Spain recorded the lowest number of births in more than two centuries in 2024, with just 317,255 births, only 212,030 of which were to mothers born in the country.
According to the latest report by the CEU-CEFAS Demographic Observatory, titled “Spain’s Demographic Decline Deepens,” the country is facing an unprecedented worsening of its demographic situation, marked by historic lows in both births and fertility rates, alongside a rapidly ageing population. At the same time, the number of foreign-born residents reached record highs, with two million additional immigrants arriving between 2022 and 2024, despite persistently high unemployment, a severe housing shortage, and growing congestion in the public healthcare system.
Spain’s fertility rate fell to 1.10 children per woman, dropping to 1.07 among Spanish nationals—far below the generational replacement level of 2.1. In several autonomous communities and provinces, fertility has fallen below one child per woman, with the lowest levels recorded in the Canary Islands (just 0.82 children per woman, and only 0.78 among Spanish women), Asturias and Galicia.
The report also notes that although Spain’s total population reached a historic high of 49.44 million residents in October 2025, this growth is entirely driven by immigration, as the native-born population has been declining since 2011 due to negative natural population growth. Over this period, Spain has lost more than 1.8 million native Spaniards (defined as children born to mothers born in Spain), a figure expected to exceed two million by 2026.
Another significant finding is that in 2024, 33.2% of births were to mothers born abroad, while 38.5% of newborns had at least one immigrant parent. In regions such as Catalonia and the Balearic Islands this figure surpassed 50%, peaking at 57.9% in the province of Girona. At the same time, the average age at which Spanish women have their first child reached a historic high of 32.3 years—one of the key factors behind the country’s low birth rate.
The report also warns of the rapid ageing of the population. More than 21% of residents in Spain are now over the age of 65, rising to 25% among native Spaniards. Asturias, Galicia, Castile and León, and the Basque Country are the most aged regions, while Murcia, the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands have the youngest populations.
Life expectancy in Spain remains among the highest in Europe and reached a new historic peak in 2024. While this is broadly positive, the study highlights several worrying signs, including a rise in infant mortality over the past three years and increasing pressure on public services—particularly healthcare and housing—linked to both population ageing and large-scale immigration.
The report concludes that Spain faces a profound structural challenge requiring urgent action, including stronger policies to support birth rates, families and work-life balance, alongside a more rational and orderly management of migration flows aligned with the country’s real needs and ensuring effective integration.