Located in Southwestern Europe, Spain is a constitutional monarchy known as the Kingdom of Spain. The Spanish territory includes a locality on the Iberian Peninsula and overseas territories located in North Africa (Canary Islands) and in the Mediterranean (Balearic Islands).
Spain covers 505,990 km², including the island territories (Balearic Islands, Canary Islands) as well as the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla in North Africa. It is one of the largest countries in Western Europe, ranking 4th in Europe in terms of area and 5th in population.
The country has nearly 49.4 million inhabitants, with a density of 97 inhabitants/km², very unevenly distributed, with the majority of the population concentrated on the coasts and in the Madrid region.
The population is predominantly urban, with nearly 80% of inhabitants living in cities, and the median age is 46.3 years.
The capital is Madrid, the country’s main economic and political center. The international telephone code is +34 (0034 from a landline).
Which countries border Spain?
The countries with land borders with Spain are France, Andorra, and Portugal, respectively in the Northeast, Northeast, and West sections. The countries with maritime borders with Spain are Morocco, Algeria, and Italy.
The Spanish territory is bounded by a total of 6,885 km of borders, including 2,013 km of land borders shared with Portugal, France, Andorra, Morocco (Ceuta and Melilla), and Gibraltar. The coastlines extend over 4,872 km, including approximately 2,058 km in the Mediterranean, with the remainder along the Atlantic and the Bay of Biscay. This dual maritime frontage gives Spain a strategic geographical position in Southwestern Europe.
Population of Spain
Spain currently has nearly 49.4 million inhabitants, about 0.6% of the world population. Population growth is largely driven by immigration, with the natural balance remaining very low.
Male/female ratio: almost balanced, around 98%
Birth rate: 7.5 ‰
Death rate: 9.2 ‰
Life expectancy: 84 years on average — 81 years for men, 87 years for women, among the highest in Europe
Median age: 46.3 years, an overall aging population
Flag of Spain
The colors of the Spanish flag are defined by the constitution. Indeed, it is composed of two red stripes and a gold color in the middle of the two. The outer red stripes measure half the width of the golden stripe. The left part is marked by the Country’s Coat of Arms on the side of the hoist. Here are the meanings of the colors and the Coat of Arms:
The gold color represents Castile and the red color represents the Kingdom of Aragon, that is Catalonia, Valencia, and Majorca. The depiction of the lion relates to the Kingdom of León and the other coats of arms represent Granada. The columns symbolize the Canary and Balearic Islands. According to these representations, the flag of Spain is a symbol of cohesion and unity, and even in diversity, a single kingdom reigns.
What are the best cities to visit in Spain
Barcelona
The capital of Catalonia is known for being sunny year-round and also for its ancient constructions that have endured through the centuries. This city is located on the coast, which is why its restaurants specialize in preparing seafood.
In the city center, you can walk through narrow paths as well as spacious streets that you will take to visit the parks, the Sagrada Familia monument, and the FC Barcelona stadium.
Madrid
The capital of Spain is a magnificent and very lively place. You will see ancient architecture, well-preserved mansions, and more recent buildings that together suggest the city has gone through many years.
In Madrid’s sumptuous museums, masterpieces by Picasso, Goya, or Dalí, who were famous artists, are displayed. Also enjoy the nightlife which will allow you to taste Spanish gastronomic menus in the best restaurants with refined dishes.
Bilbao
The city of Bilbao is especially known for representing Basque culture. There is the Guggenheim Museum, which is an excellent place to enjoy the beach and the medieval architecture along the coast. These buildings combine contemporary structure and traditional design.
Also enjoy the best restaurants in Bilbao and the view overlooking the cathedrals found throughout the city. Finally, the city is full of green spaces and places where you can see outdoor performances.
Seville
Its most famous attraction is the Gothic cathedral of Seville. The city is actually a mix of modern architecture and old buildings. Moreover, you will have plenty of choices among nightclubs, bars, and various restaurants that will allow you to have a good time.
Additionally, there is the Gothic cathedral located right in the city center. Seville also often hosts festivals and traveling theaters such as the Semana Santa festival. It is also the capital of Andalusia, which has several palaces and medieval churches.
Valencia
It is a port city located on the Mediterranean but is not as popular as Barcelona and the capital. It is mainly a cultural city known for its white sandy beaches and natural parks. The latter line the banks of the central river; the alleys of the city center will lead you to interesting museums.
Granada
This city is especially known for the Alhambra located in the middle of an extraordinary city. Tourists go there to visit the fortress that was once a residence of the Moorish lords. Granada also has green parks and architecture reflecting Islam.
So go to the city center to admire the old churches, have a drink in the nice bars, or also stroll through the cobbled streets.
Where are the cities located on the Spain map
Barcelona
It is the capital of the province of Barcelona located on the Spain map, on the coastline of the Mediterranean side of continental Spain. Geographic coordinates: 41° 22′ 57″ north, 2° 10′ 37″ east.
Madrid
On the Spain map, the capital is located in the central section of continental Spain. Geographic coordinates: 40° 26′ 00″ north, 3° 41′ 00″ west.
Bilbao
Located in the province of Biscay, the city of Bilbao is situated in the northern section of the Iberian Peninsula. Geographic coordinates: 43° 15′ 25″ north, 2° 55′ 24″ west.
Seville
It is a city located in the extreme southwest of continental Spain. Geographic coordinates: 37° 23′ 00″ north, 5° 59′ 48″ west.
Valencia
Valencia is a port city located at the central point of the Gulf of the same name. Geographic coordinates: 39° 28′ 13″ north, 0° 22′ 36″ west.
Granada
It is a city located in the southeast section of Andalusia and at the base of the slopes of Sierra Nevada. Geographic coordinates: 37° 10′ 41″ north, 3° 36′ 03″ west.
Climate map of Spain
In Spain, the climate varies according to regions: North Atlantic and Northwest, Central zone, Mediterranean and coastal zones, mountainous zones, Andalusia.
The climate of the coastal areas near the northern Atlantic is quite humid in winter. Sunshine is quite low and rainfall is quite high. Summer is not very hot and there are fairly abundant rains with an alternation between sunshine and cloudy skies. Summer temperatures hover around 20°C. The annual rainfall in this region is about 1,100mm.
Mediterranean zone: Unlike the previous zones, winter is milder and rains less abundant. There is then more frequent sunshine. This is due to the influence of winds coming from the west of the country. Moreover, summer is sunnier despite some humidity and sea breezes that temper the heat.
The central zone is characterized by a moderately cold winter, night temperatures are quite low (0°C) and daytime temperatures vary around 10°C. The capital is located on a plateau with a higher elevation. As a result, temperatures are very divergent, around 30°C and even more in summer and below 0°C in winter. The annual rainfall is 455 mm.
The Andalusian section is marked by a very hot summer with temperatures reaching up to 40° maximum and a mild winter. Sunshine is not very frequent but the sky is clearer than in other regions.
Economic map of Spain
Spain is today the 4th largest economic power in the European Union, behind Germany, France, and Italy. It stands out primarily as the continent’s most dynamic growth engine: with +2.8% GDP growth in 2025, it far surpasses its European neighbors, driven by a record tourism sector (97 million foreign visitors in 2025), sustained household consumption, and rising investments.
Its geographical position is a major strategic asset: the only European country sharing a land border with Africa, Spain benefits from privileged trade exchanges between Western Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Atlantic. Its international airports, including Madrid-Barajas, one of the busiest in Europe, facilitate large-scale import-export.
The most successful industrial sectors are agri-food, information technology, electronics, and the pharmaceutical industry, alongside a services sector that represents the bulk of economic activity.
Some key indicators:
- Currency: Euro
- Nominal GDP: approximately 1,500 billion euros (2025)
- GDP per capita: approximately 30,000 euros
- GDP growth: +2.8% in 2025, +2.2% forecast in 2026
- Inflation rate: 2.4% early 2026
- Unemployment rate: around 10%, significantly decreasing (first time below 10% since 2008 at the end of 2025)
- Public debt: approximately 101% of GDP
Administrative subdivisions and demolinguistic data
Administrative subdivisions
Spain’s administrative subdivisions number three: first, there are the autonomous communities, then the provinces, and finally the municipalities. As its name indicates, an autonomous community is sovereign and has executive and legislative powers.
Here are the seventeen autonomous communities of Spain
- Andalusia
- Valencia Catalonia
- Balearic Islands
- Canary Islands
- Galicia
- Basque Country
- City and province of Madrid
- Asturias
- Cantabria
- Murcia Navarre
- La Rioja
- Aragon
- Castile and León
- Castilla-La Mancha
- Extremadura
Here are the provinces of Spain
- Province
- Badajoz
- Cáceres
- Ciudad Real
- Zaragoza
- Cuenca
- Huesca
- León
- Toledo
- Albacete
- Teruel
- Burgos
- Seville
- Cordoba
- Jaén
- Granada
- Salamanca
- Guadalajara
- Lleida
- Murcia
- Valencia
- Asturias
- Zamora
- Navarre
- Soria
- Huelva
- Lugo
- Almería
- Valladolid
- Palencia
- Ávila
- Madrid
- A Coruña
- Barcelona
- Cádiz
- Málaga
- Ourense
- Segovia
- Castellón
- Tarragona
- Girona
- Alicante
- Cantabria
- La Rioja
- the Balearic Islands
- Pontevedra
- Las Palmas
- Santa Cruz de Tenerife
- Álava
- Biscay
- Gipuzkoa
- Melilla
- Ceuta
Demolinguistic Data
The main language enshrined in Spanish legislation is Standard Spanish or Castilian. Despite this, there are other official and non-official Hispanic languages. Here are the different languages used:
- Aranese: language used in Catalonia, and also in the southwestern Occitan region.
- Basque: Language used in the Basque Country and continental Spain
- Catalan: official language in the Balearic Islands, Aragon.
- Valencian: used in Valencia and the western section.
- Galician: language of the western part of Asturias
There are also minority languages which are: Aragonese, Asturian, Leonese.
