Overview
- INE’s quarterly estimate published Thursday puts Spain at 49,687,120 residents after a first‑quarter gain of 97,021 and roughly 460,000 more than a year earlier.
- Foreign-born residents rose by 123,076 to 10,154,722, while people with foreign nationality increased by 94,182 to a record 7,346,414, which outpaced a drop of 26,055 in those born in Spain.
- The figures distinguish foreign-born from foreign nationals, since many newcomers have acquired Spanish citizenship, leaving the foreign-born total larger than the count of non‑citizens.
- Andalusia remains the most populous region at 8,758,481 and has widened its lead over Catalonia, marking a new high for the community.
- Regional patterns vary: Madrid and Galicia posted year‑over‑year gains led by foreign residents, Castilla y León notched a 16th straight quarter of growth on the same driver, the biggest quarterly increases came in the Valencian Community, Castilla‑La Mancha and Murcia, and only the Canary Islands and Melilla declined.
- Colombians, Moroccans and Venezuelans were the top nationalities among new arrivals in the first quarter, according to the provisional tally.