Spain's Population Surges to Record High Driven by Immigration
Spain's population has reached a record high driven largely by foreign immigration, with significant demographic changes reported in 2025.
Key Points
- • Spain's population reached 49,315,949 as of July 1, 2025.
- • Annual growth surpassed half a million, mainly driven by foreign-born residents.
- • Colombian, Moroccan, and Venezuelan immigrants accounted for the largest numbers of new arrivals.
- • Population increase observed in nearly all autonomous communities, except Melilla.
As of July 1, 2025, Spain has reached a historic population milestone, recording a total of 49,315,949 inhabitants, according to provisional data from the Continuous Population Statistics (ECP). This marks a substantial increase of 119,811 in just the second quarter of the year, contributing to an overall annual growth of 508,475 individuals, primarily fueled by an influx of foreign-born residents.
The surge in population is particularly significant as it contrasts with a decline in births within the country. There are currently 9,686,214 foreign-born residents in Spain, exceeding the number of foreign nationals due to numerous individuals acquiring Spanish citizenship. The total number of foreign residents grew by 95,277 during the quarter, bringing the total foreign population to 7,050,174. In addition, the number of Spanish nationals increased by 24,534 during the same period.
The latest data reveals that the largest groups of immigrants coming to Spain in the second quarter were Colombian, Moroccan, and Venezuelan nationals, with 36,100, 25,000, and 21,600 respectively. Conversely, emigration patterns indicated that Colombians, Spaniards, and Moroccans represented the highest numbers leaving the country, with 9,800, 9,700, and 9,200 individuals respectively.
Population growth was observed across nearly all autonomous communities and the autonomous city of Ceuta, with the most notable increases occurring in Aragón (0.91%), the Valencian Community (0.50%), and the Balearic Islands (0.42%). In contrast, the autonomous city of Melilla experienced a population decline.
The current demographic landscape in Spain highlights the importance of immigration as a driving force behind population growth, prompting discussions about the implications for social services, integration policies, and the economy in the years to come.