Canary Islands grow as births fall below deaths

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In 2025, the Canary Islands had a population of around 2.26 million, which was 20,112 more than in the previous census.
Last year, 18,580 people died on the islands, whilst only 11,872 children were born.
Immigration is offsetting the population decline and causing the population to rise - particularly in the east of the islands.

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Nowhere in Spain has the number of deaths risen more sharply than in the Canary Islands. In addition, the decline in births is the second steepest in the country. Last year, the Canary Islands lost 6,908 residents through natural causes. This trend has been negative since 2018. Nevertheless, the population has been growing for years.

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There were 11,672 newborns in 2025. 18,580 people died. In numerical terms, this results in a negative balance. The National Institute of Statistics has now announced this in its report on the population figures for the Canary Islands.

The archipelago’s most recent census recorded a population of 2,258,866. According to the Canary Islands Institute of Statistics (Istac), this was 20,112 more inhabitants than in the previous census. The distribution almost consistently mirrors the population figures for the Canary Islands. Tenerife’s population increased by 7,280, Gran Canaria’s by 5,605, Lanzarote’s by 3,648, Fuerteventura’s by 2,404, La Palma’s by 915, El Hierro’s by 207 and La Gomera’s by 53. This reveals a clear trend.

Migration is fuelling growth in the Canary Islands

The Canary Islands grew by 5.6 per cent in the ten years leading up to the end of the pandemic. This was double the relative population growth seen on average across Spain. This is particularly evident on Fuerteventura. Four in ten residents were born abroad. On El Hierro, the figure is three in ten, whilst Lanzarote lies exactly between the two islands.

The two largest of the three islands explain why the population has been growing for years, particularly in the east of the Canary Islands. However, when you look more closely, the trend becomes even clearer. In La Oliva on Fuerteventura – as in the south of Tenerife, for example in Adeje – one in two residents comes from abroad. These regions not only attract the most foreigners, but also tend to record the highest growth rates.

As a result, the number of residents of foreign origin is increasing year on year. In addition, the number of tourists has risen significantly in recent years. For the Canary Islands, therefore, immigration not only offsets the natural decline in the population but is also actively changing the archipelago’s character.