Renting has been gaining ground in Spain compared with owner-occupied homes. Between 2011 and 2021, the number of renting households rose by 19.25%, based on the latest housing census from the National Institute of Statistics. Looking further back to 2001, the rent-driven shift is clear: the overall rise over the last twenty years is 41%, since rent share stood at 11.4% that year. Meanwhile, households owning property declined—from 82.2% in 2001 to 78.9% in 2011 and then to 75.5% in 2021—reflecting a longer-term move toward rental accommodation.
Across Spain, rental preference has become a widespread trend. In only six state capitals did the share of renting households fall. The sharpest gains are seen in Ciudad Real, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and Tarragona, where rental market share increased by 60%, 45%, and 36% respectively. Conversely, Cadiz experienced the most pronounced decline, with renting households dropping from 24.8% to 16.5%.
Cities where more people live for rent in Spain
Barcelona leads with the highest share of rental households in Spain, at 31.1% according to the National Institute of Statistics, a slight up from 2011. Girona follows closely with 30.9%, up 3.3 percentage points over the decade. In the wake of these Catalan cities, Palma records 25.1%, Santa Cruz de Tenerife 24.1%, Madrid 24%, Tarragona 24%, and A Coruña 23.6%.
On the opposite end, Huelva shows the lowest rental participation at 8.6%, with Jaén at 9.8%, Córdoba at 10.8%, Teruel at 11.6%, and Soria at 12.1% completing the lower end of the spectrum. These figures illustrate how rental propensity varies significantly across Spain, shaped by local housing markets, income levels, and urban development patterns.
How many houses are there in Spain?
As of January 1, 2021, Spain counted about 26.62 million dwellings, with roughly 70% designated as primary residences. The public agency notes that municipalities hosting higher shares of main residences tend to be situated in metropolitan areas near major cities. In contrast, areas with seasonal occupancy, such as tourist resorts, show lower main-residence percentages.