Tenerife is growing, as evidenced by the population of 12 southern municipalities that gained 110,560 residents over the past 20 years, an increase of 52%.
This contrasts with fifteen municipalities on the other side of the island, which registered only 13,127 new residents. Over the past 20 years, southern Tenerife has welcomed 110,560 new residents, a demographic surge largely driven by the growth of the tourism industry and the resulting influx of foreign workers.
The North-South Divide
In 2004, the twelve municipalities in this region (Arona, Granadilla de Abona, Adeje, Candelaria, San Miguel de Abona, Guía de Isora, Güímar, Santiago del Teide, Arico, Arafo, Fasnia, and Vilaflor de Chasna) had a total population of 212,253 residents. By 2024, this number had risen to 322,813, reflecting a 52% increase, according to the Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE).
This spectacular growth contrasts sharply with the northern municipalities, where the population grew by only 13,127 people over the same period, a modest 6% increase. This means that population growth in the south is eight times greater than in the north. In other words, for every new resident in the north, the south gains eight. Tenerife is growing in this way.
Uneven Demographic Growth
Tenerife is growing. However, the metropolitan area has experienced much lower growth, at just 4.8% (18,538 people).
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the island’s capital, has actually lost 8,087 residents over the past 20 years, decreasing from 219,446 to 211,359. This decline is largely attributed to a review of the population register in 2011, which led to the removal of over 15,000 fictitious registrations.
In contrast, the population of La Laguna, the second-largest city in the metropolitan area, grew by 22,944 residents(from 137,314 to 160,258), an increase of nearly 17%. The municipalities of El Rosario and Tegueste also saw moderate growth.
Apart from Santa Cruz, several northern municipalities also lost residents, including Buenavista, Garachico, Los Silos, El Tanque, San Juan de La Rambla, and Vilaflor de Chasna.
The southern population has grown by an average of 5,528 new residents per year over the past two decades. The most dramatic growth has occurred in San Miguel de Abona (114%) and Granadilla de Abona (86%).
Continuous Growth in Certain Municipalities
San Miguel de Abona and Granadilla de Abona are the only two municipalities on the island where population growth has remained uninterrupted since 2004. This is in contrast to other southern municipalities, where the rate of growth has slowed somewhat over the past decade.
Granadilla de Abona has surpassed Adeje as the second most populous municipality in southern Tenerife, now with 57,143 residents. Adeje itself grew by 67%, followed by Candelaria (50%), Güímar (33%), and Arona (31%).
A notable exception is Santiago del Teide, which, after years of population decline, has increased by 15%. Conversely, Vilaflor de Chasna has lost 24 residents over the past 20 years.
Migration: The Driving Force Behind Growth
According to José León García Rodríguez, emeritus professor of Human Geography at the University of La Laguna, migration is the primary factor behind the population growth in southern Tenerife.
In municipalities like Granadilla or San Miguel, a large proportion of new residents are migrants who work not only in hotels but also in the hospitality industry, agriculture, construction, and elderly care.
Most migrants arrive as tourists via flights from Madrid, with the intention of settling illegally. They find work, gain stability, and eventually attempt to regularize their residency status.
According to Professor García Rodríguez, the local economy depends on these workers, as a portion of the local population refuses to work in these sectors due to low wages, difficult working conditions and the distance between workplaces and their residences.
A Growing International Population
This trend explains why tourism-dependent regions rely so heavily on migration, further accelerating population growth.
Additionally, there is a growing number of European entrepreneurs who move to Tenerife to start their own businesses.
Currently, three out of ten new residents in southern Tenerife are foreign nationals. This is twice the island’s average of 15.7% and significantly higher than the 8.4% in the north.
The Consequences of Population Growth
The rapid demographic expansion in the south has had visible consequences, including traffic congestion on the roads and overcrowded schools and high schools. To address these challenges, the Canarian government has launched an emergency plan that includes the construction of ten new schools and the expansion of seventeen existing educational facilities by 2031.
Additionally, healthcare services are severely strained. At the Hospital of Southern Tenerife, six out of ten beds are occupied by patients who have been medically discharged but cannot return home due to a lack of adequate care facilities.
So far, the authorities have not found an effective solution to this growing problem.
Hugo Dillen © Photography
Tenerife’s Growth ©
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