The province of Cádiz has seen a slowdown in its population growth in recent years. Although the natural increase, the difference between births and deaths, is negative, the arrival of citizens from other countries allows the population increase to remain in positive figures, albeit slightly.
According to the INE's continuous population survey, closed on April 1, 2026, the province has 1,267,916 residents. This annual increase of 4,500 people is supported exclusively by foreign residents, who increased by approximately 4,700 people, while the national population decreased by 260 people in the last twelve months.
Cádiz is not among the most preferred Spanish provinces for those changing their residence. The Mediterranean coast primarily attracts retired Europeans with a good standard of living, while migrants seeking employment tend to opt for provinces with greater job opportunities, a scenario not present in Cádiz.
The population situation in Cádiz is threatened by the steady growth of the Balearic Islands. According to INE data, as of April 1, Balearic Islands registered 1,266,279 inhabitants, just 1,600 less than Cádiz. With an increase of over 8,000 people in the islands, the overtaking is expected to occur by the end of this year or early 2027, which would cause Cádiz to drop to ninth place in the ranking of the most populated provinces.
While the Balearic Islands are growing thanks to their external population, Cádiz maintains an advantage of 200,000 national residents. However, the islands host 279,415 foreigners, compared to 75,669 in the province of Cádiz. Within Andalusia, only Almería, Granada, Seville, and Málaga surpass this figure of foreign residents.
