Demographics of Spain

As of 1 January 2020, Spain had a total population of 47,431,256, which represents a 0.9% increase since 2019.[1] The modern Kingdom of Spain arose from the accretion of several independent Iberian realms, including the Kingdoms of León, Castile, Navarre, the Crown of Aragon and Granada, all of which, together with the modern state of Portugal, were successor states to the late antique Christian Visigothic Kingdom after the Reconquista.

Demographics of Spain
Population pyramid of Spain in 2021
Population47,163,418 (2022 est.)
Growth rate0.13% (2022 est.)
Birth rate6.9 births/1,000 population (2022)
Death rate9.8 deaths/1,000 population (2022)
Life expectancy82.55 years
  male79.84 years
  female85.4 years
Fertility rateDecrease 1.16 children (2022)
Infant mortality rate2.47 deaths/1,000 live births
Net migration rate4.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population
Age structure
0–14 years14.26%
15–64 years65.97%
65 and over19.77%
Sex ratio
Total0.95 male(s)/female (2022 est.)
At birth1.05 male(s)/female
Nationality
NationalitySpaniards
Historical population of Spain
Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
0 4,600,000    
500 4,000,000−0.03%
10004,000,000+0.00%
13007,500,000+0.21%
15006,500,000−0.07%
16008,500,000+0.27%
17008,000,000−0.06%
183312,286,941+0.32%
184612,162,872−0.08%
185715,464,340+2.21%
187716,622,175+0.36%
188717,549,608+0.54%
190018,616,630+0.46%
191019,990,669+0.71%
192021,388,551+0.68%
193023,677,095+1.02%
194026,014,278+0.95%
195028,117,873+0.78%
196030,582,936+0.84%
197033,956,047+1.05%
198137,683,363+0.95%
199138,872,268+0.31%
200140,847,371+0.50%
201146,815,916+1.37%
202147,400,798+0.12%
Source: INE and Our World in Data

Spain's population peaked in 2019, surpassing 47 million inhabitants for the first time in history. As of January 2020, there were 47,431,256 people living in Spain.[2] Its population density, at 91.4 inhabitants per square kilometre (237/sq mi), is lower than other Western European countries yet, with the exception of microstates, it has the highest real density population in Europe, based on density of inhabited areas.[3] With the exception of the capital Madrid, the most densely populated areas lie around the coast.

The population of Spain doubled during the twentieth century, but the pattern of growth was extremely uneven due to large-scale internal migration from the rural interior to the industrial cities. Eleven of Spain's fifty provinces saw an absolute decline in population over the century.

The last quarter of the century saw a dramatic fall in birth rates. Spain's fertility rate of 1.47 (the number of children the average woman will have during her lifetime) has climbed every year since the late 1990s. The birth rate has climbed in 10 years from 9.10 births per 1000 people per year in 1996 to 10.9 in 2006, before declining again to 7.13 by 2021.

In 2021 the Total Fertility Rate of Spain (average number of children per woman) was 1.19, and 3.7% was the percent of births to women that were their 4th+ child.

Spain accepted 478,990 new immigrant residents in the first six months of 2022 alone. During these first six months, 220,443 people also emigrated from Spain, leaving a record-breaking net migration figure of 258,547.[4] The data shows that more women than men chose to move to Spain during 2022, this is due to higher rates of emigration from Latin America.[4]

History

Notable events in modern Spanish demography:

  • Late 19th century and early 20th century: Relative economic stagnation and mass emigration to American countries.
  • 1918. Flu pandemic, over 200,000 dead in Spain.
  • 1936. Start of the Spanish Civil War.
  • 1939. End of the Civil War. Establishment of a dictatorship, Start of rationing policies. Deepening of economic depression, mass emigration to European and American countries due to economic and political motives (Republican exile).
  • 1941. Approval of benefits for large families, with at least four children.[5]
  • 1945. Establishment of tax deductions for parents.[6]
  • 1952. End of rationing policies.
  • 1975. End of the dictatorship, mass return of emigrated people.
  • 1977. Legalization of contraception. Decline of birth rates.
  • 1985. Legalization of abortion.
  • 1988. After centuries of outwards emigration, the first events of illegal immigration from Africa occur.[7]
  • 1991. Spain becomes a net receiver of immigrants, after decades of mass emigration.[8]
  • 1994. Lowering of threshold of requirements to become a large family, only three children needed.[5]
  • 2007. Approval of €2,500 benefit for births.
  • 2010. Legalization of elective abortion.
  • 2011. Withdrawal of the €2,500 benefit for births.
  • 2015. First negative natural change since the Civil War due to the aging of Spanish population.

The population of Spain doubled during the twentieth century as a result of the demographic boom in the 1960s and early 1970s. After that time, the birth rate fell during the 1980s and Spain's population became stalled.

Many demographers have linked Spain's very low fertility rate to the country's lack of a family support policy. Spain spends the least on family support out of all western European countries—0.5% of GDP. A graphic illustration of the enormous social gulf in this field is the fact that a Spanish family would need to have 57 children to enjoy the same financial support as a family with 3 children in Luxembourg.

During the early 2000s, the mean year-on-year demographic growth set a new record with its 2003 peak variation of 2.1%, doubling the previous record reached back in the 1960s when a mean year-on-year growth of 1% was experienced.[9] In 2005 alone, the immigrant population of Spain increased by 700,000 people.[10]

The arrival of migrating young adults was the main reason for the slight increase in Spain's fertility rate.[11] From 2002 through 2008 the Spanish population grew by 8%, of which 7% were foreign.[12]

Population

The following demographic statistics are from the World Population Review in 2019.[13]

  • One birth every minute
  • One death every minute
  • Net gain of one person every 131 minutes
  • One net migrant every 13 minutes

Note: Crude migration change (per 1000) is a trend analysis, an extrapolation based average population change (current year minus previous) minus natural change of the current year (see table vital statistics). As average population is an estimate of the population in the middle of the year and not end of the year.

Population growth

Birth and death rates and natural changes of Spain in 1950–2012.
Population growth rate
-0.03% (2021 est.) Country comparison to the world: 143rd
0.78% (2017 est.)

Life expectancy

1882-1950

Years 1882 1892 1900 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920[14]
Life expectancy in Spain 29.5 32.1 34.8 41.3 41.0 40.8 39.7 43.4 42.5 42.8 43.0 42.9 42.5 30.3 41.1 39.2
Years 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930[14]
Life expectancy in Spain 42.0 44.1 44.7 46.2 46.9 47.7 48.4 48.6 49.3 49.3
Years 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940[14]
Life expectancy in Spain 49.2 51.1 51.5 52.3 52.6 51.0 47.3 47.6 47.2 48.4
Years 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950[14]
Life expectancy in Spain 47.2 52.5 54.8 56.2 57.8 57.5 59.3 61.2 61.0 61.8

Sources: Our World In Data and the United Nations.

Life expectancy in Spain since 1882
Life expectancy in Spain since 1960 by gender

1950-2015

Period Life expectancy in
Years
Period Life expectancy in
Years
1950–1955 64.6 1985–1990 76.9
1955–1960 67.8 1990–1995 77.6
1960–1965 69.9 1995–2000 78.8
1965–1970 71.4 2000–2005 79.9
1970–1975 72.7 2005–2010 81.2
1975–1980 74.4 2010–2015 82.5
1980–1985 76.1

Source: UN World Population Prospects[15]

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 82.21 years. Country comparison to the world: 29nd
male: 79.22 years
female: 85.39 years (2021 est.)

Infant mortality rate

3.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.). Country comparison to the world: 216th
Crude death rate
9.78 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.) Country comparison to the world: 55th

Fertility

TFR of Spain overtime to 2016
Spain total fertility rate by province (2014)
  1.5 - 1.7
  1.4 - 1.5
  1.3 - 1.4
  < 1.3

The total fertility rate is the number of children born per woman. It is based on fairly good data for the entire period. Sources: Our World In Data and Gapminder Foundation.[16]

Years18501851185218531854185518561857185818591860[16]
Total Fertility Rate in Spain5.135.075.014.954.894.834.784.724.664.754.86
Years1861186218631864186518661867186818691870[16]
Total Fertility Rate in Spain5.165.0955.195.115.075.094.724.94.84
Years1871187218731874187518761877187818791880[16]
Total Fertility Rate in Spain4.834.834.824.814.84.794.784.784.744.7
Years1881188218831884188518861887188818891890[16]
Total Fertility Rate in Spain4.914.794.714.864.84.864.784.824.824.55
Years189118921893189418951896189718981899[16]
Total Fertility Rate in Spain4.674.714.714.64.634.754.514.414.53
Crude birth rate
8.05 births/1,000 population (2021 est.) Country comparison to the world: 212th

Total fertility rate

1.51 children born/woman (2021 est.) Country comparison to the world: 207th

Mother's mean age at first birth

30.9 years (2017 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 15.02% (male 3,861,522/female 3,650,085)
15-24 years: 9.9% (male 2,557,504/female 2,392,498)
25-54 years: 43.61% (male 11,134,006/female 10,675,873)
55-64 years: 12.99% (male 3,177,080/female 3,319,823)
65 years and over: 18.49% (male 3,970,417/female 5,276,984) (2020 est.)

Median age:

total: 43.9 years. Country comparison to the world: 21st
male: 42.7 years
female: 45.1 years (2020 est.)
Demographic evolution of Spain 1950-2014
Demographic evolution by age, sex and country of birth (Spain, Foreign) 2002-2021

Vital statistics

Statistics since 1900

Population pyramid of Spain in 1900
[17][18][16] Average population (January 1) Live births Deaths Natural change Crude birth rate (per 1000) Crude death rate (per 1000) Natural change (per 1000) Crude migration change (per 1000) Total fertility rates[lower-alpha 1][16]
1900 18,520,000 627,848 536,716 91,132 33.9 29.0 4.9 0 4.49
1901 18,610,000 650,649 517,575 133,074 35.0 27.8 7.1 -1.2 4.71
1902 18,720,000 666,687 488,289 178,398 35.6 26.1 9.6 -4.8 4.70
1903 18,810,000 685,265 470,387 214,878 36.4 25.0 11.4 -2.4 4.68
1904 18,980,000 649,878 486,889 162,989 34.2 25.7 8.6 -1.8 4.67
1905 19,110,000 670,651 491,369 179,282 35.1 25.7 9.4 -2.1 4.66
1906 19,250,000 650,385 499,018 151,367 33.8 25.9 7.8 -1.0 4.61
1907 19,380,000 646,371 472,007 174,364 33.3 24.4 9.0 -1.3 4.57
1908 19,530,000 658,008 460,946 197,062 33.7 23.6 10.1 -2.9 4.52
1909 19,670,000 650,498 466,648 183,850 33.1 23.7 9.3 -4.2 4.48
1910 19,770,000 646,975 456,158 190,817 32.7 23.1 9.7 -0.6 4.43
1911 19,950,000 628,443 466,525 161,918 31.5 23.4 8.1 -3.6 4.39
1912 20,040,000 637,860 426,297 211,563 31.8 21.3 10.6 -4.1 4.35
1913 20,170,000 617,850 449,349 168,501 30.6 22.3 8.4 -1.5 4.30
1914 20,310,000 608,207 450,340 157,867 29.9 22.2 7.8 -1.9 4.26
1915 20,430,000 631,462 452,479 178,983 30.9 22.1 8.8 0 4.22
1916 20,610,000 599,011 441,673 157,338 29.1 21.4 7.6 -1.3 4.20
1917 20,740,000 602,139 465,722 136,417 29.0 22.5 6.6 1.6 4.19
1918 20,910,000 612,637 695,758 -83,121 29.3 33.3 -4.0 8.3 4.17
1919 21,000,000 585,963 482,752 103,211 27.9 23.0 4.9 1.3 4.16
1920 21,130,000 623,339 494,540 128,799 29.5 23.4 6.1 0.5 4.14
1921 21,270,000 648,892 455,469 193,423 30.5 21.4 9.1 2.2 4.08
1922 21,510,000 656,093 441,330 214,763 30.5 20.5 10.0 0.7 4.02
1923 21,740,000 662,576 449,683 212,893 30.5 20.7 9.8 1.7 4.02
1924 21,990,000 653,085 430,590 222,495 29.7 19.6 10.1 -2.4 3.92
1925 22,160,000 644,741 432,400 212,341 29.1 19.5 9.6 1.2 3.82
1926 22,400,000 663,401 420,838 242,563 29.6 18.8 10.8 -1.4 3.87
1927 22,610,000 636,028 419,816 216,212 28.1 18.6 9.6 1.7 3.70
1928 22,860,000 666,240 413,002 253,238 29.1 18.1 11.1 0.3 3.80
1929 23,120,000 653,668 407,486 246,182 28.3 17.6 10.7 -1.2 3.69
1930 23,340,000 660,860 394,488 266,372 28.3 16.9 11.4 -4.1 3.68
1931 23,510,000 649,276 408,977 240,299 27.6 17.4 10.2 6.3 3.58
1932 23,897,000 670,670 388,900 281,770 28.3 16.5 11.8 -2.4 3.64
1933 24,122,000 667,866 394,750 273,116 27.9 16.5 11.4 -2.0 3.59
1934 24,349,000 641,889 392,793 249,096 26.4 16.1 10.2 -0.8 3.38
1935 24,578,000 636,725 388,757 247,968 25.9 15.8 10.1 -0.7 3.31
1936 24,810,000 617,220 417,108 200,112 24.9 16.8 8.1 1.3 3.18
1937 25,043,000 568,977 475,310 93,667 22.7 19.0 3.7 5.7 2.89
1938 25,279,000 508,726 487,546 21,180 20.1 19.3 0.1 9.3 2.56
1939 25,517,000 422,345 472,611 -50,266 16.6 18.5 -2.0 11.4 2.12
1940 25,757,000 631,285 428,416 202,869 24.5 16.6 7.9 1.5 3.09
1941 25,999,000 511,157 487,748 23,409 19.7 18.8 0.9 8.5 2.47
1942 26,244,000 530,845 387,844 143,001 20.2 14.8 5.4 1.5 2.53
1943 26,491,000 606,971 352,587 254,384 22.9 13.3 9.6 -4.7 2.88
1944 26,620,000 602,091 349,114 253,796 22.6 13.1 9.5 -3.9 2.84
1945 26,770,000 621,558 330,581 290,977 23.2 12.3 10.9 -1.2 2.91
1946 27,030,000 585,381 353,371 232,010 21.7 13.1 8.6 -4.2 2.70
1947 27,150,000 588,732 330,341 258,391 21.7 12.2 9.5 6.8 2.67
1948 27,593,000 642,041 305,310 336,731 23.3 11.1 12.2 -4.3 2.88
1949 27,811,000 601,759 321,541 280,218 21.6 11.6 10.1 -3.0 2.68
1950 28,009,000 565,378 305,934 259,444 20.2 10.9 9.3 -1.2 2.45
1951 28,236,000 567,474 327,236 240,238 20.1 11.6 8.5 -0.1 2.47
1952 28,474,000 593,019 276,735 316,284 20.8 9.7 11.1 -2.7 2.51
1953 28,713,000 589,188 278,522 310,666 20.5 9.7 10.8 -2.4 2.55
1954 28,955,000 577,886 264,668 313,218 20.0 9.1 10.8 -2.4 2.59
1955 29,199,000 598,970 274,188 324,782 20.5 9.4 11.1 -2.7 2.62
1956 29,445,000 608,121 290,410 317,711 20.7 9.9 10.8 -2.4 2.66
1957 29,693,000 646,784 293,502 353,282 21.8 9.9 11.9 -3.5 2.69
1958 29,943,000 653,216 260,683 392,533 21.8 8.7 13.1 -4.7 2.72
1959 30,195,000 654,474 269,591 384,883 21.7 8.9 12.7 -4.1 2.74
1960 30,455,000 663,375 268,941 394,434 21.8 8.8 13.0 -3.5 2.77
1961 30,744,000 654,616 263,441 391,175 21.3 8.6 12.7 -2.2 2.79
1962 31,067,000 658,816 278,575 380,241 21.2 9.0 12.2 -1.7 2.8
1963 31,393,000 671,520 282,460 389,060 21.4 9.0 12.4 -1.9 2.88
1964 31,723,000 697,697 273,955 423,742 22.0 8.6 13.4 -2.9 3.01
1965 32,056,000 676,361 274,271 402,090 21.1 8.6 12.5 -2.0 2.94
1966 32,394,000 669,919 276,173 393,746 20.7 8.5 12.2 -1.7 2.91
1967 32,734,000 680,125 280,494 399,631 20.8 8.6 12.2 -1.7 2.85
1968 33,079,000 667,311 282,628 384,683 20.2 8.5 11.6 -1.1 2.86
1969 33,427,000 666,568 303,402 363,166 19.9 9.1 10.9 -0.4 2.87
1970 33,779,000 663,667 286,067 377,600 19.6 8.5 11.2 -3.5 2.88
1971 34,040,642 [19] 672,092 308,516 363,576 19.7 9.0 10.6 0.2 2.88
1972 34,408,338 672,405 285,508 386,897 19.5 8.3 11.2 0.2 2.86
1973 34,800,600 672,963 301,803 371,160 19.3 8.7 10.7 -1.6 2.84
1974 35,117,294 688,711 300,403 388,308 19.6 8.5 11.0 1.9 2.89
1975 35,569,375 669,378 298,192 371,186 18.8 8.4 10.5 0.1 2.75
1976 35,946,425 677,456 299,007 378,449 18.9 8.3 10.5 0.1 2.68
1977 36,329,199 656,357 294,324 362,033 18.1 8.1 10.0 0 2.59
1978 36,694,077 636,892 296,781 340,111 17.3 8.1 9.2 0.1 2.48
1979 37,035,719 601,992 291,213 310,779 16.2 7.8 8.4 0 2.36
1980 37,346,940 571,018 289,344 281,674 15.2 7.7 7.5 0.2 2.22
1981 37,635,389 533,008 293,386 239,622 14.1 7.8 6.3 0.2 2.09
1982 37,881,873 515,706 286,655 229,051 13.6 7.6 6.0 -0.5 1.96
1983 38,090,151 485,352 302,569 182,783 12.7 7.9 4.8 -0.5 1.84
1984 38,252,899 473,281 299,409 173,872 12.4 7.8 4.5 -0.4 1.73
1985 38,407,829 456,298 312,532 143,766 11.9 8.1 3.7 -0.5 1.64
1986 38,531,195 438,750 310,413 128,337 11.4 8.1 3.3 -0.5 1.56
1987 38,638,052 426,782 310,073 116,709 11.0 8.0 3.0 -0.6 1.50
1988 38,731,578 418,919 319,437 99,482 10.8 8.3 2.6 -0.8 1.45
1989 38,802,300 408,434 324,796 83,638 10.5 8.4 2.2 -0.9 1.40
1990 38,853,227 401,425 333,142 68,283 10.3 8.6 1.8 -1.1 1.36
1991 38,881,416 395,989 337,691 58,298 10.2 8.7 1.5 2.9 1.33
1992 39,051,336 396,747 331,515 65,232 10.2 8.5 1.7 3.7 1.32
1993 39,264,034 385,786 339,661 46,125 9.8 8.7 1.2 3.8 1.26
1994 39,458,489 370,148 338,242 31,906 9.4 8.6 0.8 3.8 1.21
1995 39,639,726 363,469 346,227 17,242 9.2 8.8 0.4 3.9 1.18
1996 39,808,374 362,626 351,449 11,177 9.2 8.9 0.3 3.8 1.17
1997 39,971,329 369,035 349,521 19,514 9.3 8.8 0.5 3.8 1.19
1998 40,143,449 365,193 360,511 4,682 9.2 9.1 0.1 3.9 1.15
1999 40,303,568 380,130 371,102 9,028 9.5 9.3 0.2 3.9 1.20
2000 40,470,182 397,632 360,391 37,241 9.9 9.0 0.9 3.9 1.23
2001 40,665,545 406,380 360,131 46,249 10.0 8.8 1.1 8.0 1.24
2002 41,035,271 418,846 368,618 50,228 10.1 8.9 1.2 18.1 1.26
2003 41,827,836 441,881 384,828 57,053 10.5 9.2 1.4 15.8 1.31
2004 42,547,454 454,591 371,934 82,657 10.6 8.7 1.9 15.7 1.33
2005 43,296,335 466,371 387,355 79,016 10.7 8.9 1.8 14.7 1.35
2006 44,009,969 482,957 371,478 111,479 10.9 8.4 2.5 15.1 1.36
2007 44,784,659 492,527 385,361 107,166 10.9 8.5 2.4 17.3 1.40
2008 45,668,938 519,779 386,324 133,455 11.4 8.4 3.0 9.5 1.46
2009 46,239,271 494,997 384,933 110,064 10.7 8.3 2.4 2.9 1.39
2010 46,486,621 486,575 382,047 104,528 10.5 8.2 2.3 1.6 1.38
2011 46,667,175 471,999 387,911 84,088 10.2 8.3 1.9 1.3 1.34
2012 46,818,216 454,648 402,950 51,698 9.7 8.6 1.1 -3.4 1.32
2013 46,712,650 425,715 390,419 35,296 9.1 8.3 0.8 -5.4 1.27
2014 46,495,744 427,595 395,830 31,765 9.1 8.5 0.6 -3.0 1.32
2015 46,384,379 420,290 422,568 -2,278 9.0 9.1 -0.1 0.8 1.33
2016 46,418,884 410,583 410,611 -28 8.8 8.8 0.0 1.7 1.34
2017 46,497,393 393,181 424,523 -31,342 8.4 9.1 -0.7 3.9 1.31
2018 46,645,070 372,777 427,721 -54,944 7.9 9.1 -1.2 7.1 1.26
2019 46,918,951 360,617 418,703 -58,086 7.6 8.8 -1.2 9.7 1.24
2020 47,318,050 341,315 493,776 -152,461 7.2 10.4 -3.2 4.9 1.19
2021 47,400,798 337,380 450,744 -113,354 7.1 9.5 -2.4 4.4 1.19
2022 47,496,903 329,812 462,370 -132,588 6.9 9.8 -2,9 14.8 1.16
2023 48,059,777

In 2021 264,897 (78.6%) babies were born to mothers with Spanish nationality (including naturalized immigrants), 23,704 (7%) to mothers with an African nationality (including North Africa), 21,769 (6.5%) to mothers with an American nationality (both North and South America), 19,903 (5.9%) to mothers with a European nationality (both EU and non-EU countries of Europe), and 6,393 (1.9%) to mothers with an Asian nationality.[20]

Current vital statistics

[21][22]

Period Live births Deaths Natural increase
January - August 2022 217,939 319,927 -101,988
January - August 2023 211,077 295,116 -84,039
Difference Decrease -6,862 (-3.15%) Positive decrease -24,811 (-7.76%) Increase +17,949

Structure of the population

Population Estimates by Sex and Age Group (01.I.2021) (Data refer to registered resident population.): [23]
Age Group Male Female Total %
Total 23 227 282 24 171 413 47 398 695 100
0–4 989 957 936 296 1 926 253 4.06
5–9 1 182 657 1 111 874 2 294 531 4.84
10–14 1 310 725 1 227 805 2 538 530 5.36
15–19 1 259 328 1 178 983 2 438 311 5.14
20–24 1 228 307 1 164 436 2 392 743 5.05
25–29 1 283 969 1 247 891 2 531 860 5.34
30–34 1 373 686 1 371 909 2 745 595 5.79
35–39 1 588 932 1 607 493 3 196 425 6.74
40–44 1 949 687 1 935 067 3 884 754 8.20
45–49 1 982 307 1 949 746 3 932 053 8.30
50–54 1 847 825 1 852 726 3 700 551 7.81
55–59 1 688 389 1 740 775 3 429 164 7.23
60–64 1 464 713 1 552 291 3 017 004 6.37
65-69 1 187 562 1 303 094 2 490 656 5.25
70-74 1 024 938 1 190 297 2 215 235 4.67
75-79 791 421 990 173 1 781 594 3.76
80-84 533 545 773 766 1 307 311 2.76
85-89 366 344 630 406 996 750 2.10
90-94 140 288 309 931 450 219 0.95
95-99 30 128 86 008 116 136 0.25
100+ 2 574 10 446 13 020 0.03
Age group Male Female Total Percent
0–14 3 483 339 3 275 975 6 759 314 14.26
15–64 15 667 143 15 601 317 31 268 460 65.97
65+ 4 076 800 5 294 121 9 370 921 19.77

Employment and income

Unemployment, youth ages 15–24
total: 34.3%. Country comparison to the world: 24th
male: 35.2%
female: 33.3% (2018 est.)

Metropolitan areas

Population density by municipality in Spain, 2018

Islands

Islander population (The surface of the islands will be given in hectares except for the largest islands of the Canary and Balearic archipelagos, as well as the Plazas de Soberanía.):

  1. Tenerife 886,033
  2. Majorca 846,210
  3. Gran Canaria 829,597
  4. Lanzarote 132,366
  5. Ibiza 113,908
  6. Fuerteventura 94,386
  7. Menorca 86,697
  8. La Palma 85,933
  9. La Gomera 22,259
  10. El Hierro 10,558
  11. Formentera 7,957
  12. Arousa 4,889
  13. La Graciosa 658
  14. Tabarca 105
  15. Ons 61

Ethnic groups

Catalan people in Barcelona in 2019

The Spanish Constitution of 1978, in its second article, generically recognises contemporary entities—nationalities and regions—[lower-alpha 2] within the context of the Spanish nation.

Spain has been described as a de facto plurinational state.[24][25] The identity of Spain rather accrues of an overlap of different territorial and ethnolinguistic identities than of a sole Spanish identity. In some cases some of the territorial identities may conflict with the dominant Spanish culture. Distinct traditional identities within Spain include the Basques, Catalans, Galicians, Andalusians and Valencians,[26] although to some extent all of the 17 autonomous communities may claim a distinct local identity. Definition of ethnicity or nationality in Spain is fraught politically. The term "Spanish people" (pueblo español) is defined in the 1978 constitution as the political sovereign, i.e. the citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. The same constitution in its preamble speaks of "peoples and nationalities of Spain" (pueblos y nacionalidades de España) and their respective cultures, traditions, languages and institutions. The formerly nomadic Gitanos and Mercheros are distinctly marked by endogamy and discrimination but they are dispersed through the country.

The native Canarians are partly the descendants of the North African population of the Canary Islands prior to Spanish colonization in the 15th century although many Spaniards have varying levels of North African admixture as a result of the Islamic period. Also included are many Spanish citizens who are descendants of people from Spain's former colonies, mostly from Venezuela, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Morocco and Cuba. There is also a sizable number of Spaniards of Eastern European, Maghrebian, Sub Saharan-African, Indian subcontinent and Middle Eastern descent.[27]

The arrival of the gitanos (Spanish for "gypsies"), a Romani people, began in the 16th century; estimates of the Spanish Roma population range from 750,000 to over one million.[28][29][30][31][32] There are also the mercheros (also called quinquis), a formerly nomadic minority group. Their origin is unclear.

Historically, Sephardic Jews and Moriscos are the main minority groups originating in Spain and with a contribution to Spanish culture.[33] The Spanish government is offering Spanish nationality to Sephardic Jews.[34]

Immigration

In terms of emigration vs. immigration, after decades of net emigration after the Spanish Civil War, Spain has experienced massive large-scale immigration for the first time in modern history over the past 30 years. As of 2020, there were 7,231,195 foreign-born people in Spain, making up to 15.23% of the Spanish population including 5,015,263 (10.57%) born in a non-European country.[35] Of these, 5,434,153 (11.45%) didn't have the Spanish citizenship.[36][37] This makes Spain one of the world's preferred destinations to immigrate to, being the 4th country in Europe by immigration numbers and the 10th worldwide. Of these, more than 860,000 were Romanian, and 760,000 were Moroccan while the number of Ecuadorians was around 390,000. Colombian population amounted to around 300,000. There are also a significant number of British (359,076 as of 2011, but more than one million are estimated to live permanently in Spain) and German (195,842) citizens, mainly in Alicante, Málaga provinces, Balearic Islands and Canary Islands. The largest Asian immigrant group, the Chinese, number slightly over 166,000. Immigrants from several sub-Saharan African countries have also settled in Spain as contract workers, representing 4.08% of all the foreign residents in the country.

Population by country of birth as of 2022:[38]
Country Population
 Morocco984,682
 Colombia568,034
European Union Romania539,418
 Venezuela440,992
 Ecuador420,573
 Argentina328,333
 United Kingdom300,306
 Peru265,949
European Union France215,174
 China199,341
 Dominican Republic190,478
 Bolivia179,829
 Cuba176,800
European Union Germany170,621
 Brazil156,540
 Honduras150,643
European Union Italy145,676
 Ukraine116,242
 Paraguay110,321
 Pakistan108,710
European Union Bulgaria106,134
 Russia99,459
European Union Portugal93,621
 Senegal87,730
 Uruguay83,773
 Algeria70,837
 Nicaragua69,508
 Mexico66,304
 Chile65,002
  Switzerland61,449
 USA60,383
 India57,692
 Philippines53,457
European Union Belgium50,249
European Union Poland48,799
 Nigeria34,268
 Mali31,118
 Salvador29,947
 Moldova23,783

Foreign population

Percentage of people of foreign origin over two generations under the age of 15 in Spain

As of 2022, Spain had a foreign population of 5,542,932.[39][40] The largest groups of foreigners were those of Moroccan, Romanian, British, Chinese and Italian citizenship.[39] Meanwhile, Spain had a foreign-born population of 6,742,948, being those born in the Americas the largest group, and Europe being the second most common continent of origin after South America.[41]


Foreign Population by Nationality[42] Number %
2022
TOTAL FOREIGNERS 5,542,932
EUROPE 2,205,961
EUROPEAN UNION 1,617,911
OTHER EUROPE 588,050
AFRICA 1,217,706
SOUTH AMERICA 1,173,900
CENTRAL AMERICA 368,461
NORTH AMERICA 76,628
ASIA 493,065
OCEANIA 3,580
Instituto Nacional de Estadística
Country of birth in Spain
Resident Population groups Year
2002[43] 2004[43] 2006[43] 2008[43][44] 2010[43] 2012[43] 2014[43] 2016[43] 2018[43] 2020[43] 2022[43][45]
Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number %
Spaniards 39,297,299 95.76% 38,999,785 91.66% 39,371,997 89.46% 39,790,019 87.12% 40,206,557 86.49% 40,523,263 86.55% 40,553,891 87.18% 40,521,758 87.25% 40,459,614 86.74% 40,335,789 85.22% 40,067,582 84.47%
Foreigners 1,737,972 4.24% 3,547,669 8.34% 4,637,972 10.54% 5,878,919 12.88% 6,280,064 13.51% 6,294,953 13.45% 5,958,308 12.82% 5,918,341 12.75% 6,198,833 13.26% 6,996,825 14.78% 7,365,311 15.53%
Total 41,035,271 100% 42,547,454 100% 44,009,969 100% 45,668,938 100% 46,486,621 100% 46,818,216 100% 46,512,199 100% 46,440,099 100% 46,658,447 100% 47,332,614 100% 47,432,893 100%
Proportion of people in Spain who were born in Spain
Evolution of immigrated population every two years
Year TotalPercentage
2002
1,737,972
4.24
2004
3,547,669
8.34
2006
4,637,972
10.54
2008
5,878,919
12.88
2010
6,280,064
13.51
2012
6,294,953
13.45
2014
5,958,308
12.82
2016
5,918,341
12.75
2018
6,198,833
13.26
2020
6,996,825
14.78
2022
7,365,311
15.53

Religions

Religion in Spain (CIS poll, December 2020) [46]

  Agnostic/Non-believer (20.8%)
  Atheist (13.6%)
  Other denominations and religions (2.7%)
  Did not answer (1.2%)

The Reconquista was the long process by which the Catholics reconquered Spain from Islamic rule by 1492. The Spanish Inquisition was established in 1478 to complete the religious orthodoxy of the Iberian Peninsula. In the centuries that followed, Spain saw itself as the bulwark of Catholicism and doctrinal purity; since then, Catholicism has been the main religion in Spain.[47][48]

Spanish missionaries carried Catholicism to the Americas and the Philippines, establishing various missions in the newly colonized lands. The missions served as a base for both administering colonies as well as spreading Christianity.[49][50][51]

The Spanish Constitution of 1978 abolished Catholicism as the official state religion, but recognizing the role it plays in Spanish society.[52] From the end of the Francoist dictatorship to the present day, a secularization process has taken place that has meant a progressive decrease in religious practice, in the attendance at the different religious rites (baptisms, communions and Catholic marriages) and in the percentage of Spaniards who identify as Catholic,[53] Consequently, a majority of Spaniards today ignore Catholic doctrines on matters such as pre-marital sex, homosexuality and contraception.[54][55] Despite the drop, Catholic identity nevertheless remains an important part of Spain's culture.[53]

As of 2018, 68.5% of the population define themselves as Catholic, 26.4% as non-believers or atheists, and 2.6% other religions according to the official Spanish Center for Sociological Research.[56] Among believers, 59% assert they almost never go to any religious service, by contrast, 16.3% attend one or more religious service almost every week.[56][57]

There have been three Popes from what is now Spain, all of them from the Crown of Aragon: Calixtus III, Alexander VI and Benedict XIII. Spanish mysticism provided an important intellectual resource against Protestantism with Carmelites like Teresa of Ávila, a reformist nun and John of the Cross, a priest, taking the lead in their reform movement. Later, they became Doctors of the Church. The Society of Jesus was co-founded by Ignatius of Loyola, whose Spiritual Exercises and movement led to the establishment of hundreds of colleges and universities in the world, including 28 in the United States alone. The Society's co-founder, Francis Xavier, was a missionary who reached India and later Japan. In the 1960s, Jesuits Pedro Arrupe and Ignacio Ellacuría supported the movement of Liberation Theology.

A study made by the Union of Islamic Communities of Spain demonstrated that there were about 1,700,000 inhabitants of Muslim background living in Spain as of 2012, accounting for 3–4% of the total population of Spain. The vast majority was composed of immigrants and descendants originating from Morocco and other African countries. More than 514,000 (30%) of them had Spanish nationality.[58] The recent waves of immigration have also led to an increasing number of Muslims, Buddhists, Sikhs and Hindus. After the Reconquista in 1492, Muslims did not live in Spain for centuries. Their ranks have since been bolstered by recent immigration, especially from Morocco and Algeria. Judaism was practically non-existent in Spain from the 1492 expulsion until the 19th century, when Jews were again permitted to enter the country. Currently there are around 62,000 Jews in Spain, or 0.14% of the total population. Most are arrivals in the past century, while some are descendants of earlier Spanish Jews. Approximately 80,000 Jews are thought to have lived in Spain prior to its expulsion.[59] However the Jewish Encyclopedia states the number over 800,000 to be too large and 235,000 as too small: 165,000 is given as expelled as possibly too small in favour of 200,000, and the numbers of converts after the 1391 pogroms as less. Other sources suggest 200,000 converts mostly after the pogroms of 1391 and upwards of 100,000 expelled. Descendants of these Sephardic Jews expelled in 1492 are given Spanish nationality if they request it.[60]

Languages

Others with no official status:

Educational system

About 70% of Spain's students in non-university education attend public schools,[63] whereas 79,1% of students in higher education are enrolled at public universities.[64] The remainder attend private schools or universities, many of which are operated by the Catholic Church.[65]

Compulsory education begins with primary school or general basic education for ages 6–16. It is free in public schools and in many private schools, most of which receive government subsidies. Following graduation, students attend either a secondary school offering a general high school diploma or a school of professional study in all fields – law, sciences, humanities, and medicine – and the technical schools offer programs in engineering and architecture.

See also

Notes

  1. In fertility rates, 2.1 and above is a stable population and has been marked blue, 2 and below leads to an aging population and the result is that the population decreases.
  2. The term 'nationality' (Spanish: nacionalidad) was chosen carefully in order to avoid the more politically charged term 'nation'.

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