Orihuela Costa will not grow indefinitely in area, but will reach a point of saturation (virtually all developable land will be under development) around 2038.
By 2027, the number of residents registered in Orihuela Costa will exceed the number of residents registered in Orihuela City.
Around 2036, the number of residents registered in Orihuela Costa will exceed the number of residents registered in the rest of Orihuela.
The series would look like this:
Year Dwellings Registered Population Ratio (inhabitants/dwelling)
2022 56,000 24,000 0.4
2026 60,000 31,000 0.5
2030 64,000 41,000 0.6
2034 68,000 52,000 0.7
2038 72,000 62,000 0.9
What these numbers indicate:
There will be a programmed growth rate of 1,000 dwellings per year and an average of 2,500 more registered people per year, rising to 3,000 in many years. Orihuela Costa will reach its full capacity with approximately 72,000 homes by 2038 and over 62,000 registered residents. From then on, the population will continue to rise as Orihuela Costa acquires the growth rate of a major metropolis.
We will become the 125th largest city out of Spain’s 8,000 municipalities, and we will very likely establish a strong relationship with Pilar de la Horadada and Torrevieja to benefit from cooperation.
Our relationship with Orihuela City will then become minimal.
After 2038, the population will continue to grow due to:
• Conversion of second homes into primary residences.
• Arrival of long-term European retirees.
• Remote workers.
• Families residing year-round.
• Increased registration of existing residents.
This last point deserves separate discussion, as with new technologies and AI, it would be possible to identify anyone living in Orihuela Costa for more than six months and require them to pay taxes and register their address here. This is something that is already beginning in some towns, and we at PIOC have no doubt that it will spread to Orihuela Costa. It’s easy and quick, and it will be even easier in the near future.
IN SUMMARY: IN ABOUT 10 YEARS, THE INDEPENDENCE OF ORIHUELA COSTA WILL NOT ONLY BE POSSIBLE, BUT NECESSARY. Although at PIOC we trust that registered residents will exercise their right to vote in 2027 and understand its power.
