Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Spain
Spain: Share of urban population who live in the largest city was 14.6% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Spain, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Spain recorded 14.6% for share of urban population who live in the largest city in 2020. That is the highest value across all 15 years on record.
The figure is up 15.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of urban population who live in the largest city in Spain peaked at 14.6% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 8.5%, in 1950.
Spain ranks 146th of 179 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Spain, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 8.5% | — |
| 1955 | 9.1% | +7.1% |
| 1960 | 9.7% | +5.8% |
| 1965 | 10.4% | +7.8% |
| 1970 | 11.3% | +8.2% |
| 1975 | 11.4% | +1.1% |
| 1980 | 11.8% | +3.5% |
| 1985 | 11.8% | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 11.8% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 12.1% | +2.7% |
| 2000 | 12.6% | +4.5% |
| 2005 | 12.7% | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 12.7% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 13.8% | +8.5% |
| 2020 | 14.6% | +6.3% |
Spain compared with similar countries
- Spain's 14.6% is below the median for high income countries, which is 29.2%, 50% of the median. (58 countries reporting)
- Spain's 14.6% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 24.1%, 61% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 8.8% | 8.5% | 9.1% | 2 |
| 1960s | 10.0% | 9.7% | 10.4% | 2 |
| 1970s | 11.3% | 11.3% | 11.4% | 2 |
| 1980s | 11.8% | 11.8% | 11.8% | 2 |
| 1990s | 11.9% | 11.8% | 12.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | 12.7% | 12.6% | 12.7% | 2 |
| 2010s | 13.2% | 12.7% | 13.8% | 2 |
| 2020s | 14.6% | 14.6% | 14.6% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Spain
More population data for Spain
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.6358 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.527 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -4.98 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.527 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.5% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.24 million people (2100)
- Population density 66.29 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.5% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.2658 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population -0.1636 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of urban population who live in the largest city in Spain?
- Share of urban population who live in the largest city in Spain was 14.6% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 14.6% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of urban population who live in the largest city recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.5% in 1950.
- How does Spain rank for share of urban population who live in the largest city?
- Spain ranks 146th out of 179 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of urban population who live in the largest city rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Spain data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of urban population who live in the largest city. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of the urban population living in the country's largest city (by population). City boundaries are defined using a consistent global approach based on satellite imagery and population data.