| 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
- Yamal and Oyarzabal shine as Spain thrash Saudi Arabia 4-0by The Local Spain on June 22, 2026
Lamine Yamal's return sparked Spain's World Cup into life as the European champions ran riot to beat Saudi Arabia 4-0 in Atlanta.
- Madrid scraps public screening of Spain World Cup match over heatby The Local Spain on June 21, 2026
The public screening of Spain's World Cup match against Saudi Arabia in Madrid later on Sunday has been cancelled because of extreme heat forecast for the Spanish capital, officials said.
- Three boys die after sea rescue at Spanish beachby The Local Spain on June 21, 2026
Three boys have died after getting into difficulty while swimming at a beach near Tarragona in northeastern Spain, officials said Sunday.
- Court bans Spanish PM's wife from leaving countryby The Local Spain on June 20, 2026
A Spanish court has ordered the wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Begoña Gómez, to stand trial by jury for corruption and banned her from leaving the country, according to a court order released Saturday.
- UN rights chief troubled by new EU migrant return rulesby The Local Spain on June 20, 2026
The UN rights chief said on Saturday he deeply regretted the European Union's new migration rules, which allow much broader detention powers and the creation of deportation centres outside the bloc.
- Would the EU take Britain back?by The Local Spain on June 20, 2026
A decade after the Brexit referendum, the UK is experiencing a form of "divorce regret" with surveys showing most Britons now believe leaving the European Union was a mistake.
- Inside Spain: How schools aren't equipped to deal with the early heatby The Local Spain on June 20, 2026
In this week’s Inside Spain, we look at how a group of teachers has set up a temperature-monitoring platform which exposes how many Spanish school buildings remain ill-equipped for early heatwaves, and the impact on teachers and pupils.
- Europe swelters in new heatwave with temperatures set to rise furtherby The Local Spain on June 19, 2026
Much of Western Europe was baking in a gruelling heatwave on Friday with the mercury expected to continue rising in the coming days, shattering temperature records.
- Spain and UK make deal to digitally monitor British-led overtourismby The Local Spain on June 19, 2026
Amid peak summer travel and a simmering anti-tourism mood in the country, Spain's Tourism Ministry will work with British travel agents to better monitor tourism flows from the country.
- Bank of Spain supports limits on short-term lets to curb housing crisisby The Local Spain on June 19, 2026
Spain's central bank has backed targeted measures to limit short-term rentals as it announced a shortfall of up to 750,000 properties for residents in the country.
- Will Spain's amnesty cause a spike in irregular migration?by The Local Spain on June 19, 2026
Is there any evidence to suggest that Spain's current mass regularisation of migrants will act as a pull factor for more undocumented to enter the country in the months to come?
- How to stay safe while swimming in the sea in Spainby The Local Spain on June 19, 2026
Dozens of beachgoers tragically lose their lives every summer along Spain's coastline, often due to a lack of awareness about the precautions that can be taken when visiting the country's beaches. Here's the experts' advice on how to stay safe.
- How a Spanish Civil War child, now 97, fled Franco for new life in the UKby The Local Spain on June 19, 2026
Carmen Cid was just eight when in 1937 she boarded a ship with 4,000 other children bound for Britain to escape the Spanish Civil War. She was among those who never returned home.
- KEY POINTS: What changes about life in Spain in July 2026by The Local Spain on June 18, 2026
Big summer music festivals, the start of Gibraltar's Brexit deal, the end of Spain's migrant amnesty, another anti-tourism protest, the deadline for Spain's annual income tax return, and plenty more - read on for the full lowdown on July 2026 in Spain.
- Corruption probe into Spain's former PM expanded to his daughtersby The Local Spain on June 18, 2026
A judge investigating Spain's former prime minister José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero for alleged influence peddling has expanded his politically explosive probe to the Socialist's daughters, a court said on Thursday.
- How to talk about football and the World Cup in Spanishby The Local Spain on June 17, 2026
Want to learn to talk about football like a Spaniard? Whether it's hurling mild abuse at refs, talking tactics or just knowing the basics, we've got you covered so you can speak and understand everything relating to 'el fútbol' more confidently.
- How the requirements for Spain's Digital Nomad Visa are getting stricterby The Local Spain on June 17, 2026
If you're thinking of applying for Spain's Digital Nomad Visa this year, here's what you need to know about what's changing and what's getting stricter.
- What Americans in Spain need to know about declaring foreign bank accountsby The Local Spain on June 15, 2026
Americans in Spain typically need to file two sets of tax declarations – one in the US and one in Spain. They may also have to declare any foreign bank accounts.
- Heatwave plans: Ten things to do in Spain when it’s too hot outsideby The Local Spain on August 24, 2023
Struggling to think of activities to do when it's insufferably hot in Spain? Whether it's air conditioning you're after or some refreshing H2O to cool down in, here's how to not let a heatwave spoil your enjoyment.
- 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
- In Madrid, investors eye tenants who still pay just €7 a monthby Fernando Peinado (In English Section | EL PAÍS) on January 27, 2020
Despite soaring rent prices, there are still a few lucky residents on old Franco-era contracts. Real estate trusts are buying these properties as they wait for the occupants to pass away
































