Demographic growth in the Canary Islands is undergoing a significant transformation, with the Spanish-nationality population taking a leading role. While just three years ago, 73.5% of the increase in inhabitants was due to foreign citizenship, this percentage has drastically fallen to 28% in the latest analyzed period. This reduced contribution from the foreign population has led to the Canary Islands recording the lowest demographic growth in the country during the second quarter of the year, at just 0.03%.
Data from the National Statistics Institute (INE) reveals that the Archipelago has reached a new historic population peak, exceeding 2.27 million inhabitants. Over the past year, the increase was 12,205 people, of whom 8,778 were of Spanish nationality and 3,427 were foreign. This national trend is also reflected nationwide, where the population grew to 49.8 million.
It is important to distinguish between people born abroad and those with foreign nationality. Naturalization processes mean that many residents born in other countries are officially registered as Spanish. In the Canary Islands, the number of people born abroad increased by 14,158, and of these, 11,992 now hold Spanish nationality, representing 84.7% of this growth.
The demographic impetus clearly comes from the population born abroad. While this group grew, the number of residents born in Spain decreased by 1,953 people in the Canary Islands compared to the previous year. A similar trend is observed nationally, where the population born in Spain declined by 88,727 inhabitants, although the country's overall growth was driven by the arrival of foreigners.
The main countries of origin for new residents in the Islands are Cuba (nearly one in four), Venezuela (30%), and Colombia (29.5%), reflecting the historical migratory connection with Latin America. In 2025, 88,602 people born in Venezuela, 63,837 in Cuba, and 54,362 in Colombia resided in the Islands. Italy is the first European country on the list, with 43,162 residents.
Nationally, during the second quarter of 2026, the primary nationalities of arrivals were Colombian (34,000), Venezuelan (23,300), and Moroccan (21,100). The number of foreigners in the Canary Islands increased by 3,427 people in one year, while nationally the increase was 87,197, totaling 7,437,543.
By provinces, Las Palmas concentrated the largest part of the demographic growth. Its Spanish-nationality population increased by 5,421 people (0.54%), and the foreign population added 1,735 (1%). In Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spanish residents grew by 3,357 (0.37%), and foreigners by 1,692 (0.98%). In both provinces, the percentage growth of foreigners was higher, but the absolute contribution from Spaniards was greater.
The evolution by island also shows differences. Tenerife led the absolute increase with 4,806 more inhabitants (+0.5%), followed by Lanzarote (+2,786, +1.66%), Gran Canaria (+2,511, +0.29%), and Fuerteventura (+1,859, +1.43%). El Hierro added 176 inhabitants (+1.47%) and La Palma 75 (+0.09%). La Gomera was the only island that lost population, with eight fewer residents (-0.04%). The largest increase in the Spanish population occurred in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura. The foreign population grew intensely in El Hierro (6.5%) and Lanzarote (2.3%), while it decreased in La Palma and La Gomera.
