These are the fastest growing autonomous communities so far this year

Spain’s population once again reached its historical maximum. According to INE’s Continuing Demographic Statistics, as of October 1, 2025, our country The number of residents is 49,442,844. In just one year, Spain added nearly 500,000 people. … This increase did not respond to a recovery in the number of births, which remained minimal, but to a significant increase in the foreign population, which increased by almost 6% and the number of residents by about 400,000 over this period.

Since the summer alone, the population of foreign nationals has increased by 1.12%, while the population of Spanish nationals has increased by only 0.06%. This small increase is also explained by the nationalization of foreign nationals, since the number of people born in Spain has decreased by -0.02%.

The main nationalities that arrived in Spain in the last three months are: Colombian (32,100 entries)Spanish itself (24,500 returned), Moroccan (23,400). And something similar happens among those who leave, but on a smaller scale. Mainly Spaniards (9,100), Colombians (8,200) and Moroccans (7,900) left.

These are the fastest growing autonomous communities

Looking more closely at each autonomous community, the map reveals that growth has not been evenly distributed. So far in 2025, demographic trends are particularly concentrated in the eastern half and central part of the peninsula. Community of Valencia and Aragon It’s like a great attractor pole.

The community with the highest relative growth in the first quarter of this year (data as of April 1) was Madrid, +0.45%, closely followed by the Valencian community (+0.37%) and the Region of Murcia (+0.26%). In the second quarter (July 1), Aragon saw the biggest increase with +0.91%, while the Valencian community returned to the podium with +0.50%, slightly ahead of the Balearic Islands, which advanced with +0.42%. And in the summer (October 1), the Community of Valencia regained the leadership with an increase of +0.40%, this time followed by Aragon (+0.36%) and Castilla-La Mancha (+0.34%).

The overall picture is very clear: the Valencian community is the most dynamic region this year, continuing to top the podium in all three categories and accumulating one of the largest relative increases. Aragon appears to be another major demographic driver, with strong growth in the second quarter and a renewed recovery in late summer.

Changes between the first quarter of 2025 and the fourth quarter of 2024. percentage
Madrid region: + 0.45%
Valencia Community: + 0.37%
Municipality of Melilla: + 0.34%
Murcia: + 0.26%
La Rioja: + 0.24%
Navarra Forral Community: + 0.20%
Castile – La Mancha: + 0.12%

Change in Q2 and Q1 2025 (percentage)
Aragon: +0.91%
Valencia Community: + 0.50%
Balearic Islands: + 0.42%
Catalonia: + 0.30%
Castilla-La Mancha: + 0.28%
Murcia: + 0.24%

Change (percentage) between Q3 and Q2 2025
Valencia Community: + 0.40%
Aragon: + 0.36%
Castilla-La Mancha: + 0.34%
Catalonia: + 0.32%
Navarre Forral Community: + 0.32%
Principality of Asturias: + 0.30%
La Rioja: + 0.30%
Cantabria: + 0.27%
Municipality of Melilla: + 0.24%
Castilla y Leon: + 0.23%
Galicia: + 0.20%

Madrid and Catalonia are not far behind.

Of course, it’s important to note that the INE note focuses on percentages rather than absolute numbers, which changes the way you look at demographics significantly. In absolute numbers, Catalonia and the Community of Madrid These regions continue to be major drivers of population growth due to their large populations and, in the case of Catalonia in particular, growth rates that have exceeded the regional average for several quarters.

Meanwhile, Andalusia, despite being Spain’s most populous community, has seen a significant slowdown in growth, with quarterly fluctuations still at 0.02%, 0.10% and 0.06%, all below the national average.