Contenido
Oropesa del Mar has 12,640 residents registered on 1 January 2025, according to the official INE figures published on 11 December 2025. It is the highest number in the whole INE series, which starts in 2001: 855 more people than a year earlier (+7.3%). And it is the fastest-growing town of more than 5,000 inhabitants in the province of Castellón. In summer the real population is much larger, but there is no official figure: below we explain what reliable data there is.
How many people live in Oropesa del Mar?
| Year (1 January) | Residents |
|---|---|
| 2018 (recent low) | 8,830 |
| 2020 | 9,339 |
| 2022 | 10,184 |
| 2023 | 10,958 |
| 2024 | 11,785 |
| 2025 | 12,640 |
Source: INE, official population figures (municipal register, Padrón). Figure at 1 January 2025, published on 11 December 2025.
- Men and women: 6,485 men (51.3%) and 6,155 women (48.7%).
- The Padrón counts residents, not tourists: it only includes people registered in the town, whatever their nationality.
- It is updated once a year: the INE publishes the 1 January 2026 figure around December 2026.
How it has grown in recent years
Oropesa peaked in 2008 with 11,245 residents, fell to 8,830 in 2018 and since then has gained 3,810 residents (+43.1%). In 2024 it passed the 2008 peak for the first time, and in 2025 it extended it to 12,640.
Compared with its neighbours (INE, 1 January 2025):
| Town | Residents | Growth since 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| Oropesa del Mar | 12,640 | +43.1 % |
| Cabanes | 3,475 | +20.3 % |
| Peñíscola | 8,774 | +17.8 % |
| Benicàssim | 20,539 | +13.8 % |
Of the towns with more than 5,000 inhabitants in the province of Castellón, it is the one that has grown the most, both in 2025 (+7.3%) and since 2018.
How many people live in Oropesa del Mar in summer?
There is no official figure. The Padrón only counts registered residents, and no statistical body publishes Oropesa's summer population. Any round number you see elsewhere does not come from an official source.
What does exist, with a source, is the tourist accommodation capacity:
- Tourist homes: 1,386 homes, with 7,376 beds (INE, May 2026). See the INE table.
- Registered tourist apartments, in August 2026: 991 apartments and 5,246 beds, with 61.2% bed occupancy (50.3% in July). See the INE table.
- According to the municipal tourist office: more than 27,000 accommodation places across apartments, hotels and campsites, with no published date. See the tourism website.
These are different statistics and they cannot be added together.
If you are coming from outside Spain
The Padrón counts every resident, of any nationality, so the 12,640 include registered foreign residents. We do not give you a breakdown by country because the INE does not publish one by town in a table we can cite, and we prefer not to invent a figure.
What the figure does tell you is the size: neither a tiny village nor a big city, with Castellón airport about 20 minutes away by car (Castellón airport guide) and the city of Castellón de la Plana nearby.
If you are thinking of buying from abroad, the process starts with the NIE and a Spanish bank account, and we explain it step by step in buying an apartment in Spain from abroad.
What it means if you are thinking of living here
A town that grows 7% in a year is a town with demand: more people registering, more services all year round and a life that does not switch off in September, as we show in Oropesa del Mar in winter. And anyone living here all year has the Marina d'Or spa, Magic World and the beach close at hand.
Our developments are right in that area, next to Oropesa and Magic World, on the beaches of Cabanes and Torre la Sal:
- Coral 2 building, on the beachfront at Cabanes beach.
- Amanecer 1, Amanecer 2 and Amanecer 3, right on the beachfront at Torre la Sal.
- Cristal 2 building, facing the sea at Torre la Sal.
If you want to see the numbers behind buying here, start with is it worth buying an apartment in Marina d'Or? and see every project in our developments.
Frequently asked questions about the population of Oropesa del Mar
How many people live in Oropesa del Mar?
12,640 registered residents on 1 January 2025, according to the INE.
How many more than last year?
855 more: 11,785 in 2024 and 12,640 in 2025 (+7.3%).
How many people live there in summer?
There is no official figure. The Padrón only counts residents; tourist accommodation capacity is in the section above.
Is it one of the fastest-growing towns in Castellón?
Yes. Of those with more than 5,000 inhabitants, it grew the most in 2025 and since 2018.
When is the new figure published?
The INE publishes the 1 January 2026 Padrón around December 2026.
Can a foreigner buy in Oropesa del Mar?
Yes. You need the NIE and a Spanish bank account. We explain it in our guide to buying from abroad.