Spain

Spain, officially the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. It is the largest country in Southern Europe and the fourth-most populous member of the European Union. Its territory includes the Iberian Peninsula, the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands, and the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla. Spain shares borders with France, Andorra, Portugal, and the Mediterranean Sea. The capital and largest city is Madrid, with other major cities including Barcelona and Valencia.

Historically, the Iberian Peninsula was inhabited by Celts and Iberians before being Romanized as Hispania. Following the fall of the Western Roman Empire, it was conquered by the Visigoths and later by the Umayyad Caliphate. The Reconquista led to the unification of Spain under the Catholic Monarchs in 1479. During the Age of Discovery, Spain established a vast empire and was pivotal in global trade.

Spain is a secular parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy, with King Felipe VI as head of state. It has a high per capita income, is the world’s second-most visited country, and hosts many World Heritage Sites. Spanish culture has a significant global influence, particularly through the Spanish language, spoken by over 600 million people worldwide.