990s - satellite launch vehicle (SLV) development program (canceled in 2000) 1992 - first communications satellite (Hispasat 1A) launched on European rocket 1998 - first astronaut in space on US Space Shuttle 2018 - first synthetic-aperture-radar, remote-sensing/reconnaissance satellite (Paz) launched by US 2023 - Spanish built Miuri-1 becomes first European private rocket to reach space; joined US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration 2025 - communications satellite (SpainSat NG 1) with advanced security technology launched by US
Space: Space agency/agencies
Spanish Space Agency (AEE; became operational in 2023); Center for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI) (2025)
Space: Space launch site(s)
El Arenosillo Test Center/Range (Andalusia) (2025)
Space: Space program overview
space program dates back to the 1940s; manufactures and operates communications, remote sensing (RS), and scientific/technology satellites; has developed sounding rockets; conducts research and development in a broad range of space-related capabilities, including astrobiology, astronomy, imaging/RS, meteorology, optics, propulsion, robotics, satellites (particularly micro- and nano-satellites), and satellite launch vehicles; program is integrated into the ESA; also participates in EU space programs; hosts the European Space Astronomy Center (ESOC) and the ESA’s Space Surveillance and Tracking Data Centre (ESAC); cooperates with foreign space agencies and industries, including the US; has an active commercial space industry (2025)
Terrorism: Terrorist group(s)
Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); al-Qa’ida
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
3,960 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
693,298 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons
10,164 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
365 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
EC
Transportation: Heliports
162 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
bulk carrier 1, general cargo 33, oil tanker 24, other 445
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
503 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Alicante, Barcelona, Cadiz, Ceuta, Ferrol, Huelva, Las Palmas, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Puerto de Bilbao, Puerto de Pasajes, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Santander, Sevilla, Tarragona, Valencia, Vigo
Transportation: Ports: large
3
Transportation: Ports: medium
14
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
13
Transportation: Ports: size unknown
2
Transportation: Ports: small
9
Transportation: Ports: total ports
52 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
24
Transportation: Railways: total
15,489 km (2020) 9,953 km electrified
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.