Quick facts
Madrid overview
Madrid (orange) and the other large cities of Spain
Madrid lies in Spain at 40.42°N, 3.7°W, about 665 m above sea level. The local time zone is Europe/Madrid (UTC+2); GeoNames classifies it as a national capital.
It is the biggest urban centre of Spain: the next largest cities are Barcelona (1,686,208), Valencia (824,340), Zaragoza (686,986). Together, the three largest cities hold 12.1% of the national population.
The nearest large city is Valladolid, about 162 km away, followed by Salamanca (176 km).
Spain as a whole has a live population of 47,837,048 (-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 Madrid
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Valladolid Castille and León | 162 km | 300,618 |
| Salamanca Castille and León | 176 km | 144,825 |
Largest cities in Spain
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Madrid?
Madrid has about 3,255,944 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Madrid the capital of Spain?
Yes — Madrid is the national capital of Spain.
How big is Madrid compared with the rest of Spain?
Its 3,255,944 residents are 6.8% of the 47,837,048 people living in Spain today. It is the largest city in the country.
Where is Madrid?
In Spain, at latitude 40.42 and longitude -3.7, 665 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Valladolid (162 km), Salamanca (176 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Madrid Population 2026 — Spain. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/spain/madrid/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/spain/madrid/">Madrid 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 2026-10-21. More about our data.