Urban area over the long-term in Spain
Spain: Urban area over the long-term was 6,890 km² per grid cell in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
6,890 km² per grid cell
Change on year
up 0.7%
World rank
21st
of 202 countries
All-time high
6,890 km² per grid cell
in 2025
All-time low
94.4 km² per grid cell
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Urban area over the long-term in Spain, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in km² per grid cell.
Analysis
Spain recorded 6,890 km² per grid cell for urban area over the long-term in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.7% on the previous year and up 8.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban area over the long-term in Spain peaked at 6,890 km² per grid cell in 2025 and was at its lowest, 94.4 km² per grid cell, in 1000.
Spain ranks 21st of 202 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban area over the long-term in Spain, year by year
| Year | km² per grid cell | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 94.4 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1100 | 114.38 km² per grid cell | +21.2% |
| 1200 | 104.29 km² per grid cell | -8.8% |
| 1300 | 380.03 km² per grid cell | +264.4% |
| 1400 | 180.26 km² per grid cell | -52.6% |
| 1500 | 128.02 km² per grid cell | -29.0% |
| 1600 | 211.64 km² per grid cell | +65.3% |
| 1700 | 244.37 km² per grid cell | +15.5% |
| 1710 | 279.68 km² per grid cell | +14.4% |
| 1720 | 291.5 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 1730 | 303.8 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 1740 | 316.61 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 1750 | 329.93 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 1760 | 334.24 km² per grid cell | +1.3% |
| 1770 | 338.51 km² per grid cell | +1.3% |
| 1780 | 342.74 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 1790 | 346.9 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 1800 | 351 km² per grid cell | +1.2% |
| 1810 | 402.06 km² per grid cell | +14.5% |
| 1820 | 456.02 km² per grid cell | +13.4% |
| 1830 | 533.39 km² per grid cell | +17.0% |
| 1840 | 578.88 km² per grid cell | +8.5% |
| 1850 | 683.02 km² per grid cell | +18.0% |
| 1860 | 809.28 km² per grid cell | +18.5% |
| 1870 | 912.78 km² per grid cell | +12.8% |
| 1880 | 1,025 km² per grid cell | +12.3% |
| 1890 | 1,140 km² per grid cell | +11.2% |
| 1900 | 1,234 km² per grid cell | +8.3% |
| 1910 | 1,397 km² per grid cell | +13.2% |
| 1920 | 1,575 km² per grid cell | +12.7% |
| 1930 | 1,831 km² per grid cell | +16.3% |
| 1940 | 2,110 km² per grid cell | +15.2% |
| 1950 | 2,397 km² per grid cell | +13.6% |
| 1951 | 2,438 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 1952 | 2,482 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 1953 | 2,526 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 1954 | 2,570 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 1955 | 2,615 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 1956 | 2,660 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 1957 | 2,706 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 1958 | 2,752 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 1959 | 2,801 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 1960 | 2,851 km² per grid cell | +1.8% |
| 1961 | 2,917 km² per grid cell | +2.3% |
| 1962 | 2,999 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 1963 | 3,084 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 1964 | 3,170 km² per grid cell | +2.8% |
| 1965 | 3,257 km² per grid cell | +2.7% |
| 1966 | 3,344 km² per grid cell | +2.7% |
| 1967 | 3,432 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 1968 | 3,522 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 1969 | 3,613 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 1970 | 3,705 km² per grid cell | +2.6% |
| 1971 | 3,793 km² per grid cell | +2.4% |
| 1972 | 3,876 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 1973 | 3,960 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 1974 | 4,045 km² per grid cell | +2.2% |
| 1975 | 4,132 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 1976 | 4,219 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 1977 | 4,307 km² per grid cell | +2.1% |
| 1978 | 4,393 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 1979 | 4,476 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 1980 | 4,554 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 1981 | 4,618 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 1982 | 4,660 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 1983 | 4,698 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 1984 | 4,732 km² per grid cell | +0.7% |
| 1985 | 4,763 km² per grid cell | +0.7% |
| 1986 | 4,793 km² per grid cell | +0.6% |
| 1987 | 4,820 km² per grid cell | +0.6% |
| 1988 | 4,846 km² per grid cell | +0.5% |
| 1989 | 4,871 km² per grid cell | +0.5% |
| 1990 | 4,898 km² per grid cell | +0.5% |
| 1991 | 4,922 km² per grid cell | +0.5% |
| 1992 | 4,943 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 1993 | 4,966 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 4,988 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 5,010 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 1996 | 5,030 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 1997 | 5,050 km² per grid cell | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 5,075 km² per grid cell | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 5,109 km² per grid cell | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 5,158 km² per grid cell | +0.9% |
| 2001 | 5,247 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 5,337 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 2003 | 5,427 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 5,518 km² per grid cell | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 5,609 km² per grid cell | +1.6% |
| 2006 | 5,689 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 5,769 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 5,850 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 5,931 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 2010 | 6,012 km² per grid cell | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 6,075 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 6,139 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 2013 | 6,202 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 2014 | 6,266 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 6,331 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 2016 | 6,395 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 2017 | 6,460 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 2018 | 6,526 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 6,591 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 2020 | 6,658 km² per grid cell | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 6,704 km² per grid cell | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 6,750 km² per grid cell | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 6,796 km² per grid cell | +0.7% |
| 2024 | 6,843 km² per grid cell | +0.7% |
| 2025 | 6,890 km² per grid cell | +0.7% |
Spain compared with similar countries
- Spain's 6,890 km² per grid cell is above the median for high income countries, which is 1,007 km² per grid cell, 6.8× the median. (68 countries reporting)
- Spain's 6,890 km² per grid cell is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1,372 km² per grid cell, 5.0× the median. (50 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban area over the long-term in Spain changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1300 | +264.4% | 104.29 km² per grid cell | 380.03 km² per grid cell |
| 1600 | +65.3% | 128.02 km² per grid cell | 211.64 km² per grid cell |
| 1400 | -52.6% | 380.03 km² per grid cell | 180.26 km² per grid cell |
| 1500 | -29.0% | 180.26 km² per grid cell | 128.02 km² per grid cell |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 94.4 km² per grid cell | 94.4 km² per grid cell | 94.4 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1100s | 114.38 km² per grid cell | 114.38 km² per grid cell | 114.38 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1200s | 104.29 km² per grid cell | 104.29 km² per grid cell | 104.29 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1300s | 380.03 km² per grid cell | 380.03 km² per grid cell | 380.03 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1400s | 180.26 km² per grid cell | 180.26 km² per grid cell | 180.26 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1500s | 128.02 km² per grid cell | 128.02 km² per grid cell | 128.02 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1600s | 211.64 km² per grid cell | 211.64 km² per grid cell | 211.64 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1700s | 244.37 km² per grid cell | 244.37 km² per grid cell | 244.37 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1710s | 279.68 km² per grid cell | 279.68 km² per grid cell | 279.68 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1720s | 291.5 km² per grid cell | 291.5 km² per grid cell | 291.5 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1730s | 303.8 km² per grid cell | 303.8 km² per grid cell | 303.8 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1740s | 316.61 km² per grid cell | 316.61 km² per grid cell | 316.61 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1750s | 329.93 km² per grid cell | 329.93 km² per grid cell | 329.93 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1760s | 334.24 km² per grid cell | 334.24 km² per grid cell | 334.24 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1770s | 338.51 km² per grid cell | 338.51 km² per grid cell | 338.51 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1780s | 342.74 km² per grid cell | 342.74 km² per grid cell | 342.74 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1790s | 346.9 km² per grid cell | 346.9 km² per grid cell | 346.9 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1800s | 351 km² per grid cell | 351 km² per grid cell | 351 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1810s | 402.06 km² per grid cell | 402.06 km² per grid cell | 402.06 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1820s | 456.02 km² per grid cell | 456.02 km² per grid cell | 456.02 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1830s | 533.39 km² per grid cell | 533.39 km² per grid cell | 533.39 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1840s | 578.88 km² per grid cell | 578.88 km² per grid cell | 578.88 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1850s | 683.02 km² per grid cell | 683.02 km² per grid cell | 683.02 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1860s | 809.28 km² per grid cell | 809.28 km² per grid cell | 809.28 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1870s | 912.78 km² per grid cell | 912.78 km² per grid cell | 912.78 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1880s | 1,025 km² per grid cell | 1,025 km² per grid cell | 1,025 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1890s | 1,140 km² per grid cell | 1,140 km² per grid cell | 1,140 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1900s | 1,234 km² per grid cell | 1,234 km² per grid cell | 1,234 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1910s | 1,397 km² per grid cell | 1,397 km² per grid cell | 1,397 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1920s | 1,575 km² per grid cell | 1,575 km² per grid cell | 1,575 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1930s | 1,831 km² per grid cell | 1,831 km² per grid cell | 1,831 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1940s | 2,110 km² per grid cell | 2,110 km² per grid cell | 2,110 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1950s | 2,595 km² per grid cell | 2,397 km² per grid cell | 2,801 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1960s | 3,219 km² per grid cell | 2,851 km² per grid cell | 3,613 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1970s | 4,091 km² per grid cell | 3,705 km² per grid cell | 4,476 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1980s | 4,735 km² per grid cell | 4,554 km² per grid cell | 4,871 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1990s | 4,999 km² per grid cell | 4,898 km² per grid cell | 5,109 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2000s | 5,554 km² per grid cell | 5,158 km² per grid cell | 5,931 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2010s | 6,300 km² per grid cell | 6,012 km² per grid cell | 6,591 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2020s | 6,773 km² per grid cell | 6,658 km² per grid cell | 6,890 km² per grid cell | 6 |
Countries ranked near Spain
More reference data data for Spain
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.18 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 2.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 11.76 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.898 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 11.76 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 10.67 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.03 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 11.06 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 52.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 4.89 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban area over the long-term in Spain?
- Urban area over the long-term in Spain was 6,890 km² per grid cell in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban area over the long-term recorded in Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 6,890 km² per grid cell in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban area over the long-term recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 94.4 km² per grid cell in 1000.
- How does Spain rank for urban area over the long-term?
- Spain ranks 21st out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban area over the long-term rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Spain data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban area over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total built-up area of a country over time.