Spain is on the verge of surpassing the 50-million inhabitant mark for the first time. According to the latest provisional data from the Spanish National Statistics Institute (INE), a total of 49,935,642 people were living in the country as of October 1, 2026. In the third quarter alone, the population increased by 130,223. This growth is driven almost entirely by migration.
Spain Expat Press Editorial Team
by Marlon Gallego Bosbach
Only about 64,000 more people until the 50-million mark
The Spanish population has reached a new high. As of October 1, 2026, 49,935,642 inhabitants were registered. This means that only about 64,000 more people are needed to reach the symbolically significant milestone of 50 million.
Between July and September, the population increased by 130,223 people. This represents a growth of 0.26 percent compared to the previous quarter. On an annual basis, the population grew by 435,551 people, or approximately 0.88 percent. These current figures are the highest in the historical time series.
Should this trend continue at a similar pace, Spain could reach the 50-million-inhabitant mark as early as 2026. The current figures are considered provisional for the time being and may be subject to minor adjustments during the regular review of population data. A definitive population count will be established upon the publication of the next census.
Almost all growth comes from migration
The cause of the current population increase is particularly striking. 98.8 percent of the growth in the third quarter was attributable to people born abroad. Consequently, international migration has now become the decisive factor in Spain’s demographic development.
There are currently 10,433,091 people living in Spain who were born outside the country. However, this figure should not be equated with the number of foreign nationals; many individuals who originally came from another country have since acquired Spanish citizenship.
The number of people with foreign citizenship stood at approximately 7.5 million on October 1. In the third quarter, this figure rose by more than 86,000. At the same time, the number of Spanish citizens also increased – by more than 43,000 – to reach approximately 42.4 million.
Colombians make up the largest group of immigrants
Among the people who arrived in Spain during the third quarter, Colombians formed the largest group, with 33,200 arrivals. They were followed by 23,600 Spanish nationals returning to Spain from abroad, as well as 19,000 Venezuelans. According to the INE, the category of Spanish nationals includes individuals who arrived in Spain from abroad – regardless of whether they were born in Spain or in another country.
Also strongly represented were people from Morocco, with 18,700 arrivals, and Peru, with 16,500. Around 10,000 people arrived from Brazil, 8,700 from Italy, 7,700 from Ukraine, 6,900 from Ecuador, and 6,400 from Romania.
At the same time, however, people are also leaving the country. Among those emigrating, Colombians topped the list with 9,100 individuals, followed by Moroccans with 8,900 and Spaniards with 7,500. Crucially for population growth, however, the number of people arriving significantly exceeds the number of those leaving.
All regions of Spain are growing
The population increase is not limited to specific parts of the country. According to the INE, all autonomous communities – as well as the two autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla – recorded growth in the third quarter. The increase was particularly strong in the Valencian Community, at 0.48 percent. The Madrid region followed in second place with 0.46 percent, while Melilla and La Rioja each saw an increase of 0.36 percent.
Andalusia, Catalonia, and the Balearic Islands also saw increases, though at lower growth rates. Ceuta recorded the smallest gain, at 0.01 percent.
Madrid is growing particularly fast
The new figures are particularly noteworthy for the Madrid region. With a growth rate of 0.46 percent within a single quarter, it ranks among the fastest-growing regions in Spain. This population growth affects not only the Spanish capital itself but the entire metropolitan area. The resulting additional pressure on the population has an impact on areas such as housing, infrastructure, and public services.
The Valencian Community is also among the regions experiencing a particularly sharp rise in population. This trend is likely to have an impact on the housing market and the demand for services there as well.
The number of households is also reaching a record high
The number of households is rising in parallel with the population. As of October 1, 2026, there were 19,953,529 households in Spain – an increase of 69,162 in the third quarter alone. This means that another significant milestone is fast approaching: the 20-million-household mark. The most common type of household remains the two-person household, of which there are approximately 5.8 million. However, nearly as many people live alone, with the number of single-person households standing at around 5.7 million.
This trend demonstrates that a growing population does not automatically mean that more and more people are living in large family households. A significant portion of the additional demand for housing also stems from the rising number of small households.
Spain’s population has grown by around 1.45 million over the past three years
The current record is part of a longer-term trend. On October 1, 2023, approximately 48.49 million people were living in Spain. A year later, that figure was just under 49 million. By October 1, 2025, the 49.5 million mark had been surpassed.
The population has now reached nearly 49.94 million. This represents an increase of approximately 1.45 million people over the course of three years. In the past year alone, the population grew by more than 435,000 people.
The 50-million mark is drawing closer
These new figures mark an important demographic turning point for Spain. The country is on the verge of reaching a population of 50 million – a milestone that, just a few years ago, seemed much further off. At the same time, the data make it clear that this increase is primarily driven by international migration; nearly 99 percent of the growth in the third quarter was accounted for by people born abroad.
This trend is therefore likely to remain relevant to key political and social issues – particularly regarding housing, the labor market, infrastructure, education, healthcare, and public services. However, the current figures from the INE are still preliminary. The final population count will be determined at a later stage, based on the official census.
