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
- Israel recalls Spanish ambassador over Sánchez's latest remarks on Gazaby The Local on November 30, 2023
Israel's foreign minister said Thursday he was recalling the country's envoy to Madrid over "outrageous remarks" by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez questioning the legality of Israel's military campaign in Gaza.
- All the important changes for travel in Spain in 2024by The Local on November 30, 2023
Relaxed airport security, new direct flights, extra taxes on plane tickets, new international train links, free or discounted public transport, good news for drivers and more - there are lots of changes to expect when it comes to travel in Spain in 2024.
- Gibraltar Brexit deal 'close' as Brits crossing into Spain use fake bookingsby The Local on November 30, 2023
As Spain and the UK come 'very close' to signing an agreement on the post-Brexit status of Gibraltar, a report claims that 90 percent of hotel bookings shown by UK nationals and other non-EU travellers at The Rock's border with Spain are fraudulent.
- Spanish prime minister says he doubts Israel is respecting international lawby Sam Jones in Madrid (Spain | The Guardian) on November 30, 2023
Pedro Sánchez condemns Hamas terror attacks but urges Israel to rethink operations in GazaThe Israeli government has recalled its ambassador in Madrid and said it will be reprimanding Spain’s top diplomat in Tel Aviv after the Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, said he had “genuine doubts” about whether Israel was complying with international […]
- Spanish queen portrait expected to smash Velázquez auction recordby Harriet Sherwood Arts and culture correspondent (Spain | The Guardian) on November 30, 2023
Isabel de Borbón, Queen of Spain valued in region of $35m, more than double the record for a VelázquezA full-length portrait of a Spanish queen by Diego Velázquez is expected to smash the existing record for a work by the 17th-century artist when it is auctioned early next year.Isabel de Borbón, Queen of Spain is valued in the region of $35m (£27.8m), […]
- Spain's PM calls on EU to recognise Palestinian stateby The Local on November 30, 2023
The European Union should recognise a Palestinian state since this would help end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and "stabilise" the region, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said on Thursday.
- How to find temporary accommodation in Spain when you first arriveby The Local on November 30, 2023
Finding somewhere to stay for a few weeks or months when you first move to Spain and you're looking for a more permanent place can be particularly tricky, but we've found some of the best options available to you.
- Spain's Andalusia clamps down on mobiles, vapes and energy drinks for teensby The Local on November 30, 2023
Andalusia's regional government has announced the changes as part of a broader action plan to combat addiction problems among children and teenagers, including limiting mobile phone use in the classrooms.
- Why Sánchez is claiming back Spain's flag from the rightby The Local on November 30, 2023
With tensions still simmering over the controversial amnesty deal his government made with Catalan separatists, Spain's Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is surrounding himself with Spanish flags more than ever.
- Malafollá: Why are people from the Spanish city of Granada so moody?by The Local on November 30, 2023
Andalusians are generally considered some of the warmest people in Spain, but locals in the historic city of Granada are notoriously brash and unfriendly, even according to granaínos themselves.
- What to know about Spain's new high-speed train between Madrid and Asturiasby The Local on November 29, 2023
Spain launches today its first high-speed AVE train link to the country’s northern Cantabrian coast, a milestone for the beautiful region of Asturias, which will be reachable from Madrid in just over three hours.
- Google opens biggest European cyber centre in Spain's Málagaby The Local on November 29, 2023
Google on Wednesday opened its largest European cybersecurity in the southern Spanish city which has come to be known as 'Málaga Valley' for the sheer number of international tech companies it houses.
- LISTED: Spain's new Michelin-starred restaurants in 2024by The Local on November 29, 2023
Is fine dining on your bucket list? Find out if one of Spain's new 31 Michelin-starred restaurants is close to you for an unforgettable culinary experience in 2024 (if you can't book a table, at least you can look at their delicious food pics here).
- Spanish giant Ferrovial sells €2.7-billion stake in Heathrow to Saudisby The Local on November 29, 2023
Spanish infrastructure giant Ferrovial announced it is offloading its remaining 25 percent stake in London's Heathrow Airport to a French private equity group and Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund.
- Does Spain have the best digital nomad visa in the world?by The Local on November 29, 2023
Several dozen countries around the world offer digital nomad visas to entice foreign talent. How does Spain and the conditions of its visa for remote workers and freelancers compare to its closest competitors?
- EXPLAINED: Spain's €1.4-billion plan to save endangered Doñana wetlandsby The Local on November 29, 2023
The Spanish government and regional authorities in Andalusia have finally reached an agreement on the fate of Doñana National Park after weeks of negotiations and almost two years of disputes, all in the midst of a devastating drought.
- How much does it cost to renovate your kitchen in Spain?by The Local on November 29, 2023
Traditional Spanish kitchens are not to everybody's liking, and yet these narrow and often outdated features of apartments and houses in Spain remain fairly common. So how much money can you expect to spend on refurbishing a 'cocina'?
- The cities in Spain with the best Christmas lightsby The Local on November 28, 2023
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Spain as many places have already switched on their festive lights. Some Spanish cities go all out, covering their streets with lots of sparkle and magic. Here are some of the best displays to see.
- Spain ready to sign post-Brexit Gibraltar deal, says foreign ministerby Lisa O'Carroll in Brussels and Sam Jones in Madrid (Spain | The Guardian) on November 28, 2023
José Manuel Albares met David Cameron to discuss agreement on trade, immigration and workersSpain is ready to sign a deal on the post-Brexit status of Gibraltar as early as Wednesday, the country’s foreign minister, José Manuel Albares, said before a meeting in Brussels with his British counterpart, David Cameron.The deal will centre on trade, […]
- Spain's Renfe bans e-scooters on all its trainsby The Local on November 28, 2023
Spain’s national rail operator Renfe has decided to ban electric scooters on its entire network of trains due to the safety risk these personal mobility vehicles can pose.
- Uber launches car rental services across Spainby The Local on November 28, 2023
The US ride-hailing giant has started providing car rental services in 116 cities across Spain’s 17 regions, with €10 in credit for the first three bookings made through its new Uber Rent platform.
- LISTED: The taxes that will increase in Spain in 2024by The Local on November 28, 2023
Unfortunately, 2024 will bring with it an increase in several different taxes here in Spain, from personal income tax to tax on large fortunes and a rise in social security contributions.
- Why Madrid is struggling with its explosion of illegal holiday letsby The Local on November 28, 2023
If you’re going on a trip to Madrid and have booked a tourist apartment rather than a hotel, chances are that you’ve reserved one of the circa 25,000 illegal holiday lets in the Spanish capital. In fact, only one in 25 is reportedly legit.
- Israeli foreign minister accuses Irish taoiseach of legitimising terror over hostage statementby Rory Carroll, Ireland correspondent, and Lisa O'Carroll in Brussels (Spain | The Guardian) on November 26, 2023
Eli Cohen criticised Leo Varadkar’s description of nine-year-old Emily Hand as being ‘lost’, not ‘kidnapped’Israel-Hamas war – live updatesThe Israeli government has accused Ireland’s taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, of legitimising terror and losing his moral compass by saying a freed Irish-Israeli hostage had been “lost” as opposed to […]
- Terry Venables obituaryby Richard Williams (Spain | The Guardian) on November 26, 2023
Chelsea, QPR and Tottenham player who as England manager displayed one of the sharpest football brains of his generationAs a player, coach and manager, Terry Venables possessed one of the sharpest football brains of his generation. His career reached its peak when he guided England to the semi-finals of the European championships on home ground in the […]
- ‘They thought I had cancer’: painkiller banned in UK linked to Britons’ deaths in Spainby Jon Ungoed-Thomas and Sam Jones in Madrid (Spain | The Guardian) on November 26, 2023
Patients’ group says reactions to metamizole can cause sepsis and organ failure – and British and Irish people are at higher riskA patients group representing several British victims has launched legal action against the Spanish government over claims it failed to safeguard people against the potentially fatal side effects of one of the country’s most […]
- Spanish and Belgian prime ministers call for permanent ceasefire in Gaza at Rafah crossing – videoby (Spain | The Guardian) on November 24, 2023
The prime ministers of Spain and Belgium called for a 'permanent ceasefire' on Friday at the Rafah border crossing, welcoming a four-day truce that paused fighting between Israel and Hamas. 'It is absolutely necessary to establish a lasting humanitarian ceasefire to reverse the catastrophic situation that the people of the [Gaza] Strip are going through,' […]
- Sea crossings, cleaning, and Connery’s coffee: memories of Galicians who came to Britainby Sam Jones in Madrid (Spain | The Guardian) on November 24, 2023
Generations of families that left Franco’s Spain for London in a half-forgotten migration are to be celebrated in an exhibitionThe tens of thousands of Galicians who left north-west Spain to migrate to the UK between the mid-1950s and early 1970s, swapping poverty and the straitjacket of the Franco dictatorship for a strange, liberating and often […]
- Geert Wilders’ victory confirms upward trajectory of far right in Europeby Jon Henley Europe correspondent (Spain | The Guardian) on November 24, 2023
Dutch general election results show how populist and far-right parties are advancing into political mainstreamEurope live – latest updatesGeert Wilders’ shock victory in the Dutch general election confirms the upward trajectory of Europe’s populist and far-right parties, which – with the occasional setback – are continuing their steady march into […]
- Spain's Pedro Sánchez tells Netanyahu number of deaths in Gaza 'truly unbearable' – videoby (Spain | The Guardian) on November 23, 2023
The Spanish prime minister told his Israeli counterpart: 'We need to urgently stop the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza', during a visit to the Middle East with Belgium's leader, Alexander de Croo. Sanchez went on to say: 'The whole world is shocked at the images coming from Gaza.' Benjamin Netanyahu responded by saying: 'We're in a war that was […]