Balearic Islands
The Balearic Islands (Catalan: Illes Balears [ˈiʎəz bəleˈas]; Spanish: Islas Baleares [ˈislas βaleˈaɾes] /ˌbæliˈærɪk/ BAL-ee-ARR-ik or /bəˈlɪərɪk/ bə-LEER-ik) are an archipelago in the western Mediterranean Sea, near the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula. The archipelago conforms a province and autonomous community of Spain, with Palma de Mallorca being its capital and largest city.
Balearic Islands
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Autonomous community and province | |
| Anthem: La Balanguera | |
Location of the Balearic Islands east of mainland Spain | |
| Coordinates: 39°30′N 3°00′E | |
| Country | Spain |
| Largest city | Palma |
| Capital | Palma |
| Government | |
| • Type | Devolved government in a constitutional monarchy |
| • Body | Govern de les Illes Balears |
| • President | Marga Prohens (PP) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5,040 km2 (1,950 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 17th (1.0% of Spain) |
| Population (Census 2021) | |
| • Total | 1,183,415 |
| • Density | 230/km2 (610/sq mi) |
| • Pop. rank | 14th (2.3% of Spain) |
| Demonym(s) | Balearic balear (m/f) |
| GDP | |
| • Total | €35.465 billion (2022) |
| • Per capita | €29,603 (2022) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| ISO 3166 code | ES-IB |
| Area code | +34 971 |
| Official languages |
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| Statute of Autonomy | 1 March 1983 1 March 2007 |
| Parliament | Balearic Parliament |
| Congress | 8 deputies (out of 350) |
| Senate | 7 senators (out of 266) |
| Website | www |
| 1.^ According to the current legislation the official name is in Catalan, Illes Balears. | |
Formerly part of the Kingdom of Mallorca, the islands conformed a province in the 19th century provincial division, which in 1983 received a Statute of Autonomy. In its later reform of 2007, the Statute designates the Balearic Islands as one of the nationalities of Spain. The official languages of the Balearic Islands are Catalan and Spanish.
The archipelago islands are further grouped in western Pytiuses (the largest being Ibiza and Formentera), and eastern Gymnesians (the largest being Mallorca and Menorca). Many of its minor islands and islets are close to the larger islands, including Cabrera, Dragonera, and S'Espalmador.
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.