The territory of Spain also includes the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands, exclaves bordering Morocco, and a number of smaller islands. The terrain is mountainous and there are several large mountain ranges including the Pyrenees, which forms a natural border with France.

In the early 20th century, Spain was under military rule and was affected by the two World Wars, as well as a bitter civil war in the 1930s. Improving international relations changed the face of Spain as it joined the UN, EU and NATO. Spanish society became increasingly open and human rights became important ideals. Spain achieved strong economic growth in the end of the 20th century but was hit hard by the 2008 Global Financial Crisis. During this time the economy contracted significantly and unemployment soared. Since 2013, the situation has been improving and the economy is growing quickly.

Spain is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world and it accounts for a huge portion of GDP. Spain attracts huge numbers of Europeans, especially British, French, German, Italians and Dutch, as well as tourists from farther afield including Americans, Russians and Japanese. It was ranked first among 141 countries in the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index published by the World Economic Forum in 2015.

Spain has a large number of beach resort destinations, primarily on the country’s Mediterranean coast. The Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands are also popular destinations for sun holidays. The cities of Barcelona and Madrid are also extremely popular destinations due to their rich heritage, historical landmarks and lively culture. UNESCO has designated thirteen cities as World Heritage Cities and a further 32 other sites as cultural or natural heritage sights.