Castilla y León rural villages face continued population decline

Deep rural areas in Castilla y León continue to face significant population decline. According to an annual report from the Economic and Social Council (CES), the region lost 5,292 residents in small municipalities with fewer than 2,000 inhabitants last year. This brings the total population in these 1,970 villages to 445,510, marking the first time the figure has fallen below 450,000.

In contrast, the region's overall population grew by 9,591 people in 2025. This growth was primarily concentrated in provincial capitals, which added 8,695 residents. The population in these urban centers now accounts for 43.27 percent of the total community population. Other areas of growth include peri-urban zones and municipalities with over 10,000 inhabitants, while rural service centers saw much more modest increases.