Santa Cruz de Tenerife: Women Form Population Majority

Santa Cruz de Tenerife has more women than men, according to new data from the city council's statistics department. Women make up 52% of the population (over 110,000 people), while men account for 48% (around 105,000). This trend is seen in almost all five districts of the municipality.

The city's total population reached 212,080 by March 28, 2025. This is an increase of 644 people compared to the previous year, meaning Santa Cruz is home to 23% of the island's residents. Women also make up a larger proportion of residents, particularly among older age groups, largely due to longer life expectancies.

It's worth noting that the National Institute of Statistics (INE) recently released its own census, reporting Santa Cruz's population as 211,957. The slight difference between these figures comes from the INE's report being based on a municipal register review from January 1, 2025.

The city council's data, broken down by district and gender, shows fairly similar population numbers across the board. However, there's a slight majority of males in younger age groups (0-14 years old). In contrast, women outnumber men in adult (25-54) and older (65+) age brackets. Anaga is the only district where the number of men and women is almost equal.

Looking at individual districts:

• Centro-Ifara: Out of about 39,820 residents, 18,950 are men and 20,870 are women.
• Salud-La Salle: This district has 46,730 residents, with 22,410 men and 24,320 women.
• Ofra-Costa Sur: The population is 42,010, made up of 20,120 men and 21,890 women.
• Southwest: With 41,430 inhabitants, there are 19,870 men and 21,560 women.
• Anaga: This district has 22,090 residents, including 10,391 men and 11,699 women.

Overall, women outnumber men in nearly all districts. This difference is most noticeable in Centro-Ifara and Salud-La Salle. Salud-La Salle also has the largest population overall, which is understandable given its significant urban and commercial activity, leading to higher population density.

While Santa Cruz has seen moderate population growth over the last ten years, it's also experiencing a slight aging trend. The largest age group is 15-64 years old, with 54,500 men and 58,600 women. Next are those over 65, numbering 20,761 men and 25,429 women. The youngest group, 0-14 years old, includes 16,480 boys and 15,750 girls.

The Southwest district has the highest number of young people (0-14 years old), with over 7,500 minors (3,870 boys and 3,690 girls). Salud-La Salle leads in the working-age population (15-64 years old), with nearly 28,000 residents (13,500 men and 14,600 women). The highest number of elderly residents (65+) is found in Centro-Ifara and Salud-La Salle, both with over 10,000 seniors. Centro-Ifara has 4,540 men and 5,520 women in this age group, while Salud-La Salle has 5,020 men and 6,000 women. Proportionally, Anaga is the oldest district, where over 27% of its population is 65 or older (2,641 men and 3,629 women).

Across the municipality, women are the majority in all age groups, especially among those over 65, where they outnumber men by more than 4,500. Salud-La Salle has the largest overall female population, thanks to neighborhoods like La Salle and Duggi.

Within specific neighborhoods, Salamanca and El Toscal have many older women. Ofra and Las Delicias also have more women, but with a younger profile, particularly among working-age individuals and families. In the Southwest, El Sobradillo has the most women, followed by Barranco Grande, largely due to residential growth. Even in Anaga, which has a smaller overall population, women are the majority in key areas like María Jiménez (the most women in this district) and San Andrés. La Salle and Duggi neighborhoods have the highest concentration of women in the entire municipality, reflecting their high population density.

When it comes to education, women with university degrees are more common in almost all districts. In urban areas like Centro-Ifara and Salud-La Salle, more women have high school diplomas than men, with a notable focus on intermediate vocational training.

Centro-Ifara boasts the highest overall educational level, with women clearly outperforming men in university studies. In Salud-La Salle, women excel in higher and intermediate education (university, high school, or advanced vocational training). Ofra-Costa Sur shows a more balanced picture, but women tend to have more high school and advanced vocational training, while men are more present in compulsory secondary education (ESO) and intermediate vocational training. In the Southwest, women lead in higher education and high school, while men are more common in intermediate vocational training and ESO. Anaga has a slight female majority in primary and ESO studies, but very few people of either gender have university degrees.

Although Santa Cruz de Tenerife's population grew slightly in 2025, the city faces a significant aging challenge. Over 22% of residents are over 65, while less than 15% are under 15, suggesting limited future generational replacement. However, the presence of foreign residents helps balance this. As of January 1, 2025, 17,054 people from other countries live in Santa Cruz. Venezuelans make up the largest group across all districts (3,440 people), followed by Italy (665), Colombia (475), Morocco (402), and Cuba (340). Most foreign residents are of working age (18-64 years old), accounting for 53% of this group. Minors (0-17) represent 10%, and those over 65 make up almost 13%. By district, Anaga has 6,134 foreign residents; Centro-Ifara has 4,806; Salud-La Salle has 2,641; and both Ofra-Costa Sur and the Southwest have 2,821 each.