Spain’s population continues to rise, but the country is also getting older. The latest Annual Population Census from the National Statistics Institute (INE) shows that Spain reached 49,128,297 residents in 2025, an increase of 1.05% compared with the previous year.
That means 508,602 more people.
Half of that increase came from residents over the age of 64, while the number of children fell sharply.
Spain population rise: Clear shift in age
Spain now has nearly 100,000 fewer residents under the age of 16, a fall of 1.43%. Meanwhile, the working-age population (16 to 64) grew by 358,033 people, up 1.13%.
The most notable rise, however, came from those aged over 64. This group increased by 250,257 people, more than 2.5% in a single year. Spain now has over ten million residents in this age bracket, representing 20.7% of the total population.
Where the number of children is falling
Only five provinces recorded any growth in their child population. In most of the country, the number of children aged 0 to 14 either stagnated or declined, with Cádiz, Seville, Cantabria and Pontevedra seeing drops of around 3%.
Other provinces showing reductions of around 2% include Gipuzkoa, Badajoz, Girona and Jaén.
In total, Spain has 86,314 fewer children.
The provinces that did manage small increases in this age group were Alicante, Cuenca, Toledo, Lugo and Ávila. Alicante’s growth is particularly important as it makes the Valencian Community one of the few autonomous regions where the child population has not declined as sharply.
The rise of the Baby Boom generation
Spain is gaining population, but it is the older generations who are driving the increase. The Baby Boomer generation (born 1946–1964) grew by 264,254 people, up 2.6% from 2024.
The four regions with the largest increases in this group were:
- Andalusia: +54,248
- Catalonia: +38,003
- Valencian Community: +32,809
- Madrid: +35,964
Spain population rise: Where ageing is accelerating
The biggest percentage increases in the 64–79 age bracket were recorded in:
- Las Palmas and Guadalajara (both above 4%)
- Almería and Murcia (around 3.8%)
Medium-sized municipalities also stand out, especially on the Costa Blanca:
- Torrevieja: +4.9%
- Gandía: +3.6%
- Benidorm: +3.5%
These figures highlight how coastal areas of the Valencian Community continue to attract older residents, both Spanish and international.
Among Spain’s major cities, Valencia and Alicante show some of the highest ageing rates (around 2%). Madrid and Barcelona follow with increases of around 1.6%.
