Largest cities in Spain, 1975 to 2050

Madrid leads Spain with 5.58 million people in 2025, ahead of Barcelona at 3.98 million in the UN city ranking.

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What the data shows

In 2025, Madrid ranks #1 with 5.58M, ahead of Barcelona (3.98M) and Valencia (1.39M).
By 2050, on the UN's projections, Madrid is projected to rank #1 with 5.59M, ahead of Barcelona (4.12M) and Valencia (1.38M).
Madrid holds #1 for the whole period, 1975 to 2025.
Biggest climber: Palma de Mallorca, from #11 in 1975 to #6 in 2050.
Madrid grew 1.9× between 1975 and 2025.

About this chart

Madrid and Barcelona head the 2025 ranking for Spain, at 5.58 million and 3.98 million people. Madrid also appears first in 1975, at 2.95 million, so the top position is unchanged between those two endpoints. Valencia occupies third place in 2025 at 1.39 million. These are populations of urban areas defined consistently by the UN, rather than administrative city limits.

The UN projects Madrid to lead in 2050 at 5.59 million people. The figures after 2025 are projections. The Degree of Urbanization identifies contiguous dense settlements, so these totals can differ from municipal and metropolitan statistics. The historical ranking is useful for comparing positions; changing settlement boundaries mean it should not be treated as a measure of growth within fixed city limits.

The data

Source: UN DESA, World Urbanization Prospects: The 2025 Revision (File 21), city population, millions, 1975–2050 (projected after 2025). Retrieved November 5, 2026. Cities as defined by the Degree of Urbanization (contiguous dense areas), so figures differ from city-proper or metro counts. Blank cells indicate that the source supplies no city value for that year, not zero population.

Largest cities in Spain, Population in millions, 1975–2050; projected after 2025, 1975–2050
Date	🇪🇸 Madrid	🇪🇸 Barcelona	🇪🇸 Valencia	🇪🇸 Bilbao	🇪🇸 Seville	🇪🇸 Zaragoza	🇪🇸 Málaga	🇪🇸 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria	🇪🇸 Granada	🇪🇸 Valladolid	🇪🇸 Alicante	🇪🇸 Palma de Mallorca
1975	2.95M	2.23M	0.94M	0.90M	0.58M	0.45M	0.38M	0.27M	0.27M	0.26M	0.17M	0.22M
1976	3.01M	2.25M	0.95M	0.90M	0.59M	0.46M	0.39M	0.27M	0.27M	0.27M	0.18M	0.23M
1977	3.07M	2.27M	0.96M	0.90M	0.60M	0.46M	0.40M	0.28M	0.28M	0.28M	0.18M	0.24M
1978	3.13M	2.29M	0.98M	0.91M	0.61M	0.47M	0.41M	0.29M	0.29M	0.29M	0.19M	0.24M
1979	3.19M	2.31M	0.99M	0.91M	0.62M	0.48M	0.42M	0.29M	0.30M	0.31M	0.19M	0.25M
1980	3.25M	2.33M	1.01M	0.91M	0.63M	0.49M	0.44M	0.30M	0.31M	0.32M	0.20M	0.25M
1981	3.27M	2.35M	1.01M	0.90M	0.63M	0.50M	0.44M	0.30M	0.31M	0.32M	0.21M	0.26M
1982	3.29M	2.36M	1.02M	0.90M	0.64M	0.50M	0.44M	0.30M	0.32M	0.32M	0.22M	0.26M
1983	3.31M	2.38M	1.02M	0.89M	0.65M	0.50M	0.45M	0.30M	0.32M	0.32M	0.23M	0.26M
1984	3.34M	2.40M	1.03M	0.88M	0.65M	0.51M	0.45M	0.30M	0.32M	0.33M	0.24M	0.26M
1985	3.36M	2.42M	1.04M	0.88M	0.66M	0.51M	0.46M	0.30M	0.33M	0.33M	0.26M	0.26M
1986	3.37M	2.43M	1.04M	0.87M	0.66M	0.51M	0.46M	0.30M	0.33M	0.33M	0.26M	0.26M
1987	3.38M	2.45M	1.04M	0.86M	0.67M	0.52M	0.46M	0.30M	0.33M	0.33M	0.26M	0.26M
1988	3.39M	2.47M	1.05M	0.85M	0.68M	0.52M	0.47M	0.30M	0.34M	0.33M	0.26M	0.26M
1989	3.40M	2.49M	1.05M	0.84M	0.68M	0.52M	0.47M	0.30M	0.34M	0.33M	0.26M	0.26M
1990	3.41M	2.50M	1.06M	0.83M	0.69M	0.52M	0.47M	0.30M	0.34M	0.34M	0.27M	0.26M
1991	3.45M	2.55M	1.07M	0.82M	0.69M	0.52M	0.47M	0.30M	0.34M	0.33M	0.27M	0.26M
1992	3.50M	2.60M	1.09M	0.82M	0.69M	0.52M	0.47M	0.30M	0.34M	0.33M	0.27M	0.27M
1993	3.54M	2.65M	1.10M	0.82M	0.69M	0.52M	0.47M	0.30M	0.34M	0.33M	0.27M	0.27M
1994	3.58M	2.70M	1.12M	0.81M	0.68M	0.52M	0.47M	0.30M	0.34M	0.33M	0.27M	0.27M
1995	3.62M	2.75M	1.13M	0.81M	0.68M	0.52M	0.47M	0.30M	0.34M	0.33M	0.27M	0.27M
1996	3.68M	2.76M	1.15M	0.80M	0.68M	0.52M	0.47M	0.30M	0.34M	0.32M	0.27M	0.27M
1997	3.74M	2.78M	1.16M	0.80M	0.68M	0.52M	0.47M	0.30M	0.33M	0.32M	0.27M	0.28M
1998	3.80M	2.80M	1.17M	0.79M	0.68M	0.52M	0.46M	0.30M	0.33M	0.32M	0.27M	0.28M
1999	3.86M	2.81M	1.19M	0.79M	0.68M	0.52M	0.46M	0.30M	0.32M	0.31M	0.27M	0.28M
2000	3.92M	2.83M	1.20M	0.79M	0.68M	0.51M	0.46M	0.30M	0.32M	0.31M	0.27M	0.28M
2001	3.99M	2.87M	1.21M	0.79M	0.68M	0.52M	0.47M	0.30M	0.33M	0.31M	0.28M	0.29M
2002	4.05M	2.92M	1.23M	0.79M	0.68M	0.52M	0.47M	0.31M	0.33M	0.31M	0.29M	0.29M
2003	4.12M	2.96M	1.24M	0.79M	0.68M	0.52M	0.47M	0.31M	0.34M	0.31M	0.30M	0.29M
2004	4.19M	3.01M	1.25M	0.80M	0.68M	0.52M	0.47M	0.32M	0.35M	0.30M	0.31M	0.30M
2005	4.25M	3.05M	1.27M	0.80M	0.68M	0.52M	0.47M	0.32M	0.35M	0.30M	0.32M	0.30M
2006	4.32M	3.09M	1.28M	0.80M	0.68M	0.52M	0.47M	0.32M	0.36M	0.31M	0.32M	0.31M
2007	4.39M	3.13M	1.29M	0.80M	0.68M	0.53M	0.48M	0.33M	0.36M	0.31M	0.33M	0.31M
2008	4.45M	3.18M	1.31M	0.80M	0.68M	0.53M	0.48M	0.33M	0.37M	0.32M	0.34M	0.32M
2009	4.52M	3.22M	1.32M	0.81M	0.68M	0.53M	0.48M	0.33M	0.38M	0.32M	0.34M	0.32M
2010	4.59M	3.26M	1.33M	0.81M	0.68M	0.53M	0.48M	0.34M	0.38M	0.33M	0.35M	0.33M
2011	4.67M	3.32M	1.33M	0.80M	0.68M	0.54M	0.49M	0.34M	0.38M	0.32M	0.35M	0.34M
2012	4.75M	3.38M	1.34M	0.79M	0.68M	0.54M	0.49M	0.34M	0.38M	0.32M	0.35M	0.34M
2013	4.84M	3.44M	1.34M	0.78M	0.68M	0.55M	0.49M	0.35M	0.37M	0.32M	0.36M	0.35M
2014	4.92M	3.49M	1.34M	0.78M	0.68M	0.55M	0.49M	0.35M	0.37M	0.32M	0.36M	0.35M
2015	5.00M	3.55M	1.34M	0.77M	0.69M	0.55M	0.50M	0.35M	0.37M	0.32M	0.37M	0.36M
2016	5.10M	3.62M	1.34M	0.77M	0.69M	0.56M	0.50M	0.36M	0.37M	0.32M	0.37M	0.37M
2017	5.20M	3.68M	1.35M	0.76M	0.69M	0.57M	0.51M	0.36M	0.37M	0.32M	0.38M	0.38M
2018	5.29M	3.75M	1.35M	0.76M	0.70M	0.58M	0.51M	0.37M	0.37M	0.32M	0.38M	0.39M
2019	5.39M	3.81M	1.36M	0.76M	0.70M	0.59M	0.52M	0.37M	0.37M	0.32M	0.39M	0.40M
2020	5.49M	3.88M	1.37M	0.75M	0.70M	0.59M	0.52M	0.38M	0.37M	0.32M	0.39M	0.41M
2021	5.51M	3.90M	1.37M	0.75M	0.70M	0.59M	0.52M	0.38M	0.37M	0.32M	0.39M	0.42M
2022	5.53M	3.92M	1.38M	0.75M	0.70M	0.59M	0.52M	0.38M	0.37M	0.32M	0.40M	0.44M
2023	5.55M	3.94M	1.38M	0.75M	0.70M	0.59M	0.52M	0.38M	0.37M	0.32M	0.40M	0.45M
2024	5.56M	3.96M	1.39M	0.74M	0.70M	0.59M	0.52M	0.38M	0.37M	0.32M	0.40M	0.46M
2025	5.58M	3.98M	1.39M	0.74M	0.70M	0.59M	0.52M	0.38M	0.37M	0.32M	0.40M	0.47M
2026	5.59M	4.00M	1.39M	0.74M	0.70M	0.58M	0.52M	0.38M	0.37M	0.32M	0.40M	0.48M
2027	5.60M	4.01M	1.39M	0.74M	0.70M	0.58M	0.52M	0.38M	0.37M	0.32M	0.40M	0.48M
2028	5.61M	4.02M	1.39M	0.73M	0.69M	0.58M	0.52M	0.38M	0.36M	0.33M	0.40M	0.49M
2029	5.62M	4.04M	1.40M	0.73M	0.69M	0.57M	0.52M	0.38M	0.36M	0.33M	0.40M	0.50M
2030	5.62M	4.05M	1.40M	0.73M	0.69M	0.57M	0.52M	0.38M	0.36M	0.33M	0.40M	0.50M
2031	5.63M	4.06M	1.40M	0.72M	0.69M	0.57M	0.52M	0.38M	0.36M	0.33M	0.40M	0.50M
2032	5.63M	4.06M	1.40M	0.72M	0.68M	0.57M	0.52M	0.38M	0.36M	0.33M	0.40M	0.51M
2033	5.63M	4.07M	1.40M	0.72M	0.68M	0.56M	0.51M	0.38M	0.36M	0.33M	0.40M	0.51M
2034	5.64M	4.08M	1.40M	0.71M	0.68M	0.56M	0.51M	0.38M	0.36M	0.33M	0.40M	0.52M
2035	5.64M	4.08M	1.40M	0.71M	0.68M	0.56M	0.51M	0.38M	0.36M	0.33M	0.40M	0.52M
2036	5.64M	4.09M	1.40M	0.71M	0.68M	0.56M	0.51M	0.38M	0.36M	0.33M	0.40M	0.52M
2037	5.64M	4.10M	1.40M	0.70M	0.67M	0.55M	0.51M	0.38M	0.36M	0.33M	0.40M	0.53M
2038	5.64M	4.10M	1.40M	0.70M	0.67M	0.55M	0.51M	0.38M	0.36M	0.33M	0.40M	0.53M
2039	5.64M	4.11M	1.40M	0.70M	0.67M	0.55M	0.51M	0.38M	0.36M	0.33M	0.40M	0.54M
2040	5.64M	4.11M	1.39M	0.70M	0.67M	0.55M	0.51M	0.38M	0.35M	0.33M	0.40M	0.55M
2041	5.64M	4.11M	1.39M	0.69M	0.67M	0.54M	0.51M	0.38M	0.35M	0.33M	0.40M	0.55M
2042	5.64M	4.12M	1.39M	0.69M	0.66M	0.54M	0.50M	0.38M	0.35M	0.33M	0.40M	0.55M
2043	5.63M	4.12M	1.39M	0.69M	0.66M	0.54M	0.50M	0.38M	0.35M	0.33M	0.40M	0.55M
2044	5.63M	4.12M	1.39M	0.68M	0.66M	0.54M	0.50M	0.38M	0.34M	0.33M	0.40M	0.55M
2045	5.63M	4.12M	1.39M	0.68M	0.66M	0.53M	0.50M	0.38M	0.34M	0.33M	0.40M	0.55M
2046	5.62M	4.12M	1.39M	0.68M	0.65M	0.53M	0.50M	0.38M	0.34M	0.33M	0.39M	0.56M
2047	5.61M	4.12M	1.38M	0.67M	0.65M	0.53M	0.50M	0.38M	0.34M	0.33M	0.39M	0.56M
2048	5.60M	4.12M	1.38M	0.67M	0.65M	0.53M	0.50M	0.37M	0.34M	0.32M	0.39M	0.56M
2049	5.60M	4.12M	1.38M	0.66M	0.65M	0.52M	0.49M	0.37M	0.33M	0.32M	0.39M	0.56M
2050	5.59M	4.12M	1.38M	0.66M	0.64M	0.52M	0.49M	0.37M	0.33M	0.32M	0.39M	0.57M

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Frequently asked questions

What is the largest city in Spain?

Madrid is the largest city in Spain in the UN 2025 series, with about 5.58 million people. Barcelona follows at 3.98 million. These figures use the UN Degree of Urbanization definition, not municipal boundaries.

Which city is projected to be largest in Spain in 2050?

The UN projects Madrid to rank first in 2050, with about 5.59 million people. This is a projection, not an observed population count.

Was Madrid also the largest city in 1975?

The 1975 ranking was led by Madrid, with 2.95 million people. The table preserves every city that reached the top ten in any year shown, including cities outside the top ten today.

Where does this data come from?

UN DESA, World Urbanization Prospects: The 2025 Revision (File 21), city population, millions, 1975–2050 (projected after 2025). Retrieved November 5, 2026. Cities as defined by the Degree of Urbanization (contiguous dense areas), so figures differ from city-proper or metro counts. Blank cells indicate that the source supplies no city value for that year, not zero population. You can download the full table as a CSV from this page.

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