World · permanent entity record · SP

Spain

Thirty-second orientation

Spain at a glance

Capital: Madrid; CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04
Population: 49,355,143; World Bank, World Development Indicators · observation year 2025
Area: 505,370 sq km; CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04
Nationality / demonym: noun: Spaniard(s); adjective: Spanish; CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04
Government: parliamentary constitutional monarchy; CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04
Languages: Castilian Spanish (official) 74%, Catalan (official in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and the Valencian Community) 17%, Galician (official in Galicia) 7%, Basque (official in the Basque Country and Navarre) 2%, Aranese (official in part of Catalonia) <5,000 speakers; CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04

Independently structured milestones · not a complete national history

Spain through time

1955-12-14
Admitted to the United Nations
Spain became a member of the United Nations.
United Nations, Member States · source checked 2026-09-04

Source history · changed fields only

Changes since the final CIA profile

Field	Maintained Almanac value	Final CIA profile
Population	49,355,143World Bank, World Development Indicators · observation year 2025	total: 47,280,433 (2024 est.) male: 23,069,327 female: 24,211,106CIA World Factbook · as of 2026-01-13
Languages	Castilian Spanish (official) 74%, Catalan (official in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and the Valencian Community) 17%, Galician (official in Galicia) 7%, Basque (official in the Basque Country and Navarre) 2%, Aranese (official in part of Catalonia) <5,000 speakersCIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04	Castilian Spanish (official) 74%, Catalan (official in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and the Valencian Community) 17%, Galician (official in Galicia) 7%, Basque (official in the Basque Country and Navarre) 2%, Aranese (official in part of Catalonia) major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: Aragonese, Aranese Asturian, Calo, and Valencian are also recognized as regional languagesCIA World Factbook · as of 2026-01-13

A difference may reflect a newer observation, a revised estimate, or a different source definition. This table reports the values and dates; it does not manufacture a trend.

World Development Indicators · latest available observation

People, economy, and access

Observation years vary by measure. Each row identifies the series and year instead of presenting unlike dates as one current snapshot.

Gross domestic product: $1.91 trillion; World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator NY.GDP.MKTP.CD · observation year 2025 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2025; indicator NY.GDP.MKTP.CD. Underlying providers: National statistical authorities, central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
Gross domestic product per person: $38,627; World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator NY.GDP.PCAP.CD · observation year 2025 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2025; indicator NY.GDP.PCAP.CD. Underlying providers: National statistical authorities, central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
Life expectancy at birth: 83.9 years; World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator SP.DYN.LE00.IN · observation year 2024 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2024; indicator SP.DYN.LE00.IN. Underlying providers: UN Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
Urban population: 80.5%; World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS · observation year 2025 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2025; indicator SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS. Underlying providers: UN Population Division, World Urbanization Prospects. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
Access to electricity: 100.0%; World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS · observation year 2024 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2024; indicator EG.ELC.ACCS.ZS. Underlying providers: World Bank ESMAP, Tracking SDG 7. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
People using the internet: 95.8%; World Bank, World Development Indicators · indicator IT.NET.USER.ZS · observation year 2024 · dataset updated 2026-07-13World Development Indicators observation for 2024; indicator IT.NET.USER.ZS. Underlying providers: International Telecommunication Union. Source footnote: Source and notes: Instituto Nacional de Estadistica, Retrieved 2026-09-08.

World Development Indicators data are provided under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). The linked indicator metadata identifies the underlying statistical providers.

Maintained profile

Capital: Madrid; CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04The nation set and displayed federal short name follow the current State Department independent-states register, dated August 11, 2026.
Area: 505,370 sq km; CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04Final CIA source data preserved by a community mirror after the Factbook was retired; the mirror is not the issuing authority.
Population: 49,355,143; World Bank, World Development Indicators · observation year 2025World Development Indicators observation for 2025; indicator SP.POP.TOTL. Underlying providers: UN Population Division, national statistical offices, and Eurostat. Source footnote: Preliminary. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
Currency: euros (EUR); CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04Currency label extracted from the Factbook exchange-rate field.
Languages: Castilian Spanish (official) 74%, Catalan (official in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and the Valencian Community) 17%, Galician (official in Galicia) 7%, Basque (official in the Basque Country and Navarre) 2%, Aranese (official in part of Catalonia) <5,000 speakers; CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04Factbook language listing reproduced without inferring official status beyond the source wording.
Nationality / demonym: noun: Spaniard(s); adjective: Spanish; CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04The source’s noun and adjective forms are retained. These are language labels, not evidence of any individual person’s citizenship.
Government: parliamentary constitutional monarchy; CIA World Factbook final dataset, preserved by factbook.json · as of 2026-02-04
UN membership: 1955-12-14; United Nations, Member States · as of 2026-09-04
Continent: Europe; CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · as of 2026-01-13Continental label standardized from the archived profile region “Europe.”
Coastline: 4,964 km; CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · as of 2026-01-13Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
Climate: temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast; CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · as of 2026-01-13Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
Religions: Roman Catholic 58.2%, atheist 16.2%, agnostic 10.8%, other 2.7%, non-believer 10.5%, unspecified 1.7% (2021 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · as of 2026-01-13Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
Flag colors: red, yellow; CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · as of 2026-01-13Colors extracted from the flag description in the preserved final CIA profile.
National symbol: Pillars of Hercules; CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · as of 2026-01-13Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
Highest point: Pico de Teide (Tenerife) on Canary Islands · 12,198 ft (3,718 m); CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · as of 2026-01-13Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean · 0 ft (0 m); CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · as of 2026-01-13Preserved final CIA profile; this field is a historical baseline, not a claim of current conditions.
NATO membership: Member; NATO, What is NATO? · as of 2026-09-06Membership status is reported from the organization's current member list as of the stated date.
BRICS membership: Not a member; BRICS Brazil, About the BRICS · as of 2026-09-06Membership status is reported from the organization's current member list as of the stated date.

Preserved public-domain record · not maintained current data

Final CIA World Factbook profile

This is the preserved historical baseline from the Factbook’s final public snapshot. It is presented as the CIA stated it, not as a current Standard American Almanac finding. Current, independently maintained facts appear above when available.

CIA World Factbook historical record · final public snapshot · profile updated 2026-01-13 · pinned source record · commit d81154954b8b

Introduction1 fields

Background: Spain's powerful world empire of the 16th and 17th centuries ultimately yielded command of the seas to England. Spain remained neutral during both World Wars but suffered through a devastating civil war (1936-39) resulting in a dictatorship. A peaceful transition to democracy after the death of dictator Francisco FRANCO in 1975 and rapid economic modernization after Spain joined the EU in 1986 gave Spain a dynamic and rapidly growing economy. After a severe recession in the wake of the global financial crisis in 2008, Spain has posted solid years of GDP growth above the EU average. Unemployment has fallen but remains high, especially among youth. Spain is the euro-zone's fourth-largest economy. The country has faced increased domestic turmoil in recent years due to the independence movement in its restive Catalonia region.; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source

Geography18 fields

Location: Southwestern Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, Bay of Biscay, and Pyrenees Mountains; southwest of France; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Geographic coordinates: 40 00 N, 4 00 W; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Map references: Europe; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Area: total : 505,370 sq km land: 498,980 sq km water: 6,390 sq km note: includes two autonomous cities (Ceuta and Melilla), 17 autonomous communities (including Balearic Islands and Canary Islands), and three small Spanish possessions off the coast of Morocco -- Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Area - comparative: almost five times the size of Kentucky; slightly more than twice the size of Oregon; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Land boundaries: total: 1,952.7 km border countries (5): Andorra 63 km; France 646 km; Gibraltar 1.2 km; Portugal 1,224 km; Morocco (Ceuta) 8 km and Morocco (Melilla) 10.5 km note: an additional 75-meter border segment exists between Morocco and the Spanish exclave of Penon de Velez de la Gomera; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Coastline: 4,964 km; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (applies only to the Atlantic Ocean); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Climate: temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Terrain: large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills; Pyrenees Mountains in north; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Elevation: highest point: Pico de Teide (Tenerife) on Canary Islands 3,718 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 660 m; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Natural resources: coal, lignite, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, uranium, tungsten, mercury, pyrites, magnesite, fluorspar, gypsum, sepiolite, kaolin, potash, hydropower, arable land; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Land use: agricultural land: 49.6% (2023 est.) arable land: 23% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 10.2% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 19.8% (2023 est.) forest: 38.2% (2023 est.) other: 12.3% (2023 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Irrigated land: 38,012 sq km (2022); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Major rivers (by length in km): Tagus river source (shared with Portugal [m]) - 1,006 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Population distribution: with the notable exception of Madrid, Sevilla, and Zaragoza, the largest urban agglomerations are found along the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts; numerous smaller cities are spread throughout the interior; very dense settlement around the capital of Madrid, as well as the port city of Barcelona; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Natural hazards: periodic droughts, occasional flooding volcanism: volcanic activity in the Canary Islands, located off Africa's northwest coast; Teide (3,715 m) has been deemed a Decade Volcano by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to its explosive history and close proximity to human populations; La Palma (2,426 m) is the most active of the Canary Islands volcanoes; Lanzarote is the only other historically active volcano; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Geography - note: strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar; Spain controls a number of territories in northern Morocco, including the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla and the islands of Penon de Velez de la Gomera, Penon de Alhucemas, and Islas Chafarinas; Spain's Canary Islands are one of four North Atlantic archipelagos that make up Macaronesia; the others are the Azores (Portugal), Madeira (Portugal), and Cabo Verde; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source

People and Society34 fields

Population: total: 47,280,433 (2024 est.) male: 23,069,327 female: 24,211,106; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Nationality: noun: Spaniard(s) adjective: Spanish; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Ethnic groups: Spanish 84.8%, Moroccan 1.7%, Romanian 1.2%, other 12.3% (2021 est.) note: data represent population by country of birth; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Languages: Castilian Spanish (official) 74%, Catalan (official in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and the Valencian Community) 17%, Galician (official in Galicia) 7%, Basque (official in the Basque Country and Navarre) 2%, Aranese (official in part of Catalonia) major-language sample(s): La Libreta Informativa del Mundo, la fuente indispensable de información básica. (Spanish) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information. note: Aragonese, Aranese Asturian, Calo, and Valencian are also recognized as regional languages; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Religions: Roman Catholic 58.2%, atheist 16.2%, agnostic 10.8%, other 2.7%, non-believer 10.5%, unspecified 1.7% (2021 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Age structure: 0-14 years: 13% (male 3,147,019/female 3,012,821) 15-64 years: 66.1% (male 15,662,492/female 15,585,138) 65 years and over: 20.9% (2024 est.) (male 4,259,816/female 5,613,147); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 51.3 (2024 est.) youth dependency ratio: 19.7 (2024 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 31.6 (2024 est.) potential support ratio: 3.2 (2024 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Median age: total: 47.2 years (2025 est.) male: 45.7 years female: 47.8 years; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Population growth rate: 0.12% (2025 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Birth rate: 7.16 births/1,000 population (2025 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Death rate: 9.98 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Net migration rate: 3.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Population distribution: with the notable exception of Madrid, Sevilla, and Zaragoza, the largest urban agglomerations are found along the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts; numerous smaller cities are spread throughout the interior; very dense settlement around the capital of Madrid, as well as the port city of Barcelona; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Urbanization: urban population: 81.6% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.24% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data include Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Major urban areas - population: 6.751 million MADRID (capital), 5.687 million Barcelona, 838,000 Valencia (2023); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Mother's mean age at first birth: 31.2 years (2020 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Maternal mortality ratio: 3 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Infant mortality rate: total: 2.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 2.7 deaths/1,000 live births female: 2.1 deaths/1,000 live births; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 83 years (2024 est.) male: 80.3 years female: 85.8 years; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Total fertility rate: 1.32 children born/woman (2025 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Gross reproduction rate: 0.65 (2025 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Drinking water source: urban: 99.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.) urban: 0.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Health expenditure: 10.7% of GDP (2021) 15.2% of national budget (2022 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Physician density: 4.29 physicians/1,000 population (2022); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Hospital bed density: 2.9 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Sanitation facility access: urban: 100% of population (2022 est.) rural: 100% of population (2022 est.) total: 100% of population (2022 est.) urban: 0% of population (2022 est.) rural: 0% of population (2022 est.) total: 0% of population (2022 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 23.8% (2016); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Alcohol consumption per capita: total: 10.72 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 4.67 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 3.52 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 2.34 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.19 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Tobacco use: total: 23.9% (2025 est.) male: 25.8% (2025 est.) female: 22% (2025 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Currently married women (ages 15-49): 50.2% (2021 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Education expenditure: 4.6% of GDP (2022 est.) 9.9% national budget (2022 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Literacy: total population: 99.7% (2021 est.) male: 99.8% (2021 est.) female: 99.6% (2021 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 18 years (2023 est.) male: 17 years (2023 est.) female: 18 years (2023 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source

Environment11 fields

Environmental issues: pollution of the Mediterranean Sea from raw sewage and effluents from oil and gas production; drought; air pollution; deforestation; desertification; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
International environmental agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Heavy Metals, Air Pollution-Multi-effect Protocol, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protection, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Climate: temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Land use: agricultural land: 49.6% (2023 est.) arable land: 23% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 10.2% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 19.8% (2023 est.) forest: 38.2% (2023 est.) other: 12.3% (2023 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Urbanization: urban population: 81.6% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 0.24% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.) note: data include Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Carbon dioxide emissions: 254.823 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 13.39 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 182.327 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 59.105 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Particulate matter emissions: 8.3 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually: 22.409 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 27.7% (2022 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Total water withdrawal: municipal: 4.56 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 5.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 18.96 billion cubic meters (2022 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Total renewable water resources: 111.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Geoparks: total global geoparks and regional networks: 18 (2025) global geoparks and regional networks: Basque Coast UNESCO; Cabo de Gata-Níjar; Cabo Ortegal; Calatrava Volcanoes. Ciudad Real; Central Catalonia; Costa Quebrada; Courel Mountains; El Hierro; Granada; Lanzarote and Chinijo Islands; Las Loras; Maestrazgo; Molina-Alto; Origens; Sierra Norte de Sevilla; Sierras Subbéticas; Sobrarbe-Pirineos: Villuercas Ibores Jara (2025); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source

Government25 fields

Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Spain conventional short form: Spain local long form: Reino de España local short form: España etymology: derivation of the name España is uncertain; the Basque words ezpain or espan ("edge," as in a river bank) are possible sources, or the Punic word span, meaning "rabbit;" some academics tie it to the god Hesperus from Greco-Roman mythology; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Government type: parliamentary constitutional monarchy; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Capital: name: Madrid geographic coordinates: 40 24 N, 3 41 W time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October time zone note: Spain has two time zones, including the Canary Islands (UTC 0) etymology: the meaning and origin of the name is unclear; the city grew from a small Moorish fort that was called Majerit in the first recorded mention in A.D. 932; some trace the modern-day name back to the Roman era, with the Latin word materia (materials) as a possible source; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Administrative divisions: 17 autonomous communities (comunidades autonomas, singular - comunidad autonoma) and 2 autonomous cities* (ciudades autonomas, singular - ciudad autonoma); Andalucia; Aragon; Asturias; Canarias (Canary Islands); Cantabria; Castilla-La Mancha; Castilla-Leon; Cataluña (Castilian), Catalunya (Catalan), Catalonha (Aranese) [Catalonia]; Ceuta*; Comunidad Valenciana (Castilian), Comunitat Valenciana (Valencian) [Valencian Community]; Extremadura; Galicia; Illes Baleares (Balearic Islands); La Rioja; Madrid; Melilla*; Murcia; Navarra (Castilian), Nafarroa (Basque) [Navarre]; Pais Vasco (Castilian), Euskadi (Basque) [Basque Country] note: Spain administers the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla and the three small islands of Islas Chafarinas, Peñón de Alhucemas, and Peñón de Velez de la Gomera, which are all located along the coast of Morocco; they are collectively referred to as Places of Sovereignty (Plazas de Soberania); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Legal system: civil law system with regional variations; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Constitution: history: several previous; latest approved by the General Courts 31 October 1978, passed by referendum 6 December 1978, signed by the king 27 December 1978, effective 29 December 1978 amendment process: proposed by the government, by the General Courts (the Congress or the Senate), or by the self-governing communities submitted through the government; passage requires three-fifths majority vote by both houses and passage by referendum if requested by one tenth of the members of either house; proposals disapproved by both houses are submitted to a joint committee, which submits an agreed upon text for another vote; passage requires two-thirds majority vote in Congress and simple majority vote in the Senate; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Spain dual citizenship recognized: only with select Latin American countries residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years for persons with no ties to Spain; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Executive branch: chief of state: King FELIPE VI (since 19 June 2014) head of government: President of the Government of Spain (prime minister-equivalent) Pedro SANCHEZ PEREZ-CASTEJON (since 2 June 2018) cabinet: Council of Ministers designated by the president election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the monarch usually proposes as president the leader of the majority party or coalition, who is then indirectly elected by the Congress of Deputies; vice president and Council of Ministers appointed by the president most recent election date: 23 July 2023 election results: Congress of Deputies vote - 179 to 171 (16 November 2023) expected date of next election: 31 July 2027 note: there is also a Council of State that is the supreme consultative organ of the government, but its recommendations are non-binding; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Legislative branch: legislature name: The Cortes (Las Cortes Generales) legislative structure: bicameral; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name: Congress of Deputies (Congreso de los Diputados) number of seats: 350 (all directly elected) electoral system: proportional representation scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 7/23/2023 parties elected and seats per party: People's Party (PP) (136); Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) (122); Vox (33); SUMAR (31); Other (28) percentage of women in chamber: 44.3% expected date of next election: July 2027; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name: Senate (Senado) number of seats: 265 (208 directly elected; 57 indirectly elected) electoral system: mixed system scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 7/23/2023 parties elected and seats per party: People's Party (PP) (120); Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) (72); Other (16) percentage of women in chamber: 42.5% expected date of next election: July 2027; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Judicial branch: highest court(s): Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo (consists of the court president and organized into the Civil Room, with a president and 9 judges; the Penal Room, with a president and 14 judges; the Administrative Room, with a president and 32 judges; the Social Room, with a president and 12 judges; and the Military Room, with a president and 7 judges); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional de Espana (consists of 12 judges) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the monarch from candidates proposed by the General Council of the Judiciary Power, a 20-member governing board chaired by the monarch; judges can serve until age 70; Constitutional Court judges nominated by the National Assembly, executive branch, and the General Council of the Judiciary, and appointed by the monarch for 9-year terms subordinate courts: National High Court; High Courts of Justice (in each of the autonomous communities); provincial courts; courts of first instance; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Political parties: Asturias Forum or FAC Basque Country Unite (Euskal Herria Bildu) or EH Bildu (coalition of 4 Basque pro-independence parties) Basque Nationalist Party or PNV or EAJ Canarian Coalition or CC (coalition of 5 parties) Ciudadanos Party (Citizens Party) or Cs Compromis - Compromise Coalition Navarrese People's Union or UPN Together for Catalonia or Junts People's Party or PP Republican Left of Catalonia or ERC Spanish Socialist Workers Party or PSOE Teruel Existe or TE Unidas (Unite) or Sumar (electoral coalition formed in March 2022) (formerly Unidas Podemos or UP) Vox or VOX; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ángeles MORENO Bau (since 27 February 2024) chancery: 2375 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 452-0100 FAX: [1] (202) 833-5670 email address and website: emb.washington@maec.es https://www.exteriores.gob.es/Embajadas/washington/en/Paginas/index.aspx consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Rian Harker HARRIS (since 15 July 2024); note - also accredited to Andorra embassy: Calle de Serrano, 75, 28006 Madrid mailing address: 8500 Madrid Place, Washington DC 20521-8500 telephone: [34] (91) 587-2200 FAX: [34] (91) 587-2303 email address and website: askACS@state.gov https://es.usembassy.gov/ consulate(s) general: Barcelona; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
International organization participation: ADB (nonregional member), AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, CABEI, CAN (observer), CBSS (observer), CD, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, ECB, EIB, EITI (implementing country), EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FATF, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAIA (observer), MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Pacific Alliance (observer), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), Schengen Convention, SELEC (observer), SICA (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, Union Latina, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, Wassenaar Arrangement, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Independence: 1492 note: the Iberian peninsula was home to a variety of independent kingdoms prior to the Muslim occupation that began in the early 8th century A.D. and lasted nearly seven centuries; the small Christian redoubts of the north began the reconquest almost immediately, culminating in the seizure of Granada in 1492; this completed the unification of several kingdoms and is traditionally considered the forging of present-day Spain; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
National holiday: National Day (Hispanic Day), 12 October (1492) note: commemorates the arrival of explorer Christopher COLUMBUS in the Americas; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Flag: description: three horizontal bands of red (top), yellow (double-width), and red, with the national coat of arms on the left side of the yellow band; the coat of arms shows the emblems of the area's former kingdoms (clockwise from upper left: Castile, Leon, Navarre, and Aragon), which also used red and yellow as their colors; the stylized pomegranate at the bottom of the shield represents Granada; the two columns represent the Pillars of Hercules, which are promontories (Gibraltar and Ceuta) on the Strait of Gibraltar; a red scroll bears the imperial motto of "Plus Ultra" (further beyond), referring to Spanish lands outside Europe; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
National symbol(s): Pillars of Hercules; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
National color(s): red, yellow; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
National anthem(s): title: "Himno Nacional Espanol" (National Anthem of Spain) lyrics/music: no lyrics/unknown history: adopted 1942;officially in use between 1770 and 1931, restored in 1939; the Spanish anthem was the first to be officially adopted; it first appeared in a 1761 military bugle-call book and was replaced by "Himno de Riego" in the years between 1931 and 1939; the long version of the anthem is used for the king, and the short version is used for the prince, prime minister, and occasions such as sporting events; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
National heritage: total World Heritage Sites: 50 (44 cultural, 4 natural, 2 mixed) selected World Heritage Site locales: Cave of Altamira and Paleolithic Cave Art of Northern Spain (c); Works of Antoni Gaudí (c); Santiago de Compostela (Old Town) (c); Historic City of Toledo (c); Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida (c); Tower of Hercules (c); Doñana National Park (n); Pyrénées - Mont Perdu (m); Alhambra, Generalife, and Albayzín in Granada (c); Old City of Salamanca (c); Teide National Park (n); Historic Walled Town of Cuenca (c); Old Town of Segovia and its Aqueduct (c); Historic Cordoba (c); Royal Site of Saint Lorenzo de El Escorial (c); Cathedral, Alcázar, and Archivo de Indias in Seville; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source

Economy31 fields

Economic overview: high-income, core-EU and eurozone economy; strong growth driven by public consumption, tourism, and other service exports; tight labor market despite high structural unemployment; efforts to narrow persistent fiscal deficits through tax and spending measures; high but declining unemployment supported by job growth and immigration; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $2.361 trillion (2024 est.) $2.289 trillion (2023 est.) $2.229 trillion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Real GDP growth rate: 3.2% (2024 est.) 2.7% (2023 est.) 6.2% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Real GDP per capita: $48,400 (2024 est.) $47,300 (2023 est.) $46,600 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
GDP (official exchange rate): $1.723 trillion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2.8% (2024 est.) 3.5% (2023 est.) 8.4% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture: 2.5% (2024 est.) industry: 19.5% (2024 est.) services: 69.1% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption: 54.3% (2023 est.) government consumption: 19.5% (2023 est.) investment in fixed capital: 19.7% (2023 est.) investment in inventories: 1.3% (2023 est.) exports of goods and services: 38.1% (2023 est.) imports of goods and services: -34.1% (2023 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Agricultural products: milk, olives, pork, grapes, wheat, tomatoes, barley, sugar beets, maize, oranges (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Industries: textiles and apparel (including footwear), food and beverages, metals and metal manufactures, chemicals, shipbuilding, automobiles, machine tools, tourism, clay and refractory products, footwear, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Industrial production growth rate: 2.6% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Labor force: 24.386 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Unemployment rate: 11.4% (2024 est.) 12.2% (2023 est.) 13% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total: 27% (2024 est.) male: 26.4% (2024 est.) female: 27.7% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Population below poverty line: 20.2% (2022 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: 33.6 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Average household expenditures: on food: 12.9% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 4% of household expenditures (2023 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.3% (2022 est.) highest 10%: 24.8% (2022 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Remittances: 0.4% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.3% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.3% of GDP (2022 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Budget: revenues: $512.57 billion (2023 est.) expenditures: $549.772 billion (2023 est.) note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Public debt: 107.3% of GDP (2023 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Taxes and other revenues: 15% (of GDP) (2023 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Current account balance: $52.182 billion (2024 est.) $43.012 billion (2023 est.) $4.482 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Exports: $642.358 billion (2024 est.) $616.648 billion (2023 est.) $573.598 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Exports - partners: France 15%, Germany 10%, Portugal 9%, Italy 9%, UK 6% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Exports - commodities: cars, packaged medicine, refined petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories, garments (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Imports: $568.502 billion (2024 est.) $552.948 billion (2023 est.) $561.448 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Imports - partners: Germany 11%, China 10%, France 10%, Italy 7%, USA 7% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Imports - commodities: crude petroleum, cars, garments, vehicle parts/accessories, natural gas (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $107.774 billion (2024 est.) $103.089 billion (2023 est.) $92.905 billion (2022 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Exchange rates: euros (EUR) per US dollar - 0.924 (2024 est.) 0.925 (2023 est.) 0.95 (2022 est.) 0.845 (2021 est.) 0.876 (2020 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source

Energy8 fields

Electricity access: electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Electricity: installed generating capacity: 130.366 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 227.187 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 25.279 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 11.315 billion kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 24.532 billion kWh (2023 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels: 28% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) nuclear: 20.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 17.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) wind: 23.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 8.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 2.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Nuclear energy: Number of operational nuclear reactors: 7 (2025) Net capacity of operational nuclear reactors: 7.12GW (2025 est.) Percent of total electricity production: 20.3% (2023 est.) Number of nuclear reactors permanently shut down: 3 (2025); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Coal: production: 1.28 million metric tons (2023 est.) consumption: 7.388 million metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 1.629 million metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 9.798 million metric tons (2023 est.) proven reserves: 1.187 billion metric tons (2023 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Petroleum: total petroleum production: 47,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 1.325 million bbl/day (2024 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 150 million barrels (2021 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Natural gas: production: 34.124 million cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 29.041 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) exports: 6.576 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 35.252 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 2.549 billion cubic meters (2021 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Energy consumption per capita: 101.12 million Btu/person (2023 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source

Communications6 fields

Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions: 18.431 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 38 (2023 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions: 61.2 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 124 (2022 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Broadcast media: mix of publicly operated and privately owned TV and radio stations; hundreds of TV channels available, including national, regional, local, public, and international channels; satellite and cable TV available; multiple national radio networks, large number of regional radio networks, and larger number of local radio stations (2019); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Internet country code: .es; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Internet users: percent of population: 95% (2023 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total: 18.2 million (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 38 (2023 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source

Transportation6 fields

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: EC; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Airports: 365 (2025); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Heliports: 162 (2025); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Railways: total: 15,489 km (2020) 9,953 km electrified; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Merchant marine: total: 503 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 1, general cargo 33, oil tanker 24, other 445; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Ports: total ports: 52 (2024) large: 3 medium: 14 small: 9 very small: 24 size unknown: 2 ports with oil terminals: 13 key ports: Alicante, Barcelona, Cadiz, Ceuta, Ferrol, Huelva, Las Palmas, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Puerto de Bilbao, Puerto de Pasajes, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Santander, Sevilla, Tarragona, Valencia, Vigo; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source

Military and Security7 fields

Military and security forces: Spanish Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas de España): Army (Ejército de Tierra), Spanish Navy (Armada Espanola; includes Marine Corps), Air and Space Force (Ejército del Aire y del Espacio), Emergency Response Unit (Unidad Militar de Emergencias); Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) Ministry of the Interior: Spanish National Police (Cuerpo Nacional de Policía, CNP) (2025) note 1: the Civil Guard is a military force with police duties (including coast guard) under both the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of the Interior; it also responds to the needs of the Ministry of Finance; the CNP and the Civil Guard maintain internal security as well as migration and border enforcement under the authority of the Ministry of the Interior; the regional police under the authority of the Catalan and the Basque Country regional governments and municipal police throughout the country also support domestic security note 2: the Emergency Response Unit was established in 2006 as a separate branch of service for responding to natural disasters and providing disaster relief both domestically and abroad; it has personnel from all the other military services note 3: the Royal Guard is an independent joint-service regiment of the military dedicated to the protection of the King and members of the royal family; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Military expenditures: 2% of GDP (2025 est.) 1.4% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.1% of GDP (2022 est.) 1% of GDP (2021 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Military and security service personnel strengths: approximately 120,000 active-duty military personnel; approximately 80,000 Guardia Civil (2025); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions: the military's inventory is comprised of weapons and equipment that were produced domestically, co-produced with or imported from other European countries, or acquired from the US; key suppliers of major armaments include Germany and the US; Spain's defense industry manufactures land, air, and sea weapons systems and is integrated within the European defense-industrial sector (2025); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women (upper age limits depend on branch of service, roles, specialties, etc); 24-36 month initial obligation; no conscription, but the Spanish Government retains the right to mobilize citizens 19-25 years of age in a national emergency; 18-58 for the voluntary reserves (2026) note 1: as of 2024, women comprised about 13% of the military's full-time personnel; they serve in all branches, including combat arms note 2: the military recruits foreign nationals with residency in Spain from countries of its former empire, including Argentina, Costa Rica, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Military deployments: Spain has up to 3,000 military personnel deployed on 17 missions supporting the EU, NATO, and the UN on four continents, as well as naval missions in the Mediterranean and the seas off the Horn of Africa; its largest deployments are up to 700 troops in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and about 1,700 personnel in Eastern Europe supporting NATO missions in Latvia, Romania, and Slovakia (2025); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Military - note: the Spanish military has a wide range of responsibilities, including protecting the country’s national interests, sovereignty, and territory, providing support during natural disasters, and fulfilling Spain’s responsibilities to European and international security; it maintains garrisons in the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla, conducts operations worldwide, and participates in a variety of EU-, NATO-, and UN-led missions; Spain joined NATO in 1982 and is fully integrated into the NATO structure; it routinely conducts exercises with NATO (and EU) partners, and hosts one of NATO’s two combined air operations centers the Spanish military's history goes back to the 13th century; the Army has an infantry regiment, formed in the 13th century, that is considered the oldest still active military unit in the Western world; the Marine Corps, which traces its roots back to 1537, is the oldest naval infantry force in the world; Spain created a Spanish Legion for foreigners in 1920, but early on the Legion was primarily filled by native Spaniards due to difficulties in recruiting foreigners, and most of its foreign members were from the Republic of Cuba; it was modeled after the French Foreign Legion and its purpose was to provide a corps of professional troops to fight in Spain's colonial campaigns in North Africa; in more recent years, it has been used in NATO peacekeeping deployments; today’s Legion includes a mix of native Spaniards and foreigners with Spanish residency (2025); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source

Space4 fields

Space agency/agencies: Spanish Space Agency (AEE; became operational in 2023); Center for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI) (2025) note 1: the CDTI coordinates the activities of the commercial space sector note 2: prior to the establishment of the AEE, the National Institute of Aerospace Technology (Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial or INTA, established 1942), a public research organization that depends on the Ministry of Defense, acted as Spain’s space agency; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Space launch site(s): El Arenosillo Test Center/Range (Andalusia) (2025); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Space program overview: space program dates back to the 1940s; manufactures and operates communications, remote sensing (RS), and scientific/technology satellites; has developed sounding rockets; conducts research and development in a broad range of space-related capabilities, including astrobiology, astronomy, imaging/RS, meteorology, optics, propulsion, robotics, satellites (particularly micro- and nano-satellites), and satellite launch vehicles; program is integrated into the ESA; also participates in EU space programs; hosts the European Space Astronomy Center (ESOC) and the ESA’s Space Surveillance and Tracking Data Centre (ESAC); cooperates with foreign space agencies and industries, including the US; has an active commercial space industry (2025); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source
Key space-program milestones: 1960s - began working with the US/NASA and the European Space Research Organization (ESRO), the forerunner of the ESA; sounding rocket program (ended in the 1990s) 1974 - first satellite (IntaSat) launched by US 1990s - satellite launch vehicle (SLV) development program (canceled in 2000) 1992 - first communications satellite (Hispasat 1A) launched on European rocket 1998 - first astronaut in space on US Space Shuttle 2018 - first synthetic-aperture-radar, remote-sensing/reconnaissance satellite (Paz) launched by US 2023 - Spanish built Miuri-1 becomes first European private rocket to reach space; joined US-led Artemis Accords for space and lunar exploration 2025 - communications satellite (SpainSat NG 1) with advanced security technology launched by US; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source

Terrorism1 fields

Terrorist group(s): Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); al-Qa’ida note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide; CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source

Transnational Issues1 fields

Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees: 693,298 (2024 est.) IDPs: 3,960 (2024 est.) stateless persons: 10,164 (2024 est.); CIA World Factbook historical record · as of 2026-01-13 · source

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Spain at a glance

Spain through time

Admitted to the United Nations

Changes since the final CIA profile

People, economy, and access

Maintained profile