Spain has a population of approximately 48 million people. Over the past two decades, population growth has been driven almost entirely by immigration, particularly from Latin America, North Africa, and Eastern Europe, offsetting a low domestic birth rate. Consequently, Spain faces an aging demographic profile, with a significant proportion of the population aged 65 and over.
The country is deeply culturally and linguistically diverse. While the majority identify as ethnically Spanish, strong regional identities exist among Catalans, Basques, and Galicians. The predominant religion is Roman Catholicism, deeply ingrained in the country's traditions and festivals, though actual church attendance has sharply declined, and modern Spanish society is largely secular.
Castilian Spanish is the official language nationwide, spoken by nearly 100% of the population. However, regional languages are fiercely protected and widely spoken in their respective autonomous communities: Catalan (in Catalonia, Valencia, and the Balearic Islands), Galician (in Galicia), and Basque (in the Basque Country and Navarre). The workforce is highly educated, though the country historically grapples with higher-than-average structural unemployment, particularly among its youth.
