Want to live and work in Spain?

Spain is the fourth most populous country in the European Union. Most people live in cities, with Madrid and Barcelona together having more than 10 million people in their metro areas. An aging population is a trend, with low birth rates partially offset by immigration. The interior of the country (known as la España vaciada) has been losing population to the coast.

The population is diverse by region. There are historically distinct communities: Catalans, Basques, Galicians, and Valencians have co-official languages and their own cultures. Recent immigration has brought Latin Americans (especially Colombians, Venezuelans, Peruvians, Ecuadorians, Brazilians, and Argentinians), Moroccans, Romanians, British, Chinese, and Ukrainians. Latinos represent an important share of migration over the past two decades.

Spanish (called castellano locally) is the national official language. Catalan, Galician, Basque (Euskera), and Aranese are co-official in their regions. English is increasingly spoken by young people and professionals, especially in Barcelona and Madrid, but proficiency levels remain lower than in Nordic countries. Learning Spanish is highly recommended for any long-term plan.

The Spanish labor market is large (about 21 million active workers) but marked by unemployment higher than the European average (around 12%, and more than 25% among young people). Tourism is the largest sector employer: more than 80 million tourists per year sustain hotels, restaurants, retail, and transport. Madrid, Barcelona, the Balearics, the Canaries, the Costa del Sol, and the Costa Brava concentrate jobs in the sector.

The automotive industry is the second largest in Europe, with factories from SEAT (Volkswagen) in Martorell, Renault in Valladolid and Palencia, Ford in Almussafes (Valencia), Stellantis in Vigo and Zaragoza, Mercedes-Benz in Vitoria, and Iveco in Madrid. The pharmaceutical (Almirall, Grifols, Esteve, Rovi), chemical, agro-food (Pascual, Mercadona, Bimbo Iberia), and consumer goods (Inditex, owner of Zara, Massimo Dutti, Pull and Bear, Bershka) industries are strong. The financial sector has Santander, BBVA, CaixaBank, and Banco Sabadell as global giants.

Renewable energy (Iberdrola, Endesa, Acciona, Repsol in transition) is a European leader. Construction and infrastructure (Ferrovial, ACS, Acciona, Sacyr, FCC) build roads, railways, and airports worldwide. Technology is growing in Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia. The average gross salary is about 27,000 euros per year; the national minimum wage (SMI) is 1,184 euros gross per month in 14 payments (about USD 1,300 to 1,500). Largest employers: Inditex, Santander, BBVA, Telefonica, Iberdrola, Repsol, El Corte Ingles, and Mercadona.

Spain's public healthcare system is tax-funded and considered one of the best in the world. Anyone who works formally, receives a pension, or has regularized residency (registered on the municipal census with social security or equivalent private insurance) is entitled to the Sistema Nacional de Salud (SNS). It covers consultations, tests, hospitalizations, childbirths, maternity, vaccines, and medications with a small copayment (free for pensioners).

The system works with a family doctor (medico de cabecera) as the entry point. Public hospitals such as La Paz (Madrid), Vall d'Hebron (Barcelona), and Hospital Clinic are internationally recognized. For elective procedures, waiting lists can be long, and many Spaniards have private insurance (Sanitas, Adeslas, DKV) to supplement care.

Foreigners with a residence visa need to be on the municipal register (empadronamiento) and contribute to social security or have equivalent private insurance. Retirees often take out the convenio especial with Social Security, paying monthly to gain access to the SNS. Pharmacies are easy to find (look for the green cross sign) and medications are far cheaper than in the US.

Spain has great climatic diversity. The Mediterranean zone (Catalonia, Valencia, Murcia, coastal Andalusia, Balearic Islands) has long, hot summers (25 to 35°C) and mild winters (8 to 16°C). Malaga and the Costa del Sol are known for the "best climate in Europe," with an annual average above 19°C. The Canary Islands have a subtropical climate with mild temperatures throughout the year.

The interior (Madrid, Castile, Aragon, Extremadura) has a continental climate: very hot summers (reaching 40°C) and dry, and cold winters with frosts and occasional snow. "Nine months of winter and three of hell," locals joke in Madrid. The north (Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, Basque Country) has an oceanic climate, rainy and cool year-round, with green landscapes reminiscent of Ireland.

Those coming from temperate countries tend to adapt well to the Mediterranean and southern regions. Summers can be harsh in the interior due to the dry heat. Homes typically keep shutters (persianas) closed during the day in summer to maintain temperature. Air conditioning has become more common in recent decades, especially in the south and interior. Central heating is standard in apartments.

Spain is the fourth-largest economy in the eurozone. Tourism is a central sector, with over 80 million visitors per year (among the most visited countries in the world). Sun, beaches, gastronomy, culture, and cities such as Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, and the Balearic Islands are the main draws. Hotels, restaurants, and vacation rentals (Airbnb, Idealista) drive the coast and major capitals.

The automotive industry is the second-largest in Europe, with factories from SEAT (Volkswagen, in Martorell), Renault (Valladolid, Palencia), Ford (Valencia), Stellantis (Vigo, Zaragoza), and Mercedes-Benz (Vitoria). The pharmaceutical industry (Almirall, Grifols, Esteve) and chemicals are also exporters. Banks such as Santander, BBVA, and CaixaBank are global giants.

Spain leads renewable energy in Europe, with a strong presence in wind power (Iberdrola, Endesa, Acciona), solar, and hydroelectric. Infrastructure companies such as Ferrovial, ACS, and Acciona build roads and railways around the world. Agriculture is Europe's largest producer of olive oil and citrus, and exports wine, jamon, fruits, and vegetables. Fashion (Inditex, owner of Zara, Pull&Bear, Massimo Dutti, Stradivarius) has become a global reference.

Spain has about 48 million inhabitants, and approximately 18% of the population is foreign (more than 8.8 million people with non-Spanish nationality, combining EU and non-EU residents). The largest communities are Moroccans (about 920,000, concentrated in Catalonia, Madrid, and Andalusia), Romanians (about 630,000, in Madrid, Castile, and Aragon), Colombians (more than 500,000, with strong recent growth), Venezuelans (about 450,000, in Madrid and Barcelona), and British nationals (about 290,000, in Alicante, Malaga, and the Balearics).

Other large communities include Ukrainians (with a surge after 2022), Italians (in Barcelona and Madrid), Peruvians, Ecuadorians, Argentinians, Chinese (in Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia), Pakistanis, Bolivians, Hondurans, Bulgarians, and Spanish-speaking South Americans. Latin American immigration has become the majority of recent arrivals, partly due to cultural and linguistic ease. Catalonia, Madrid, the Valencian Community, Andalusia, and the Balearic Islands concentrate about 70% of all foreigners.

Formal integration requires Spanish for permanent residency and citizenship. Foreign diploma recognition goes through the Ministry of Education (homologacion) and professional associations. Citizenship requires 10 years of legal residency, with special regimes: 2 years for Ibero-Americans, Andorrans, Filipinos, Equatorial Guineans, Guineans, Portuguese, and Sephardic Jews (until 2019, with occasional renewals); 5 years for refugees; 1 year for spouses of Spanish citizens. Dual citizenship is permitted for nationals of Ibero-American countries.