Spain
Few places match Spain's #5 ranking in tourist arrivals. With 36.4 million, the numbers speak for themselves. See if you can spot its other strengths.
Spain is a country in Europe with a population of 47.28M and an area of 505,992 km². Life expectancy is 83.9 years.
At a Glance
The numbers that define this country
Life Expectancy
83.9 yearsHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
Life Expectancy
83.7 yearsHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
University Enrollment Rate
93.7%Total university and college enrollment as a percentage of the typical college-age population.
Internet Users (%)
95.8%The percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
Human Development Index
0.92The Human Development Index (HDI), combining life expectancy, education, and income into a single score from 0 to 1.
Where They Stand Out
Global rankings worth knowing
💰Long-Term Unemployment
3.8%The percentage of the workforce that has been unemployed for a year or longer.
👥Median Age
47.2 yearsMedian age from CIA World Factbook.
🍻Tourist Arrivals
36.41MHow many international tourists visit the country each year.
❤️Life Expectancy
83.9 yearsHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
🚀Life Expectancy
84.0 yearsHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
Did You Know?
Facts that catch players off guard
Ranks #2 in long-term unemployment (lower is better)
Long-Term Unemployment: 3.8%
The percentage of the workforce that has been unemployed for a year or longer.
OECD 2024Ranks #8 globally in median age
Median Age: 47.2 years
Median age from CIA World Factbook.
Ranks #5 globally in tourist arrivals
Tourist Arrivals: 36.41M
How many international tourists visit the country each year.
World Bank 2023Only ranks #218 in birth rate
Birth Rate: 7.16
The number of babies born per 1,000 people each year.
World Bank 2023Ranks #9 globally in life expectancy
Life Expectancy: 83.9 years
How many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
World Bank 2023Surprised? See how you stack up.
Play NowHow Spain Compares
Country vs continent vs world averages
GDP per Capita
Above avgGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
World Bank 2023Life Expectancy
Above avgHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
World Bank 2023Human Development Index
Above avgThe Human Development Index (HDI), combining life expectancy, education, and income into a single score from 0 to 1.
Our World in Data 2023Internet Users
Above avgThe percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
World Bank 2023Think you can guess which countries rank higher?
Test Your IntuitionAbout Spain
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.
- Location
- Southwestern Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, Bay of Biscay, and Pyrenees Mountains; southwest of France
- Climate
- temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast
- Terrain
- large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills; Pyrenees Mountains in north
- Natural Resources
- coal, lignite, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, uranium, tungsten, mercury, pyrites, magnesite, fluorspar, gypsum, sepiolite, kaolin, potash, hydropower, arable land
- 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
- Size Comparison
- almost five times the size of Kentucky; slightly more than twice the size of Oregon
- 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
- Religions
- Roman Catholic 58.2%, atheist 16.2%, agnostic 10.8%, other 2.7%, non-believer 10.5%, unspecified 1.7% (2021 est.)
- Ethnic Groups
- Spanish 84.8%, Moroccan 1.7%, Romanian 1.2%, other 12.3% (2021 est.)
- Major Cities
- 6.751 million MADRID (capital), 5.687 million Barcelona, 838,000 Valencia (2023)
- Government Type
- parliamentary constitutional monarchy
- Capital
- Madrid
- Capital Coordinates
- 40 24 N, 3 41 W
- Capital Timezone
- UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Official Name
- Kingdom of Spain
- Name Origin
- 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
- Independence
- 1492
- National Symbols
- Pillars of Hercules
- National Anthem
- "Himno Nacional Espanol" (National Anthem of Spain)
- UNESCO Heritage
- 50 (44 cultural, 4 natural, 2 mixed)
- 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
- 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
- Agricultural Products
- milk, olives, pork, grapes, wheat, tomatoes, barley, sugar beets, maize, oranges (2023)
- Export Partners
- France 15%, Germany 10%, Portugal 9%, Italy 9%, UK 6% (2023)
- Export Commodities
- cars, packaged medicine, refined petroleum, vehicle parts/accessories, garments (2023)
- Import Partners
- Germany 11%, China 10%, France 10%, Italy 7%, USA 7% (2023)
- Import Commodities
- crude petroleum, cars, garments, vehicle parts/accessories, natural gas (2023)
- Military 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)
- Military Service
- 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)
- Energy Mix
- 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.)
- 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)
- Space Program
- 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)
Deep Dive
79 of 158 metricsEvery stat we track, organized by category
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Share something surprising about Spain!
How many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
Frequently Asked Questions about Spain
Spain has a population of 47.28M, ranking #34 globally by population.
Spain is located in Europe. It has an area of 505,992 km².
Life expectancy in Spain is 83.9 years, ranking #9 globally.
Spain's GDP per capita (PPP) is 56.9K, ranking #37 globally.
Spain ranks particularly high in Life Expectancy (#9), Life Expectancy (#13), University Enrollment Rate (#13).
Spain has an HDI of 0.918, ranking #28 globally. The HDI combines life expectancy, education, and income indicators.
Spain has a population density of 96.8 people per km², ranking #107 globally.
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