Editing Spain (section)

== Demographics ==
{{Main|Demographics of Spain}}
{{See also|List of Spanish autonomous communities by population}}
[[File:Population per km2 by municipality in Spain (2018).svg|thumb|Population density by municipality in Spain, 2018]]

In 2025, Spain had a population of 49,153,849 people as recorded by Spain's ''[[National Statistics Institute (Spain)|Instituto Nacional de Estadística]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ine.es/dyngs/INEbase/en/operacion.htm?c=Estadistica_C&cid=1254736177095&menu=ultiDatos&idp=1254735572981|title=INEbase / Continuous Population Statistics (CPS). 1 April 2025. Provisional data|website=ine.es|access-date=8 May 2025}}</ref> Spain's population density, at 97/km<sup>2</sup> (251.2/sq mi), is lower than that of most Western European countries and its distribution across the country is very unequal. With the exception of the region surrounding the capital, Madrid, the most populated areas lie around the coast. The population of Spain has risen {{Frac|2|1|2}} times since 1900, when it stood at 18.6&nbsp;million, principally due to the spectacular demographic boom in the 1960s and early 1970s.<ref>Joseph Harrison, David Corkill (2004). ''Spain: A Modern European Economy''. Ashgate Publishing. p. 23. {{ISBN|0-7546-0145-5}}.</ref>

In 2023, the average [[total fertility rate]] (TFR) across Spain was 1.12 children born per woman,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ine.es/dyngs/INEbase/es/operacion.htm?c=Estadistica_C&cid=1254736177003&menu=ultiDatos&idp=1254735573002|title=Indice coyuntural de fecundidad|publisher=Instituto Nacional de Estadística|access-date=19 June 2024 }}</ref> one of the lowest in the world, below the replacement rate of 2.1, it remains considerably below the high of 5.11 children born per woman in 1865.<ref>{{citation|url=https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/children-born-per-woman?year=1800&country=ESP|title=Total Fertility Rate around the world over the last centuries|author=Roser, Max|date=2014|work=[[Our World in Data]], [[Gapminder Foundation]]|access-date=8 May 2019|archive-date=7 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807185751/https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/children-born-per-woman?year=1800&country=ESP|url-status=live}}</ref> Spain subsequently has one of the oldest populations in the world, with the average age of 43.1 years.<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/spain/|title=World Factbook EUROPE : SPAIN|work=[[The World Factbook]]|date=12 July 2018|access-date=23 January 2021|archive-date=27 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927024323/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/spain/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Native [[Spaniards]] make up 80.68% of the total population of Spain.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Población residente por fecha, sexo, grupo de edad y país de nacimiento(56937) |url=https://www.ine.es/jaxiT3/Datos.htm?t=56937 |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=INE |language=es}}</ref> After the [[List of countries and territories by fertility rate|birth rate]] plunged in the 1980s and Spain's population growth rate dropped, the population again trended upward initially upon the return of many Spaniards who had emigrated to other European countries during the 1970s, and more recently, fuelled by large numbers of immigrants who make up more than 19% of the population today. These immigrants originate mainly from [[Latin America]] (39%), [[North Africa]] (16%), [[Eastern Europe]] (15%), and [[Sub-Saharan Africa]] (4%).<ref>{{cite web |title=Población extranjera por sexo, país de nacionalidad y edad |url=http://www.ine.es/inebase/cgi/axi?AXIS_PATH=/inebase/temas/t20/e245/p04/a2005/l0/&FILE_AXIS=00000010.px&CGI_DEFAULT=/inebase/temas/cgi.opt&COMANDO=SELECCION&CGI_URL=/inebase/cgi/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080325043135/http://www.ine.es/inebase/cgi/axi?AXIS_PATH=%2Finebase%2Ftemas%2Ft20%2Fe245%2Fp04%2Fa2005%2Fl0%2F&FILE_AXIS=00000010.px&CGI_DEFAULT=%2Finebase%2Ftemas%2Fcgi.opt&COMANDO=SELECCION&CGI_URL=%2Finebase%2Fcgi%2F |archive-date=25 March 2008 |access-date=13 August 2008 |publisher=Instituto Nacional de Estadística}}</ref>

In 2008, Spain granted citizenship to 84,170 persons, mostly to people from Ecuador, Colombia and Morocco.<ref>"[http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_PUBLIC/3-06072010-AP/EN/3-06072010-AP-EN.PDF EU27 Member States granted citizenship to 696 000 persons in 2008] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906072250/https://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_PUBLIC/3-06072010-AP/EN/3-06072010-AP-EN.PDF|date=6 September 2014 }}" (PDF). [[Eurostat]]. 6 July 2010.</ref> Spain has a number of descendants of populations from former colonies, especially Latin America and North Africa. Smaller numbers of immigrants from several [[Sub-Saharan]] countries have recently been settling in Spain. There are also sizeable numbers of Asian immigrants, most of whom are of Middle Eastern, [[South Asian]] and Chinese origin. The single largest group of immigrants are European; represented by large numbers of Romanians, Britons, [[Germans]], French and others.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6161705.stm|title=Immigration statistics|publisher=BBC|access-date=13 August 2008|date=11 December 2006|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130408081743/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6161705.stm|archive-date=8 April 2013}}</ref>

=== Urbanisation ===
{{Main|List of metropolitan areas in Spain}}
{{Largest cities of Spain}}

=== Immigration ===
{{Main|Immigration to Spain}}
[[File:Distribución de la población extranjera en España (2005).png|thumb|Distribution of the foreign population in Spain in 2005 by percentage]]

According to the official Spanish statistics ([[Instituto Nacional de Estadística (Spain)|INE]]) there were 6.8&nbsp;million foreign residents in Spain in 2025 (13.9%)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ine.es/dyngs/Prensa/es/ECP4T24.htm|title=Instituto Nacional de Estadística. Estadística del Padrón Continuo|publisher=[[Instituto Nacional de Estadística (Spain)|Instituto Nacional de Estadística]]|website=ine.es|access-date=13 February 2025}}</ref> while all citizens born outside of Spain were 9.3&nbsp;million in 2025, 19.11% of the total population.<ref name="ine.es">{{cite web|url=https://www.ine.es/dyngs/Prensa/es/ECP4T24.htm|title=Cifras de Población (CP) a 1 de enero de 2025 Estadística de Migraciones (EM). Datos provisionales|publisher=[[Instituto Nacional de Estadística (Spain)|Instituto Nacional de Estadística]]|website=ine.es|language=Spanish|access-date=13 February 2025}}</ref>

According to residence permit data for 2011, more than 860,000 were Romanian, about 770,000 were [[Moroccan people|Moroccan]], approximately 390,000 were British, and 360,000 were [[Ecuadorian people|Ecuadorian]].<ref>[http://www.ine.es/prensa/np648.pdf INE] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723120919/http://www.ine.es/prensa/np648.pdf|date=23 July 2013 }}, 2011.</ref> Other sizeable foreign communities are Colombian, Bolivian, German, Italian, [[Bulgarians|Bulgarian]], and Chinese. There are more than 200,000 migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa living in Spain, principally [[Senegalese people|Senegaleses]] and [[Nigerian people|Nigerians]].<ref>"[https://archive.today/20120530050737/http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/295183,financial-crisis-reveals-vulnerability-of-spains-immigrants--feature.html Financial crisis reveals vulnerability of Spain's immigrants – Feature]". The Earth Times. 18 November 2009.</ref> Since 2000, Spain has experienced high [[population growth]] as a result of immigration flows, despite a birth rate that is only half the replacement level. This sudden and ongoing inflow of immigrants, particularly those arriving illegally by sea, has caused noticeable social tension.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ine.es/prodyser/pubweb/anuario06/anu06_02demog.pdf|publisher=Instituto Nacional de Estadística|title=Avance del Padrón Municipal a 1 de enero de 2006. Datos provisionales|access-date=13 August 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080726044741/http://www.ine.es/prodyser/pubweb/anuario06/anu06_02demog.pdf|archive-date=26 July 2008 }} and {{cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_21/b4035066.htm|title=Spain: Immigrants Welcome|access-date=13 August 2008|work=Business Week|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006223656/https://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_21/b4035066.htm|archive-date=6 October 2008 }} and {{cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14628564/site/newsweek/print/1/displaymode/1098/|title=Immigrants Fuel Europe's Civilization Clash|access-date=13 August 2008|publisher=MSNBC|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513052346/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14628564/site/newsweek/print/1/displaymode/1098/|archive-date=13 May 2008|url-status=dead }} and {{cite web|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/01/22/news/spain.php|title=Spanish youth clash with immigrant gangs|access-date=13 August 2008|work=International Herald Tribune|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080603175159/http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/01/22/news/spain.php|archive-date=3 June 2008 }}</ref>

Within the EU, Spain had the 2nd highest immigration rate in percentage terms after [[Cyprus]], but by a great margin, the highest in absolute numbers, up to 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_OFFPUB/KS-NK-06-001/EN/KS-NK-06-001-EN.PDF|publisher=Eurostat|title=Population in Europe in 2005|access-date=13 August 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080819191607/http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_OFFPUB/KS-NK-06-001/EN/KS-NK-06-001-EN.PDF|archive-date=19 August 2008 }}</ref> The number of immigrants in Spain had grown up from 500,000 people in 1996 to 5.2&nbsp;million in 2008 out of a total population of 46&nbsp;million.<ref>[http://www.workpermit.com/news/2007-10-10/spain/spanish-immigration-budget-increases.htm Spain to increase immigration budget] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080830020653/http://workpermit.com/news/2007-10-10/spain/spanish-immigration-budget-increases.htm|date=30 August 2008 }}, 10 October 2007</ref> In 2005 alone, a regularisation programme increased the legal immigrant population by 700,000 people.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/may/09/spain.gilestremlett|title=Spain grants amnesty to 700,000 migrants|work=The Guardian|location=London|date=9 May 2005|access-date=20 July 2009|first=Giles|last=Tremlett|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829050736/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/may/09/spain.gilestremlett|archive-date=29 August 2013 }}</ref> There are a number of reasons for the high level of immigration, including Spain's cultural ties with Latin America, its geographical position, the porosity of its borders, the large size of its underground economy and the strength of the agricultural and construction sectors, which demand more low cost labour than can be offered by the national workforce.

Another statistically significant factor is the large number of residents of EU origin typically retiring to Spain's Mediterranean coast. In fact, Spain was Europe's largest absorber of migrants from 2002 to 2007, with its immigrant population more than doubling as 2.5&nbsp;million people arrived.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ine.es/inebase/cgi/um?M=%2Ft20%2Fe245%2Fp08%2F&O=pcaxis&N=&L=0|title=Population series from 1998|publisher=[[Instituto Nacional de Estadística de España|INE]] Spanish Statistical Institute|access-date=14 August 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071102141040/http://www.ine.es/inebase/cgi/um?M=%2Ft20%2Fe245%2Fp08%2F&O=pcaxis&N=&L=0|archive-date=2 November 2007|url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2008, prior to the onset of the economic crisis, the ''Financial Times'' reported that Spain was the most favoured destination for Western Europeans considering a move from their own country and seeking jobs elsewhere in the EU.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://international.ibox.bg/news/id_1406161495|publisher=News.bg|title=Europeans Favour Spain for Expat Jobs|access-date=13 August 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010033728/http://international.ibox.bg/news/id_1406161495|archive-date=10 October 2008}}</ref>

In 2008, the government instituted a "Plan of Voluntary Return" which encouraged unemployed immigrants from outside the EU to return to their home countries and receive several incentives, including the right to keep their unemployment benefits and transfer whatever they contributed to the Spanish Social Security.<ref>[http://www.planderetornovoluntario.es/index_uno.html Plan de Retorno Voluntario] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018081322/https://www.planderetornovoluntario.es/index_uno.html|date=18 October 2011 }} Gobierno de España</ref> The programme had little effect.<ref>[https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB123275552359911807 Spain's Jobs Crisis Leaves Immigrants Out of Work] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710041236/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB123275552359911807|date=10 July 2017 }}, The Wall Street Journal, 24 January 2009</ref> Although the programme failed to, the sharp and prolonged economic crisis from 2010 to 2011, resulted in tens of thousands of immigrants leaving the country due to lack of jobs. In 2011 alone, more than half a million people left Spain.<ref name=emigracion /> For the first time in decades the net migration rate was expected to be negative, and nine out of 10 emigrants were foreigners.<ref name=emigracion>[http://www.elpais.com/articulo/sociedad/580000/personas/van/Espana/elpepisoc/20111008elpepisoc_2/Tes 580.000 personas se van de España] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111115152500/http://www.elpais.com/articulo/sociedad/580000/personas/van/Espana/elpepisoc/20111008elpepisoc_2/Tes|date=15 November 2011 }}. El País. Edición Impresa. 8 October 2011</ref>

=== Languages ===
{{Main|Languages of Spain}}
[[File:Languages of Spain.svg|thumb|[[Languages of Spain]]]]

Spain is a multilingual state.<ref name=conversi>{{cite web|url=http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/conversi/smooth.pdf|last=Conversi|first=Daniele|title=The Smooth Transition: Spain's 1978 Constitution and the Nationalities Question|work=National Identities, Vol 4, No. 3|publisher=Carfax Publishing, Inc.|year=2002|access-date=28 January 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080511172945/http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/conversi/smooth.pdf|archive-date=11 May 2008}}</ref> [[Spanish language|Spanish]]—featured in the 1978 [[Spanish Constitution]] as ''castellano'' ([[names given to the Spanish language|'Castilian']])—has effectively been the official language of the entire country since 1931.<ref>{{Cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fFYa2ooeVXgC&pg=PA129|title=National, regional and minority languages in Europe|publisher=[[Peter Lang (publisher)|Peter Lang]]|editor-first=Gerhard|editor-last=Stickel|chapter=Spain, a plurilingual state: Spanish and other official languages|first=Manuel|last=Casado Velarde|page=129|year=2011|location=Frankfurt|isbn=978-3-631-60365-9|access-date=24 July 2021|archive-date=12 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230912033901/https://books.google.com/books?id=fFYa2ooeVXgC&pg=PA129|url-status=live}}</ref> As allowed in the third article of the Constitution, the other 'Spanish languages' can also become official in their respective [[autonomous communities]]. The territoriality created by the form of co-officiality codified in the 1978 Constitution creates an asymmetry, in which Spanish speakers' rights apply to the entire territory whereas vis-à-vis the rest of co-official languages, their speakers' rights only apply in their territories.{{sfn|Ramallo|2018|p=465}}

Besides Spanish, other territorialised languages include [[Aragonese language|Aragonese]], [[Aranese]], [[Astur-Leonese]], [[Basque language|Basque]], Ceutan Arabic ([[Darija]]), [[Catalan language|Catalan]], [[Galician language|Galician]], [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]], [[Valencian language|Valencian]] and [[Tarifit|Tamazight]], to which the [[Caló language|Romani Caló]] and the sign languages may add up.<ref>{{Cite book|year=2018|doi=10.1515/9783110365955-018|publisher=[[De Gruyter]]|editor-first=Wendy|editor-last=Ayres-Bennett|editor-first2=Janice|editor-last2=Carruthers|title=Manual of Romance Sociolinguistics<!--|pages=462–493-->|first=Fernando|last=Ramallo|chapter=17. Linguistic diversity in Spain |isbn=9783110365955|chapter-url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325696721|page=462|s2cid=158999790}}</ref> The number of speakers varies widely and their legal recognition is uneven, with some of the most vulnerable languages lacking any sort of effective protection.{{sfn|Ramallo|2018|p=463}} Those enjoying recognition as official language in some autonomous communities include Catalan/Valencian (in [[Catalonia]] and the [[Balearic Islands]] officially named as Catalan and in the [[Valencian Community]] officially named as [[Valencian language|Valencian]]); Galician (in [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]]); Basque (in the [[Basque Country (autonomous community)|Basque Country]] and part of [[Navarre]]); and Aranese in Catalonia.

According to an official survey complementary to the 2021 census carried out by [[National Statistics Institute (Spain)|National Statistics Institute]], Spanish is considered as first language by 81.53%, while Catalan/Valencian by 10.50%, Galician by 3.77% and Basque by 1.42% of the Spanish population. The most spoken foreign language was [[Arabic]] with 2.17% of the population considering it as their first language, followed by [[English language|English]] with 1.58%, [[Romanian language|Romanian]] with 1.44%, [[French language|French]] with 0.94%, Portuguese with 0.54%, [[Chinese language|Chinese]] with 0.48%, [[German language|German]] with 0.44% and [[Italian language|Italian]] with 0.41%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=INEbase / Demografía y población /Cifras de población y Censos demográficos /Encuesta de Características Esenciales de la Población y las Viviendas / Microdatos |url=https://www.ine.es/dyngs/INEbase/es/operacion.htm?c=Estadistica_C&cid=1254736177092&menu=resultados&idp=1254735572981# |access-date=2025-03-12 |website=INE |language=es}}</ref> Such diversity of foreign languages is mainly due to international migration.<ref>{{Cite book|chapter-url=https://gramatica.usc.es/att/montserrat.recalde/Recalde_2016.pdf|year=2016|page=175|first=Montserrat|last=Recalde Fernández|title=Ser inmigrante en tempos de crise: Unha ollada multidisciplinar |editor-first=Montserrat|editor-last=Recalde Fernández|editor-first2=Carme|editor-last2=Silva Domínguez|publisher=Servizo de Publicacións e Intercambio Científico da Universidade de Compostela|doi=10.15304/9788416533015|chapter=A contribución da inmigración ao multilingüismo do Estado español|isbn=9788416533015|access-date=12 July 2021|archive-date=25 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725112956/https://gramatica.usc.es/att/montserrat.recalde/Recalde_2016.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Education ===
{{Main|Education in Spain}}
[[File:University of Salamanca Fray Luis de Leon edited.jpg|thumb|[[University of Salamanca]], one of the first European universities]]
State education in Spain is free and compulsory from the age of six to sixteen. The current education system is regulated by the 2006 educational law, LOE (''Ley Orgánica de Educación''), or Fundamental Law for the Education.<ref name=LOE_juridicas>[http://noticias.juridicas.com/base_datos/Admin/lo2-2006.html ''La Ley Orgánica 2/2006''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525013507/http://noticias.juridicas.com/base_datos/Admin/lo2-2006.html|date=25 May 2011 }}. Retrieved 23 September 2009</ref> In 2014, the LOE was partially modified by the newer and controversial LOMCE law (''Ley Orgánica para la Mejora de la Calidad Educativa''), or Fundamental Law for the Improvement of the Education System, commonly called ''Ley Wert'' (Wert Law).<ref name=LOMCE_juridicas>[http://noticias.juridicas.com/base_datos/Admin/517990-lo-8-2013-de-9-dic-para-la-mejora-de-la-calidad-educativa.html ''Ley Orgánica 8/2013''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212202355/http://noticias.juridicas.com/base_datos/Admin/517990-lo-8-2013-de-9-dic-para-la-mejora-de-la-calidad-educativa.html|date=12 February 2015 }}. Retrieved 9 December 2013</ref> Since 1970 to 2014, Spain has had seven different educational laws (LGE, LOECE, LODE, LOGSE, LOPEG, LOE and LOMCE).<ref>[http://www.teinteresa.es/educa/siete-leyes-educativas-franco-wert-zapatero-aznar-ucd-psoe-pp_0_1007900025.html ''De la LGE a la LOMCE: Así son las siete leyes educativas españolas de la democracia''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212211059/http://www.teinteresa.es/educa/siete-leyes-educativas-franco-wert-zapatero-aznar-ucd-psoe-pp_0_1007900025.html|date=12 February 2015 }}. teinteresa.es</ref>

The levels of education are preschool education, primary education,<ref>{{cite web|title=Educación Primaria │Ministerio de Educación y Formación Profesional|url=http://www.educacionyfp.gob.es/contenidos/estudiantes/educacion-primaria.html|access-date=26 November 2020|language=es|archive-date=5 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201105082455/http://www.educacionyfp.gob.es/contenidos/estudiantes/educacion-primaria.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> secondary education<ref>{{cite web|title=Educación Secundaria Obligatoria (ESO)│Ministerio de Educación y Formación Profesional|url=http://www.educacionyfp.gob.es/contenidos/estudiantes/educacion-secundaria.html|access-date=26 November 2020|language=es|archive-date=16 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116053618/https://www.educacionyfp.gob.es/contenidos/estudiantes/educacion-secundaria.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and post-16 education.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bachillerato│Ministerio de Educación y Formación Profesional|url=https://www.educacionyfp.gob.es/contenidos/estudiantes/bachillerato.html|access-date=26 November 2020|archive-date=26 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126220810/https://www.educacionyfp.gob.es/contenidos/estudiantes/bachillerato.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In regards to the professional development education or the vocational education, there are three levels besides the university degrees: the ''Formación Profesional Básica'' (basic vocational education); the ''Ciclo Formativo de Grado Medio'' or ''CFGM'' (medium level vocation education) which can be studied after studying the secondary education, and the ''Ciclo Formativo de Grado Superior'' or ''CFGS'' (higher level vocational education), which can be studied after studying the post-16 education level.<ref>{{cite web|title=La Formación Profesional actual en el sistema educativo – TodoFP│Ministerio de Educación y Formación Profesional|url=https://www.todofp.es/sobre-fp/informacion-general/sistema-educativo-fp/fp-actual.html|access-date=26 November 2020|language=es|archive-date=31 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031234851/https://www.todofp.es/sobre-fp/informacion-general/sistema-educativo-fp/fp-actual.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[Programme for International Student Assessment]] (PISA) coordinated by the [[OECD]] currently ranks the overall knowledge and skills of Spanish 15-year-olds as significantly below the OECD average of 493 in reading literacy, mathematics, and science.<ref>{{cite web|title=Compare your country - PISA 2018|url=https://www2.compareyourcountry.org/pisa/country/ESP?lg=en|access-date=29 September 2021|website=www2.compareyourcountry.org|language=en|archive-date=27 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927232854/https://www2.compareyourcountry.org/pisa/country/ESP?lg=en|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA): Spain|url=https://www.oecd.org/pisa/publications/PISA2018_CN_ESP.pdf|access-date=29 September 2021|archive-date=29 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929211954/https://www.oecd.org/pisa/publications/PISA2018_CN_ESP.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Health ===
{{Main|Health care in Spain|Abortion in Spain}}

The health care system of Spain ([[Spanish National Health System]]) is considered one of the best in the world, in 7th position in the ranking elaborated by the [[World Health Organization|World Health Organisation]].<ref>World Health Organization, World Health Staff, (2000), Haden, Angela; Campanini, Barbara, eds., The world health report 2000 – Health systems: improving performance (PDF), Geneva: World Health Organization, {{ISBN|92-4-156198-X}}</ref> The health care is public, universal and free for any legal citizen of Spain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.seg-social.es/Internet_1/Trabajadores/PrestacionesPension10935/Asistenciasanitaria/RegimenGeneral/BeneficiariosSituac30476/177501|title=Health care in Spain: Beneficiairies|publisher=seg-social.es|access-date=24 September 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525185420/http://www.seg-social.es/Internet_1/Trabajadores/PrestacionesPension10935/Asistenciasanitaria/RegimenGeneral/BeneficiariosSituac30476/177501|archive-date=25 May 2017}}</ref> The total health spending is 9.4% of the GDP, slightly above the average of 9.3% of the [[OECD]].

=== Religion ===
{{Main|Religion in Spain}}
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption= Religious self-definition in Spain ([[Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas|CIS]] survey; sample size: 3,935; February 2023)<ref>[[Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas|CIS]].[https://datos.cis.es/pdf/Es3395marMT_A.pdf "Barómetro de Enero de 2023"], 3,961 respondents. The question was "¿Cómo se define Ud. en materia religiosa: católico/a practicante, católico/a no practicante, creyente de otra religión, agnóstico/a, indiferente o no creyente, o ateo/a?". Page 19.</ref>
|label1 = Practicing [[Catholic Church|Catholic]]
|value1 = 18.5
|color1 = DarkRed
|label2 = Non-Practicing Catholic
|value2 = 37.5
|color2 = Red
|label3 = Believer in another religion
|value3 = 2.7
|color3 = MediumSlateBlue
|label4 = [[Agnosticism|Agnostic]]
|value4 = 12.6
|color4 = LightGray
|label5 = Indifferent/Non-believer
|value5 = 12.3
|color5 = WhiteSmoke
|label6 = [[Atheism|Atheist]]
|value6 = 14.9
|color6 = Grey
|label7 = Did not answer
|value7 = 1.5
|color7 = Black
}}
[[Roman Catholic]]ism, which has a long history in Spain, remains the dominant religion. Although it no longer has official status by law, in all public schools in Spain students have to choose either a religion or ethics class. Catholicism is the religion most commonly taught, although the teaching of Islam,<ref>[https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-1992-24855 Ley 26/1992] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161126142129/http://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-1992-24855|date=26 November 2016 }}, Documento BOE-A-1992-24855, Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado</ref> Judaism,<ref>[https://www.boe.es/buscar/doc.php?id=BOE-A-1992-24854 Ley 25/1992] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227231842/https://www.boe.es/buscar/doc.php?id=BOE-A-1992-24854|date=27 December 2016 }}, Documento BOE-A-1992-24854, Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado</ref> and evangelical Christianity<ref>[https://www.boe.es/buscar/doc.php?id=BOE-A-1992-24853 Ley 24/1992] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161126142109/http://www.boe.es/buscar/doc.php?id=BOE-A-1992-24853|date=26 November 2016 }}, Documento BOE-A-1992-24853, Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado</ref> is also recognised in law. According to a 2020 study by the Spanish Centre for Sociological Research, about 61% of Spaniards self-identify as [[Christianity in Spain|Catholics]], 3% other faiths, and about 35% identify with [[irreligion|no religion]].<ref name=CIS2020>Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas: [http://datos.cis.es/pdf/Es3288marMT_A.pdf Barómetro de Julio 2020, página 21.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720202206/http://datos.cis.es/pdf/Es3288marMT_A.pdf |date=20 July 2020 }}¿Cómo se define Ud. en materia religiosa: católico/a practicante, católico/a no practicante, creyente de otra religión, agnóstico/a, indiferente o no creyente, o ateo/a?</ref> Most Spaniards do not participate regularly in religious services.<ref name=CIS /> Recent polls and surveys suggest that around 30% of the Spanish population is irreligious.<ref name=CIS>{{cite web|url=http://www.cis.es/cis/opencm/ES/1_encuestas/estudios/ver.jsp?estudio=14473&cuestionario=17452&muestra=24446|author=Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (Centre for Sociological Research)|title=Macrobarómetro de octubre 2019, Banco de datos|date=October 2019|page=160|access-date=17 December 2019|language=es|archive-date=14 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614123408/http://www.cis.es/cis/opencm/ES/1_encuestas/estudios/ver.jsp?estudio=14473&cuestionario=17452&muestra=24446|url-status=live}} The question was "¿Cómo se define Ud. en materia religiosa: católico/a practicante, católico/a no practicante, creyente de otra religion, agnóstico/a, indiferente o no creyente, o ateo/a?", the weight used was "PESOCCAA" which reflects the population sizes of the [[Autonomous communities of Spain]].</ref><ref name="WVS">{{cite web|title=WVS Database|url=http://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/WVSOnline.jsp|website=World Values Survey|publisher=Institute for Comparative Survey Research|date=March 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105141038/http://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/WVSOnline.jsp|archive-date=5 January 2016}}</ref><ref name="GallupInternational">{{cite news|title=Gallup International Religiosity Index|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/files/2015/04/WIN.GALLUP-INTERNATIONAL-RELIGIOUSITY-INDEX.pdf|newspaper=The Washington Post|publisher=WIN-Gallup International|date=April 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201065414/https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/files/2015/04/WIN.GALLUP-INTERNATIONAL-RELIGIOUSITY-INDEX.pdf|archive-date=1 February 2016}}</ref>

The Spanish constitution enshrines [[secularism]] in governance, as well as freedom of religion or belief for all, saying that no religion should have a "state character", while allowing for the state to "cooperate" with religious groups.

[[Protestant]] churches have about 1,200,000 members.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ferede.org/general.php?pag=estad#1|title=Federación de Entidades Religiosas Evangélicas de España – FEREDE|publisher=Ferede.org|access-date=4 September 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930083055/http://www.ferede.org/general.php?pag=estad#1|archive-date=30 September 2011 }}</ref> There are about 105,000 [[Jehovah's Witnesses]]. [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] has approximately 46,000 adherents in 133 congregations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/country/spain|title=Spain – Newsroom|publisher=churchofjesuschrist.org|access-date=4 September 2010|archive-date=14 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614092620/https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/country/spain|url-status=live}}</ref>

A study made by the [[Union of Islamic Communities of Spain]] demonstrated that there were more than 2,100,000 inhabitants of Muslim background living in Spain {{As of|2019|lc=y}}, accounting for 4–5% of the total population of Spain. The vast majority was composed of immigrants and descendants originating from the [[Maghreb]] (especially [[Morocco]]) and other African countries. More than 879,000 (42%) of them had Spanish nationality.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Los musulmanes en España superan por primera vez los 2 millones de personas|journal=El Heraldo|url=https://www.heraldo.es/noticias/nacional/2020/02/18/musulmanes-espana-superan-primera-vez-2-millones-personas-1359544.html|date=September 2020|access-date=30 September 2020|archive-date=4 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004014226/https://www.heraldo.es/noticias/nacional/2020/02/18/musulmanes-espana-superan-primera-vez-2-millones-personas-1359544.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Judaism]] was practically non-existent in Spain from the 1492 expulsion until the 19th century, when Jews were again permitted to enter the country. Currently there are around 62,000 Jews in Spain, or 0.14% of the total population.