Overview of Spain

Profile

Occupying most of the Iberian Peninsula north of the Pyrenees except Portugal and British Gibraltar, Spain also holds the Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, and exclave cities in North Africa. While Spanish is the official language, regional languages such as Catalan and Basque are also recognized in autonomous communities, creating a multilingual society. As a member of the EU, NATO, and G20, Spain's nominal GDP ranks around 15th globally, and its tourist arrivals have long been second only to France. The climate varies from Mediterranean to oceanic, highland, and subtropical, supporting a diverse economy from agriculture to advanced industries and tourism. Rich in cultural assets such as flamenco, bullfighting, Gaudí architecture, and paella, Spain is one of the world's leading tourism nations with over 50 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Official name: Kingdom of Spain
Common name: Spain
Numeric code: 724
Alpha-3 code: ESP
Alpha-2 code: ES
Population: Approximately 48 million (2023)
Population density: Approximately 94 people/km²
Primary languages: Spanish, Catalan, Basque, Galician, Valencian, Aranese
Major religions: Catholic Church
National anthem: Marcha Real (Royal March)
Calling code: +34
Internet TLD: .es

History

Following Islamic rule under Al-Andalus, Castile and Aragon united to form the Kingdom of Spain in the late 15th century. It developed into a world empire during the Age of Discovery but experienced colonial losses and civil war from the 19th century onward, achieving democratization with the 1978 Constitution.

In the 8th century, the Umayyad Caliphate conquered the peninsula, bringing Islamic culture that flourished until the Christian Reconquista was completed in 1492. The Catholic Monarchs supported Columbus's voyage, and in the 16th century under the Habsburgs, Spain built an empire "on which the sun never sets." Subsequent wars of succession, Napoleonic invasion, and colonial independence weakened national power. After the 1936 Civil War and Franco's dictatorship, Spain transitioned to a constitutional monarchy in 1975 with the restoration of the monarchy and the 1978 Constitution, achieving rapid modernization through EU membership and a tourism boom.

Geography & climate

A varied topography centered on the Meseta plateau, with mountain ranges such as the Pyrenees and Sierra Nevada, river valleys like the Ebro and Guadalquivir, and coastal plains along the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts

Predominantly Mediterranean, but northern areas are oceanic, inland plateau is continental, and Canary Islands are subtropical

Area: Europe / 505990 km²
Capital: Madrid
Largest city: Madrid
Coastal status: Yes
Bordering countries: Portugal, France, Andorra, Morocco (Ceuta and Melilla), Gibraltar (British Territory)

Natural resources

Wind resources, Solar resources, Coal, Iron ore, Copper, Zinc, Mercury, Slate, Olive groves, Vineyards, Rich fishing grounds, Thermal waters, Cork oak forests, Coastline as tourism resource, Volcanic geology (Mount Teide)

Politics

Government: Constitutional monarchy with parliamentary democracy

Economy

Currency: Euro (EUR)

GDP (nominal): 1.60 trillion USD (2023)

GDP (PPP): 2.55 trillion USD (2023)

Language & timezone

Primary languages: Spanish, Catalan, Basque, Galician, Valencian, Aranese

Time zone: Central European Time, Western European Time (Canary Islands)

Culture & customs

Ethnic groups

Castilian, Catalan, Basque, Galician, Andalusian, Valencian, Aragonese, Canarian, Romani, Immigrants (Latin American and North African)

Life expectancy

83.5 years

Literacy rate

97.5%

National sports

Football, Basketball, Tennis, Road Cycling, Handball, Futsal, Padel, Rugby, Athletics