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Spain

Europe · 47 million

About Spain

Spain, officially the Kingdom of Spain, is a sovereign country located in Europe, specifically within the Southern Europe subregion. Its capital and largest urban centre is Madrid, and the country is home to approximately 49.3 million people. In its native language, the country is known as “España”. Spanish, Catalan, Basque and Galician are recognised as official or widely-spoken languages, shaping daily communication, education, government, and media throughout Spain. The official currency in circulation is the euro (€), used for all domestic transactions and price-tagged goods. Spain is widely recognised for flamenco, paella and the architecture of Gaudí. People from Spain are referred to as Spanish.

Geography & climate

Spain covers approximately 505,992 km² of territory, making it a large country by land area. It shares land borders with 5 neighbouring countries — a position that has historically influenced migration patterns, regional politics, and cross-border commerce. Geographically, Spain sits in the Northern and Western Hemisphere, at roughly 40.0° N, 4.0° W. Because of its size and geography, the country spans 2 time zones, ranging from UTC in the west to UTC+01:00 in the east — a logistical consideration for travel, broadcasting, and commerce. The prevailing climate of Spain can be summarised as: iberian plateau & coasts with warm mediterranean. Local weather patterns naturally vary by altitude, latitude, and proximity to oceans or mountain ranges.

People, language & society

With roughly 49.3 million inhabitants, Spain is a country of significant population size. Linguistic life is plural here: Spanish, Catalan, Basque and Galician are all in active use, with regional and minority tongues often adding further variety. Locals refer to their homeland as “España”, a name with linguistic and historical roots that long predate modern borders. Citizens are formally known in English as Spanish, a demonym that appears in passports, official documents, and international reporting. Economically, the euro (€) is the medium of exchange used by households and businesses, with exchange rates monitored by the country's central monetary authority.

Quick facts at a glance

Practical travel & daily-life info

Visitors planning a trip to Spain should familiarise themselves with the capital, Madrid, the relevant local time zone for their destination, the local currency (euro). The international dialling prefix is +34, which is required when phoning a Spain number from abroad. Vehicles drive on the right side of the road, an important detail for anyone renting a car or crossing a land border by vehicle. The country's top-level internet domain is .es, used by local businesses, government sites, and many news organisations. The working week traditionally starts on Monday, which affects business hours, banking, and public holidays.

Government & global standing

Spain is recognised internationally as a sovereign, independent state. It is a member state of the United Nations, participating in the General Assembly and various specialised UN agencies. On the global stage, Spain is generally classified within the Europe region and more specifically the Southern Europe subregion, alongside neighbouring states with shared geographic, historical, or economic ties.

Bordering countries

Spain shares land borders with 5 countries. Click any neighbour to read about it:

Did you know?

Every August in a small town, 20,000 people hurl 150 tonnes of tomatoes in a chaotic one-hour spectacle — the world's largest food fight.

Spain in the GlobeIQ atlas

Inside the GlobeIQ game, Spain appears as an easier opening puzzle for new players. When the daily puzzle selects this country, players progressively unlock six hints — silhouette, climate and terrain, number of land borders, region, "known for" tagline, and finally the capital city — before a flag reveal confirms the answer. On its trophy card, Spain carries the personality tags “💃 Flamenco Nation” and “⚽ Football Passion”, short flavour labels chosen to evoke the country's most recognisable cultural signatures. Adding Spain to your personal atlas is one of 195 small wins on the road to a complete world map. Each correctly guessed nation also contributes to your running streak and unlocks milestone celebrations at 10, 25, 50, 100, and 150 collected countries.

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