Balearic Islands
Balearic Islands
| |
|---|---|
| Anthem: La Balanguera | |
Map of Spain with Balearic Islands highlighted | |
Interactive map of Balearic Islands | |
| Coordinates: 39°30′N 3°00′E / 39.500°N 3.000°E | |
| Country | Spain |
| Formation | 1276 (Kingdom of Majorca) 1715 (Nova Planta) 1833 (Historic region) |
| Statute(s) of Autonomy | 1983 (First Statute) 2007 (Second Statute – in force) |
| Capital (and largest city) | Palma |
| Province(s) | Balearic Islands |
| Government | |
| • Type | Devolved government in a constitutional monarchy |
| • Body | Govern de les Illes Balears |
| • President | Marga Prohens (PP) |
| • Speaker | Gabriel Le Senne (Vox) |
| Area | |
• Total | 5,040 km2 (1,950 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 17th |
| 1% of Spain | |
| Population (2024) | |
• Total | 1,231,768 |
| • Rank | 12th |
| Demonyms | Balearic • balear; baleàric, -a (Cat.) • balear; baleárico, -a (Sp.) |
| Official language(s) | |
| GDP | |
| • Rank | 12th |
| • Total (2023) | €42.083 billion |
| • Per capita | €34,381 (6th) |
| HDI | |
| • HDI (2022) | 0.879 (very high · 14th) |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) |
| Postal code prefixes | 07XXX (IB) |
| ISO 3166 code | ES-IB |
| Telephone code(s) | +34 971 |
| Currency | Euro (€) |
| Official holiday | March 1 |
| Website | caib |
The Balearic Islands are an archipelago in the western Mediterranean Sea, near the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula. The archipelago forms a province and autonomous community of Spain. Palma de Mallorca is its capital and largest city.
Formerly part of the Kingdom of Majorca, the islands were made a province in the 19th century provincial division, which in 1983 received a Statute of Autonomy. In its 2007 reform, the Statute designated the Balearic Islands as one of Spain's nationalities. The Balearic Islands' official languages are Catalan and Spanish.
The islands are grouped into the western Pityuses (the largest being Ibiza and Formentera) and the eastern Gymnesians (the largest being Mallorca and Menorca). Many of the minor islands and islets are close to the larger islands, including Cabrera, Dragonera, and S'Espalmador. It is the second-largest and most populous archipelago in Spain, after the Canary Islands.
The islands have a Mediterranean climate, and the four major islands are all popular tourist destinations. Ibiza, in particular, is known as an international party destination, attracting many of the world's most popular DJs to its nightclubs. The islands' culture and cuisine are similar to those of the rest of Spain but have their own distinctive features.