Spain
Europe · Southern Europe
Sunny, relaxed lifestyle with a booming digital nomad scene, affordable outside the major cities.
Digital Nomad
Ideal destination
Expat
Ideal destination
Retiree
Ideal destination
At a Glance
📈Spain's Human Development Index
0.911
Very High human development#26 of 191 countries worldwide, #17 of 44 in Europe.
Higher than 87% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →Spain
Spain is a country of enormous regional diversity, from the Celtic landscapes of Galicia and the Pyrenean valleys of the Basque Country to the whitewashed villages of Andalusia and the Mediterranean richness of Catalonia. The culture is built around late hours, outdoor social life, extraordinary food and wine, and a pace of living that prioritises pleasure without apology. Those who can synchronise with Spanish time will find it one of the most enjoyable cultures in the world to simply inhabit.
- Second most visited country in the world, after France.
- Has the highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the EU.
- Dinner before 9pm is considered antisocial in most of the country.
Quick Facts
Capital
Madrid
Languages
Spanish, Catalan, Basque, Galician
Currency
€ EUR
Area
499,697 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
277Mbps
Mobile
93Mbps
Digital Nomad Visa
Min. Income
$2,600/mo
Duration
12 months
Renewable
Yes
Application Fee
~$82
GDP / Capita
$39K
PPP / Capita
$60K
Inflation
2.7%
Unemployment
10.4%
Innovation (GII)
44.6
GNI / Capita
$37K
Tax Revenue
14.9%
FDI Inflows
1.5%
Education Spend
4.6%
Cost of Living
51.6
Price Level Index
24th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.762 → 0.911 (+0.149)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
Thinking about Spain for real?
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Spain head-to-head
💬Quick answers
What is Spain's Human Development Index?
Spain's Human Development Index is 0.911 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #26 of 191 countries.
Is Spain safe?
Spain scores 1.65 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #27 of 160 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.
How expensive is Spain?
Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Spain at 51.6 (New York = 100); that is #102 cheapest of 143 countries with data.
What is life expectancy in Spain?
Life expectancy at birth in Spain is 83.9 yrs (World Bank), ranked #10 of 195 countries.
What is the quality of life in Spain?
Numbeo's quality-of-life index scores Spain at 185.8, ranked #16 of 87 countries with data. It composites purchasing power, safety, healthcare, cost of living, commute and pollution from resident surveys, so it reflects what residents report rather than what an economy produces.