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
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OPINION: Britons in Spain will need to get used to life without Cheddar
on January 16, 2021
Brexit means it will be difficult to source our favourite Cheddar, writes cheese-addict Sue Wilson of Bremain in Spain.
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Ten phrases to talk about cold and wet weather like a true Spaniard
on January 16, 2021
Although Spain is famed for being warm and sunny, Spaniards have plenty of expressions and proverbs to refer to cold and rainy weather(with the odd swearword chucked in, of course).
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Spain's capital delays reopening of schools after historic snowfall
on January 16, 2021
Madrid's regional government on Friday postponed the opening of schools until January 20 because many roads remained blocked a week after Spain's worst snowstorm in decades.
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COMPARE: Nine charts to show how European countries are faring in battle against Covid-19 surge
on January 16, 2021
These charts show how the Covid-19 second wave continues to hit countries around Europe as governments try slightly different approaches to deal with the pandemic. Here's a round up of the latest Covid- 19 rates and restrictions around Europe.
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Former Spanish king's ex-lover says she was threatened by spy chief
by Sam Jones in Madrid (Spain | The Guardian) on January 15, 2021
Corinna Larsen tells court ‘chilling’ warning to her and her children came on the orders of King Juan CarlosThe ex-lover of Spain’s former king Juan Carlos has told a court in Madrid of the “chilling” moment when she claimed the head of the country’s intelligence services threatened her and her children on the monarch’s orders.Corinna Larsen […]
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Ex-king's former lover says Spain spy chief threatened her life
on January 15, 2021
The ex-lover of Spain's king emeritus testified Friday that her life had been threatened by a former spy chief on orders from the exiled monarch himself in a conversation that "terrified" her.
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LATEST: These are updated Covid-19 rules for regions across Spain
on January 15, 2021
New Covid-19 restrictions have been announced across Spain as infection rates soar across Spain.
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LATEST: Madrid tightens curfew and confines new zones as infections soar
on January 15, 2021
Madrid authorities announced that they will bring the curfew forward from midnight to 11pm and close restaurants and bars at 10pm as the region struggles to control a third wave of coronavirus infections.
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Recipe: How to make Spain's classic croquetas de jamón
on January 15, 2021
January 16th is officially Internationally Croquette Day.
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LATEST: Big freeze across Spain set to last into next week
on January 15, 2021
A cold snap that sent the mercury plummeting in the aftermath of Storm Filomena is set to last well into next week, with weather alerts still in place across 23 provinces in Spain.
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No power, no water, no hope: inside Europe’s largest shanty town
by Sam Jones in Madrid (Spain | The Guardian) on January 15, 2021
Freezing weather from Storm Filomena, and Spain’s third wave of Covid, compound dire situation in settlement outside MadridDespite the daily trials her family has to endure – a pandemic, three months with no electricity and now days without running water since Storm Filomena froze the pipes and left Madrid under a lingering duvet of snow – Sara […]
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Seagrass 'Neptune balls’ sieve millions of plastic particles from water, study finds
by Agence France-Presse (Spain | The Guardian) on January 15, 2021
Researchers counted particles in seaballs that washed up on beaches in SpainUnderwater seagrass in coastal areas appear to trap plastic pollution in natural bundles of fibre known as “Neptune balls”, researchers have found.With no help from humans, the swaying plants – anchored to shallow seabeds – may collect nearly 900m plastic items in the […]
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ANALYSIS: Should Madrid be declared a disaster zone as true cost of storm damage emerges?
on January 14, 2021
As the snow melts, Madrid is counting the true cost of the historic storm and has asked for the city to be declared a disaster zone.
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VIDEO: Why you may struggle to buy a bike in Europe in 2021
on January 14, 2021
Demand for bicycles has soared in Europe during the coronavirus pandemic, but conversely the global supply is at record low levels, with consumers having to wait months or over a year for their bike of choice.
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Spain registers record number of coronavirus cases and blames British strain
on January 14, 2021
Spain registered a record daily number of coronavirus cases on Wednesday, with nearly 39,000 new infections over the past 24 hours, the health ministry said.
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Cañada Real: Residents of Madrid's shantytown struggle without heat in historic snowfall
on January 14, 2021
"We're not animals but dogs live better than us," sighs Lidia Arribas, who lives without electricity in a vast slum near Madrid where temperatures hit historic lows this week.
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LATEST: Spain's regions tighten restrictions as experts call for new lockdown
on January 14, 2021
Spain is in the grip of a third wave of coronavirus infections with experts warning that the worst yet to come.
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Coronavirus variant from UK 'must not get out of hand' warns EU
by Jon Henley, Daniel Boffey and Sam Jones (Spain | The Guardian) on January 13, 2021
EU health commissioner says bloc will assist with genomic sequencing to curb mutationCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe EU has warned that the highly contagious coronavirus variant first found in Britain is now having “a significant impact” in other European countries, and said its spread “must be stopped at all […]
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Madrid resident turns snowy rooftop into silent movie cinema
on January 13, 2021
An ingenious Madrid silent film fan projected a Charlie Chaplin classic onto a snowy rooftop much to the delight of his neighbours.
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Until the convoys return: Cambridgeshire charity finds new ways to help refugees in the pandemic
on January 13, 2021
Cambridge Convoy Refugee Action Group, otherwise known as CamCRAG, is a small Cambridgeshire-based charity that was established in response to the migrant crisis in 2015. A small number of people, eager to make a difference, started to travel across the English channel to the Calais refugee camp to help out local aid organisations in the area. The mission […]
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Quiz: Can you pass the Spanish citizenship test?
on January 13, 2021
In order to qualify for Spanish nationality, you must meet certain conditions as well as passing a language test and a citizenship test set by the Cervantes Institute.
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British drivers in Europe to escape speed camera fines (and vice versa)
on January 13, 2021
The UK's departure from the EU means British drivers snared by speed cameras on roads in Europe will no longer be sent fines. And those Britons, resident in the EU, who return to the UK in foreign registered cars will also avoid fines.
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Brexit Q&A: What happens if I didn't register as a resident in Spain by December 31st?
on January 13, 2021
On December 31st 2020, the transition period ended, and with it the deadline for Brits to become resident in Spain. However, if you were living here before that date but didn't register, there is still time.
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The language you need to understand a Spanish property advert
on January 13, 2021
Just like in English there is a totally unspoken language used within property adverts in Spain. Graham Hunt, a property expert in Valencia gives the lowdown on the lingo you need when house or apartment hunting.
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Spanish police seize record haul of synthetic drugs
by Sam Jones in Madrid (Spain | The Guardian) on January 11, 2021
More than 800,000 ecstasy tablets among largest such confiscation in country’s historySpanish police have seized 827,000 ecstasy tablets, 76kg of speed, 39.5kg of crystal meth and 217 litres of liquid amphetamine in the country’s largest confiscation of synthetic drugs.Eleven people – from Spain, the Netherlands, Romania, Colombia and Italy – were […]
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Madrid hospital staff walk for hours to relieve colleagues after snow storm
by Ashifa Kassam in Madrid (Spain | The Guardian) on January 10, 2021
With roads blocked and trains cancelled, healthcare staff decide to make trip to work on footHealthcare workers in Madrid have gone to extreme lengths – some walking for hours – to relieve their exhausted colleagues as Spain grapples with the double whammy of a deadly storm and the coronavirus pandemic.Storm Filomena hit Spain on Friday, blanketing […]
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Madrid blanketed by heaviest snowstorm in decades – video
by (Spain | The Guardian) on January 9, 2021
The Spanish government has urged people to stay at home as the worst snowstorm in 50 years struck the country, bringing Madrid and the surrounding region to a frozen standstillAt least three people die in Spain's worst snowstorm in 50 years Continue reading...
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At least three people die in Spain's worst snowstorm in 50 years
by Sam Jones in Madrid (Spain | The Guardian) on January 9, 2021
Public urged to stay at home as Storm Filomena traps motorists and brings Madrid to standstillStorm Filomena causes heavy snow in Spain – in picturesThe Spanish government has urged people to stay at home after at least three people died during the worst snowstorm to strike the country in 50 years. Madrid and the surrounding region were brought to a […]
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For Spaniards who remember 1981, the storming of the Capitol looked eerily familiar | Giles Tremlett
by Giles Tremlett (Spain | The Guardian) on January 9, 2021
The events in Spain marked the definitive end of Francoism. Will the assault on the Capitol do the same for Trumpism?Tension was high, security was weak and a bitter handover of power was under way when violent intruders forced the people’s representatives to stop their debate and cower on the floor.Future generations of Americans will identify this as a […]
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As parts of UK enter third Covid lockdown, how does rest of Europe compare?
by Jon Henley and Guardian correspondents (Spain | The Guardian) on January 5, 2021
Rules vary from country to country but many European nations face severe restrictionsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageAfter a brief and partial relaxation of the rules over Christmas and New Year, many continental European countries have returned to the tough anti-Covid regimes that were imposed this autumn – with some […]