The 7 Canary Islands: Largest Islands & Populations

Discover the diverse beauty, volcanic landscapes, and unique cultures of Spain's captivating Atlantic archipelago.

Diversity & Nature Of The Canaries

The Canary Islands are a testament to the raw power of nature and the resilience of culture. Each island boasts its own distinct microclimate. This allows you to travel from desert-like dunes to misty cloud forests in a single day. The geographical diversity of the Canaries has fostered a unique environment. Here, endemic species thrive and traditional lifestyles remain intertwined with the land.

Visitors here can explore historic colonial towns with their iconic wooden balconies,. You can also taste local delicacies like 'papas arrugadas' with mojo sauce. If you are a stargazer then this is the place for you. Witness the incredible astronomical clarity that has made these islands a global hub for star observation.

Traditional Canarian village street with flowers

Explore The 7 Canary Islands

The Canaries or Las Islas Canarias in Spanish are largely volcanic in composition. As a result, many of the beaches have black sand. There are plenty of magnificent beaches here which are one of the biggest attractions for tourists. Tenerife is the largest and most popular for tourism. Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote also attract millions of visitors each year. Please use the links below to quickly move to your island of interest.

Tenerife
Tenerife

The largest and most populous island, known for Mount Teide and vibrant tourism.

 Gran Canaria
Gran Canaria

A continent in miniature, famous for its sand dunes, mountains, and beaches.

 Lanzarote
Lanzarote

A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve known for its volcanic landscapes and César Manrique's art.

 Fuerteventura
Fuerteventura

Renowned for its long sandy beaches, ideal for windsurfing and relaxation.

 La Palma
La Palma

The 'Isla Bonita', famous for its stunning volcanic crater, forests, and clear night skies.

 La Gomera
La Gomera

A hiker's paradise with ancient laurel forests and dramatic ravines.

 El Hierro
El Hierro

The smallest and westernmost island, a UNESCO Biosphere and Geopark.

So Where Did The Canaries Name Come From?

The Canaries name does not come from the pretty birds but from Latin. Insula Canaria or “Gran Canaria” is actually a reference to Dogs. The Island Of Dogs to be precise may be a result of the huge seals in Roman times. While nobody is sure, this theory seems to be the most credible.

Another of the many names of the Canaries is the “Fortunate Isles”. This is certainly the case in Greek mythology. The ancient Greeks would often say the Fortunate Isles are a paradise with no winter. This is a reference to the superb weather and endless summer here. The "Islands of Eternal Spring" is another common name for the Canaries.

Map location

Map of the Canary Islands

Population, Capital Cities & Landmass

The Canaries have a population of 2.2 million permanent inhabitants and cover an area of 7,500 km². This area accounts for around 1.5% of the countries landmass. In total there are 17 autonomous regions of Spain with these islands ranking as the 13th biggest.

Capital Cities
The Canaries are unusual given the fact they have two capital cities. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife share the capital city status. As you may have worked out, Las Palmas is a big city in Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz is a major city in the north of Tenerife.

Climate
The 7 main islands all enjoy a sub-tropical climate throughout the year. As a result, this makes them one of the top holiday locations as it gets colder further north. The temperatures can vary depending on the time of year you choose to visit. We have a useful guide about which islands have the warmest weather during winter, spring and autumn as these are the busiest times for tourism. This also provides links to individual pages for monthly weather and climate highlights.

Flag

Flag of the Canary Islands
Mount Teide, Tenerife
Mount Teide Volcano, Tenerife

Tenerife (Largest Canary Island)

Tenerife has the largest population of the Canary Islands with around 930,000 inhabitants. This is more than any other Spanish island. This island is also the most popular of the Archipelago with over 5 million visitors each year. Tourism is big business here, this island is home to some of the best resorts in the Canaries. Tenerfife gets busy over Christmas and peaks in March when the temperatures are warmer.

The popular resorts of Los Cristianos and Playa de las Américas lie in the southwest of the island. This is also where you will find much of the nightlife. To the north is the more sophisticated Costa Adeje which is popular with the wealthy.

Population:

Approx. 930,000

Landmass:

2,034 km²

Capital City:

Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Closest Airport:

Tenerife North (TFN), Tenerife South (TFS)

Maspalomas Dunes, Gran Canaria
Maspalomas Sand Dunes, Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria

The island of Gran Canaria lies in the centre of the Canary Islands. Tenerife lies to the west and Fuerteventura to the east. The population of this island is not quite as big as Tenerife with some 870,000 inhabitants. Around 400,000 are currently living in the Capital City of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in the north.

The climate here is pretty good with normal temperatures of between 20 – 26 Celsius. This is one of the warmer islands during the winter and spring, especially April which is near perfect conditions. Tourism to Gran Canaria accounts for over 3.5 million visitors each year.


Population:

Approx. 870,000

Landmass:

1,560 km²

Capital City:

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Closest Airport:

Gran Canaria Airport (LPA)

Timanfaya National Park, Lanzarote
Volcanic Landscape Of Timanfaya National Park, Lanzarote

Lanzarote

The beautiful island of Lanzarote is the most northern of all the Canary Islands. Lanzarote has the third largest population behind Tenerife and Gran Canaria. There are some 158,000 permanent inhabitants here. For land mass, Lanzarote is smaller than Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura.

This island still attracts millions of visitors to it´s wonderful resorts each year. For example, in 2008, Lanzarote recorded over 5 million visitors. Lanzarote continues to generate high levels of tourism each year to it’s unique attractions and super resorts. The tourist resort of Puerto del Carmen attracts over 1 million visitors each year.

Population:

Approx. 158,000

Landmass:

846 km²

Capital City:

Arrecife

Closest Airport:

Lanzarote Airport (ACE)

Fuerteventura Beach
One Of The Many White Beaches In Fuerteventura

Fuerteventura

The windy island of Fuerteventura lies east of Gran Canaria and to the south of Lanzarote. This island is second only to Tenerife for landmass but has a small population. Currently, there are 120,000 people living here. Fuerteventura boasts many fantastic resorts such as Corralejo and Costa Calma. Jandia and Caleta de Fuste are others worth checking out.


Population:

Approx. 120,000

Landmass:

1,660 km²

Capital City:

Puerto del Rosario

Closest Airport:

Fuerteventura Airport (FUE)

Caldera de Taburiente, La Palma
Caldera de Taburiente, La Palma

La Palma

Most western of the Canaries is the pretty island of La Palma. This island has a population of 83,000 inhabitants which makes it the fifth largest of the seven. 17,000 of the total population live in the Capital Santa Cruz de La Palma. The beautiful area of Los Llanos de Aridane lies on the west coast of the island. Here there are another 20,000 people living.


Population:

Approx. 83,000

Landmass:

708 km²

Capital City:

Santa Cruz de La Palma

Closest Airport:

La Palma Airport (SPC)

Garajonay National Park, La Gomera
Garajonay National Park, La Gomera

La Gomera

La Gomera is the second smallest of the Canaries with a population of 22,000 inhabitants. Circular in shape, this island is one of the more mountainous of the 7 islands. Although volcanic in origin, here you will find lush valleys and unspoiled rain-forests. There is also a large variety of plant-life. Many that come here are looking to take advantage of the super hiking and walking trails.

There are no direct flights from Europe apart from Tenerife. Most tend to take the hour long ferry journey from Tenerife to San Sebastian de la Gomera. You can also arrive to Playa Santiago or Valle Gran Rey. Most of the beaches here have black sand and crystal clear Atlantic Ocean waters.

Population:

Approx. 22,000

Landmass:

370 km²

Capital City:

San Sebastián de La Gomera

Closest Airport:

La Gomera Airport (GMZ) - limited flights. Ferries from Tenerife.

El Hierro Coastline
El Hierro Coastline

El Hierro (Smallest Canary Island)

Finally we come to El Hierro, the smallest of the Canaries and furthest south and west. The population is also the smallest with around 11,000 permanent inhabitants. Some refer to El Hierro as “The Meridian Isle”. This is the only isle in the Canaries which is 100% sustainable using only renewable energy. Diving is particularly popular here with around 45 different dive sites to enjoy.


Population:

Approx. 11,000

Landmass:

269 km²

Capital City:

Valverde

Closest Airport:

El Hierro Airport (VDE) - limited flights. Ferries from Tenerife and La Gomera.

Smaller Islands & Islets

While these seven islands form the core of the archipelago, the Canary Islands also include several smaller islets. These include La Graciosa (north of Lanzarote), Alegranza, and Montaña Clara. All contribute to the rich biodiversity and unique geography of the region.

Each island offers a unique escape, from volcanic wonders to lush forests and golden beaches. Plan your adventure and discover the magic of the Canary Islands.