The population growth in Mallorca's villages has reached unprecedented levels, with a remarkable 46.3% increase since the turn of the century - significantly outpacing the capital city Palma's 29.2% growth. Municipalities like Marratxi and Consell have nearly doubled their residents, as 40 out of 53 towns and villages now expand at a faster rate than the Balearic capital.
This demographic shift mirrors a broader national trend across Spain, where provincial capitals have grown at half the rate of the country's overall population over the past 25 years. A quarter of these urban centres have actually lost residents, with Cadiz leading the national ranking in urban depopulation, having lost one-fifth of its inhabitants.
In Mallorca, only Escorca has experienced population decline this century. While Palma's growth exceeds the Spanish capitals' average (+29.2%), it lags behind the Part Forana region (+46.3%). The population balance has shifted notably - if in 2000 half of the island's inhabitants lived in Palma (50.1%), the Part Forana now holds the majority at 53.7%.
The COVID-19 lockdowns prompted many to reassess their living preferences, leading to increased urban-to-rural migration. Palma's soaring housing prices have further accelerated this trend, particularly evident along the train corridor. Marratxi leads the island's population growth with 40,079 residents as of 2024, adding 19,155 since 2000. Consell follows closely, now housing 4,399 residents - 2,072 more than 25 years ago.
Jaume Ferriol, president of FELIB and mayor of Maria de la Salut, emphasises the need to leverage supramunicipal aid to fund new infrastructure and services. "We're seeing the combined effect of post-pandemic shifts and the housing crisis, which has particularly multiplied Part Forana's population in the last five years," he explains.
Sociologist Carles Baeza highlights the importance of analysing newcomers' demographics: "Population growth isn't just about numbers - we must understand the age structure and origins of new residents. Growing solely in adult population could create future challenges in terms of elderly care services."
As a whole, Spain has gained 8.1 million residents this century, with only 20% settling in provincial capitals. While mainland Spain's long distances between towns and cities complicate urban exodus, significant growth is observed in large non-capital cities, particularly in Madrid's metropolitan area and coastal regions.