Melilla recorded 691 births in 2025 through its public health system, confirming a continued decline in the number of babies born in the Spanish city.
Data from the Territorial Directorate of the Institute of Health Management (Ingesa) shows this represents a 77 percent decrease compared to 2015, when Melilla registered 3001 births.
Health authorities link this drop mainly to changes at the border with Morocco. Ten years ago, around half of all births in Melilla were to women from nearby Moroccan areas.
At that time, border crossings were open and access to healthcare in the city was relatively easy for residents of neighboring regions. This cross-border movement played a major role in keeping birth numbers high.
The situation changed in March 2020 with the closure of the border due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Although the crossing reopened in May 2022, new restrictions were introduced.
Residents of Nador province were required to obtain visas, sharply reducing the number of people able to travel to Melilla for medical services. Since then, births linked to cross-border access have dropped and have not recovered.
Yearly figures show a steady downward trend. In 2020, Melilla recorded 1196 births. The number fell to 886 in 2021, then to 824 in 2022.
In 2024, births dropped again to 763, before reaching 691 in 2025. These figures point to a long-term shift rather than a short-term fluctuation.
Of the births recorded in 2025, 663 took place at the Regional Hospital, which stopped operating on December 15.
The remaining 28 births were attended at the new Melilla University Hospital. This facility was officially inaugurated in June 2025 and became fully operational in mid-December, taking over all maternity and obstetric care in the city.
Ingesa reports that the new hospital is equipped with modern medical technology and specialized healthcare teams. All childbirth services in Melilla are now centralized in this facility following the closure of the Regional Hospital.
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