Think Spain is all sun, sand and siesta? Think again with our list of 30 facts about Spain you might not know.
How much do you know about Spain? If you’re moving to the countryside, it’s a good idea to learn a little more about your new home. To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite facts about Spain that you might not know. From legal nudity to magical mice and everything in between, here are 30 informative and interesting truths that may just surprise you.
1. The second largest EU country
Spain – or the Kingdom of Spain to give the country its official name – is the second largest country in the European Union after France. Its area is about 506,000 square kilometers, if you include the Canary Islands and the Spanish territories along the coast of North Africa.
2. Once a number of separate kingdoms
Like many other European countries, what we know as modern Spain was once a collection of separate kingdoms. This changed in the 15th century when Fernando of Aragon and Isabel of Castile married and united their kingdoms. And if you think learning one new language is hard enough, most of these kingdoms also have their own language!
3. Homeland of the second most widespread language in the world
There are an estimated 440 million Spanish speakers worldwide, second only to Mandarin. But while Spanish is the official language of Spain, the regional languages Catalan, Basque (Euskara) and Galician (Galego) have official status in their respective regions.
4. Nudity is legal in Spain
With a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters, you may be tempted to strip down while in Spain. With 3,000 hours of sunshine a year, there are also few better places to sunbathe. And any budding naturist will be happy to know that nudity is legal in Spain, although it is considered unacceptable in many places.
5. Has the fifth largest population in Europe
Spain is home to 47 million people, and while you might think that sounds overcrowded, three-quarters of the population actually live in cities. About 6.5 million, for example, live in the Madrid metropolitan area, and 5.5 million live in the Barcelona metropolitan area. This means that both cities have a larger population than New Zealand.
6. Spaniards live longer…
According to statistics , Spain ranks second among all OECD countries in terms of life expectancy – an impressive 83 years. Only the Japanese have a higher life expectancy. The figures show that Spanish women outlive their male counterparts: 85 years compared to 79 years for men.
7. … which means population aging
According to UN forecasts, by 2050 Spain’s population will be one of the oldest in the world. It is estimated that in just thirty years, more than 30% of the population will be 60 years of age or older.
8. It’s not as religious as you think
Despite the importance of religion in Spanish culture, only 13.6% of the Spanish population actually go to church every Sunday. However, according to a 2012 study by Spain’s Center for Sociological Research, around 70% of local residents still identify as Catholic.
9. Spain is a constitutional monarchy
After the death of right-wing dictator General Franco in 1975, King Juan Carlos I returned to the throne. Juan Carlos, once one of Europe’s most popular monarchs, fell out of favor after a series of scandals. In 2014, he abdicated in favor of his son Felipe VI.
10. There are not many tax inspectors
According to official data, in Spain there is one tax inspector for every 1,928 taxpayers. For comparison, at the border in France there is one inspector for every 729 inhabitants. This may explain why Spanish tax authorities believe that a quarter of Spain’s GDP comes from the black market.
11. The second highest unemployment rate in Europe
Statistics from 2019 show that Spain has the second highest unemployment rate in the EU, behind only Greece. However, the current unemployment rate of 13.8% is a significant improvement over Spain’s unemployment rate of 24.2% in 2015.
12. This is a good place for women entrepreneurs
In the five years since the start of the global financial crisis in 2008, women entrepreneurs have founded 40% of all new businesses in Spain. This amounted to about 800,000 enterprises and was a significant boost to the economy.
13. Hold the paella
Here is an amazing fact about Spain. Although many foreigners consider paella to be the national dish of Spain, many Spaniards do not. This is because most of the locals perceive the colorful rice dish as a Valencian rather than a national dish. Learn how to make paella , among other Spanish delicacies, with our guide to Spanish cuisine .
14. Child care can be limited
As local parents are well aware, the number of after-school childcare in Spain is limited. That’s why about a quarter of all grandparents care for their grandchildren on a daily basis, looking after them when local schools let out.
15. He has below average qualifications
According to official statistics, about half of all adults under the age of 64 have a high school diploma, which is well below the OECD average (almost 75%). However, the younger generation is bucking this trend, with 65% of millennials gaining qualifications, and the number is growing.
16. Spaniards like to rest
It’s no surprise that Spaniards like to take things a little easier than other nationalities. In fact, according to an OECD report published back in 2013, the average Spaniard spends 16 out of 24 hours each day relaxing, including eating, drinking and sleeping.
17. The first novel was written in Spanish
Back in 1605, Miguel de Cervantes wrote Don Quixote , which is considered the world’s first modern novel. The seminal book is considered one of the most important works of Spanish literature ever written and is a seminal work of Western literature.
18. It has 47 UNESCO World Heritage sites
As of July 2019, Spain is home to 47 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the third largest in the world. These include historical cities, monumental churches, etc. Only Italy and China have more UNESCO World Heritage Sites, both with 55.
19. The main product of Spanish culture
Okay, maybe it’s not the first thing you think of when you think of Spain, but the humble stapler is a Spanish invention. It was created in the Basque Country back in the 18th century for the then French King Louis XV. Spain also gave the world a mop, a bucket and a space suit.
20. Perfect for olive oil lovers
You could be forgiven for thinking that Greece or Italy produce most of the world’s olive oil, but in fact Spain leads the way. The Iberian country produces about 1.5 million tons of this material, the vast majority of which comes from the southern region of Andalusia.
21. Winds of change
Spain leads the way when it comes to renewable energy. In fact, it was the first country in the world in which wind became the largest source of electricity. In 2013, wind turbines produced just under 54,000 gigawatt hours of electricity – a fifth of the country’s consumption.
22. 150,000 tomatoes are thrown away every year…
… at the legendary La Tomatina festival . Every August, revelers from all over the world gather at the festival in the small town of Buñol near Valencia. Visitors are encouraged to throw as many tomatoes as they can, but only after they have been crushed to avoid any injuries.
23. There is no tooth fairy in Spain
But don’t worry – these teeth are not wasted! Instead of the famous tooth fairy, when Spanish children lose a tooth, they put it under the pillow of a magical mouse named Ratoncito Pérez. Like the tooth fairy, little Perez collects a tooth and leaves money or a small gift instead.
24. The Spanish are a tolerant society
Back in 2010, the European Social Survey found that 80% of respondents agreed that gays and lesbians should be free to live their lives. This compares with less than 40% of Croatians, Lithuanians and Russians. Spain has a large LGBT community and same-sex marriage has been legal since 2005.
25. The oldest restaurant in the world is located here
Feeling picky in Madrid? Well, you can check out Restaurante Botín, which was awarded the title of oldest restaurant in the world by the Guinness World Records team. Since 1725, the establishment has been serving the exquisite signature dish Cochinillos asado (roasted suckling pig).
26. One of the most popular tourist destinations in the world
Historic palaces? Clean beaches? World-class mountain trekking? Whatever you’re looking for, Spain has it in abundance. And so the visitors keep coming. In fact, in 2018 Spain was the second most popular tourist destination in the world after France, welcoming a staggering 82.8 million visitors.
27. The perfect place to let your hair down
Spain is a country full of festivals. Besides La Tomatina , there are plenty of quirky Spanish festivals around the country that are worth checking out. You can be chased by bulls during the San Fermín festivals , watch huge ninots (statues) being burned during Las Fallas , or soak up history at Romeria de Nuesra Señora de la Cabeza . There is never a dull moment in this sunny country!
28. Best Christmas present?
Want to get rich this Christmas? Well, it can happen in Spain. In December 2019, the country’s national lottery, El Gordo (“the fat”), held before Christmas, had a total prize fund of 2.24 billion euros. This makes it the world’s largest total prize pool of any lottery .
29. A giant of world football
When it comes to the beautiful game, the Spanish know how to play ball. La Roja topped the FIFA world rankings for more than 5 years from 2008 to 2013. During this time, they won the World Cup in 2010 and the European Championships in 2008 and 2012.
30. Spain has an artistic vein
Over the centuries, Spain has produced some of the world’s greatest artists. From Diego Velázquez in the 17th century to Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali in the 20th century, the country certainly has a habit of gifting the world with great artists.