Two Cities, Different Greens

Madrid and Barcelona are Spain's two largest cities, both Mediterranean metropolises with millions of residents. But when it comes to urban vegetation, they tell very different stories.

Using Sentinel-2 satellite imagery from summer 2024, we analyzed the vegetation coverage in both cities. The results might surprise you.

The Numbers

At first glance, the comparison seems straightforward. But the story is more nuanced than raw percentages suggest.

Green Space Per Person

When we calculate the actual green area and divide by population, a different picture emerges.

Context Matters

Barcelona's city limits are tightly drawn around its dense urban core, pressed between the mountains and the sea. Madrid's boundaries extend far into surrounding areas, including large parks like Casa de Campo.

This doesn't diminish Barcelona's achievement—maintaining over 10% vegetation in one of Europe's densest cities is remarkable. But it reminds us that comparing cities requires understanding their unique geographies.

The Bigger Picture: Metro Areas

Cities don't exist in isolation. Both Madrid and Barcelona are surrounded by satellite cities that form larger metropolitan areas. When we zoom out to include these surrounding municipalities, the comparison becomes even more interesting.

The Greenest Suburbs

Some satellite cities far outperform their metropolitan centers. In the Barcelona area, Sant Cugat del Vallès leads with an impressive 29% vegetation coverage—nearly three times Barcelona proper.