In 1975, Spain emerged from almost 40 years of dictatorship following the death of General Francisco Franco, who had been in power since the Civil War (1936-39).
The transition to democracy was guided by the moderate parties and the Spanish Socialist Workers Party, with the active support of the monarchy. The Constitution of 1978 entrusts legislative power to the Parliament (Las Cortes Generales), comprising the Congress of Deputies (350 members) and the Senate, both elected directly for four years (57 of the current 265 senators are appointed by the parliaments of the autonomous communities into which Spain is divided). The Prime Minister is elected by Parliament after being put forward by the King. The autonomous regions have a large amount of power: the 17 autonomous communities created in 1983 wield considerable power, to such an extent that Spain verges on having a federal structure.

Defence.
The army is completely professional. The Spanish police are called the Guardia Civil.

Justice.
According to the Criminal Code of 1996, the maximum jail sentence is 30 years, except in the case of life imprisonment.

Economic situation.
The global economic crisis caused by the pandemic and the restrictions introduced to slow infections caused the GDP to slump by 11% in 2020 (the worst in Europe for an advanced economy). The tourism and restaurant sectors have been particularly hard hit. 6.4% growth is expected in 2021. The unemployment rate is due to rise from 15.5% in 2020 to 16.8% in 2021.

Primary sector
Agriculture.
Spain ranks second in the EU for the amount of land devoted to agricultural activities. Technological innovations in the sector have allowed for a large increase in agricultural production. Fruit and vegetables are produced the most. The country is the top olive exporter in the world and the top producer of citruses in Europe.
The country’s abundant wine production isn’t at the levels of France and Italy. The agricultural sector was hit by the absence of migrant labour during the health crisis of 2020.
Livestock and fishing.
Pastoralism and rearing occupy most of the country’s farming lands. Sheep rearing is famous thanks to the precious wool of the Merino breed. Spanish rearing produces significant amounts of pork, beef and dairy products.
There is a healthy fishing industry; the main ports are Vigo, Pasajes, Corunna, Huelva, Algeciras and Cadiz.

Secondary
sector
Minerals.

Spain has considerable and varied underground resources. The sector is dominated by industrial mineral and metal extraction. Pyrite deposits are immensely important, extending for 240 km, from Seville to south of Lisbon, as are lead minerals (Sierra Morena), zinc (Santander, Basque Country) and copper. Coal, oil and natural gas are also extracted.
Energy.
Despite large investments in renewable energy and the tax reduction of solar power decided in 2018, the country remains dependent on fossil fuels and diversified imports of oil and gas, which constitute the primary energy resources. Algeria is a major supplier of natural gas, which arrives via the Maghreb-Europe and Medgaz pipelines. Spain is the leading European importer through the LNG regasification terminals in Barcelona, Cartagena, Huelva, Bilbao, Sagunto, El Ferrol. About one fifth of Spanish electrical energy comes from seven nuclear power plants at Almaraz, Ascó, Vandellós, Cofrentes and Trillo. Pro-renewable energy policies have favoured the development of businesses active in the production of solar and wind energy. Spain boasts one of the most innovative and competitive energy sectors. The top-ranking industry in the world for the production of renewable energy (Iberdrola) is Spanish and headquartered in Bilbao.
Industry.
Spanish industry has been largely modernized and is highly diversified. In addition to the traditional sectors of textiles, iron and steel and leather, new sectors such as electronics, information technology, engineering and food are also important.
The iron and steel industry is concentrated in five main areas: Vizcaya, Asturias, in eastern Spain, Catalonia which specializes in the production of special steels, and in Santander. The main products of the metalworking industry are aluminium, copper, lead, zinc and tin.
The main oil refineries are at Corunna, Bilbao, Castellón de la Plana, Cartagena, Huelva, Málaga, Puertollano and Tarragona.
The chemical industry is based in Catalonia. Rubber industry plants are differentiated (tyres are produced in Barcelona). Mechanical engineering plants are located in the major cities (Barcelona, Oviedo, Toledo and Seville).
The automobile industry is one of the most important sectors, contributing to almost 10% of the GDP. Some of the biggest international companies operate in the country, including SPA and SEAT, as well as Daimler AG, Ford, Renault and Nissan. Shipbuilding and the aviation industry (Airbus) are also active.
As regards the textile industry, the most important segment is cotton, which is widespread especially in Catalonia. In the food sector, sugar processing and the beer industry play an important role. The paper industry, ceramics and the glass industry are also widespread.

Tertiary sector
Foreign trade.
The trend of the balance of trade is traditionally negative. The main partners are the EU countries, the USA and China.

Main exports (M US$ - 2017)
cars 35 776, machinery 23 925, vehicles and parts thereof 19 730, electrical and electronic equipment 16 677, iron and steel 14 428, apparel and accessories 13 751, petroleum products 13 734, 
fruit and vegetables 12 569, plastics 12 134, pharmaceuticals 11 348, 
chemicals 10 353, aircraft and parts thereof 6 496, meat 6 432, 
cosmetics and perfumes 4 561, olive oil 4 136, aluminium 4 043, 
paper 3 834, tyres 
and rubber articles 3 829, furniture and accessories 3 638, ceramic products 3 602, citrus fruits 3 588, fish 3 458

Finance and banking.
The system consists of major banking groups (BBVA and Santander) and a network of smaller savings banks. In the past, the banking sector obtained huge public aid: the EU bailout plan ended in 2014. A stock exchange is active in Madrid.

Tourism. The country is among the top tourist destinations in the world, with about 83.7 million international visitors in 2019 and a production value equal to about 11% of the GDP. Its greatest attractions are the seaside resorts on the Mediterranean coast, the islands and its historic cities.

Transport.
The railways network has been completely overhauled: the Spanish part of the European high-speed rail network is one of the most extensive in the world.
Air traffic is largely based on the airports of Madrid and Barcelona.

Media and telecommunication.
The Spanish telecom company Telefónica is very active on the international market and controls other providers in Germany, Ireland, the UK, Czech Republic, Slovakia and in South America.

Education, culture & research.
Primary and secondary education is free and compulsory between the ages of 6 and 11, and the ages of 12 and 15 respectively. Students can continue their studies at schools leading to technical specialization or other schools which prepare students for university.

Social security and health.
The national security system covers disability, illness, accidents at work and maternity. It also provides child allowance for disadvantaged families, retirement pensions and unemployment benefits.
The entire segment is subject to severe cuts, which are destroying its effectiveness. A large number of private operators work in the sphere of healthcare services. The legislation is particularly advanced: living wills were authorized in 2002 and euthanasia was legalized in 2021.