Press Release: Continuous Population Statistics (CPS). 1 April, 2024. Provisional data.

Main results

The population of Spain increased by 82,346 during the first quarter of 2024, standing at 48,692,804 inhabitants on 1 April 2024.
The main immigrant nationalities were Colombian, Moroccan and Venezuelan.
Comunidad de Madrid (0.44%), Autonomous City of Melilla (0.40%) and Comunitat Valenciana (0.36%) experienced the largest increases in population.

More information

Resident population and population in family dwellings.
Households and external migrations.
Infographic.

The resident population in Spain increased by 82,346 persons in the first quarter and stood at 48,692,804 inhabitants as of 1 April, 2024. This is the highest-ever figure since records began.

In annual terms, estimated population growth was 459,615 people.

Evolution of the population in Spain

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    "47,424,595",
    "77,759",
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    "47,486,727",
    "62,132",
    "0.18",
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    "47,609,145",
    "122,418",
    "0.53",
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    "47,781,354",
    "172,209",
    "0.92",
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    "47,940,295",
    "158,941",
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    "145,066",
    "1.26",
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    "140,887",
    "1.24",
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    "48,509,096",
    "135,020",
    "1.19",
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    "1st January",
    "48,610,458",
    "101,362",
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Provisional data as of 1 April 2023

Population by nationality and place of birth

Population growth in Spain was, almost entirely, due to the rise in people born abroad. This population—8,915,831—was more than that of Spanish nationality, due to the processes of acquiring Spanish citizenship.

Thus, the number of foreigners rose by 85,684 during the quarter, reaching 6,581,028. And the population of Spanish nationality diminished by 3,338.

Evolution of the population in Spain

First quarter of 2024

Households

The number of households stood at 19,334,585 on 1 April 2024, with an increase of 23,809 during the first quarter 2024.

Evolution of the number of households in Spain

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    "18,749,037",
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    "18,821,499",
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    "18,876,038",
    "54,539",
    "1.51",
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    "18,951,473",
    "75,435",
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    "68,825",
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    "19,281,162",
    "43,736",
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Provisional data as of 1 April 2023

External migrations

The main nationalities of immigrants during the first quarter of 2024 were Colombian (with 39,200 arrivals in Spain), Ukrainian (26,000) and Venezuelan (22,600).

On the other hand, the most numerous nationalities of emigrants were Spanish (with 10,000 departures), Moroccans (9,900) and Romanians (8,000).

External migrations, main nationalities. Immigration

First quarter of 2024

External migrations, main nationalities. Emigration

First quarter of 2024

Population by autonomous communities and cities

During the first quarter of 2024, the population grew in 12 autonomous communities and the autonomous city of Melilla, and reduced in the five remaining autonomous communities and the autonomous city of Ceuta. The greatest increases were registered in Comunidad de Madrid (0.44%), the Autonomous City of Melilla (0.40%) and Comunitat Valenciana (0.36%).

Registered population by Autonomous Communities and Cities

Variation between the first quarter of 2024 and fourth quarter of 2023. Percentage

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      "0.10",
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      "0.10",
      "0.10",
      "0.16",
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Reviews and data updates

The CPS data is provisional from the latest census published. Each quarter, the series is revised until a population census is published again at the end of the year, becoming definitive. Similarly, the population data in family dwellings and households will be definitive when a new census of dwellings is published, the provisional data being updated every quarter. The migration data constitute only a first estimation. The definitive statistics are published in the Statistics on Migrations and Changes of Residence. All results of this operation are available on INEbase.

Methodological note

The purpose of the Continuous Population Statistics (CPS) is to provide a quantitative measurement of the population habitually resident in Spain, of the population resident in family dwellings and of the number of households. The population series are disaggregated by sex, year of birth, age, country of nationality and country of birth. The series of households are disaggregated by household and number of numbers.

The CPS always contains two types of data: definitive (until the latest published census), and provisional (since the last published census).

In addition, the CPS offers a first estimate of the external migrations detected during the quarter, for the main nationalities and countries of birth. These series will not be revised.

Type of operation:: statistics based on official data (mainly the continuous municipal register) and on other operations that have already been performed, such as censuses.
Population scope:: population residing in Spain, population residing in family dwellings and households.
Geographical scope:: national, autonomous communities and cities, provinces and islands.
Reference period for the results:: 1 January, 1 April, 1 July and 1 October each year.
Frequency of dissemination:: quarterly.

For more information, you can access the methodology and the standardised methodological report.

INE statistics are produced in accordance with the Code of Good Practice for European Statistics. More information on Quality at INE and the Code of Best Practices.