Spain's population reaches record high, driven by migration surge

Spain’s population has reached an all-time high of 49,315,949 as of July 1, 2025, marking a year-on-year increase of over half a million people.

According to National Statistics Institute (INE), this demographic milestone reflects a population growth of 508,475 people over the past 12 months, with migration identified as the primary contributing factor, Caliber.Az reports, citing Spanish media.

In the second quarter of 2025 alone, the country saw a net increase of 95,277 foreign nationals, bringing the total number of foreign residents to 7,050,174.

During the same period, the number of residents holding Spanish citizenship rose by 24,534, largely due to naturalisation processes.

According to INE, the population increased in all autonomous communities and in the autonomous city of Ceuta, while Melilla was the only region to register a demographic decline.

The most significant quarterly population increases were observed in:

Aragon (+0.91%), Valencian Community (+0.50%), Balearic Islands (+0.42%).

These figures reflect sustained regional attractiveness driven by both economic opportunities and quality of life.

INE data confirms that the ongoing population growth is closely tied to international migration. The main nationalities contributing to the recent influx include: Colombians (36,100), Moroccans (25,000), Venezuelans (21,600).

By Vafa Guliyeva