Quick facts
Barcelona overview
Barcelona (orange) and the other large cities of Spain
Barcelona lies in Catalonia in Spain at 41.39°N, 2.16°E, about 15 m above sea level. The local time zone is Europe/Madrid (UTC+2); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is smaller than Madrid (3,255,944) and larger than Valencia (824,340). The largest city in Spain is Madrid with 3,255,944 people; the capital, Madrid, has 3,255,944.
The national capital, Madrid, is about 504 km away; the nearest large city is Sant Martí, 5 km from Barcelona.
Spain as a whole has a live population of 47,837,168 (-0.1% a year) and ranks #32 of 238 countries — see the Spain population page for the full statistics and the Spain atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Barcelona
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Sant Martí Catalonia | 5 km | 235,719 |
| L'Hospitalet de Llobregat Catalonia | 6 km | 257,038 |
| Santa Coloma de Gramenet Catalonia | 8 km | 118,821 |
| Badalona Catalonia | 10 km | 217,741 |
| Sabadell Catalonia | 18 km | 211,734 |
| Terrassa Catalonia | 23 km | 218,535 |
| Mataró Catalonia | 29 km | 126,988 |
| Tarragona Catalonia | 82 km | 141,542 |
Largest cities in Spain
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Barcelona?
Barcelona has about 1,686,208 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Barcelona the capital of Spain?
No. The capital of Spain is Madrid (3,255,944 people), about 504 km away. Barcelona is the 2nd largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Barcelona compared with the rest of Spain?
Its 1,686,208 residents are 3.5% of the 47,837,168 people living in Spain today. Madrid is larger with 3,255,944 people.
Where is Barcelona?
In Catalonia, Spain, at latitude 41.39 and longitude 2.16, 15 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Sant Martí (5 km), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat (6 km), Santa Coloma de Gramenet (8 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Barcelona Population 2026 — Spain. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/spain/barcelona/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/spain/barcelona/">Barcelona Population 2026 — Spain</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.