History of Spain in Timeline

Spain, officially the Kingdom of Spain, is a large country in Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. It is the largest country in Southern Europe and the fourth-most populous EU member state. Spain includes the majority of the Iberian Peninsula, the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands, and the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla. It borders France, Andorra, and Portugal, as well as the Bay of Biscay, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean. Madrid is its capital and largest city; other major cities include Barcelona, Valencia and Seville.

1900: Spain's Population at 18.6 Million

In 1900, Spain's population stood at 18.6 million, marking a significant increase over the following century.

1901: Formation of Regionalist League of Catalonia

In 1901, the Regionalist League of Catalonia was formed.

July 1909: Tragic Week events

The Tragic Week events occurred in July 1909, exemplifying the social instability of the time.

1910: Founding of Confederación Nacional del Trabajo

In 1910, the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo (CNT) was founded within the anarcho-syndicalist trend of the labor movement in Spain.

1919: La Canadiense strike

In 1919, the La Canadiense strike led to the first law limiting the working day to eight hours.

1923: Start of Crown-supported Dictatorship

In 1923, a period of Crown-supported dictatorship began.

1927: Founding of Federación Anarquista Ibérica

In 1927, the Federación Anarquista Ibérica (FAI) was founded within the anarcho-syndicalist trend of the labor movement in Spain.

April 1931: Municipal Elections and Proclamation of the Republic

In April 1931, municipal elections resulted in a Republican-Socialist victory, leading to the king leaving the country and the proclamation of the Republic on April 14.

June 1931: Constituent General Election

In June 1931, the Constituent general election took place.

October 1931: Passing of Constitution

In October 1931, a constitution for the country was passed following the June 1931 Constituent general election.

1931: Spanish Becomes the Official Language

Spanish has effectively been the official language of the entire country since 1931.

1931: Restoration (1875–1931)

The Restoration monarchic period, which lasted from 1875 to 1931, ended.

1932: Failed Coup d'état

In 1932, a failed coup d'état was led by José Sanjurjo.

1932: Creation of Local Studios

Local studios for sound films were created in 1932.

1933: Right Triumphs in Election

In 1933, the right triumphed in the election.

1934: Revolution of 1934

The Revolution of 1934 took place.

October 1936: Franco Sworn in as Leader

On October 1, 1936, General Francisco Franco was sworn in as the supreme leader of the rebel faction.

1936: Spanish Civil War

In 1936, the Spanish Civil War began, leading to a division of the country into Republican and Nationalist factions.

1936: Left Triumphs in Election

In 1936, the left triumphed in the election.

1936: End of Silver Age

In a broader definition encompassing the period from 1868 or 1874 to 1936, the so-called Silver Age of Spanish Culture ensued.

1937: Formation of Falange Española Tradicionalista y de las JONS

In 1937, the Falange Española Tradicionalista y de las JONS (FET y de las JONS) was formed by merging the Fascist Falange Española de las JONS and the Carlist traditionalists.

April 1939: End of Spanish Civil War

On April 1, 1939, the rebel side led by Franco emerged victorious in the Spanish Civil War, imposing a dictatorship over the whole country.

1939: End of Spanish Civil War and Start of Francoist Dictatorship

In 1939, the Spanish Civil War ended with Franco's victory, resulting in the establishment of the Francoist dictatorship.

1941: Government Imposition of Dubbing of Foreign Films

The government imposition of dubbing of foreign films in 1941 accustomed Spanish audiences to watching dubbed films.

1955: Spain Joins the United Nations

In 1955, during the Cold War, Spain joined the United Nations due to its strategic importance to the US.

1959: Formation of ETA

In 1959, ETA was formed during Franco's rule.

1960: Start of the Spanish Economic Miracle

The Spanish economic miracle, a period of rapid growth, started in 1960, with Spain's economy growing an average of 6.6 percent per year.

1962: Congress of the European Movement in Munich

In 1962, a group of politicians involved in the opposition to Franco's regime met in the congress of the European Movement in Munich.

1964: UEFA European Championship

In 1964, Spain's national men's football team won the UEFA European Championship.

1970: Seven Educational Laws since 1970

Since 1970 to 2014, Spain has had seven different educational laws (LGE, LOECE, LODE, LOGSE, LOPEG, LOE and LOMCE).

1974: End of the Spanish Economic Miracle

The Spanish economic miracle, a period of rapid growth started in 1960, came to an end in 1974.

November 1975: Juan Carlos Succeeds as King

In November 1975, with Franco's death, Juan Carlos succeeded to the position of King of Spain and head of state.

1975: Foreign Policy Priorities after Franco's Death

Following the death of Franco in 1975, Spain's foreign policy priorities were to break out of diplomatic isolation, expand diplomatic relations, enter the European Community, and define security relations with the West.

1975: End of Francoist Dictatorship

In 1975, the Francoist dictatorship ended.

March 1976: Massacre of 3 March

In March 1976, the Massacre of 3 March took place in Vitoria.

June 1976: Adolfo Suárez Appointed Prime Minister

In June 1976, King Juan Carlos dismissed Carlos Arias Navarro and appointed the reformer Adolfo Suárez as Prime Minister.

1977: Spanish Amnesty Law

In 1977, the Spanish Amnesty Law was enacted.

1977: Convening of the Constituent Cortes

In 1977, the resulting general election convened the Constituent Cortes (the Spanish Parliament) for drafting and approving the constitution of 1978.

December 1978: New Constitution Approved

After a national referendum on 6 December 1978, 88% of voters approved the new constitution.

1978: Autonomous Communities Created

Following the 1978 constitution coming into effect, Spain's autonomous communities, the first-level administrative divisions of the country, were created.

1978: Approval of New Spanish Constitution

In 1978, the new Spanish Constitution was approved and democracy was restored, devolving authority to the regions.

1978: Spanish Constitution Defines Castellano as Official Language

The 1978 Spanish Constitution featured Spanish, referred to as 'castellano', effectively establishing it as the official language of the entire country.

1978: Spanish Constitution Promulgated

The Spanish Constitution of 1978 protects all Spaniards and all the peoples of Spain in the exercise of human rights, their cultures and traditions, languages, and institutions.

February 1981: Attempted Coup d'état

On February 23, 1981, rebel elements among the security forces seized the Cortes in an attempt to impose a military-backed government.

May 1982: Spain Joined NATO

In May 1982 Spain joined NATO.

1982: Spain Joins NATO

Since 1982, Spain, as a member of NATO, has established itself as a participant in multilateral international security activities.

1986: Spain Joins the European Economic Community

In 1986, Spain joined the European Economic Community, now the European Union.

1990: Increase in Foreign Direct Investment

EU membership coincided with a tripling of foreign direct investment in Spain from 1990 to 2000.

1992: Summer Olympics and Paralympics hosted in Barcelona

In 1992, the Summer Olympics and Paralympics were hosted in Barcelona, stimulating a great deal of interest in sports in the country.

1996: Partido Popular (PP) comes to power

In 1996 the Partido Popular (PP) replaced the Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE) in government.

1996: Number of Immigrants

In 1996, the number of immigrants in Spain stood at 500,000.

1998: Immigrants Rise to 1.6% of Spain's Population

In 1998, immigrants accounted for 1.6% of Spain's population.

1999: Spain Adopts the Euro

In 1999, Spain implemented policies and reforms that allowed for its participation in the inaugural launch of the euro.

2000: Increase in Foreign Direct Investment

EU membership coincided with a tripling of foreign direct investment in Spain from 1990 to 2000.

2000: Spanish Companies reached multinational status

Since the 1990s and in 2000, which saw a wave of privatisations, several Spanish companies have reached multinational status; they maintain a strong and leading presence in Latin America

2001: End of Military Conscription

Military conscription in Spain ended in 2001.

January 2002: Spain Adopts the Euro

On January 1, 2002, Spain fully adopted the euro.

2002: Spain Top Recipient of Migrants

From 2002 to 2007, Spain was Europe's top recipient of migrants, with 2.5 million arrivals.

2002: Prestige Oil Spill

In 2002, the Prestige oil spill occurred, causing significant ecological damage along Spain's Atlantic coastline.

2002: Armed Incident over Perejil Island

In 2002, there was an armed incident between Spain and Morocco over the Perejil Island, a small uninhabited rocky islet in the Strait of Gibraltar.

2003: Spain Supported the Iraq War

In 2003, José María Aznar supported US President George W. Bush in the Iraq War, leading to a strong anti-war movement in Spanish society.

March 2004: Madrid Train Bombings

In March 2004, a local Islamist terrorist group inspired by Al-Qaeda carried out the largest terrorist attack in Western European history by bombing commuter trains in Madrid.

2005: Spain's Immigration Rate Second Highest in EU

In 2005, Spain had the second-highest immigration rate in the European Union, and the highest in absolute numbers.

2005: Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage

In 2005, the Spanish government legalized same-sex marriage, making it the third country worldwide to do so.

2006: LOE Educational Law

The current education system in Spain is regulated by the 2006 educational law, LOE (Ley Orgánica de Educación).

2007: Spain Top Recipient of Migrants

From 2002 to 2007, Spain was Europe's top recipient of migrants, with 2.5 million arrivals.

2007: Gender Equality Act Approved

In 2007, the Cortes Generales approved the Gender Equality Act, aimed at furthering equality between genders in Spanish political and economic life.

2008: 5.2 million immigrants in Spain

By 2008, the number of immigrants grew to 5.2 million in Spain.

2008: Spain Grants Citizenship to 84,170 Persons

In 2008, Spain granted citizenship to 84,170 persons, mostly to people from Ecuador, Colombia and Morocco.

2008: UEFA European Championship

In 2008, Spain's national men's football team won the UEFA European Championship.

2008: Spain Favored Destination for Western Europeans

In 2008, the Financial Times reported that Spain was the most favored destination for Western Europeans considering a move from their own country and seeking jobs elsewhere in the EU.

2008: Gender Empowerment Measure Ranking

In 2008, the Gender Empowerment Measure of Spain in the United Nations Human Development Report was 0.794, 12th in the world.

2008: Start of Spanish Financial Crisis

Spain was among the countries affected most by the 2008 financial crisis and subsequent European debt crisis, leading to the 2008–2014 Spanish financial crisis.

2008: Financial Crisis Impact

The 2008 financial crisis led to a decline in Spain's foreign-born population.

2008: Bursting of Spanish Property Bubble and Start of Financial Crisis

The bursting of the Spanish property bubble in 2008 led to the 2008–2014 Spanish financial crisis.

2009: Immigration Surges in Spain

By 2009, immigration to Spain had surged to over 12% of the population.

2009: Fossil Fuels Generated 58% of Spain's Electricity

In 2009, fossil fuels generated 58% of Spain's electricity, slightly below the OECD average. Nuclear power accounted for 19%, while wind and hydro each contributed about 12% to Spain's electricity generation.

November 2010: Wind power reaches historic peak

In November 2010, wind power in Spain achieved a historic peak, covering 53% of mainland electricity demand and generating 14.2 GW of power, equivalent to 14 nuclear reactors.

2010: ETA Announced Permanent Cease of Violence

In 2010, ETA announced its permanent cease of violence.

2010: FIFA World Cup

In 2010, Spain's national men's football team won the FIFA World Cup.

2011: People's Party Won Election

In 2011, Mariano Rajoy's conservative People's Party won the election with 44.6% of votes.

2011: More than Half a Million People Leaving Spain

In 2011, more than half a million people left Spain, representing the first net migration rate in decades.

2012: UEFA European Championship

In 2012, Spain's national men's football team won the UEFA European Championship.

2013: Acceptance of Homosexuality

According to a 2013 Pew Research study, Spain is rated first in acceptance of homosexuality, with 88% of those surveyed saying that homosexuality should be accepted.

June 2014: Abdication of Juan Carlos

On June 19, 2014, the monarch, Juan Carlos, abdicated in favor of his son, who became Felipe VI.

2014: Spain Aims for One Million Electric Cars

By 2014, Spain aimed to have one million electric cars on the road as part of a government plan to boost energy efficiency.

2014: LOMCE Law Modified LOE

In 2014, the LOE was partially modified by the newer and controversial LOMCE law (Ley Orgánica para la Mejora de la Calidad Educativa).

2014: End of Spanish Financial Crisis

Spain was among the countries affected most by the 2008 financial crisis and subsequent European debt crisis, leading to the 2008–2014 Spanish financial crisis.

2014: Number of Immigrants Decreased

Until 2014, the number of immigrants decreased due to the economic crisis.

2015: Net Immigration Increased

By 2015, net immigration had increased, and Spain has again become a major immigration destination.

2015: Increase in Defense Budget

In 2015, the Spanish defence budget was 5.71 billion euros (US$7.2 billion), with a 1% increase due to security concerns.

October 2017: Catalan Independence Referendum and Declaration

In October 2017, a Catalan independence referendum was held, and the Catalan parliament voted to unilaterally declare independence from Spain, forming a Catalan Republic. Simultaneously, the Spanish Senate discussed and approved direct rule over Catalonia, as requested by the Spanish Prime Minister. Rajoy dissolved the Catalan parliament and called for a new election, but no country recognized Catalonia as a separate state.

2017: Armed Forces Strength in Spain

In 2017, the Spanish armed forces had a strength of 121,900 active personnel and 4,770 reserve personnel.

May 2018: Dissolution of ETA

In May 2018, the armed organization ETA dissolved.

June 2018: Motion of No-Confidence Against Rajoy

In June 2018, the Congress of Deputies passed a motion of no-confidence against Rajoy, replacing him with PSOE leader Pedro Sánchez.

September 2018: Women in Parliament

According to Inter-Parliamentary Union data for September 2018, women held 39.1% of seats in the Congress and 39.9% in the Senate, placing Spain 16th globally in terms of female representation in the lower house.

2018: CSIC Ranked 5th Worldwide

In 2018, the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) was ranked as the 5th top governmental scientific institution worldwide and 32nd overall in the SCImago Institutions Rankings.

2019: Forest Landscape Integrity Index Ranking

In 2019, Spain had a Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 4.23/10, ranking it 130th globally out of 172 countries.

2019: First Coalition Government Formed

In 2019, the first ever coalition government in Spain was formed between PSOE and Unidas Podemos.

January 2020: COVID-19 Confirmed in Spain

In January 2020, the COVID-19 virus was confirmed to have spread to Spain, causing life expectancy to drop by more than a year.

2020: Catholicism Dominant Religion

According to a 2020 study by the Spanish Centre for Sociological Research, about 61% of Spaniards self-identify as Catholics, 3% other faiths, and about 35% identify with no religion.

2020: Castile and Leon Leader in Rural Tourism

As of 2020, Castile and Leon is the Spanish leader in rural tourism linked to its environmental and architectural heritage.

March 2021: Euthanasia Legalized

In March 2021, Spain became the sixth nation in the world to make active euthanasia legal.

July 2021: Regular Religious Worship

A July 2021 study shows that of the Spaniards who identify themselves as religious, 36% never attend Mass, 20.8% barely ever attend Mass, 19% attend Mass a few times a year, 6.8% two or three times per month, 13.4% every Sunday and holidays, and 2.9% multiple times per week.

2021: Spanish as first Language

According to an official survey complementary to the 2021 census carried out by 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.

2021: Festivals of San Sebastián and Málaga Ranked Among Top Cultural Initiatives

As of 2021, the festivals of San Sebastián and Málaga are ranked among the top cultural initiatives in the country.

July 2023: Sánchez Forms Coalition Government with Sumar

Following the general election on 23 July 2023, prime minister Pedro Sánchez formed a coalition government with Sumar.

2023: Spanish Companies in Fortune Global 500

As of 2023, Spain was home to eight of the 500 largest companies in the world by annual revenue, according to the Fortune Global 500. These include Banco Santander, Iberdrola, and Telefónica.

2023: 81.6% of Spain's Population Lives in Urban Areas

As of 2023, approximately 81.6% of Spain's population lived in urban areas, according to data from the World Bank.

2023: Automobile Production and Export

In 2023, Spain produced 2.45 million automobiles, ranking eighth in the world and second in Europe. 89 percent of vehicles and 60% of auto-parts manufactured in Spain were exported worldwide, and the total external trade surplus of vehicles alone reached €18.8bn.

2023: Spain's Total Fertility Rate at 1.12

In 2023, Spain's average total fertility rate (TFR) was 1.12 children born per woman, one of the lowest in the world.

2023: FIFA Women's World Cup

In 2023, Spain's women's national team won the FIFA Women's World Cup.

2023: Tourism's Contribution to GDP

In 2023, foreign and domestic tourism contributed to 12.3% of Spain's GDP.

2023: Madrid Airport (Barajas) Ranked 15th Busiest Worldwide

In 2023, the airport of Madrid (Barajas) was the world's 15th busiest airport with 60 million passengers.

December 2024: Largest Source of Immigrants

As of December 2024, the largest source of immigrants was Morocco (over 1 million), Colombia (856,616), Venezuela (599,769), Romania (532,456), and Ecuador (448,643).

2024: Global Peace Index Ranking

According to the 2024 Global Peace Index, Spain is the 23rd most peaceful country in the world.

2024: Fastest Growing Major Economy

As of 2024, Spain is the fastest-growing major advanced economy in the world, growing nearly four times higher than the eurozone average.

2024: Non-Independentist Catalan President Elected

In 2024, Salvador Illa, the first non-independentist Catalan regional president in over a decade, was elected, normalizing relations between national and regional administrations.

2024: Spain Ranked 28th in Global Innovation Index

In 2024, Spain was ranked 28th in the Global Innovation Index.

2024: Tourist Arrivals in Spain

In 2024, Spain was the second most visited country in the world, recording 94 million tourists, with international tourist expenditure around 126 billion euros.

2024: UEFA European Championship

In 2024, Spain's national men's football team won the UEFA European Championship.

2024: Barcelona Airport (El Prat) Ranked 30th Busiest Worldwide

In 2024, the airport of Barcelona (El Prat) was the world's 30th busiest airport with 50 million passengers.

January 2025: Youth Unemployment Rate

In January 2025, Spain's youth unemployment rate was at 24.90 percent, the highest among EU members.

February 2025: Spain's High-Speed Rail Network is the Longest in Europe

As of February 2025, Spain's high-speed rail network is the longest in Europe, with 3,973 km (2,469 mi).

April 2025: Religious Affiliation

As of April 2025, 3.6% are followers of other faiths (including Islam, Protestant Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism etc.), and 39% as non-believer, these being: atheists (15.8%), indifferent or no religion (12%), or agnostics (11.2%).

July 2025: Approximately 9.7 Million People in Spain Were Born Abroad

According to official statistics from the Spanish National Institute of Statistics (INE), as of July 2025, approximately 9.7 million people in Spain were born abroad.

July 2025: Spain's Population Reaches 49.3 Million

In July 2025, Spain's population was recorded at 49,315,949 people, with native Spaniards accounting for 80.36% of the total population.

July 2025: Unemployment Rate

In July 2025, Spain's unemployment rate stood at 10.29 percent.

2026: End Date for the use of the Next Generation EU

The European Commission economic recovery package Next Generation EU will be in use until 2026 to support the EU member states to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.