The share of urban population in Spain amounted to 81.55 percent in 2023. In a steady upward trend, the share rose by 24.98 percentage points from 1960.

Actual value and historical data chart for Spain Urban Population Percent Of Total

While Spain’s population has increased slightly since the year 2000, the share of the rural and urban populations has remained relatively constant, with Spain being a highly urban country. This consistently high urbanization is a consequence of both economic and social factors. The Spanish wealth is generated in the cities to a large extent Two thirds of Spain’s economic output, as divided across economic sectors, comes from the service sector, with only ***** percent originating from agriculture. Naturally, service-based economies are easiest when people live closely, while agricultural practices need more land, and thus a rural population. Of course, this also brings economic costs, such as the high living and housing costs in Madrid. What draws people into cities? Social factors also drive people to cities. For some, it is being closer to family or culture, such as art museums. For others, it is finding a large city with green spaces, like Madrid. For others, it is the opportunity to watch a game in a world-class soccer stadium, perhaps FC Barcelona. These and other factors continue to keep Spaniards in their cities.

Spain ES: Urban Population Growth data was reported at 0.489 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.383 % for 2016. Spain ES: Urban Population Growth data is updated yearly, averaging 1.284 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.806 % in 1968 and a record low of -0.035 % in 2013. Spain ES: Urban Population Growth data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Spain – Table ES.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.; Weighted average;

Historical dataset showing Spain urban population by year from 1960 to 2023.

Spain ES: Population in Largest City: as % of Urban Population data was reported at 17.171 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 17.008 % for 2016. Spain ES: Population in Largest City: as % of Urban Population data is updated yearly, averaging 15.595 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 17.171 % in 2017 and a record low of 14.326 % in 1960. Spain ES: Population in Largest City: as % of Urban Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Spain – Table ES.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Population in largest city is the percentage of a country's urban population living in that country's largest metropolitan area.; ; United Nations, World Urbanization Prospects.; Weighted average;

Actual value and historical data chart for Spain Population In The Largest City Percent Of Urban Population

Spain ES: Urban Population data was reported at 37,268,800.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 37,095,211.000 Person for 2016. Spain ES: Urban Population data is updated yearly, averaging 29,103,091.500 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 37,268,800.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of 17,227,480.000 Person in 1960. Spain ES: Urban Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Spain – Table ES.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2014 Revision.; Sum;

Urban population in Spain was reported at 39925214 in 2024, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Spain - Urban population - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on November of 2025.

Spain ES: Urban Population: % of Total Population data was reported at 80.024 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 79.802 % for 2016. Spain ES: Urban Population: % of Total Population data is updated yearly, averaging 75.013 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 80.024 % in 2017 and a record low of 56.567 % in 1960. Spain ES: Urban Population: % of Total Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Spain – Table ES.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. The data are collected and smoothed by United Nations Population Division.; ; United Nations Population Division. World Urbanization Prospects: 2014 Revision.; Weighted average;

Actual value and historical data chart for Spain Urban Population Growth Annual Percent

Spain ES: Rural Population data was reported at 9,277,148.000 Person in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 9,371,187.000 Person for 2016. Spain ES: Rural Population data is updated yearly, averaging 9,980,651.500 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 13,227,520.000 Person in 1960 and a record low of 9,277,148.000 Person in 2017. Spain ES: Rural Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Spain – Table ES.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on the United Nations Population Division's World Urbanization Prospects: 2018 Revision.; Sum;

This scatter chart displays individuals using the Internet (% of population) against urban population (people) in Spain. The data is filtered where the date is 2021. The data is about countries per year.

Andalusia, with a total number of 8.6 million inhabitants, ranked first on the list of most populous autonomous communities in Spain as of January 1st, 2025. The least populated regions of Spain were the two autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla, both with a population of under 90,000 inhabitants that year. The population of Spain has been increasing for many years after experiencing a downward trend between 2012 and 2015, and is projected to grow by nearly half a million by 2027. The population of Spain is dying more than being born Spain has one of the lowest fertility rate in the European Union, with barely 1.29 children per woman. According to the most recent data, more people died in Spain than were being born in 2023, with figures reaching over 434,000 deaths versus 320,000 newborns. Immigration countered this trend One of the key points to balance out this population downtrend in Spain is immigration. Spain’s immigration figures finally started to pick up in 2015 after a downward trend that presumably initiated after the 2008 financial crisis. Nevertheless, Spaniards still migrate is much larger numbers than before the crisis. According to the latest data, nationals aged between 25 and 34 years represented the largest bulk of emigrants.

This scatter chart displays date (year) against urban population (people) in Spain. The data is about countries per year.

Spain ES: Population Living in Slums: % of Urban Population data was reported at 5.500 % in 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 7.800 % for 2016. Spain ES: Population Living in Slums: % of Urban Population data is updated yearly, averaging 6.650 % from Dec 2016 (Median) to 2018, with 2 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 7.800 % in 2016 and a record low of 5.500 % in 2018. Spain ES: Population Living in Slums: % of Urban Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Spain – Table ES.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Population living in slums is the proportion of the urban population living in slum households. A slum household is defined as a group of individuals living under the same roof lacking one or more of the following conditions: access to improved water, access to improved sanitation, sufficient living area, housing durability, and security of tenure, as adopted in the Millennium Development Goal Target 7.D. The successor, the Sustainable Development Goal 11.1.1, considers inadequate housing (housing affordability) to complement the above definition of slums/informal settlements.;United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT);Weighted average;

This horizontal bar chart displays urban population (people) by countries yearly using the aggregation sum in Spain. The data is filtered where the date is 2021. The data is about countries per year.

Spain Demographic Trends

Population, Migration, and Age Trends from 1955 to 2050

By [source]

About this dataset

This dataset provides an in-depth look into the demographic information for Spain. It includes trends in population, migration, and age from 1955 to 2050. This dataset can provide understanding into the growth of Spain which has been marked as one of the fastest-growth developing countries. It reveals important statistics such as population numbers, yearly change percentages, fertility rate figures, density of people per square kilometer and more across all ages over a considerable period of time. Furthermore, it also outlines aspects such World Population Total and Country’s Share of World Pop with each country’s global rank among other nations. It will be useful for those wanting to gain insight into specific populations numbers that shape the Spanish culture today

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How to use the dataset

This dataset provides comprehensive information about the demographic trends in Spain from 1955 to 2050, including population, migration, urbanization, age and fertility rates. This data can be utilized to gain a better understanding of population structure changes of Spain over time and helps answer some important questions such as: What is the overall trend in population growth? How has migration affected population change? How is the median age changing?

To make the most effective use of this dataset you should begin by exploring each column one by one. You can see an overview of each year's data using summary statistics like mean, median or mode which can help you identify any interesting trends that might exist among these metrics. Next investigate how each statistic has changed over time by creating a line graph for each of them. These visualizations will help you compare different variables side-by-side and better understand their relationships with one another. Finally, analyze all observations together to form your conclusions about demographic patterns in Spain from 1955 to 2050 and how they have impacted its overall population makeup

Research Ideas

• To calculate the rate of population growth over the years and predict future population levels in Spain.
• To analyze migration trends of people from abroad moving to Spain and compare it to those of Spanish citizens leaving or entering the country.
• To study age trends in Spain, including median age for both general population and specific regions within the country, as well as fertility rates/birth rates for each demographic group/region

Acknowledgements

If you use this dataset in your research, please credit the original authors. Data Source

License

License: CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) - Public Domain Dedication No Copyright - You can copy, modify, distribute and perform the work, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. See Other Information.

Columns

File: Population_of_Spain_Historical.csv | Column name | Description | |:---------------------------------|:------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Year | Year of the data point. (Integer) | | Population | Total population of Spain in a given year. (Integer) | | Yearly% Change | Percentage change in population from the previous year. (Float) | | Yearly Change | Change in population from the previous year. (Integer) | | Migrants (net) | Net migration rate of Spain in a given year. (Integer) | | Median Age | Median age of the population in a given year. (Float) | | Fertiliy Rate | Fertility rate of citizens in a given year. (Float) | | Density(/km2) | Population density of Spain in a given year. (Float) | | Urban Pop | Percentage of population living in urban areas in a given year. (Float) | | Urban Population | Population living in urban areas in a given year. (Integer) | | Country's Share of World Pop | Percentage ...

Madrid was the largest city in Spain in 2024, with around *** million inhabitants. Barcelona followed second, with nearly *** million people residing there. The most populated city in the Spanish islands that year was Palma de Mallorca.

This dataset is about countries per year in Spain. It has 1 row and is filtered where the date is 2021. It features 4 columns: country, individuals using the Internet, and urban population.