The Kingdom of Spain

In 2023, Spain had a total population of 47.5 million and an area of 505,970 square kilometers. That means 95 people live in each square kilometer. By comparison, the figure for Germany is 232.

Spain is a kingdom where the title of king or queen is inherited. Although the king has some influence, important political decisions are made in parliament or by the country’s government.

Spain borders Portugal to the west, France to the north, and the small state of Andorra. Morocco lies south of Spain, but is separated from it by the Strait of Gibraltar and is in Africa. The two cities of Melilla and Céuta on the North African coast also belong to Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar was ceded to Great Britain under a treaty in 1713.

Spanish is spoken throughout most of Spain, while Catalan, Galician and Basque are also spoken in some regions. Of every 100 people in Spain, 92 belong to the Roman Catholic Church, although fewer and fewer actively take part in religious life.

The capital of Spain is Madrid. With a population of 3,280,782, it is also the country’s largest city. Madrid is home to the Royal Palace, the Prado Museum, the Reina Sofia Museum, the grand Plaza Mayor, and the many small dishes known as “tapas”. And, of course, the football clubs Real and Atlético.

Other major cities in Spain include Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Zaragoza, Malaga, Murcia, Palma de Mallorca, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Bilbao, Alicante, Cordoba and Valladolid. Around 60 cities in Spain have more than 100,000 inhabitants and are therefore classed as large cities. Spain consists of 17 autonomous communities, or regions, each comprising one or more provinces. The largest regions are Andalusia, Aragon, Asturias, the Balearic Islands, the Basque Country, the Canary Islands, Cantabria, Castile-La Mancha, Castile and León, and Catalonia. There is a strong movement in Catalonia to separate from the Kingdom of Spain. Catalans attach great importance to their own symbols, such as the Catalan flag.

There are more than 1,800 rivers in Spain. However, most are small, and many dry up completely during the summer months. There are five major rivers. The Tagus rises in the east of Spain in the Sierra de Albarracín. It flows into the Atlantic Ocean at Lisbon, Portugal. In Portugal, it is called the Tejo. It is 1,007 kilometers long and flows through cities including Aranjuez and Toledo in Spain. The Ebro is the most important river in northeastern Spain. It rises in the Sierra del Cordel in the Cantabrian Mountains. It flows through the famous wine-growing region of La Rioja and the major cities of Logroño and Zaragoza. After 925 kilometers, it empties into the Mediterranean Sea through a large delta.

The Duero (or Douro) is a river in the northwest. It rises in the province of Soria and flows into the Atlantic Ocean at the city of Porto in Portugal. It is 897 kilometers long. The Guadiana flows through Spain and Portugal and forms part of the border between the two countries. It is 742 kilometers long, passes through the cities of Badajoz and Mérida, and also flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The Guadalquivir is 657 kilometers long, making it the longest river in Andalusia. It passes through the cities of Córdoba and Seville and flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Sanlúcar de Barameda. The Guadalquivir is the only river in Spain that is also navigable by cargo ships.

In the mountainous regions of the country, rivers were also repeatedly dammed to create reservoirs, ensuring the water supply and generating electricity.

Spain is largely covered by mountains. In the centre of the country lies the Meseta, also known as the Castilian Plateau, at elevations ranging from 500 to 900 metres. There are also six major mountain ranges. The Pyrenees form the border with France in the north. Their highest peak is Pico de Aneto, at 3,404 metres.

West of the Pyrenees lies the Cantabrian Mountains, with Torre de Ceredo (2,648 meters) as their highest peak. In the center are the Castilian Divide Mountains, which run from east to west, reach heights of about 2,600 meters, and continue into Portugal as the Serra de Estrela. To the northeast, the Iberian System forms the boundary of the Meseta. It runs from northwest to southeast and forms the watershed between rivers that flow into the Mediterranean and those that flow into the Atlantic Ocean. Farther south, the Sierra Morena borders the Castilian uplands and separates them from the lowlands around the Guadalquivir. The Betic Cordillera runs through the south. It includes the Sierra Nevada mountain range, the “snow-covered mountains,” with Mulhacén as its highest peak, reaching 3,482 meters. This makes it the highest mountain on mainland Spain. Spain’s highest mountain, however, is Mount Teide on the island of Tenerife, at 3,718 meters.

The conquest of South and Central America by Spanish nobles and adventurers began with Christopher Columbus’s discovery of a sea route to America in 1492. The Inca and Aztec empires were destroyed in the process. The conquerors were mainly interested in gold and silver, which were often plundered and shipped to Spain aboard many ships. The native population was forced to become Christian, often through violence. Spain became a major naval power. Some families grew very rich. The 16th and 17th centuries were known as the “Golden Centuries,” when art and culture also flourished. But the wealth went to only a few people, who also owned much of Spain’s land. Most people remained poor, and many eked out a living as day labourers. Wars for supremacy in Europe and national debt caused Spain’s influence to decline steadily. Its colonies in America were lost. However, Spanish is still the main language spoken in the countries that emerged in South and Central America, while Portuguese is spoken in Brazil.

Tourism is Spain’s most important industry. People come to relax on the coasts and on the Mediterranean islands of Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza, as well as on the Canary Islands in the Atlantic, which include Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera and La Hierro.

Besides tourism, agriculture is also important, particularly wine-growing. Other major industries include several large banks, information and communications technology companies, and companies that supply the country with energy.

Spain's largest companies include Iberia, Seat, Telefónica, Zara and Endesa. Spain is a member of the European Community and has developed very positively since joining. The euro is also used in Spain.

The king is the head of state, but has little power. Laws in Spain are passed by the Cortes Generales, which consists of the Congreso de los Diputados (House of Representatives) and the Senado (Senate). The House of Representatives has 350 members. The Senate is made up of representatives from the regions; there are currently 259. Members of both chambers are elected every four years. All citizens aged 18 and over are eligible to vote. The country’s prime minister is elected solely by the Congreso de los Diputados.