With one of Europe's lowest birth rates and an influx of immigrants shaping its future, Spain stands at a fascinating demographic crossroads where vibrant city life and an aging population are creating a nation of intriguing contrasts.
Key Takeaways
- As of January 1, 2023, Spain's total population stands at 48,085,361 inhabitants, marking a 0.03% increase from the previous year according to official municipal registers
- In 2022, the birth rate in Spain was 7.1 live births per 1,000 inhabitants, the lowest in the EU, with 322,075 total births
- Spain's median age in 2023 is 45.9 years, reflecting one of the oldest populations globally
- Spain's GDP in 2023 was 1.582 trillion USD nominal, 4th in EU
- GDP per capita in Spain reached 32,677 USD in 2023, up 5.2% from 2022
- Unemployment rate in Spain averaged 11.3% in 2023, down from 12.9% in 2022
- Spain's total area is 505,990 square kilometers, including Balearic and Canary Islands
- Highest point in Spain is Teide volcano on Tenerife at 3,718 meters above sea level
- Spain's coastline length is 4,964 km on mainland plus 1,660 km islands total ~6,624 km
- High-speed rail network AVE spans 3,973 km in 2023, longest in Europe
- Total road network in Spain 163,784 km, including 17,300 km motorways in 2023
- Airports in Spain: 47 with paved runways, handling 238 million passengers in 2023
- King Felipe VI has reigned since June 19, 2014, as constitutional monarch of Spain
- Spain is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy with 350-seat Congress of Deputies
- Current Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez since June 2018, PSOE party
Spain is a European country with an aging population and growing urban centers.
Culture
- Alhambra Palace in Granada visited by 2.6 million in 2023, UNESCO site since 1984
- Flamenco declared UNESCO Intangible Heritage 2010, 1.5 million practice it
- La Tomatina festival in Buñol attracts 20,000 annually, tomatoes thrown 120 tons
- Siesta tradition observed by 22% daily, mostly south Spain
- Bullfighting events 1,525 in 2023, attendance 1.1 million
- Tapas culture: average Spaniard eats 5 tapas/week
- Football: La Liga 20 teams, Real Madrid-Barcelona rivalry El Clásico
- UNESCO sites in Spain: 50 total, most in world tied with Italy
- Running of the Bulls San Fermín Pamplona 8 days, 6 runs
- Picasso born Málaga 1881, Guernica painting 1937
- Cervantes Don Quixote 1605, most translated book after Bible
- PISA 2022 scores: Reading 474, Math 473, Science 485 for Spain
- University enrollment 1.6 million students, 84 universities 2023
- Life expectancy reflects health system, cancer survival 5yr 61% Spain vs EU avg
- Obesity rate 23.8% adults Spain 2023, lower than US 42%
- Literacy rate 98.6% adults over 15 in Spain 2023
- Divorce rate 1.8 per 1,000 population 2022
- Nobel laureates from Spain: 9 total, 5 Literature, 2 Peace, 1 Chemistry, 1 Physiology
- Film industry: Goya Awards 38th 2024, 29 categories
Culture Interpretation
Spain, a country that orchestrates its days with the sacred rhythm of siestas and flamenco, fiercely guards its cultural treasures from Cervantes to the Alhambra, yet still finds time to fling 120 tons of tomatoes in a single afternoon, proving its genius lies in balancing profound heritage with a joyful, and sometimes chaotic, passion for life.
Demographics
- As of January 1, 2023, Spain's total population stands at 48,085,361 inhabitants, marking a 0.03% increase from the previous year according to official municipal registers
- In 2022, the birth rate in Spain was 7.1 live births per 1,000 inhabitants, the lowest in the EU, with 322,075 total births
- Spain's median age in 2023 is 45.9 years, reflecting one of the oldest populations globally
- Foreign-born population in Spain reached 8,575,497 in 2023, accounting for 17.8% of the total population, primarily from Latin America and Europe
- Life expectancy at birth in Spain for 2022 was 83.2 years overall, with females at 86.0 years and males at 80.3 years
- Urban population percentage in Spain is 80.8% as of 2023, with Madrid and Barcelona as largest cities
- Spain's population density is 94.3 people per square kilometer in 2023, highest in Madrid region at 5,400/km²
- In 2022, there were 9,362,135 people aged 65 and over in Spain, comprising 19.5% of the population
- Net migration rate to Spain in 2022 was 5.6 migrants per 1,000 population, totaling around 270,000 net inflows
- Fertility rate in Spain dropped to 1.16 children per woman in 2022, far below replacement level of 2.1
- Catalonia hosts 7,696,244 residents as of 2023, 16% of Spain's total population
- Andalusia's population grew to 8,487,404 in 2023, driven by immigration and natural growth
- Madrid region's population is 6,802,852 in 2023, with 1 in 7 Spaniards living there
- Valencia Community has 5,056,617 inhabitants in 2023, up 1.2% from 2022
- Basque Country population is 2,239,201 in 2023, with low birth rates offset by migration
- Galicia's population declined to 2,689,255 in 2023, with negative natural growth of -12,000
- Canary Islands population reached 2,202,431 in 2023, growing 3.1% due to tourism-related migration
- Balearic Islands have 1,198,640 residents in 2023, density 242/km² highest among autonomous communities
- Castilla y León population is 2,371,967 in 2023, aging rapidly with 28% over 65
- Murcia region population 1,541,787 in 2023, growth rate 1.8% highest in mainland Spain
- Youth population (0-14 years) in Spain is 14.5% or 6.9 million in 2023
- Working-age population (15-64) constitutes 65.2% or 31.3 million in Spain 2023
- Spain's sex ratio is 95.9 males per 100 females in 2023
- Infant mortality rate in Spain is 2.2 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2022
- Total dependency ratio in Spain is 53.4% in 2023, highest in EU
- Religious affiliation: 61% Catholic, 26% non-religious in Spain 2023 survey
- Language speakers: 41% understand Catalan, 8% Galician as native in 2023
Demographics Interpretation
Spain is demographically walking a tightrope, precariously balanced between its impressively long-lived population and a critically low birth rate, relying on immigration not just for growth but to prevent its social structure from looking like a particularly quiet and gray retirement village.
Economy
- Spain's GDP in 2023 was 1.582 trillion USD nominal, 4th in EU
- GDP per capita in Spain reached 32,677 USD in 2023, up 5.2% from 2022
- Unemployment rate in Spain averaged 11.3% in 2023, down from 12.9% in 2022
- Public debt-to-GDP ratio was 107.7% in 2023 for Spain
- Inflation rate (CPI) in Spain was 3.5% average in 2023
- Tourism contributed 12.8% to Spain's GDP in 2023, with 85.1 million visitors
- Exports of goods from Spain totaled 383 billion EUR in 2023, machinery and vehicles leading
- Imports to Spain were 452 billion EUR in 2023, energy products dominant
- Corporate tax rate in Spain is 25% standard, 15% for new SMEs in 2023
- Minimum wage in Spain is 1,134 EUR gross monthly in 2024, up 5% from 2023
- Renewable energy share in Spain's electricity mix was 50.4% in 2023
- Manufacturing sector employs 12.5% of workforce, contributing 14% to GDP in 2023
- Services sector accounts for 71.2% of Spain's GDP and 74% employment in 2023
- Agriculture contributes 2.5% to GDP, employs 4% workforce in 2023, olives and wine key
- Stock market capitalization in Spain (IBEX 35) was 800 billion EUR end-2023
- Foreign direct investment inflows to Spain 38.2 billion EUR in 2023
- Household saving rate in Spain fell to 10.2% of disposable income in 2023
- Labor productivity per hour worked in Spain 55.3 EUR in 2023 PPP terms
- R&D expenditure in Spain 1.44% of GDP in 2023, 27 billion EUR total
- Current account balance surplus 2.1% of GDP or 34 billion EUR in 2023
Economy Interpretation
Spain is economically vibrant, powered by record tourism and a green energy revolution, yet it remains cautiously tethered by high public debt and a stubbornly elevated unemployment rate that its citizens are patiently but determinedly chipping away at.
Geography
- Spain's total area is 505,990 square kilometers, including Balearic and Canary Islands
- Highest point in Spain is Teide volcano on Tenerife at 3,718 meters above sea level
- Spain's coastline length is 4,964 km on mainland plus 1,660 km islands total ~6,624 km
- Iberian Peninsula area occupied by Spain is 82% or 492,000 km²
- Number of islands in Spain: 60, including Balearics (7 major), Canaries (7 major)
- Average annual temperature in Spain 14.5°C, ranging from 8°C north to 18°C south
- Precipitation average 636 mm/year, driest in southeast Almeria <200mm, wettest Galicia >1,500mm
- Forest cover in Spain 37% or 18.6 million hectares in 2023
- Protected natural areas cover 27.2% of Spain's territory, including 15 national parks
- Sierra Nevada mountains highest mainland peak Mulhacén 3,478m
- Ebro River longest in Spain at 940 km, basin covers 86,000 km²
- Tagus River 1,007 km total, 716 km in Spain, flows to Atlantic
- Guadalquivir River 657 km, only navigable major river in Spain
- Biodiversity: Spain has 8,670 vascular plant species, 25% endemic
- Desert areas: Tabernas Desert 280 km², only true desert in Europe
- Volcanic activity: Canary Islands have 10 active volcanoes, last eruption La Palma 2021
- Seismic risk: Spain averages 1,000 earthquakes/year, mostly mild <3 Richter
- Solar irradiation average 1,650 kWh/m²/year, highest in Europe
- Wind potential: 800 TW h/year onshore, leader in Europe
Geography Interpretation
Spain is a sun-baked, mountain-studded, and coastline-fringed land of fiery volcanoes and quiet deserts, generously sprinkled with islands and fiercely protective of its remarkably diverse and endemic natural life.
Government
- King Felipe VI has reigned since June 19, 2014, as constitutional monarch of Spain
- Spain is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy with 350-seat Congress of Deputies
- Current Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez since June 2018, PSOE party
- 17 autonomous communities with varying self-government powers, plus 2 autonomous cities
- Senate has 265 members elected plus 58 appointed by regions in 2023
- Voter turnout in 2023 general election 70.33%
- Defense budget 1.28% of GDP or 20.3 billion EUR in 2023
- EU membership since 1986, Eurozone since 1999, Schengen since 1995
- Corruption Perceptions Index score 60/100 rank 36th globally in 2023
- Press Freedom Index rank 30th with score 79.72 in 2023 for Spain
- Spain ratified Paris Agreement, emissions target -23% by 2030 vs 1990
- Gender equality: 47.5% women in Congress after 2023 election
- Regional parliaments: Catalonia 135 seats, elections 2024 pending
- Judicial system: 5,400 judges, Supreme Court in Madrid
Government Interpretation
Spain presents a uniquely intricate tableau, a stable, decentralized monarchy where the king reigns but doesn't rule, a high-turnout electorate navigates a mosaic of regional powers, and the ongoing quest for modern transparency, equality, and environmental action is measured in parliamentary percentages, index rankings, and billions of euros.
Infrastructure
- High-speed rail network AVE spans 3,973 km in 2023, longest in Europe
- Total road network in Spain 163,784 km, including 17,300 km motorways in 2023
- Airports in Spain: 47 with paved runways, handling 238 million passengers in 2023
- Ports: 46 major ports, Valencia busiest container port in Mediterranean with 5.2M TEU 2023
- Electricity consumption 244 TWh in 2023, 42% renewable
- Water desalination capacity 6.2 million m³/day, 65% of Europe's total in 2023
- Mobile penetration 118.5 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants in 2023 Spain
- Broadband fixed subscriptions 35.2 per 100 households, 92% fiber coverage 2023
- Public transport: Madrid Metro 293 km, 12 lines, 1.7 billion passengers/year pre-covid
- Barcelona Metro 184 km, integrated with FGC
- Renewable energy installed capacity 59 GW in 2023, solar PV 25 GW, wind 30 GW
- Gas pipelines network 9,000 km high-pressure, LNG terminals 7 with 25 BCM capacity
- Healthcare expenditure 10.7% of GDP or 170 billion EUR in 2023 Spain
- Hospital beds 2.95 per 1,000 population, 299,000 total beds 2023
Infrastructure Interpretation
Spain's infrastructure presents a paradox of modern reach and medieval patience, where you can travel from Barcelona to Madrid on Europe's longest high-speed rail network only to wait for a rural bus that runs on folklore and hope.
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