Spain is the land of vibrant traditions, stunning landscapes, and a rich cultural heritage that has captured the world’s imagination. From its sun-soaked beaches to its historic cities and delectable cuisine, Spain’s appeal lies in its unique combination of modernity and tradition.
According to the CIA World Factbook, Spain is considered a high-income nation with a significant role in global renewable energy and a commitment to sustainable development..
But what do international rankings and indices have to say about Spain in terms of its economic performance, sustainability, country brand strength, soft power, and reputation?
Overview of Spain’s Performance & Potential
The following table summarises Spain’s performance across key rankings over time. For a deeper analysis, our custom reports provide tailored insights for specific contexts, such as cities, regions, or countries.
| Ranking | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brand Finance Global Soft Power Index | 16 | 22 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 13 |
| Anholt Nation Brand Index | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | – | – |
| INSEAD Global Competitiveness Index | 32 | 29 | 29 | 29 | – | – |
| Bloom Consulting Country Brand Ranking Trade Edition | 14 | – | – | 17 | 15 | – |
| Bloom Consulting Country Brand Ranking Tourism Edition | 3 | – | – | 1 | 2 | – |
| IMD World Competitiveness Ranking | – | 39 | 36 | 36 | 40 | – |
| Numbeo Cost of Living Index | 44 | 39 | 46 | 53 | 54 | 50 |
| Numbeo Quality of Life Index | – | 16 | 18 | 16 | 13 | 18 |
| Internations Expat Insider Country Report | – | 16 | 5 | 2 | 4 | – |
| U.S. New Best Countries | 19 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 19 |
| The World Happiness Report | 28 | 27 | 29 | 32 | 36 | – |
| Global Peace Index | 38 | 31 | 29 | 32 | 23 | – |
| EIU Democracy Index | 22 | 24 | 22 | 23 | – | – |
| Corruption Perceptions Index | 32 | 34 | 35 | 36 | – | – |
| CAF Giving Index | – | – | 99 | 86 | 78 | – |
| Global Terrorism Index | 63 | – | 55 | – | 55 | – |
| Good Country Index | 17 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 14 | – |
| Sustainable Development Report | 22 | 20 | 16 | 16 | 14 | – |
| Environmental Performance Index | 14 | – | 27 | – | 21 | – |
Soft Power and Brand Strength
Spain draws on a rich cultural heritage—shaped by centuries of history, art, and its role as a global power in the past—as the foundation of its soft power. In the Brand Finance Global Soft Power Index 2025, Spain ranks 13th out of 193, showcasing a strong global reputation.
In the Anholt Nation Brand Index 2023, Spain holds its position at 11th out of 60, maintaining a solid reputation as a prominent country on the world stage.
Meanwhile, the U.S. News Best Countries 2024 places Spain at 19th out of 89, with notable rankings in Heritage (3rd), Adventure (4th) and Cultural Influence (4th), but relatively lower scores in Open for Business (31st) and Movers (35th).
Appeal to Investors and Business
Spain’s strategic location at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and the Americas, combined with a strong infrastructure network, makes it a prime destination for international investment. Its economy is bolstered by significant exports in sectors such as automotive, agriculture, and renewable energy. In the European Innovation Scoreboard 2024, Spain is ranked 19th and is a Moderate Innovator, with increased strength in sales of new-to-market and new-to-firm innovations, innovative SMEs collaborating with others, and broadband penetration. However, decreases in job-to-job mobility of HRST, knowledge-intensive services exports, and environment-related technologies were seen.
In the 2024-2025 Country Brand Ranking Trade Edition, Spain ranks 15th globally out of 206 and 7th regionally, reflecting its economic openness and trade potential. The IMD 2024 World Competitiveness Ranking places Spain at 40th out of 67, a drop of four places from the previous year. Disaggregated scores highlight strengths in Infrastructure (27th) and Economic Performance (27th), while challenges remain in Business Efficiency (38th) and Government Efficiency (58th). These insights suggest a nation with robust foundational strengths but areas to improve for greater investor appeal.
Appeal to Talent
Spain presents a multifaceted environment for attracting and retaining talent. The country is home to several internationally recognised universities, which rank highly in global education rankings according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025. This includes the University of Barcelona (149th) and the Autonomous University of Madrid (351-400th range). However, Spain’s institutions are notably absent from the top 100, suggesting potential for improvement in academic prestige.
Spain ranks 29th out of 134 countries in the INSEAD Global Talent Competitiveness Index 2023, highlighting its moderate capability in workforce development. According to the InterNations Expat Insider 2024 survey, Spain is a favourite among expatriates, it ranks 4th out of 54 countries.
In terms of affordability, Spain ranks 50th out of 139 countries in the Numbeo Cost of Living Index, underscoring its relatively moderate cost of living within a European context. These rankings collectively suggest a compelling yet nuanced environment for talent attraction. The Numbeo Quality of Life Index ranks Spain 18th out of 88.
Appeal to Visitors
Spain’s tourism appeal is underscored by its 2nd place ranking in the Country Brand Ranking Tourism Edition 2024-2025 out of 203 countries, making it a global favourite for travellers.
“Good Country” and Sustainability
Spain’s “good country” credentials are well-supported by its rankings. It holds the 14th position out of 174 on the Good Country Index, reflecting its strong contributions to global well-being. The World Happiness Report 2024 ranks Spain 36th out of 143 countries, a decline of four places, which highlights challenges in overall citizen satisfaction across demographics.
On sustainability measures, Spain ranks 14th out of 167 in the 2024 Sustainable Development Report, improving by two positions, and 21st out of 180 in the Environmental Performance Index, which underscores its relatively strong showing in global environmental efforts.
In terms of peace and stability, Spain ranks 23rd out of 163 in the Global Peace Index 2024, improving by seven places—a positive indicator of internal stability. Meanwhile, the CAF World Giving Index 2023 ranks Spain 78th out of 142 countries, with notable strengths in helping strangers (60%) but lower engagement in volunteering (19%).
On governance, Spain ranks 23rd out of 167 in the Economist Intelligence Unit Democracy Index 2023, down one position from the prior year. Transparency remains a work in progress, with Spain ranked 36th out of 180 in the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index.
Taken together, these rankings illustrate Spain’s steady global contributions and its areas for improvement, particularly in citizen well-being and transparency.
This graph illustrates how Spain performs across rankings that are most relevant regarding “good country” performance and sustainability leadership – two factors that are especially important for building and maintaining soft power and country reputation.
Our Key Takeaways
Spain’s global profile is defined by its vibrant cultural heritage, strong tourism appeal, and commitment to sustainability. Ranked 11th in the Global Soft Power Index, Spain continues to build a solid international reputation, underpinned by its historical influence and global cultural contributions.
Investor confidence is supported by Spain’s strategic location and infrastructure. However, challenges in business efficiency and innovation remain. With notable sustainability rankings and a strong position in tourism, Spain remains an attractive destination for investors and visitors alike.
- Strengths: Rich cultural heritage, strong infrastructure, global reputation for tourism.
- Weaknesses: Lagging in R&D investment, moderate innovation performance, and lower-than-expected rankings in business efficiency and governance.
- Opportunities: Leveraging strategic location for trade, improving education and talent attraction, and increasing investment in innovation to boost competitiveness.
- Threats: Economic competitiveness challenges, potential decline in citizen satisfaction, and increasing competition from other European nations.
Last updated in March 2025. Explore more country profiles here.
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Disclaimer: The information in this article is intended to provide a general overview of Spain’s economic and cultural landscape and facilitate comparison over time. While we strive for accuracy and completeness, the data is provided “as is” without warranty of any kind. Please verify any information before relying on it for decision-making purposes.
