Spain vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Population in the largest city

Spain
17.1%
in 2025
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
17.0%
in 2025
Spain rank
127th
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank
128th

Population in the largest city over time

  • Spain
  • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
05101520196019922025

How they compare

Spain currently reports 17.1% against 17.0% in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a difference of 0.1%.

The two have swapped places 5 times across 66 shared years of data; in 1960 it was United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ahead.

Spain ranks 127th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 128th of 153 countries.

Across the 7 decades both report, Spain averaged higher in 5 and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 2.

Head to head by decade

Decade Spain United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Difference Ahead
1960s 14.9% 18.8% 3.9% United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
1970s 15.8% 16.5% 0.7% United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
1980s 15.5% 15.2% 0.3% Spain
1990s 15.6% 15.4% 0.2% Spain
2000s 16.0% 15.5% 0.5% Spain
2010s 16.7% 16.2% 0.5% Spain
2020s 17.4% 16.9% 0.5% Spain

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher population in the largest city, Spain or United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
Spain, at 17.1% against 17.0% in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as of 2025.
What is the difference in population in the largest city between Spain and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
0.1%, with Spain ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Spain and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
66 years are reported by both, from 1960 to 2025.
How do Spain and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank globally for population in the largest city?
Spain ranks 127th and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 128th of 153 countries.
Where does this data come from?
World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN), published as Population in the largest city (% of urban population). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Spain vs United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Population in the largest city. Statizoid, drawing on World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN). Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://urban.statizoid.com/compare/population-in-the-largest-city-percent-of-urban-population/spain/united-kingdom/

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About this data

Indicator
Population in the largest city (% of urban population)
Unit
% of urban population
Source
World Urbanization Prospects 2018, United Nations (UN)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
196 places, 12,906 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Population in largest city is the percentage of a country's urban population living in that country's largest metropolitan area.