Capital of Spain: Madrid — Facts & 5-Question Quiz
The capital of Spain is Madrid. Spain sits in Europe, has a population of 47,558,630, and uses the EUR. Official languages include Spanish.
Quick facts
- Capital: Madrid
- Continent: Europe
- Population: ~47,558,630
- Area: 505,992 km²
- Population density: 94.0 people per km²
- Official language: Spanish
- Currency: EUR
- ISO code: ES
How big is Spain?
By population, Spain ranks 30th in the world, holding roughly 0.60% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 51st.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Spain has 94.0 people per square kilometre, which is somewhat above the world average of 59.4. It is more crowded than its size alone would suggest.
Within Europe, Spain is the 6th most populous country of 46.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Spain in population are Uganda (47,249,585) and Sudan (46,874,204).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Thailand (513,120 km²) and Turkmenistan (488,100 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
Spanish is spoken officially in 20 countries in this dataset, including Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia and Costa Rica, and 14 others.
The EUR is not unique to Spain — it is also used by Andorra, Austria, Belgium and Croatia, and 21 others. Shared currencies usually mark a monetary union or a long-standing peg, and they are a useful shortcut in quizzes: get one country's currency and you often get several.
How to remember Spain
Madrid lies in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula, so the capital is right in the middle of the map. For the flag, think of a fat yellow stripe sandwiched between two thin red ones.
The flag of Spain: red and yellow
🇪🇸 The flag is three horizontal stripes of red, yellow (twice as wide) and red, with the coat of arms on the yellow stripe towards the flagpole. The coat of arms shows the emblems of the old kingdoms of Castile, León, Navarre and Aragon, a pomegranate for Granada, and the two Pillars of Hercules on either side of the Strait of Gibraltar with the motto 'Plus Ultra' (further beyond).
Region and neighbours
Spain is a large country in southwestern Europe that covers most of the Iberian Peninsula, plus the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic, and Ceuta and Melilla in North Africa. It shares land borders with 4 countries: Portugal, France, Andorra and Morocco. The border with Morocco is around Ceuta and Melilla, two Spanish cities on the African coast. Spain also borders Gibraltar, a British territory at its southern tip.
- Portugal 🇵🇹 — capital Lisbon
- France 🇫🇷 — capital Paris
- Andorra 🇦🇩 — capital Andorra la Vella
- Morocco 🇲🇦 — capital Rabat
Three facts about Spain
- Mount Teide, a volcano on Tenerife in the Canary Islands, is the highest mountain in Spain at 3,715 m.
- Spanish is the world's second-most spoken native language.
- Spain has fifty UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Alhambra in Granada.
Sources: Wikipedia: Spain, Wikipedia: Flag of Spain, Wikipedia: Madrid, Wikipedia: Teide, CIA World Factbook.
Quiz yourself on Spain
- European capitals quiz — match Spain to Madrid
- European flags quiz — spot the Spain flag among its neighbours
Spain capital quiz
What is the capital of Spain 🇪🇸?
- Stockholm
- Oslo
- Madrid
- Belgrade
Show answer
Madrid
What is the capital of Poland 🇵🇱?
- Luxembourg
- Bucharest
- Vilnius
- Warsaw
Show answer
Warsaw
What is the capital of Italy 🇮🇹?
- Rome
- Riga
- Valletta
- Oslo
Show answer
Rome
What is the capital of Ukraine 🇺🇦?
- Bratislava
- Paris
- Dublin
- Kyiv
Show answer
Kyiv
What is the capital of France 🇫🇷?
- Stockholm
- London
- Sarajevo
- Paris
Show answer
Paris
Spain in Europe
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are Russia, Germany, United Kingdom and France.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Europe is the block Spain belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Spain.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Spain?
The capital of Spain is Madrid.
What is the population of Spain?
About 47,558,630, making it the 30th most populous country in the world.
How big is Spain?
505,992 square kilometres, ranking 51st by land area, at a density of 94.0 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Spain use?
The EUR, shared with 25 other countries.
What are the colours of the Spain flag?
The flag of Spain is three horizontal stripes of red, yellow (twice as wide) and red, with the coat of arms on the yellow stripe towards the flagpole. The coat of arms shows the emblems of the old kingdoms of Castile, León, Navarre and Aragon, a pomegranate for Granada, and the two Pillars of Hercules on either side of the Strait of Gibraltar with the motto 'Plus Ultra' (further beyond).
Which countries border Spain?
Spain shares land borders with Portugal, France, Andorra and Morocco. The border with Morocco is around Ceuta and Melilla, two Spanish cities on the African coast. Spain also borders Gibraltar, a British territory at its southern tip.
How can I remember the capital of Spain?
Madrid lies in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula, so the capital is right in the middle of the map. For the flag, think of a fat yellow stripe sandwiched between two thin red ones.
More capitals to learn
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