Population of Spain in 2026: demographics and key statistics
06/05/2025 
Reading time: 4 min Population of Spain in 2026: demographics and key statistics
As of 1 January 2026, Spain has 49,570,725 inhabitants — per INE (Continuous Population Statistics). The country is closing in on 50 million and keeps growing — almost entirely through immigration: for the first time ever, the number of residents born abroad has passed 10 million. Meanwhile the native birth rate is among the lowest in Europe and the population is ageing. Let's go through the numbers — how many people, who they are, and where the demographics are heading.
- Total (01.01.2026)49,570,725≈ 49.6M, approaching 50 million.
- Foreigners≈ 14% of the populationForeign-born residents now exceed 10 million.
- What drives growthimmigrationNatural change is negative; birth rate below 1.3 per woman.
- Ageing≈ 20% over 65Life expectancy around 83 years.
- Where they livecitiesOver 80% urban; largest is Madrid (~3.4M).
How many people live in Spain
The population has grown three years running, each time by about half a million. INE figures (as of 1 January each year):
| Date | Population | Yearly change |
|---|---|---|
| 01.01.2024 | ≈ 48,619,700 | — |
| 01.01.2025 | 49,128,297 | +508,602 (+1.0%) |
| 01.01.2026 | 49,570,725 | +442,400 (+0.9%) |
In Q4 2025 alone the population grew by 81,520. Migration accounts for all of the growth: deaths outnumber births among Spaniards, so without inflows the population would shrink.
National composition: who lives in Spain
About 86% of residents hold Spanish citizenship and about 14% a foreign one (many foreign-born residents have since naturalised, so the "born abroad" share is higher — over 10 million). The largest foreign groups by nationality, per INE:
| Nationality | Approx. number |
|---|---|
| Morocco | ≈ 970,000 |
| Colombia | ≈ 680,000 |
| Romania | ≈ 610,000 |
| Venezuela | ≈ 500,000 |
| Italy, China, UK, Ukraine | 300,000–400,000 each |
Settlement patterns differ: Britons and northern Europeans favour the coast (Alicante, Málaga, the Balearics), Latin Americans gravitate to Madrid, Moroccans to Catalonia and the south. How the regions differ is covered in the best cities to live in Spain.
Largest cities
Over 80% of Spaniards live in cities. The largest municipalities by population:
| City | Population (municipality) |
|---|---|
| Madrid | ≈ 3.4M |
| Barcelona | ≈ 1.7M |
| Valencia | ≈ 825,000 |
| Seville | ≈ 685,000 |
| Zaragoza | ≈ 685,000 |
| Málaga | ≈ 590,000 |
With metro areas the figures are much larger: Greater Madrid is home to around 7 million, the Barcelona metropolitan area to over 5 million.
Birth rate and ageing
Spain's real demographic challenge isn't the headcount but its structure:
- Low birth rate — under 1.3 children per woman, one of the lowest in the EU (2.1 is needed for replacement).
- Ageing — around 20% of residents are over 65, and rising.
- High life expectancy — about 83 years, among the highest in the world.
That's why immigration is not a side factor for Spain but the basis of its demographic stability: newcomers fill the labour market, support pensions and lift the birth rate. If you're planning to move yourself, start with the guide to residence permits in Spain.
Frequently asked questions
Official sources:
• INE — Continuous Population Statistics, data as of 01.01.2026 (12.02.2026)
• INE — Population figures and demographic censuses
