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Population in Spain compared to the United Kingdom: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Spain was 48,848,840 in 2024 vs 69,226,000 people in the United Kingdom in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Spain's population is 48,806,901 people compared to 70,154,914 in the United Kingdom.

Population statistics:

  • The United Kingdom's population is 1.44 times bigger than Spain's.
  • Spain is ranked the 32nd most populous country in the world, while the United Kingdom is the 22nd.
  • The countries together account for 1.44% of the world: 0.59% for Spain vs 0.85% for the United Kingdom.
  • For the last 10 years, Spain has had an average growth rate of +0.43% per year vs +0.7% in the United Kingdom.
  • Since 2006, the population of Spain has increased from 44.4M people to 48.8M (9.93% growth), while the United Kingdom has grown from 60.8M to 70.2M (15.3% growth).

Spain vs United Kingdom: population by year and forecast

Spain
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Spain United Kingdom
2100 33,862,981 74,700,585
2099 34,039,965 74,831,175
2098 34,215,187 74,950,267
2097 34,387,116 75,064,397
2096 34,552,002 75,176,691
2095 34,719,411 75,287,063
2094 34,882,039 75,383,856
2093 35,044,043 75,482,205
2092 35,204,657 75,575,769
2091 35,366,895 75,666,091
2090 35,535,838 75,753,129
2089 35,707,942 75,835,723
2088 35,877,681 75,907,614
2087 36,043,209 75,978,712
2086 36,210,710 76,046,742
2085 36,386,207 76,105,680
2084 36,564,622 76,156,223
2083 36,749,680 76,205,894
2082 36,936,644 76,246,844
2081 37,133,976 76,274,040
2080 37,337,517 76,306,205
2079 37,551,557 76,334,949
2078 37,771,135 76,353,484
2077 38,002,963 76,371,123
2076 38,249,247 76,373,520
2075 38,506,040 76,386,071
2074 38,777,715 76,397,426
2073 39,056,249 76,406,554
2072 39,348,447 76,398,941
2071 39,642,346 76,388,223
2070 39,949,413 76,378,505
2069 40,256,590 76,371,827
2068 40,575,543 76,370,973
2067 40,893,798 76,363,548
2066 41,218,263 76,356,638
2065 41,543,254 76,355,841
2064 41,878,338 76,352,770
2063 42,208,320 76,353,175
2062 42,542,893 76,346,535
2061 42,874,096 76,344,206
2060 43,191,452 76,344,725
2059 43,506,737 76,345,215
2058 43,809,907 76,326,961
2057 44,112,668 76,307,006
2056 44,415,689 76,274,247
2055 44,691,749 76,235,304
2054 44,958,971 76,167,710
2053 45,223,225 76,094,051
2052 45,470,541 76,001,979
2051 45,695,307 75,895,690
2050 45,911,520 75,777,445
2049 46,127,777 75,646,044
2048 46,322,244 75,499,380
2047 46,510,152 75,338,951
2046 46,687,914 75,171,300
2045 46,858,778 74,993,186
2044 47,016,278 74,807,530
2043 47,158,325 74,607,485
2042 47,301,091 74,407,783
2041 47,434,593 74,203,292
2040 47,563,236 73,994,525
2039 47,685,343 73,782,112
2038 47,798,797 73,559,085
2037 47,910,899 73,335,723
2036 48,020,350 73,101,646
2035 48,124,430 72,850,722
2034 48,220,051 72,597,177
2033 48,311,842 72,322,802
2032 48,402,470 72,046,316
2031 48,495,278 71,757,868
2030 48,579,920 71,442,811
2029 48,648,699 71,123,782
2028 48,707,969 70,783,199
2027 48,758,200 70,421,923
2026 48,806,901 70,055,911
2025 48,838,057 69,658,188
2024 48,848,840 69,226,000
2023 48,352,528 68,492,000
2022 47,786,102 67,604,000
2021 47,443,821 66,984,000
2020 47,359,424 66,744,000
2019 47,118,501 66,631,000
2018 46,782,011 66,289,000
2017 46,571,232 65,966,000
2016 46,458,139 65,607,000
2015 46,422,303 65,088,000
2014 46,460,733 64,620,000
2013 46,604,197 64,139,000
2012 46,773,055 63,711,000
2011 46,742,697 63,258,810
2010 46,576,897 62,766,365
2009 46,362,946 62,276,270
2008 45,954,106 61,806,995
2007 45,226,803 61,322,463
2006 44,397,319 60,846,820
2005 43,653,155 60,401,206
2004 42,921,895 59,987,905
2003 42,187,645 59,647,577
2002 41,431,558 59,370,479
2001 40,850,412 59,119,673
2000 40,567,864 58,892,514
1999 40,386,875 58,682,466
1998 40,223,509 58,487,141
1997 40,057,389 58,316,954
1996 39,889,852 58,166,950
1995 39,724,050 58,019,030
1994 39,549,108 57,865,745
1993 39,361,262 57,718,614
1992 39,157,685 57,580,402
1991 38,966,376 57,424,897
1990 38,867,322 57,247,586
1989 38,827,764 57,076,711
1988 38,766,939 56,928,327
1987 38,684,815 56,802,050
1986 38,584,624 56,681,396
1985 38,469,512 56,550,268
1984 38,330,364 56,422,072
1983 38,171,525 56,332,848
1982 37,986,012 56,313,641
1981 37,758,631 56,333,829
1980 37,491,165 56,314,216
1979 37,191,330 56,246,951
1978 36,864,898 56,196,504
1977 36,511,638 56,193,492
1976 36,137,812 56,211,968
1975 35,757,900 56,225,800
1974 35,373,335 56,229,974
1973 34,988,947 56,194,527
1972 34,604,469 56,086,065
1971 34,224,490 55,896,223
1970 33,814,531 55,663,250
1969 33,441,054 55,441,750
1968 33,113,134 55,211,700
1967 32,682,947 54,943,600
1966 32,283,194 54,648,500
1965 31,954,292 54,348,050
1964 31,609,195 54,000,000
1963 31,296,651 53,650,000
1962 31,023,366 53,250,000
1961 30,739,250 52,800,000
1960 30,455,000 52,400,000

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/spain/united-kingdom | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Spain increased by 2,060,820 people (a 4.64% growth), while the United Kingdom gained 4,760,180 people (a 7.82% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Spain gained 2,348,762 people (a 5.06% growth), while the United Kingdom's population increased by 4,547,914 people (a 6.93% growth).

Spain was ranked 28th most populous country in 2006 and is 32nd in 2026. The United Kingdom was ranked 21st in 2006 and ranked 22nd now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Spain's population will shrink by 5.93% to 45,911,520 people with a rank change from 32nd to 47th. The population of the United Kingdom will increase by 8.01% to 75,777,445 people and rank change from 22nd to 26th.

The United Kingdom is projected to reach its peak in 2073 at 76.4M people, while Spain's population already peaked in 2024 at 48.8M people and is projected to decrease to 33.9M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Spain
Factual

Projection
United Kingdom
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Spain United Kingdom
2100 -0.52% -0.17%
2099 -0.51% -0.16%
2098 -0.5% -0.15%
2097 -0.48% -0.15%
2096 -0.48% -0.15%
2095 -0.47% -0.13%
2094 -0.46% -0.13%
2093 -0.46% -0.12%
2092 -0.46% -0.12%
2091 -0.48% -0.11%
2090 -0.48% -0.11%
2089 -0.47% -0.09%
2088 -0.46% -0.09%
2087 -0.46% -0.09%
2086 -0.48% -0.08%
2085 -0.49% -0.07%
2084 -0.5% -0.07%
2083 -0.51% -0.05%
2082 -0.53% -0.04%
2081 -0.55% -0.04%
2080 -0.57% -0.04%
2079 -0.58% -0.02%
2078 -0.61% -0.02%
2077 -0.64% -0.003%
2076 -0.67% -0.02%
2075 -0.7% -0.01%
2074 -0.71% -0.01%
2073 -0.74% 0.01%
2072 -0.74% 0.01%
2071 -0.77% 0.01%
2070 -0.76% 0.009%
2069 -0.79% 0.001%
2068 -0.78% 0.01%
2067 -0.79% 0.009%
2066 -0.78% 0.001%
2065 -0.8% 0.004%
2064 -0.78% -0%
2063 -0.79% 0.009%
2062 -0.77% 0.003%
2061 -0.73% -0.001%
2060 -0.72% -0.001%
2059 -0.69% 0.02%
2058 -0.69% 0.03%
2057 -0.68% 0.04%
2056 -0.62% 0.05%
2055 -0.59% 0.09%
2054 -0.58% 0.1%
2053 -0.54% 0.12%
2052 -0.49% 0.14%
2051 -0.47% 0.16%
2050 -0.47% 0.17%
2049 -0.42% 0.19%
2048 -0.4% 0.21%
2047 -0.38% 0.22%
2046 -0.36% 0.24%
2045 -0.33% 0.25%
2044 -0.3% 0.27%
2043 -0.3% 0.27%
2042 -0.28% 0.28%
2041 -0.27% 0.28%
2040 -0.26% 0.29%
2039 -0.24% 0.3%
2038 -0.23% 0.3%
2037 -0.23% 0.32%
2036 -0.22% 0.34%
2035 -0.2% 0.35%
2034 -0.19% 0.38%
2033 -0.19% 0.38%
2032 -0.19% 0.4%
2031 -0.17% 0.44%
2030 -0.14% 0.45%
2029 -0.12% 0.48%
2028 -0.1% 0.51%
2027 -0.1% 0.52%
2026 -0.06% 0.57%
2025 -0.02% 0.62%
2024 1.03% 1.07%
2023 1.19% 1.31%
2022 0.72% 0.93%
2021 0.18% 0.36%
2020 0.51% 0.17%
2019 0.72% 0.52%
2018 0.45% 0.49%
2017 0.24% 0.55%
2016 0.08% 0.8%
2015 -0.08% 0.72%
2014 -0.31% 0.75%
2013 -0.36% 0.67%
2012 0.06% 0.71%
2011 0.36% 0.78%
2010 0.46% 0.79%
2009 0.89% 0.76%
2008 1.61% 0.79%
2007 1.87% 0.78%
2006 1.7% 0.74%
2005 1.7% 0.69%
2004 1.74% 0.57%
2003 1.82% 0.47%
2002 1.42% 0.42%
2001 0.7% 0.39%
2000 0.45% 0.36%
1999 0.41% 0.33%
1998 0.41% 0.29%
1997 0.42% 0.26%
1996 0.42% 0.25%
1995 0.44% 0.26%
1994 0.48% 0.25%
1993 0.52% 0.24%
1992 0.49% 0.27%
1991 0.25% 0.31%
1990 0.1% 0.3%
1989 0.16% 0.26%
1988 0.21% 0.22%
1987 0.26% 0.21%
1986 0.3% 0.23%
1985 0.36% 0.23%
1984 0.42% 0.16%
1983 0.49% 0.03%
1982 0.6% -0.04%
1981 0.71% 0.03%
1980 0.81% 0.12%
1979 0.89% 0.09%
1978 0.97% 0.005%
1977 1.03% -0.03%
1976 1.06% -0.02%
1975 1.09% -0.007%
1974 1.1% 0.06%
1973 1.11% 0.19%
1972 1.11% 0.34%
1971 1.21% 0.42%
1970 1.12% 0.4%
1969 0.99% 0.42%
1968 1.32% 0.49%
1967 1.24% 0.54%
1966 1.03% 0.55%
1965 1.09% 0.64%
1964 1% 0.65%
1963 0.88% 0.75%
1962 0.92% 0.85%
1961 0.93% 0.76%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/spain/united-kingdom | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Spain grew by 1.03%, while the United Kingdom's population grew by 1.07%.

Live population counters

Spain United Kingdom
Current population
48806901
70154914
Population rank 32/197 22/197
Percent of world population 0.59% 0.85%
One net population change
1.06 minutes
43 seconds
One birth every
1.62 minutes
45.9 seconds
One death every
1.21 minutes
48.4 seconds
Daily growth/decline +1,360 +2,011
Annual growth/decline +496,312 +734,000
Annual growth/decline rate +1.03% +1.07%
Population growth rate rank 100/197 97/197
One migration net change every
5.45 minutes
1.35 minutes
Annual migration change +96,630 +389,911
Net migration rank 17/196 4/196
Foreign-born residents 8,870,527 11,845,479
Foreign-born residents rank 6/195 4/195
Foreign-born share of population 18.5% 17.1%
Foreign-born share rank 32/195 36/195

Natural population change vs migration

Spain
Natural

Migration
United Kingdom
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Spain United Kingdom
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 96,630 - 389,911
2024 - 111,674 - 417,114
2023 -111,211 119,099 34,589 445,523
2022 -133,801 299,779 39,751 487,029
2021 -113,865 144,385 30,612 462,967
2020 -151,551 236,854 -4,272 144,221
2019 -56,542 464,783 108,342 232,727
2018 -56,139 337,467 119,321 259,744
2017 -32,600 201,135 145,125 272,311
2016 0 106,474 177,139 324,649
2015 -4,642 -1,979 175,738 347,839
2014 32,522 -97,870 206,784 306,091
2013 37,284 -250,741 198,830 237,272
2012 51,450 -153,486 248,473 172,088
2011 84,137 60,761 259,361 228,773
2010 102,469 69,406 251,066 274,811
2009 106,635 129,557 230,422 249,639
2008 133,267 434,135 216,325 263,390
2007 108,545 772,317 196,232 309,385
2006 110,994 659,720 176,455 288,923
2005 78,576 629,803 144,963 308,279
2004 85,844 661,158 131,974 276,077
2003 54,844 658,428 89,471 211,846
2002 53,861 737,880 65,308 203,577
2001 44,936 181,307 65,032 175,133
2000 36,512 176,269 70,671 153,917
1999 8,077 178,559 64,551 152,653
1998 4,022 182,926 87,730 125,541
1997 20,028 165,345 99,138 59,723
1996 11,967 162,704 98,884 54,964
1995 15,889 162,434 87,028 61,385
1994 31,639 160,407 127,304 45,339
1993 47,234 160,907 103,893 27,403
1992 62,652 177,544 149,709 17,846
1991 58,450 122,841 143,562 27,601
1990 66,075 -30,684 154,569 57,132
1989 81,538 -25,892 119,861 49,586
1988 100,794 -17,663 136,628 13,952
1987 116,054 -12,681 136,325 8,266
1986 131,188 -13,540 90,690 41,836
1985 146,184 -589 79,170 83,164
1984 172,487 2,754 84,633 71,107
1983 183,223 1,241 61,966 27,063
1982 231,714 -7,384 56,314 -61,152
1981 237,879 2,563 73,234 -83,876
1980 281,184 20,166 95,734 -25,187
1979 312,407 -5,929 61,872 11,255
1978 339,157 -2,504 16,859 3,783
1977 361,465 -1,332 0 -21,636
1976 375,834 2,804 -5,621 -19,135
1975 371,882 -218 33,735 -40,241
1974 396,182 105,838 67,476 -65,710
1973 374,381 8,624 112,389 -33,840
1972 391,030 7,935 162,650 -1,406
1971 369,625 7,363 257,123 1,175
1970 378,723 -60,580 244,918 -15,254
1969 367,851 -49,956 260,577 -60,655
1968 387,423 -46,088 292,622 -38,852
1967 402,001 -42,344 346,145 -39,659
1966 397,084 -41,467 333,356 -27,935
1965 405,819 -42,476 364,132 -24,955
1964 429,885 -41,461 405,000 -23,885
1963 394,338 -44,446 337,995 8,271
1962 384,690 -45,211 340,800 76,443
1961 396,537 -46,517 311,519 52,295
1960 398,960 -154,869 314,400 19,953

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/spain/united-kingdom | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 25.8% of the population change in Spain is from natural causes (a loss of 627,829 people) and 74.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,810,127 people). In the United Kingdom 23.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,033,129 people) and 76.1% is from migration (a gain of 3,283,101 people).

As of 2024, 8,870,527 residents or 18.5% of the population were not native-born in Spain, compared to 11,845,479 people or 17.1% in the United Kingdom.

Biggest cities by population

Spain
City Population
Madrid 3.51M
Barcelona 1.73M
Tenerife 955K
Valencia 841K
Zaragoza 693K
Seville 689K
Malaga 599K
Palma de Mallorca 435K
Las Palmas 382K
Alicante 366K
United Kingdom
City Population
London 8.8M
Birmingham 1.14M
Glasgow 626K
Manchester 548K
Leeds 536K
Sheffield 518K
Liverpool 513K
Edinburgh 488K
Bristol 472K
Cardiff 384K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/spain/united-kingdom | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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