Spain Autonomous Communities

Spain Autonomous Communities

Spain is divided into 17 autonomous communities (comunidades autonomas, singular - comunidad autonoma) and 2 autonomous cities* (ciudades autonomas, singular - ciudad autonoma). Autonomous communities are larger jurisdictions found within Spain and may contain several provinces. An autonomous community is both a political and administrative division. The autonomous communities of Spain were created in 1978. To learn more about them please read Autonomous Communities of Spain.

Note: The autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla plus three small islands of Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera, administered directly by the Spanish central government, are all along the coast of Morocco and are collectively referred to as Places of Sovereignty (Plazas de Soberania). Return to the Spain page