What to Know About the Population of Spain?
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    What to Know About the Population of Spain?

    Immigration Expert
    Apr 21, 202521 min read

    Atomic Answer: What To Know About The Population Of Spain? is a critical component of the Canadian immigration framework. As of 2026, applicants navigating this pathway must adhere to the latest IRCC guidelines, ensure all documentation is properly prepared, and meet the specific eligibility requirements. Processing times and exact costs will vary based on individual circumstances.

    What to Know About the Population of Spain?

    The population of Spain reached its historic peak in 2011, exceeding 47 million. The population of Spain, which has been generally on a downward trend since 2011, is unlikely to reach this number again, according to United Nations estimates.

    As of 2020, the number of foreign-born people in Spain is 7,231,195, of which those born in a country outside Europe represent 5,015,263. Of those living in Spain, 15.23% are foreign-born immigrants, of whom 5,434,153 (11.45% of the total) are not Spanish citizens.

    Although a significant portion of the Spanish population does not adhere to any religion, 98% of Spanish citizens are culturally Catholic.

    Because the Iberian Peninsula was divided among many different city-states and kingdoms 600 years ago, there are many colorful cultures and beliefs all over Spain.

    Spain has the highest unemployment rate in the European Union after Greece, with 13.8% of its population.

    What is the Population of Spain in 2020?

    In 2020, the population of Spain increased by 0.04% compared to 2019, reaching 46,754,778.

    What is the Population of Spain in 2021?

    In 2021, the population of Spain was 46,776,986, a very small increase from the previous year.

    The population density in Spain remained unchanged in 2021 compared to the previous year and is 94 people per square kilometre.

    The region with the largest population in Spain is the southern administrative region of Andalusia, while the region with the smallest population is Melilla.

    What is the Change Rate of Spain's Population Over the Years?

    The annual change rate of the Spanish population is shown in the graph below for the last 10 years.

    Changes in the Population of Spain Over the Years

    The population of Spain has decreased by 0.61% in the last 10 years.

    What Will be the Population of Spain in 2022?

    In 2022, Spain's population will decrease by 0.06% compared to 2021, reaching 46,719,142, based on estimates that take into account the last 10 years of data and the pandemic process.

    What Languages ​​Are Spoken In Spain?

    Spanish is the leading language spoken in Spain with 74%, followed by Catalan with 17%, Galician with 7% and Basque with 2%. There are many Romanian and Moroccan immigrants in Spain who speak regional languages ​​as their second languages.

    What Religions Does the Spanish Population Believe In?

    56.6% of the Spanish population belong to the Christian Catholic Church, 2.9% belong to other religions, while 38.6% stated that they do not belong to any religion and 1.8% of the population preferred not to state their religious beliefs.

    Only one in three Catholics living in Spain stated that they largely fulfilled their religious responsibilities.

    In Spain, out of the 38.6% who do not belong to any religion, atheists constitute 15.7% of the total population, agnostics constitute 12.3%, while the remaining 10.6% stated that they do not belong to any religion.

    What is the Muslim Population in Spain?

    The Muslim population in Spain is around 2 million people, which corresponds to 4% of the population of Spain, according to a 2019 study; however, only about 800,000 of the Muslims living in Spain are Spanish citizens.

    Although the majority of Muslims living in Spain are immigrants from North Africa, especially Morocco, there are also Spaniards who are Muslim.

    The Islamic states that existed in Iberia for 7 centuries had a profound impact on the religious structure and culture of Spain.

    What is the Distribution of the Spanish Population by Region?

    The distribution of the Spanish population according to the 17 autonomous regions into which it is divided is listed below.

    • Andalusia, 17.90%
    • Catalonia, 16.46%
    • Madrid Administrative Region, 14.34%
    • Valencia County, 10.70%
    • Galicia, 5.71%
    • Castile and Leon, 5.07%
    • Basque Country, 4.70%
    • Castilla–La Mancha, 4.33%
    • Canary Islands, 4.60%
    • Region of Murcia, 3.20%
    • Aragon, 2.81%
    • Extremadura, 2.25%
    • Balearic Islands, 2.48%
    • Asturias, 2.15%
    • Navarre, 1.40%
    • Cantabria, 1.23%
    • Rioja, 0.68%

    What is the population of Barcelona?

    The population of Barcelona is 1,620,343 according to Eurostat 2016 statistics and has been increasing steadily for years. Barcelona, ​​the capital of the Catalan Autonomous Region in Spain, is the second largest city in Spain after the capital of Spain, Madrid.

    If the surrounding population of Barcelona is taken into account, the total population of the Barcelona Metropolitan area is 5,474,482.

    What are the Cities and Populations of Spain?

    The largest cities in Spain where the population lives are tabulated below.

    Metropolitan areaPopulation
    Madrid7,038,056
    Barcelona5,142,490
    Valencia2,300,000
    Seville1,360,361
    Bilbao953,152
    Malaga923,104
    Oviedo–Gijón–Avilés863,050
    Alicante–Elche785.020
    Murcia–Orihuela763,723
    Las Palmas741,826
    Zaragoza715,894
    Palm tree509,116
    Santa Cruz de Tenerife–La Laguna481,592
    Granada498,365

    What are the Demographic Statistics on the Population of Spain?

    Several demographic statistics of the Spanish population in 2020 are listed below.

    • Approximately 1 person dies every minute in Spain.
    • In Spain, a birth occurs every 1.5 minutes.
    • An immigrant enters Spain every 12.5 minutes.
    • To immigrate to Spain, it is necessary to have been legally resident in Spain for 10 years with long-term visas and residence permits and to have proficiency in one of the local languages.

    What is the Life Expectancy in Spain?

    Life expectancy in Spain is 84 years as of 2021. Life expectancy in Spain is 86.7 years for women and 81.3 years for men.

    The longevity of life in Spain, despite high levels of alcohol and cigarette use, is often attributed to a traditional culture of walking, a Mediterranean diet full of healthy fruit and vegetables, and siestas.

    What is the female and male population of Spain?

    The male population in Spain is 23,008,652, while the female population is 23,570,091. The female population in Spain corresponds to 50.6% of the total population.

    What are the ethnic groups that make up the population of Spain?

    The ethnic elements that make up the Spanish population are listed below.

    • Spanish 84.8% (including Castilians, Catalans, Galicians and Basques)
    • Romanian 1.7%
    • Moroccan 1.7%
    • Ecuadorian 0.7%
    • British 0.7%
    • Colombians 0.5%
    • Bolivian 0.4%
    • Italian 0.4%
    • Chinese 0.4%
    • Other 5.8%

    Information on the ethnic structure of Spain is not collected in official population surveys and censuses in Spain.

    What is the Age Distribution of the Spanish Population?

    The age distribution of the Spanish population is listed below according to 2020 estimates.

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

    What are the Birth and Death Rates in Spain?

    The birth rate in Spain was 7.2 births per 1000 people in 2020, while the death rate was 10.4 per 1000 people. The population decline in Spain in 2020 was 3.2 people per 1000 people.

    What is the Literacy Rate of the Spanish Population?

    The literacy rate in Spain is 98.44%.

    In Spain, those who graduated from secondary school at the age of 16 constitute 45% of the population, those who completed 2-year high school constitute 22% of the population, and higher education graduates constitute 32% of the population.

    In Spain, 70% of students attend public schools and universities, while the rest study in private schools and institutions affiliated with the Catholic Church.

    The education system in Spain is compulsory and free between the ages of 6 and 16, that is, until the completion of secondary schools called secundaria.

    What Are the Most Common Spanish Names?

    Some of the most common Spanish names include María for women and Alejandro for men.

    It is common for people living in Spain to have different versions of the same name, such as Fernanditz, Fernández, Ferrandis and Fernandes, depending on their ethnic origin.

    Traditionally in Spain, children have two surnames, taking the first surname of their mother and father.

    In Spain, names do not change after marriage.

    Common Spanish Female Names

    Some of the most common female names in Spain are listed below.

    • Maria
    • Lucia
    • Paula
    • Laura
    • Andrea
    • Martha
    • Alba
    • Epilepsy
    • Main
    • Where to

    Common Spanish Male Names

    Some of the most common male names in Spain are listed below.

    • Alejandro
    • Daniel
    • David
    • Pablo
    • Adrian
    • Javier
    • Alvaro
    • Sergio
    • Carlos
    • Jorge


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