The Spanish population has reached its historic record

Spain has set a new demographic record, with the population reaching 49,570,725 people as of 1 January 2026, according to figures published by the National Statistics Institute (INE). For the first time in the country’s history, the number of residents born outside Spain has surpassed 10 million.

In the fourth quarter of 2025 alone, Spain’s population grew by 81,520 people. This increase was driven entirely by migration, while the number of residents born in Spain continued to decline.

The number of people living in Spain who were born abroad now stands at 10,004,581. By contrast, the number of residents holding foreign nationality is lower, at 7,243,561. This is because many migrants acquire Spanish citizenship over time. Overall, foreign nationals account for 14.6% of the country’s population.

During the last quarter of 2025, the largest inflows came from Colombia (36,600 people), Venezuela (27,000) and Morocco (22,000). Among those leaving Spain, Moroccans made up the largest group (13,000), followed by Colombians (12,500) and Spanish citizens themselves (7,900).

Population growth was recorded in almost all of Spain’s autonomous communities. The strongest increases were observed in the Valencian Community (+0.34%), Castilla-La Mancha (+0.27%), the Madrid region (+0.24%), and Catalonia (+0.23%). Declines were observed only in Melilla (–0.26 per cent) and the Balearic Islands (–0.07 per cent).