Autonomous Communities of Spain (Comunidades Autónomas): All 17 Regions and Their 50 Provinces
Spain is divided into 17 autonomous communities, called comunidades autónomas, plus two autonomous cities on the North African coast, and the map is a working tool for an apparel importer. It shows which regions hold the container ports, the cargo airports, the rail corridors, and the tax regimes that move garments into and across the country. This page lists all 17 communities with their English and Spanish names, their capital, their provinces, and their population, grouped by geography, and adds the sea, air, rail, and road gateways a Philippine shipment uses to reach them.
- 01AndalusiaSevilla
- 02Region of MurciaMurcia
- 03Valencian CommunityValencia
- 04CataloniaBarcelona
- 05Balearic IslandsPalma
- 06GaliciaSantiago de Compostela
- 07Principality of AsturiasOviedo
- 08CantabriaSantander
- 09Basque CountryVitoria-Gasteiz
- 10ExtremaduraMérida
- 11Castile and LeónValladolid
- 12Castile-La ManchaToledo
- 13Community of MadridMadrid
- 14La RiojaLogroño
- 15NavarrePamplona
- 16AragonZaragoza
- 17Canary IslandsLas Palmas de Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife
All 17 Autonomous Communities, Grouped by Geography
The zones below are a practical grouping for an importer: the Mediterranean seaboard where the main container ports sit, the Atlantic and Cantabrian north, the interior plateau around Madrid, the Ebro valley with its inland logistics, and the Atlantic islands with their own tax regime. The 17 communities stay the legal units, and the counts add up to exactly 17.
Mediterranean Spain
The eastern and southern seaboard 5 of 17The warm coastline from the Strait of Gibraltar to the French border. This zone holds the two busiest container gateways in the country and the largest concentration of coastal hospitality, retail, and textile activity, so most Philippine apparel that arrives by sea clears here first.
- 1
AndalusiaAndalucía
The most populous community and the southern gateway. The Bay of Algeciras, at Algeciras and Campamento, handles the most total tonnage of any Spanish port and feeds the peninsula by rail and road, while Málaga (AGP) and Sevilla (SVQ) add air cargo. Málaga and Granada keep a textile and design base.
- 2
Region of MurciaRegión de Murcia
A single province community on the south east coast. Cartagena is its deep water commercial and naval port, and the inland districts manufacture textiles and footwear alongside intensive agriculture. It sits close to the Alicante and Almería corridors.
- 3
Valencian CommunityComunidad Valenciana (Comunitat Valenciana)
Home to the Port of Valencia, the busiest container port in Spain and the western Mediterranean, and the main European entry point for Philippine apparel. Valencia (VLC) and Alicante-Elche (ALC) airports serve the coast, and a textile, footwear, and toy cluster runs through Alicante and Elche.
- 4
CataloniaCataluña (Catalunya)
The industrial north east. The Port of Barcelona is a major Mediterranean container and cruise gateway, Barcelona-El Prat (BCN) is Spain's second air cargo hub, and the Lleida and Tarragona nodes link port, rail, and France. A strong ready to wear and retail fashion base.
- 5
Balearic IslandsIslas Baleares (Illes Balears)
An island community in the western Mediterranean. Palma is the capital and main port, with Palma de Mallorca (PMI) handling heavy seasonal air traffic. The economy is tourism and hospitality led, which drives steady uniform and staff wear demand across hotels, resorts, and marinas.
Atlantic and Cantabrian North
The green coast from Galicia to the Basque Country 4 of 17The cool Atlantic and Cantabrian coast, from Galicia to the Basque Country. It carries the north coast ports, the Atlantic rail and road links to France, and a dense industrial and fishing economy that drives workwear demand.
- 6
GaliciaGalicia (Galiza)
The north west corner on the Atlantic. Vigo is one of the largest fishing ports in Europe and a growing container and automotive node, A Coruña and Ferrol add deep water berths, and Santiago (SCQ), Vigo (VGO), and A Coruña (LCG) provide air cargo. Textiles and fishing workwear are long established.
- 7
Principality of AsturiasPrincipado de Asturias (Asturies)
A single province community on the Cantabrian coast. The Port of Gijón at El Musel is a large Atlantic bulk and container terminal, Avilés adds an industrial port, and Asturias Airport (OVD) serves the region. Heavy industry and mining shape the workwear demand.
- 8
CantabriaCantabria
A single province community between the Cantabrian Sea and the mountains. The Port of Santander runs freight and ferry traffic to the United Kingdom and Ireland, and Santander Airport (SDR) handles regional air cargo. A compact market with tourism and fishing.
- 9
Basque CountryPaís Vasco (Euskadi)
The industrial north. The Port of Bilbao is the largest port on the Spanish Atlantic coast, Vitoria (VIT) is a major air cargo airport, and the Irun and Hendaye crossings carry road and rail freight into France. A dense manufacturing and engineering base.
The Interior Plateau
The meseta around Madrid and the Castilian plains 4 of 17The high plateau at the centre of the country, around Madrid and the Castilian plains. It has no coast, so freight arrives by road and rail from the ports, and it holds the capital and its dry ports, the national distribution centre.
- 10
ExtremaduraExtremadura
The south west interior on the Portuguese border. There is no seacoast, so goods enter through the Atlantic ports of Portugal or Andalusia and move inland on the Badajoz corridor. Agriculture and food processing dominate the economy.
- 11
Castile and LeónCastilla y León
The largest community by area, with nine provinces. It has no coast, so freight arrives by road and rail from Bilbao, Gijón, or the Portuguese ports, with dry port and logistics activity at Valladolid and Burgos. Automotive and agri food lead the economy.
- 12
Castile-La ManchaCastilla-La Mancha
A large interior community around Madrid. It has no coast, and its logistics sit on the Madrid to Valencia and Madrid to Andalusia corridors, with inland terminals and a growing warehouse cluster between Madrid and Toledo.
- 13
Community of MadridComunidad de Madrid
The capital community and a single province. Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas (MAD) is the busiest airport in Spain and a leading European air cargo hub, the Coslada and Azuqueca dry ports serve inland containers, and the national rail network makes Madrid the distribution centre of the country. The largest concentration of retail, corporate, and hospitality buyers.
The Ebro Valley
The north east inland corridor 3 of 17The north east inland corridor along the Ebro river, between the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean. Zaragoza anchors the largest logistics platform in southern Europe, which makes this zone the inland warehouse belt of Spain.
- 14
La RiojaLa Rioja
A small single province community in the upper Ebro valley. Wine production anchors the economy, and it sits on the A-68 and the Ebro rail corridor between Zaragoza and Bilbao. A compact but valuable market for branded workwear and event apparel.
- 15
NavarreComunidad Foral de Navarra (Nafarroa)
A single province foral community on the French border, with its own historic tax charter. Pamplona (PNA) is the air gateway, and the Somport and Roncesvalles corridors link to France. Automotive and renewable energy manufacturing lead the economy.
- 16
AragonAragón
The Ebro valley hub. Zaragoza Plaza is the largest logistics platform in southern Europe, Zaragoza (ZAZ) is a dedicated freighter airport, and the Mediterranean and Atlantic corridors meet here. It is the inland warehouse capital of Spain.
The Atlantic Islands
The Canary Islands archipelago 1 of 17The Canary Islands, an archipelago off the coast of West Africa. The islands trade under their own indirect tax and a low tax zone, and their free ports serve both the archipelago and neighbouring West African markets.
- 17
Canary IslandsCanarias
An archipelago off West Africa with two capital cities and two provinces. The Puerto de la Luz in Las Palmas and the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife are free port hubs, Gran Canaria (LPA), Tenerife North (TFN), and Tenerife South (TFS) handle air cargo, and the islands trade under the IGIC indirect tax with the ZEC low tax zone rather than peninsular IVA.
Two autonomous cities, not communities
Ceuta, about 83,000 people, and Melilla, about 85,000, sit on the North African coast. Each has a statute of autonomy and its own parliament, but neither is a full autonomous community. They apply the IPSI indirect tax instead of the peninsula IVA and lie outside the European Union customs territory and VAT area, so an importer should plan them separately. The Philippines to Spain import guide covers the corridor that feeds all of these markets.
On the Philippine side, production and consolidation run through the Davao del Norte corridor beside the Hijo Industrial Estate and Special Economic Zone in Tagum City, next to the Hijo International Port. Export containers leave through the Davao International Container Terminal (DICT) in Panabo City or through Manila and Cebu.
One Country, Three Import Tax Regimes
Customs duty is set nationally and across the European Union, so it does not change from one community to another. What does change is the indirect tax charged on import, and on the movement of goods, in three territories. Getting this right matters before a consignment is declared.
Peninsular Spain and the Balearic Islands
The standard European Union customs and VAT territory. Philippine garments that qualify under the European Union GSP+ scheme enter at 0 percent customs duty when supported by a REX statement of origin, and import VAT is charged at the standard 21 percent rate, which a VAT registered Spanish business can normally recover.
Canary Islands
The archipelago lies inside the European Union customs territory but outside the VAT area. It applies the IGIC, a regional indirect tax with lower rates than peninsular IVA, alongside the ZEC low tax zone for qualifying companies. Customs duty rules remain those of the European Union.
Ceuta and Melilla
The two autonomous cities on the North African coast sit outside both the European Union customs territory and the VAT area. They apply the IPSI, a local production, services, and import tax. Because they are outside the customs union, the import treatment differs from peninsular Spain and needs a specialist broker.
Where Garments Reach Spain
A Philippine apparel consignment reaches Spain through four kinds of gateway: the container and break bulk ports, the cargo and bellyhold airports, the inland rail corridors, and the road crossings to France and Portugal. Each row names the gateway and the community where it sits.
Sea
Container and break bulk ports- Port of ValenciaValencian CommunityThe busiest container port in Spain and the western Mediterranean, and the main European entry point for Philippine apparel containers, with onward rail and road to Madrid and the interior.
- Port of AlgecirasAndalusiaSpain's largest port by total tonnage, at the Strait of Gibraltar, a leading transhipment hub and a major landfall for West Mediterranean and Atlantic services.
- Port of BarcelonaCataloniaThe north east container, cruise, and automotive gateway, with direct links to France and inland Spain.
- Port of BilbaoBasque CountryThe largest port on the Atlantic coast, serving northern industry and the French border hinterland.
- Canary free portsCanary IslandsThe Puerto de la Luz in Las Palmas and the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife are free port hubs for the archipelago and West Africa.
Air
Cargo and bellyhold airports- Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas (MAD)Community of MadridThe busiest airport in Spain and a leading European air cargo hub, handling most inbound express and freight tonnage.
- Barcelona-El Prat (BCN)CataloniaThe second air cargo gateway, on the north east coast.
- Zaragoza (ZAZ)AragonA dedicated freighter airport and one of the largest air cargo campuses in Europe, open around the clock.
- Vitoria (VIT)Basque CountryA specialised cargo airport for northern industry.
- Valencia (VLC) and Málaga (AGP)Valencian Community and AndalusiaRegional passenger airports with bellyhold capacity for urgent restocks on the east and south coasts.
Rail
Intermodal corridors- Mediterranean corridorAndalusia to CataloniaThe main east coast rail freight axis, running from Algeciras and Valencia toward Barcelona and the French border.
- Atlantic corridorBasque CountryThe north coast axis linking Bilbao and San Sebastián to the French border and the interior.
- Madrid dry portsCommunity of MadridThe Coslada and Azuqueca inland terminals where sea containers are railed and then drayed or transloaded.
- Zaragoza PlazaAragonThe largest logistics platform in southern Europe, on the Madrid to Barcelona and Madrid to France corridors.
Road
Land border crossings- Irun and HendayeBasque Country to FranceThe main Atlantic road and rail crossing into France.
- La JonqueraCatalonia to FranceThe main Mediterranean motorway crossing into France on the AP-7 and A9.
- Somport and CanfrancAragon to FranceThe central Pyrenean road tunnel and its parallel rail link.
- Badajoz and TuiExtremadura and Galicia to PortugalThe principal road crossings for goods moving to and from the Portuguese Atlantic ports.
Border procedure for a commercial garment consignment is set nationally and across the European Union. Confirm the current routing and the declaration channel with a licensed Spanish customs broker before shipping. The Philippines to Spain import guide covers the wider corridor.
Guides That Support a Shipment into Spain
The community map sets the geography. The pages below carry the corridor, the tax and customs framework, and the transport modes around it.
Autonomous Communities of Spain FAQ
How many autonomous communities does Spain have?
Spain has 17 autonomous communities and, in addition, two autonomous cities, Ceuta and Melilla on the North African coast. The 17 communities cover the mainland, the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean, and the Canary Islands in the Atlantic. Together they contain the 50 provinces of Spain.
What is a comunidad autónoma?
A comunidad autónoma is the top level of regional government below the Spanish state. It was created under the 1978 Constitution, and each one is governed under its own statute of autonomy with a regional parliament and government. The powers transferred differ from one community to another, which is why some run their own police, education, and health systems and others do not.
How do autonomous communities relate to the 50 provinces?
Provinces are the older subdivision, each a grouping of municipalities, and there are 50 of them. Most communities contain several provinces, but seven communities are made up of a single province and are called uniprovincial: Asturias, Cantabria, La Rioja, the Region of Murcia, Navarre, the Community of Madrid, and the Balearic Islands.
Which community holds the capital and the main gateways?
The Community of Madrid holds the national capital and Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, the busiest airport, together with the Coslada and Azuqueca dry ports. For sea freight the gateways sit elsewhere: the Port of Valencia in the Valencian Community, the Port of Algeciras in Andalusia, and the Port of Barcelona in Catalonia.
Where do Philippine apparel shipments enter Spain?
Most sea freight enters through the Port of Valencia, the busiest container port in the country, with the Port of Algeciras, the Port of Barcelona, and the Port of Bilbao as the other main options, plus the Canary Islands free ports. Air freight typically clears at Madrid-Barajas, Zaragoza, Barcelona, or Vitoria.
Do import rules change from one community to another?
For customs duty and product rules, no. Duties, product safety, and textile labelling are set nationally and across the European Union, so they do not change from one community to another. There are three tax exceptions: the Canary Islands apply the IGIC instead of peninsular IVA, and Ceuta and Melilla apply the IPSI while sitting outside the European Union customs territory and VAT area.
What duty and tax applies to Philippine apparel?
Garments that qualify under the European Union GSP+ scheme enter at 0 percent customs duty when supported by a REX statement of origin. On top of that, import VAT is charged at the standard 21 percent in peninsular Spain and the Balearic Islands, with the IGIC in the Canary Islands and the IPSI in Ceuta and Melilla. Treat these as planning figures and confirm the current rates with a licensed Spanish customs broker.
Which community is best for a store or a warehouse?
There is no single answer, because it depends on the destination. Valencia and Algeciras are strongest for sea arrivals, Madrid and Zaragoza for warehousing and air freight, and Barcelona for both the north east market and links into France. The export desk can match the routing to a specific destination.
Plan a Shipment to a Spanish Community
Send the garment type, the destination city or community, and the monthly volume, and the export desk will come back with the routing options, the packing plan, and the documents a Spanish importer can file.