Spain Factbook

Spain Factbook in 2026

Spain Factbook Introduction

The Spain Factbook provides a comprehensive overview of the Kingdom of Spain, a parliamentary constitutional monarchy located in Southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. As of 2026, Spain has a population of approximately 49.57 million inhabitants, making it the 31st most populous country globally and the fourth-largest country in Europe by area at 505,990 square kilometers. The capital city is Madrid, and the official currency is the Euro. Spain holds the 13th position by nominal GDP in the world, with an annual GDP of approximately $1.9 trillion USD. The country maintains a Human Development Index of 0.911, placing it 27th among 193 countries according to United Nations rankings.

Spain's economy demonstrates strong performance as the fourth-largest economy in the Eurozone, with GDP growth projected at 2.8% in 2025 and unemployment falling to 10.3% as of April 2026. The services sector dominates the economy, accounting for 2.1 million of the 3.3 million total companies. Tourism remains critical, contributing 12.6% of GDP in 2024. Spain borders France and Portugal, with the Mediterranean Sea to the east and south and the Atlantic Ocean to the northwest. The country belongs to major international organizations including the UN, EU, NATO, OECD, and IMF.

Spain Factbook in Barcelona

Barcelona stands as Spain's second-largest city with 1,729,963 inhabitants as of January 2026, despite a slight decrease from the previous year. Located on the northeastern coast in Catalonia, Barcelona is the capital of both Catalonia and the province of Barcelona. The city is renowned for its unique architecture, particularly Antoni Gaudi's Sagrada Familia, and serves as a major economic and cultural hub. Barcelona contributes significantly to Spain's economy through services, technology, manufacturing, and tourism. The city features one of Europe's largest ports and is a center for innovation, design, and the arts. Catalonia, where Barcelona is located, has more than 50% of births to mothers born abroad, reflecting Spain's broader demographic trends driven by immigration.

Demographics and Population Structure

Spain's population is 14.1% foreign-born, the highest percentage in its history, with over 10 million residents born abroad. Moroccan nationals represent 14.0% of the foreign population, followed by Colombian and Romanian communities. The average age at maternity is 32.6 years, reflecting delayed childbearing trends. Life expectancy reaches 86.5 years for females and 81.4 years for males, among the highest in Europe. Nearly half of all births (49.99%) occur to unmarried women. The population is predominantly Spanish at 84.8%, with regional languages including Catalan (17%), Galician (7%), and Basque (2%) alongside official Castilian Spanish (74%). Roman Catholicism remains the majority religion at 58.2%, while 16.2% identify as atheists and 10.8% as agnostics.

Economic Indicators and Financial Data

Spain's GDP per capita reached €34,210 ($38,459) in 2025, with quarterly GDP for 2026 Q1 at €437,308 million. The country maintains a debt-to-GDP ratio of 100.7%, with public debt totaling €1,698,225 million. Unemployment stands at 10.3%, declining from 11.8% in 2024, while inflation is expected to ease to 2.2% in 2026. Spain exports $639.36 billion annually and imports $567.44 billion, generating tourism receipts of $72.10 billion. The average household income is €38,994, with average expenditure at €34,044. Energy consumption totals 227.2 billion kWh annually, and water consumption averages 128 liters per inhabitant per day.

Government and Administrative Structure

Spain operates as a parliamentary constitutional monarchy with King Felipe VI as the monarch and a Prime Minister leading the government through a multi-party system. The country is divided into 17 autonomous communities and two autonomous cities, including notable regions such as Andalucía, Catalonia, Madrid, and the Valencian Community. The corruption index measures 55, indicating moderate levels. Spain maintains a budget deficit of $45,573 million and holds approximately €20 billion in EU Recovery and Resilience Facility grants to disburse by August 2026.

Cultural Heritage and Social Indicators

Spain's rich cultural heritage includes flamenco dance, famous festivals like La Tomatina, and cuisine renowned for tapas. Historical landmarks include the Alhambra in Granada and Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. Seven out of ten persons aged 16 to 74 perceive their health as good or very good. Respiratory system diseases account for 26.5% of health issues, while circulatory system diseases represent 26.1%. The most frequent baby names are Sofía and Mateo. Spain ranks highly in online shopping, with 59.6% of persons aged 16 to 74 buying online in the last three months. Urbanization reaches 81.6%, with most population concentrated in coastal regions and major cities.

Spain Factbook Summary

The Spain Factbook reveals a nation of 49.57 million people achieving strong economic growth at 2.8% with unemployment declining to 10.3% and inflation easing to 2.2%. Barcelona, with 1.73 million residents, remains Spain's second-largest city and a major economic hub. Foreign-born residents comprise 14.1% of the population, marking historic demographic diversity driven by Moroccan, Colombian, and Romanian immigration. Spain maintains the 13th largest nominal GDP globally at $1.9 trillion, with tourism contributing 12.6% of economic output. Life expectancy reaches 86.5 years for women and 81.4 for men, while fertility remains low at delayed maternity averaging 32.6 years. The country's 505,990 square kilometers encompass 17 autonomous communities under King Felipe VI's constitutional monarchy. Despite debt at 100.7% of GDP and moderate corruption levels, Spain ranks 27th globally in human development with robust services sector dominance and €20 billion in pending EU recovery grants.