An estimated 4.6 million Spanish adults are now vegetarian, vegan or flexitarian, equivalent to 11.1% of the population over 18 years of age. Despite common claims of a growing community, recent data suggests otherwise.
The pandemic took its toll on this demographic, which continued to lose diners even after the health emergency ended. The Green Revolution Report by Lantern consultancy now indicates a stabilisation of the sector after four years of decline. Between 2021 and 2025, plant-based diets decreased by 650,000 people in Spain.
Has this decline been noticeable in the Balearics? While no official studies exist that map the distribution of veggies by autonomous communities, holiday rental portal Holidu has just published research on the country's most veggie-friendly tourist destinations. Palma has fallen from third to fifth place in the national ranking since 2019. At that time, the portal attributed 21 vegetarian and vegan restaurants to the city, two fewer than it counts now.
According to Holidu, there are currently 4.67 vegetarian and vegan restaurants per 100,000 inhabitants in the Balearic capital. That's 4.6 fewer restaurants per 100,000 residents than in Santiago de Compostela, which has climbed to the top position among Spain's veggie capitals.
Barcelona follows with 6.48 veggie restaurants per 100,000 inhabitants, then Granada (with 6.01 per 100,000) and Santa Cruz de Tenerife (with 5.89 per 100,000). The other capitals entering the top 10 list are Salamanca, Girona, Segovia, Toledo and Alicante. Before the pandemic, Palma ranked third, behind only Granada and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Changing demographics in plant-based diets
In the latest update on the Study of Veggie Diets in Spain, Lantern consultancy detects that "newer generations remain more open to this lifestyle and adopt conscious consumption habits that accompany them throughout their lives." If this trend continues, the percentage of Spaniards opting for these types of diets will increase in coming years. Already, 15% of the population between 18 and 24 years old is vegan, vegetarian or flexitarian. Vegans consume no animal products whatsoever, vegetarians eat eggs, milk and derivatives, and flexitarians follow a predominantly plant-based diet but occasionally consume meat or fish.
The report states that flexitarianism is growing among women, increasing from 9.7% in 2023 to 12.3% in 2025. One in seven adult Spanish women is now veggie according to Lantern (1.4% more than in 2023). The number of veggie men, however, has decreased from 9.7% to 7.5%.
More discerning consumers
The study also points out that veggies are becoming more demanding and are moving away from packaged meals. "36% of veggies consider these products very artificial, and 49% have reduced their consumption of plant-based products, shifting to greater consumption of vegetables and legumes," Lantern concludes.