The Balearic Islands received more than 19 million tourists in 2025 for the first time, according to official figures released this week, setting a new record for the third year running.
A total of 19,053,592 visitors came to the islands last year, 1.73% more than the 18,730,440 recorded in 2024. Growth was much slower than the year before, when the number of visitors rose by almost 5%.
Where visitors came from
The figures show a shift in the mix of markets:
- foreign tourists rose by 2.6% to about 15.7 million;
- Spanish visitors from the mainland fell by 2%;
- British tourists slipped by 0.5% to 3.55 million;
- German tourists dropped by almost 2% to 4.92 million.
Germany and the United Kingdom remain by far the two largest markets, but the growth now comes from other countries.
A mixed December
The final month of the year showed large swings in relatively small numbers. British arrivals in December were up 25%, though that amounted to only 21,430 people. German visitors fell by 3%, and Spanish visitors dropped by 20%, a fall linked to changes in the state-subsidised Imserso holiday programme for pensioners.
Mallorca
Mallorca, by far the largest island, received 13.55 million tourists, 1.4% more than in 2024. Both of its main markets were slightly down: German visitors by 1.7% and British visitors by 0.7%.
Growth under scrutiny
The record comes at a time of intense debate in the islands about the impact of tourism on housing, roads, water and the environment. Large demonstrations against mass tourism were held in Palma in recent summers.
The regional tourism minister, Iago Negueruela, described the result as “controlled growth”, in line with the government’s aim of containing visitor numbers rather than increasing them. Residents’ groups argue that the islands are already beyond what they can sustainably absorb, particularly in July and August.
The authorities have said their focus for 2026 will be on spreading visitors more evenly across the year, attracting higher-spending tourism and protecting the environment, rather than on further increases in numbers.
