Area Total | 505,370 sq km |
Climate | temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast |
Natural Resources | coal, lignite, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, uranium, tungsten, mercury, pyrites, magnesite, fluorspar, gypsum, sepiolite, kaolin, potash, hydropower, arable land |
Imports | Germany 14.2%, France 11.9%, China 6.9%, Italy 6.8%, Netherlands 5.1%, UK 4% (2017) – machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, semi-finished goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, measuring and medical control instruments |
Exports | France 15.1%, Germany 11.3%, Italy 7.8%, Portugal 7.1%, UK 6.9%, US 4.4% (2017) – Exports – machinery, motor vehicles; foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, medicines, other consumer goods |
Government | parliamentary constitutional monarchy |
Capital | Madrid |
Population | 49.3 million (July 2018 est.) |
Ethnicity | Spanish 86.4%, Morocco 1.8%, Romania 1.3%, other 10.5% (2018 est.) |
Language | Castilian Spanish (official nationwide) 74%, Catalan (official in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and the Valencian Community (where it is known as Valencian)) 17%, Galician (official in Galicia) 7%, Basque (official in the Basque Country and in the Basquespeaking area of Navarre) 2%, Aranese (official in the northwest corner of Catalonia (Vall d’Aran) along with Catalan, <5,000 speakers) |
News about Spain
- Spain will boycott Eurovision if Israel takes part: public TVby The Local Spain on September 16, 2025
Spain will boycott next year’s Eurovision Song Contest if Israel takes part, public broadcaster RTVE, which is charged with selecting the country's entry for the event, said Tuesday.
- Chaos continues on third day of security strikes at Spain's busiest airportby The Local Spain on September 16, 2025
Thousands of passengers at Madrid-Barajas airport were held up in hour-long queues at security control on Tuesday as staff continue with their indefinite strike.
- Spain summons Israel diplomat over claims Sánchez is 'antisemitic liar'by The Local Spain on September 16, 2025
Spain summoned Israel’s top diplomat on Tuesday for the second time in five days over remarks by Israel's foreign minister that Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez was antisemitic and a "liar".
- Summer heat lingers in Spain with temperatures above 35C this weekby The Local Spain on September 16, 2025
Many across Spain have been looking forward to September and its cooler temperatures, but the mercury will surpass 35C in many parts of the country this week and even reach 40 in the south before a welcome change in the weather by the weekend.
- Spain cancels major Israel arms deal amid Gaza backlashby The Local Spain on September 16, 2025
The Spanish government has cancelled a contract worth nearly €700 million ($825 million) for Israeli-designed rocket launchers, as Pedro Sánchez attempts to drum up international support for sanctions which will end the suffering in Gaza.
- Spain to give young people €30,000 to rent a home with option to buyby The Local Spain on September 16, 2025
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has announced another raft of new measures to help solve the ongoing housing crisis, including a grant for young people to rent properties with the chance to buy later on.
- Today in Spain: A roundup of the latest news on Tuesdayby The Local Spain on September 16, 2025
Spain’s public broadcaster to propose withdrawing Spain from Eurovision, average rent in Spain rises to €1,100 and more news on Tuesday September 16th.
- Spain's PM stresses 'deep admiration' for pro-Palestinian protestersby The Local Spain on September 15, 2025
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Monday reiterated his "deep admiration" for pro-Palestinian protesters who forced the final stage of one of the most important international cycling races to be abandoned at the weekend.
- Spain vows to turn 50,000 tourist lets into long-term rentalsby The Local Spain on September 15, 2025
Spain’s Ministry of Housing has ordered the removal of 53,000 more ads for illegal tourist accommodation from online platforms such as Airbnb, with the Spanish premier vowing to turn these lets into long-term rentals for residents.
- Ongoing security strike causes chaos at Madrid-Barajas Airportby The Local Spain on September 15, 2025
A walkout by security check workers at Spain's busiest airport caused huge queues over the weekend, with waiting times of more than an hour and a half for thousands of passengers. The stoppages are expected to continue.
- Left and right clash in Spain over Vuelta's pro-Palestine protestsby The Local Spain on September 15, 2025
Spain's political class are clashing over chaotic pro-Palestinian protests in Madrid that brought the Vuelta to a premature end on Sunday, with the opposition accusing the leftist government of permitting an "international embarrassment".
- Ryanair threatens to cut a million more seats to Spain by summer 2026by The Local Spain on September 15, 2025
Budget airline Ryanair has said that they will cut a further million seats on flights to Spain next summer if Spanish airport operator Aena doesn't reduce its airport charges.
- Today in Spain: A roundup of the latest news on Mondayby The Local Spain on September 15, 2025
Spain's PM 'proud' of pro-Palestinian protests at La Vuelta, Spanish credit rating upgraded to A+, 50,000 more tourist flats to be scrapped and more news on Monday September 15th.
- Rescuers find body in Madrid bar explosionby The Local Spain on September 14, 2025
Spanish firefighters found a dead man on Sunday as they combed through the wreckage of a Madrid bar destroyed by an explosion that left 25 people injured, two seriously.
- Spain's Vuelta final stage shortened amid Palestine protest fearsby The Local Spain on September 13, 2025
Cycling's Vuelta a Espana organisers cut the route of the race's 21st and final stage by eight kilometres (five miles) on Saturday, with large pro-Palestinian protests expected for the Madrid finale.
- Inside Spain: Sandwich tourism and unstoppable property pricesby The Local Spain on September 13, 2025
In this week’s Inside Spain, we look at how tourists are combatting pricey restaurants by buying sandwiches on the go instead, and why the latest reports on Spanish rents and property prices show that the only way is up.
- What you can and cannot bring to Spainby The Local Spain on September 10, 2025
If you're travelling to Spain there are certain restrictions on what you can bring into the country, as well as other items that are completely banned. Here's what you need to know.
- Will Ryanair's cancelled flight routes to Spain be replaced by other airlines?by The Local Spain on September 7, 2025
Will other budget airlines such as Iberia Express, easyJet and Wizz Air capitalise on Ryanair's decision to slash 36 flight connections to Spain and set up their own routes to the country's smaller regional airports?
- All the ways to donate or sell second-hand clothes in Spainby The Local Spain on June 20, 2023
Spain is the land of fast fashion brands, meaning that many people quickly end up with a closet full of clothes they don't wear. Fortunately, donating or even selling second-hand 'ropa' (clothes) is very easy.
- Do I have to register as self-employed in Spain and pay tax if I earn below minimum wage?by The Local Spain on October 18, 2022
It’s illegal to earn below the minimum wage in Spain if you’re a full-time employee, but if you’re an 'autónomo' do you still have to register and pay tax when you're not earning much money?
- In photos: Easter in Spain under the coronavirus lockdownby El País (In English Section | EL PAÍS) on April 9, 2020
Reuters photographer Jon Nazca has traveled to Ronda in the southern Spanish city of Málaga to compare this year’s empty streets to the festivities seen in 2019 and 2018
- Catalan premier announces snap election amid dispute over role as deputyby Camilo S. Baquero (In English Section | EL PAÍS) on January 29, 2020
In a surprise institutional statement, Quim Torra said the date will not be set until the regional budget is passed in parliament
- El Rotoby El Roto (In English Section | EL PAÍS) on January 29, 2020
El Roto cartoon, January 29, 2020
- Spaniard in Wuhan faces tough choice: Stay with husband or evacuateby Jaime Santirso (In English Section | EL PAÍS) on January 29, 2020
Spain is planning to repatriate citizens who are trapped in the Chinese city due to a coronavirus outbreak, but for Dácil Sánchez that means leaving her partner behind
- Deià: The Spanish village with more tourist accommodation than residentsby Juan Antonio Bauzá (In English Section | EL PAÍS) on January 29, 2020
The picturesque spot in Mallorca is home to just over 600 people, but the high number of visitors in the summer is putting a strain on resources
- Spain trying to evacuate its citizens from Wuhan along with French, British nationalsby Pablo Linde, Agencies (In English Section | EL PAÍS) on January 28, 2020
China has recommended that foreigners stay put in the quarantined city, but added that it will not prevent them from leaving
- Jailed Catalan leader speaks in parliament on Article 155: “It did nothing to stop us”by Pere Ríos, Camilo S. Baquero (In English Section | EL PAÍS) on January 28, 2020
Oriol Junqueras, who is serving a 13-year sentence for his role in the 2017 breakaway bid, appeared at an investigation commission into the suspension of the Catalan government’s regional powers
- Catalan premier challenges regional parliament by refusing to give up seatby Pere Ríos, Camilo S. Baquero (In English Section | EL PAÍS) on January 28, 2020
Quim Torra got his Together for Catalonia party to abstain from the day’s voting after the speaker warned him that his own vote would not be counted
- Spanish dentist caught secretly filming colleague undress given three yearsby J. J. Gálvez (In English Section | EL PAÍS) on January 28, 2020
The female employee discovered a pen drive that had been used to record her when she got changed at the Madrid clinic where she worked. The victim has also won compensation
- Civil Guard colonel slams actions of Mossos chief during independence driveby J. J. Gálvez (In English Section | EL PAÍS) on January 27, 2020
Diego Pérez de los Cobos tells court he would have removed Josep Lluís Trapero from his role as head of the regional police force for his leadership in 2017