Discover Fascinating Spain Facts

Dive into the history, culture, and unique insights about Spain.

Spain

Background

๐ŸŒ Spain has a rich history, once boasting a powerful world empire in the 16th and 17th centuries! But things changed, and control of the seas went to England. โš“๏ธ After a long period of dictatorship under Francisco FRANCO, Spain transitioned peacefully to democracy in 1975. This change was a huge leap forward! ๐Ÿš€ Joining the European Union (EU) in 1986 sparked rapid economic modernization, transforming Spain into a dynamic and quickly growing economy! ๐Ÿ’ผโœจ

Year of democratic transition

1975

Year Spain joined the EU

1986

Exports - commodities

๐Ÿš— Spain is known for its diverse range of exports! In 2022, the country exported several major commodities. Here are some of the key players in Spain's export market:

  • Cars: Spain is a big player in the automobile industry, exporting a significant number of vehicles every year.
  • Refined Petroleum: Oil and fuel products also contribute to Spain's economy by reaching outside its borders.
  • Garments: With a focus on fashion, Spain exports a variety of clothing and apparel.
  • Packaged Medicine: Healthcare products, particularly medicines, are an important part of Spain's exports.
  • Vehicle Parts/Accessories: Alongside complete cars, Spain also ships out parts and accessories related to vehicles.

These commodities play a vital role in strengthening Spain's trade relationships around the globe! ๐ŸŒ

Key Exports in 2022

Cars, Refined Petroleum, Garments, Packaged Medicine, Vehicle Parts/Accessories

Exports - partners

๐ŸŒ Check out the countries Spain exports to! In 2022, hereโ€™s how the pie of Spainโ€™s exports looked:

  • France: 17% ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท
  • Germany: 10% ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช
  • Portugal: 9% ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น
  • Italy: 8% ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น
  • United Kingdom: 6% ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง

Together, these countries make up a huge chunk of Spain's export market! ๐Ÿฅณ Letโ€™s take a closer look at these partnerships.

Total Percentage of Top 5 Export Partners

50%

Spain's Export Partners in 2022

1710986
  • France
  • Germany
  • Portugal
  • Italy
  • UK

Capital

๐ŸŒ The capital of Spain is Madrid! This bustling city is not just the heart of Spain but also a center of culture, history, and delicious food. From the magnificent Royal Palace to the vibrant Puerta del Sol plaza, there's so much to explore! ๐Ÿฐโœจ

Imports - commodities

Spain imports a variety of essential commodities! ๐Ÿšข Hereโ€™s a peek into what the country brings in to keep things running smoothly:

  • Crude Petroleum: A major import that fuels the nationโ€™s energy needs. ๐Ÿ›ข๏ธ
  • Natural Gas: Another key energy source that warms homes and powers industries. ๐ŸŒ
  • Garments: Fashion is important, and Spain imports various clothing items to stay stylish! ๐Ÿ‘—๐Ÿ‘–
  • Cars: A favorite for getting around in style, Spain loves its cars! ๐Ÿš—
  • Vehicle Parts/Accessories: To keep those cars in top shape, parts and accessories are also imported! ๐Ÿ› ๏ธ

These commodities play a vital role in keeping Spainโ€™s economy vibrant and its people moving. ๐Ÿ’ช

Key Imports

Crude Petroleum, Natural Gas, Garments, Cars, Vehicle Parts/Accessories

Number of Imported Categories

5

Climate

Spain is known for its temperate climate, with clear and hot summers in the interior ๐ŸŒž and more moderate, cloudy conditions along the coast ๐ŸŒŠ. During winter, the interior can get quite chilly, often cloudy and cold โ„๏ธ, while the coastal areas enjoy a more mild and partly cloudy experience. This variety means there's a perfect spot for everyone, no matter their weather preference!

Executive branch

๐ŸŒŸ Executive Branch of Spain ๐ŸŒŸ

In Spain, the leader of the country is the Chief of State, who is currently King FELIPE VI ๐Ÿ‘‘. He has held this title since 19 June 2014.

The Head of Government, similar to a prime minister, is Pedro SANCHEZ PEREZ-CASTEJON. He took office on 2 June 2018. This dynamic duo leads the nation through its challenges and plans for a bright future! ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธโœจ

Current Chief of State

King FELIPE VI

Since when King FELIPE VI has held the position

19 June 2014

Current Head of Government

Pedro SANCHEZ PEREZ-CASTEJON

Since when Pedro SANCHEZ PEREZ-CASTEJON has held the position

2 June 2018

Legislative branch

In Spain, the legislative branch is made up of two parts, which is called a bicameral system. This system includes the Senate and the Congress of Deputies. The Senate has 265 seats ๐Ÿช‘, while the Congress of Deputies has a larger number of 350 seats ๐ŸŽ‰. This means Spain has a total of 615 seats in its General Courts, where laws are made and discussed!

Total seats in General Courts

615

Seats in the Senate

265

Seats in the Congress of Deputies

350

Number of Seats in Spain's Legislative Branch

SenateCongress of DeputiesChamber090180270360Number of Seats
  • y

Natural resources

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Let's dive into the natural treasures of Spain! ๐ŸŒ Spain is rich in natural resources, which play a key role in its economy and daily life. Here's a fun list of what Spain has in abundance:

  • Coal: A vital energy source.
  • Lignite: Another type of coal, used in electricity generation.
  • Iron Ore: Crucial for making steel and other products.
  • Copper: Essential for electrical wiring and plumbing.
  • Lead: Used in batteries and radiation shielding.
  • Zinc: Important for metal coating and alloys.
  • Uranium: Used in nuclear energy production.
  • Tungsten: Known for its high melting point, used in light bulbs.
  • Mercury: A unique metal with many industrial applications.
  • Pyrites: Sometimes called 'fool's gold', used in sulfur production.
  • Magnesite: Used in the production of refractory materials.
  • Fluorspar: Used in making aluminum and gasoline.
  • Gypsum: Essential for making drywall and plaster.
  • Sepiolite: A clay mineral used in cat litter and oil absorption.
  • Kaolin: A clay used for ceramics and as a filler in paper.
  • Potash: Important for fertilizers.
  • Hydropower: Energy produced from flowing water.
  • Arable land: Fertile land for agriculture. ๐ŸŒพ

Spain's varied natural resources contribute tremendously to its vibrant economy and the well-being of its citizens! ๐ŸŒŸ

Economic overview

๐ŸŒ Spain is part of the high-income core of the EU and eurozone! The country's economy is buzzing with strong growth, thanks to public consumption, tourism, and service exports. ๐ŸŒžโœˆ๏ธ

Even though many people are looking for jobs, the labor market is tight โ€” which means there are more jobs available than people to fill them. ๐Ÿ“ˆ However, Spain also has high structural unemployment, which means some folks still have a hard time finding work.

On the finance side of things ๐Ÿ’ฐ, the government has quite a bit of debt, but they're working hard to fix it by reducing deficits. Unfortunately, when it comes to innovation and economic freedom, Spain's rankings don't quite match up to its EU and OECD buddies.

It's a mixed bag, but Spain is pushing forward! ๐Ÿš€

Economic growth drivers

Public consumption, tourism, service exports

Labor market status

Tight labor market despite high structural unemployment

Government debt status

High amid deficit reductions

Innovation and economic freedom rank

Lower than EU and OECD peers

Government type

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Spain has a fascinating parliamentary constitutional monarchy! This means that while there is a monarch, the country is run by elected officials and follows a constitution. Imagine having a royal family that plays a symbolic role while the people vote and decide on laws! How cool is that? ๐Ÿ‘‘๐Ÿ“œ

Government Structure

Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy

Ethnic groups

In Spain, the mix of ethnic groups is quite interesting! ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ Hereโ€™s how it breaks down:

  • Spanish: 84.8% of the population identifies as Spanish. That's the majority! ๐ŸŽ‰
  • Moroccan: 1.7% of people are Moroccan, showing a little diversity.
  • Romanian: 1.2% of the population comes from Romania.
  • Other: 12.3% makes up various other ethnic backgrounds! ๐ŸŒ

This diversity adds a lot of flavor to the culture in Spain!

Percentage of Spanish Ethnic Group

84.8%

Percentage of Moroccan Ethnic Group

1.7%

Percentage of Romanian Ethnic Group

1.2%

Percentage of Other Ethnic Groups

12.3%

Ethnic Composition of Spain

84.81.71.212.3
  • Spanish
  • Moroccan
  • Romanian
  • Other

Religions

In Spain, the religious landscape is quite colorful! ๐ŸŽจ Here's a breakdown of the different beliefs that people hold:

  • Roman Catholic: 58.2% ๐Ÿ•Š๏ธ
  • Atheist: 16.2% ๐Ÿšซ
  • Agnostic: 10.8% ๐Ÿค”
  • Non-believer: 10.5% ๐ŸŒŒ
  • Other: 2.7% ๐ŸŒŸ
  • Unspecified: 1.7% โ“

As you can see, most people in Spain identify as Roman Catholic, but thereโ€™s also a significant number of atheists, agnostics, and non-believers. Isnโ€™t it fascinating how diverse beliefs can be? ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ’ซ

Total percentage of Roman Catholics

58.2%

Total percentage of Atheists

16.2%

Total percentage of Agnostics

10.8%

Total percentage of Non-believers

10.5%

Total percentage of Other religions

2.7%

Total percentage of Unspecified

1.7%

Religious Composition in Spain

58.216.210.810.52.71.7
  • Roman Catholic
  • Atheist
  • Agnostic
  • Non-believer
  • Other
  • Unspecified

Languages

In Spain, language is a colorful tapestry ๐Ÿงถ woven from various dialects and tongues! The most widely spoken one is Castilian Spanish, making up a whopping 74% of the population ๐Ÿ“Š. But wait, there's more! Catalan is the next in line with 17% of the speakers, primarily enjoyed in regions like Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and the Valencian Community ๐ŸŒ. Galician follows closely behind at 7%, particularly in Galicia. The Basque language is also present, though itโ€™s spoken by only 2% of Spaniards, mainly found in the Basque Country and Navarre ๐Ÿž๏ธ. Lastly, there's Aranese, which has less than 5,000 speakers, primarily in part of Catalonia ๐Ÿšช. Isn't it amazing how diverse Spain's linguistic landscape is? ๐Ÿคฉ

Percentage of Castilian Spanish speakers

74%

Percentage of Catalan speakers

17%

Percentage of Galician speakers

7%

Percentage of Basque speakers

2%

Number of Aranese speakers

Less than 5000

Language Distribution in Spain

7417720.01
  • Castilian Spanish
  • Catalan
  • Galician
  • Basque
  • Aranese

Imports - partners

๐ŸŒ Spain has a diverse set of import partners! In 2022, the biggest import partners were:

  • Germany: 11%
  • China: 10%
  • France: 10%
  • Italy: 7%
  • United States: 6%

This shows how interconnected Spain is with other countries! Let's visualize how much each of these partners contributes to Spain's imports.๐Ÿ“Š

Total number of import partners contributing

5

Highest percentage import partner

Germany

Lowest percentage import partner

United States

Spain's Import Partners (2022)

11101076
  • Germany
  • China
  • France
  • Italy
  • United States

Population

Spain is home to a vibrant population of 47,280,433 people! ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ This diverse nation is filled with rich culture, history, and traditions that come from its wonderful inhabitants!

Total Population of Spain

47,280,433

Area

๐ŸŒ Let's explore the fascinating area of Spain! The country has a total area of 505,370 sq km! That's a lot of space to roam around! ๐ŸŒ„

Out of this total, land covers 498,980 sq km, which means there's plenty of land for its beautiful landscapes, cities, and countryside! And what about water? ๐ŸŒŠ Spain has 6,390 sq km of water bodies, adding to the charm of its coastline and rivers. ๐Ÿ–๏ธ

Total Area

505370 sq km

Land Area

498980 sq km

Water Area

6390 sq km

Area Distribution of Spain

498,9806390
  • Land
  • Water

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

๐Ÿ“Š Let's take a look at the Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) in Spain over the past few years! ๐Ÿ’ฐ Hereโ€™s how much it's estimated to be:

  • 2023: $2.242 trillion
  • 2022: $2.188 trillion
  • 2021: $2.068 trillion

Isn't it exciting to see how Spain's economy has grown?! ๐Ÿš€ The economy is like a roller coaster, going up and up! ๐ŸŽข With more money in the economy, people can buy more things and live better lives. ๐ŸŒŸ

Real GDP for 2021

$2.068 trillion

Real GDP for 2022

$2.188 trillion

Real GDP for 2023

$2.242 trillion

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity) in Spain

202120222023Year00.61.21.82.4Real GDP
  • y

Real GDP per capita

๐Ÿš€ Real GDP Per Capita of Spain ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ

The Real GDP per capita is a measure of the average economic output per person, and it gives us a glimpse into how well citizens of a country are doing! Let's dive into the history of Spain's Real GDP per capita over the past few years:

  • 2021: $43,600
  • 2022: $45,800
  • 2023: $46,400

As you can see, Spain's economy has been growing steadily! ๐Ÿ“ˆ Each year, the GDP per capita has increased, which is great news for the economy and the people of Spain!

Let's take a look at that data visually! ๐Ÿง

Real GDP per Capita in 2021

43,600

Real GDP per Capita in 2022

45,800

Real GDP per Capita in 2023

46,400

Real GDP Per Capita in Spain (2021-2023)

202120222023Year015000300004500060000GDP Per Capita
  • y

Imports

Spain is known for its vibrant economy and bustling trade! ๐Ÿ“ˆ In 2023, the estimated imports reached an impressive $550.576 billion! That's a slight decrease from $561.49 billion in 2022, but still a significant amount! Let's take a look at how imports have changed over the last few years:

  • 2021: $479.392 billion
  • 2022: $561.49 billion
  • 2023: $550.576 billion

With these big numbers, we can see that Spain's imports are powerfully significant and continuously evolving! ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ’ฐ

2021 Imports

479.392 billion

2022 Imports

561.49 billion

2023 Imports

550.576 billion

Spain's Imports Over Time

202120222023Year0150300450600Imports (in billion $)
  • y

Exports

๐Ÿ“ˆ Spain's exports are skyrocketing! Let's dive into the numbers ๐Ÿค‘:

  • 2021: $493.359 billion
  • 2022: $578.039 billion
  • 2023: $615.83 billion

Over the years, we can see a clear trend of growth in Spain's exports, showcasing the country's vibrant economy and trading prowess! ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ’ผ

Export Value in 2023

$615.83 billion

Export Value in 2022

$578.039 billion

Export Value in 2021

$493.359 billion

Spain's Export Growth Over the Years

202120222023Year0200400600800Exports in Billions USD
  • y

Population growth rate

๐ŸŒ Did you know that Spain's population growth rate is expected to be 0.12% in 2024? This means that for every 100 people, only about 1 will be added to the population! ๐Ÿ“ˆ The growth rate is a significant indicator of how a country's population is changing over time.

Population Growth Rate for 2024

0.12%