According to official population records for 2003, the Andalusian community had 7,304,558 inhabitants. The highest population concentrations converge in Western Andalusia, especially on the axis running from Cordoba to Cadiz. Eastern Andalusia is scarcely populated, except for the Malaga coastline, which shows a high concentration of inhabitants along the Malaga - Marbella stretch.

The regional variety of Andalusia comprises four zones with homogenous characteristics: the Guadalquivir valley, the Mediterranean regions, the interior high plateaus and the Sierra Morena regions. From an administrative point of view, it is divided into eight provinces; four pertain to Eastern Andalusia (Jaen, Granada, Almeria and Malaga) and the other four pertain to Western or Betica Andalusia (Huelva, Sevilla, Cadiz and Cordoba).
The Andalusian centres of population are generally large and numerous: sixty-three cities with over 20,000 inhabitants. Those with the highest population are: Seville (684,633 inhabitants, the fourth Spanish capital), Malaga (524,414 inhabitants, ranking sixth), Cordoba (308,072 inhabitants), Granada (240,661 inhabitants), Jerez de la Frontera (183,273 inhabitants), Almeria (166,328 inhabitants), Cadiz (133,363 inhabitants), Huelva (142,284 inhabitants) and Jaén (112,590 inhabitants).

Andalusia was constituted an Autonomous community in 1982. In its Statutes of Autonomy two governmental institutions were established: the Junta de Andalucía (Autonomous Government) and the Tribunal Superior de Justicia de Andalucía (High Court of Justice of Andalusia). The Junta is formed by parliament with 100 members, the Government Board, which is an executive body and the President of the Junta, who presides over the cited Board. The powers of the Tribunal Superior de Justicia de Andalucía include that of resolving any conflicts between bodies within the community.

The flag of the region is formed by three stripes: green, white and green.
The Andalusian climate is distinguished by its diversity within the Mediterranean, due to the large expanse of the region and the relief of the land. Therefore, temperatures can vary according to zones, it has hot, almost tropical summers on the Granada and Malaga coastline and harsh, dry winters inland near the Sierra Nevada in Granada and Jaen.

Andalusia is rich in natural resources. There is a long, varied tradition of Mining. The Sierra Morena has carboniferous deposits (Belmez, Peñarroya-Pueblonuevo) and the most important lead mines in Spain (Linares and La Carolina), whilst the copper mines of the high lands of Huelva (Riotinto, Nerva and Zalamea la Real) are one of the main producers of this mineral. There are iron mines in the Penibética mountain range and deposits in the Sierra de los Filabres (Almeria) and Sierra Nevada and Alquife (Granada). Also, in this area there are quartz, silver, lead and marble mines. It is also worth mentioning the development of the salt marshes of San Fernando (Cadiz) and Isla Cristina (Huelva).

The fishing resources of the surrounding waters are almost depleted and only small amounts of anchovies, sardines, horse mackerel, sole and shellfish are caught for fresh consumption. The large flotilla of fishing boats has had to go further a field to Atlantic fishing grounds far from the Iberian Peninsula, which has caused serious problems with Atlantic coastal countries, especially with Morocco.

Andalusia has the largest areas dedicated to olive farming as well as the production of rice, vegetables, early fruits, industrial plants and pasture for livestock. After the crisis of 1970, olive-growing zone has become a very profitable sector, producing around 70% of Spanish olive oil. It occupies a quarter of the cultivated land and mainly covers the provinces of Jaen and Cordoba. Cereals are grown mainly in the Guadalquivir valley, where a quarter of the national wheat is obtained. Vineyards are found in the region of Moriles and Montilla (Cordoba), around the city of Jerez de la Frontera, in the region of Condado (Huelva) and in Almeria. Finos of Jerez (dry sherry) of extraordinary quality are highlighted for their international prestige. Irrigated crops have reached considerable size in recent decades. As well as traditional crops (sugar cane, rice, cotton, beetroot or sugar-beet, tobacco and corn), profitable intensive farming has been developed in Almeria, using greenhouses and state-of-the-art irrigation systems to produce vegetables and tropical fruits of high national and European market value. Likewise, the farming of vegetables, strawberries, citrus fruit and other fruits has extended to the Guadalquivir valley.


Andalusian livestock farming is important due to the significant number of head of livestock and the quality of some of the products. Of almost two million head of pigs slaughtered at the beginning of the 1990s, a significant percentage were Iberian breeds, with highly valued produce (hams and cured meats) for markets. Although, the number of sheep (lambs) has dropped, it continues to have the largest number in terms of Spanish livestock (4,000,000), of which over 800,000 are reared in the province of Cordoba. There are half a million heads of cattle, a small part of which is destined for bullfighting; bulls are reared in the pastures of Cadiz and in the marshes of the Guadalquivir. An increase in poultry farming has also been seen in recent years.

Industry is a less developed sector even though it involves 14.4% of the gross domestic product (GDP). A third work in the agriculture and food sector (oil, wine and conserves). Large iron and steel, textile or shipping construction firms have disappeared or have vastly reduced. However, public companies of military aeronautic construction, vehicles and materials still remain. The mechanics industry (cars and farming machinery) is in crisis. Industrial activities related to the petrochemical industry, fertilisers and derivatives from mining products remain today.

Services provide jobs for the majority of the Andalusian population and represent 67% of the GDP. 20% of Andalusian workers are involved in commerce, 15% are civil servants and another 15% work in the hotel & catering industry. Tourist activity, especially on the Costa del Sol, constitutes a highly profitable, growing sector, which has boosted employment and construction of properties and public works.