Islam in Spain

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Islam in Spain

Spain is mostly Catholic, and Islam is a minority religion. About 2.5 million Muslims lived in Spain in 2024, roughly 5% of the population. The largest Muslim communities are in Catalonia, Andalusia, Madrid, the Valencian Community, and Murcia, with Ceuta and Melilla having especially high shares. Most Muslims in Spain are immigrants or descendants of immigrants. The main language is Spanish, but Arabic, Berber, Urdu and other languages are spoken within communities.

History in brief
- Islam arrived in the Iberian Peninsula in 711, led by Tariq ibn-Ziyad, after the Visigothic kingdom.
- For centuries, Al-Andalus became a center of learning and culture, though coexistence among Muslims, Jews and Christians is debated.
- The Reconquista gradually pushed Muslim rule south; the last Muslim territory, Granada, fell in 1492.
- After 1492, many Muslims (Moriscos) were forced to convert to Catholicism or were expelled in the 1500s–1614. Some kept their faith in private for centuries.
- In the 18th–19th centuries, Islam faded in daily life. Official data on religion has been varied, but Islam remained a minority faith.

Modern era and the state’s relation with Islam
- The Spanish Constitution of 1978 guarantees freedom of religion.
- The 1980 Law of Religious Liberty set rules for cooperation with “deep-rooted” religions, including Islam.
- In 1992, Spain signed a Cooperation Agreement with the Islamic Commission of Spain to regulate matters like worship places, imams, religious education, taxes, and cultural heritage.
- Since the agreement, many mosques and religious entities have formed under federations. The Islamic Commission of Spain coordinates with the state on behalf of Islam in Spain.

Today’s institutions and presence
- There are about 13 large mosques in major cities, plus many smaller prayer spaces in shops, garages, and private buildings.
- Islamic education is organized through agreements with regional governments; by 2019, around 80 Islamic religious teachers were active in Spain.
- In 2019, there were about 49 Islamic federations, 1,704 communities, and 21 associations officially registered; hundreds of groups operate outside the formal Islamic Commission.
- Halal food certification has multiple providers, with some organizations seeking official recognition.

People and communities
- The largest foreign-born Muslim groups come from Morocco, followed by people from Pakistan, Senegal and other countries.
- Muslims in Spain are concentrated especially in Ceuta and Melilla, as well as in Catalonia, Madrid, and Andalusia.

Public perception
- A 2019 Pew Research Center survey found that 54% of Spaniards had a favorable view of Muslims, while 42% had an unfavorable view.

Summary
Islam in Spain is a well-established minority with a formal framework for church-state cooperation, a growing network of mosques and associations, and a diverse, immigrant-based Muslim population.