Spain: Flag and Facts
Spain's flag has a red stripe on top and bottom with a double-width yellow stripe between them, and the coat of arms sits on the yellow band, shifted toward the hoist side.
- Official name
- Kingdom of Spain
- Capital
- Madrid
- Region
- Southern Europe
- Population
- 47 million (2024)
- Languages
- Spanish
- Currency
- Euro
- Area
- 505,992 km² (195,365 sq mi)
- People
- Spanish
- Calling code
- +34
- Highest point
- Pico de Teide (Tenerife) on Canary Islands 3,718 m
- Independence
- 1492
- National symbols
- Pillars of Hercules
About Spain
During the 16th and 17th centuries Spain ran a huge world empire, though England eventually took control of the seas. The country stayed out of both World Wars but suffered a civil war starting in 1936 that ended in dictatorship. After Francisco Franco died in 1975, Spain shifted peacefully to democracy, and it joined the EU in 1986.
About 47.3 million people live here. Madrid has around 6.8 million and Barcelona about 5.7 million. Much of the interior is a high plateau ringed by hills, with the Pyrenees to the north. Inland summers are clear and hot, while the coasts stay milder and cloudier. The highest point is not on the mainland at all: Pico de Teide on Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, rises 3,718 meters.
Did you know?
- The two columns on the coat of arms are the Pillars of Hercules, Gibraltar and Ceuta.
- Granada appears as a small pomegranate along the lower edge of the shield.
- National Day falls on 12 October, linked to the year 1492.
Want to test yourself? The random flag generator has a quiz mode, and the full flags of the world page shows every flag at once.
Questions about Spain
What does Plus Ultra mean on the Spanish flag?
It means further beyond and refers to Spanish lands outside Europe.
What countries border Spain?
Andorra, France, Gibraltar, Portugal and Morocco all touch Spain.
Sources
- CIA World Factbook, checked October 8, 2026
- REST Countries data (mledoze/countries), checked October 8, 2026
- Flag artwork: flag-icons (MIT), checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.