Barcelona Population 2026
Barcelona has a population of 1,686,208, making it the #2 biggest city in 🇪🇸 Spain, located in Catalonia. Roughly 3.5% of Spain's population lives here. It is about 1.9× smaller than Madrid, the country's biggest city.
Population (city proper)
1,686,208
Rank in Spain
#2
Coordinates
41.39°N, 2.16°E
~15 m elevation · Europe/Madrid
Distance to capital (Madrid)
504 km
313 miles, straight line
Other big cities in Catalonia
| City | Population | Rank in Spain |
|---|---|---|
| L'Hospitalet de Llobregat | 257,038 | #17 |
| Terrassa | 218,535 | #22 |
| Badalona | 217,741 | #23 |
| Sabadell | 211,734 | #26 |
| Tarragona | 141,542 | #47 |
| Lleida | 140,797 | #48 |
| Mataró | 126,988 | #49 |
| Santa Coloma de Gramenet | 118,821 | #54 |
Cities near Barcelona
- L'Hospitalet de Llobregat257,038 people · ~6 km away
- Santa Coloma de Gramenet118,821 people · ~8 km away
- Badalona217,741 people · ~10 km away
- Sabadell211,734 people · ~18 km away
- Terrassa218,535 people · ~23 km away
- Mataró126,988 people · ~29 km away
FAQ
What is the population of Barcelona?
Barcelona has a population of 1,686,208 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #2 biggest city in Spain.
What region is Barcelona in?
Barcelona is located in Catalonia, Spain.
Is Barcelona the capital of Spain?
No, the capital of Spain is Madrid, about 504 km away.
Sources & notes
Population refers to the city proper (municipal boundaries), not the metropolitan area. Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 2026-07-07. Country data: UN World Population Prospects 2024.