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Orihuela Costa drives population boom as British remain largest foreign group
Huge growth along the coast has pushed Orihuela municipality close to 89,000 residents
Orihuela Costa has become the main engine behind a sharp rise in population across the wider municipality, which ended 2025 with close to 89,000 residents. New figures from Orihuela City Council show not only continued growth, but a faster pace than in previous years, largely thanks to demand along the coast.
Over the course of 2025, the municipality’s population grew by 3.7%, adding 3,245 new residents compared to the year before. Much of that increase came from Orihuela Costa, where the number of residents jumped by 7.7%, making it the fastest-growing area by a clear margin.
While Orihuela city and Orihuela Costa remain the two main population centres, their growth rates tell a very different story. Orihuela city saw an increase of just 1.1%, reaching 33,260 residents, while Orihuela Costa now has 30,171 people officially registered.
Together, these two areas account for around 71% of the municipality’s total population.
Several inland districts also recorded notable growth, with population increases of more than 5% in places such as Barbarroja, Correntías Bajas and Medias, Los Huertos, Media Legua, Molino de la Ciudad and Torremendo. La Murada remains the most populated outlying district with 3,382 residents, followed by La Aparecida with 2,298. Camino Viejo de Callosa was the only district to see a fall in population during the year.
The figures also underline how international the area has become, particularly along the coast. Orihuela Costa continues to be a true melting pot of nationalities, although British residents remain the largest foreign group, followed by Spanish and Ukrainian nationals.
In Orihuela city, Spanish residents are the majority, with Moroccan and Colombian communities the most prominent foreign groups.
Across the municipality as a whole, Spanish nationals still make up the majority at 60.4%, but some areas stand out. In Torremendo, for example, British residents account for 41% of the population, compared to 31% who are Spanish, highlighting just how international parts of the area have become.
Image: Archive
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