Spanish DNA
Genetic origins and closest populations · Spain · Southern Europe
Spain has one of the best documented genetic histories in Europe, thanks to large ancient DNA studies of Iberia. This page uses the Castilla-La Mancha average, from the centre of the country. In our model, the ancestry is 56.4% Anatolian Neolithic farmer, 29.2% steppe, 11.8% Western hunter-gatherer and 2.6% North African hunter-gatherer (Iberomaurusian). Farming arrived in Iberia more than 7,000 years ago, and steppe-related ancestry spread across the peninsula during the Bronze Age, from about 2500 BC. Later, from Roman times and through the medieval period, people from the eastern Mediterranean and North Africa added smaller shares, which fits the small Iberomaurusian component. The closest modern averages are Castilian and Valencian samples, followed by Andalusians, Galicians and Portuguese, and the closest ancient groups are Early to High Medieval people with an Ibero-Romance profile from Castile and Leon, together with medieval Portuguese from Castro de Avelas and Santarem.
- Largest ancient components in our model: Anatolian Neolithic farmers 56.4%, Steppe herders (Yamnaya) 29.2%, Western hunter-gatherers 11.8%
- Closest modern population in our data: Spanish (Castilla-La Mancha, Castilian), distance 0.0080
- Closest ancient group in our data: Spain Castile and Leon Early-High Medieval (Ibero-Romance Profile), distance 0.0143
Where does Spanish DNA sit on the genetic map of the world? To answer, we take the averaged Global25 (G25) coordinates of the Spanish individuals sampled in Spain, listed in the G25 sheet as "Spanish_Castilla_La_Mancha" and compare them with deep ancestral reference populations, with other modern groups and with ancient genomes. It is one of 335 populations in our atlas.
Ancient make-up of the Spanish average
In a model built from deep ancestral reference populations, the largest share of the Spanish average, 56.4%, goes to Anatolian Neolithic farmers, ahead of Steppe herders (Yamnaya) (29.2%) and Western hunter-gatherers (11.8%). The Anatolian Neolithic farmers component reflects the Neolithic farmers of Anatolia, who carried agriculture into Europe from about 6500 BC. The Steppe herders (Yamnaya) share (29.2%) reflects the Bronze Age herders of the Pontic-Caspian steppe (Yamnaya and related groups), whose ancestry spread across Europe and into Asia from about 3000 BC.
Smaller traces of North African hunter-gatherers (Iberomaurusian) (under 5%) also appear. At that level they can reflect real minor ancestry, but also simple model noise, so they should not be over-read. The fit is acceptable (fit distance 0.031): treat the proportions as a good approximation rather than exact values. The model draws on West Eurasian ancient genomes, with modern West African and East Asian stand-ins.
Hesperia – Iberian Ancestry Report
Closest modern populations to Spanish
Among the modern populations in the G25 data, the closest to the Spanish average is Spanish (Castilla-La Mancha, Castilian), at a distance of 0.008 (very close). Next come Spanish (Valencia, Valencian) at 0.009 and Andalusian at 0.013. Leaving aside the other regional samples listed under the same name in the G25 sheet, the nearest other populations are Andalusian (0.013), Galician (0.014) and Portuguese (0.016). Even the tenth closest, Italian (Piedmont Cuneo, Occitan or Piedmontese), is only 0.028 away: Spanish belongs to a dense cluster of related populations, so small differences inside that cluster should not be over-interpreted.
| # | Population | Distance | Closeness |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spanish (Castilla-La Mancha, Castilian) | 0.0080 | Very close |
| 2 | Spanish (Valencia, Valencian) | 0.0092 | Very close |
| 3 | Andalusian | 0.0125 | Very close |
| 4 | Galician | 0.0142 | Very close |
| 5 | Portuguese | 0.0163 | Very close |
| 6 | France (Languedoc-Roussillon, N=5) | 0.0216 | Very close |
| 7 | French (Catalan Occitanie Pyrenees-Orientales) | 0.0230 | Very close |
| 8 | French Occitan (Occitanie Hautes-Pyrenees Bigorre Lourdes) | 0.0246 | Very close |
| 9 | Basque (Spain Navarre Central-West) | 0.0278 | Close |
| 10 | Italian (Piedmont Cuneo, Occitan or Piedmontese) | 0.0284 | Close |
Distances are Euclidean distances between averaged G25 coordinates. On our scale, below 0.025 is very close, below 0.050 close, below 0.080 moderate, and beyond that distant.
Closest ancient populations to Spanish
If we search ancient DNA for the best match to Spanish, Spain Castile and Leon Early-High Medieval (Ibero-Romance Profile) (Early to High Medieval, c. 500-1300 AD) comes first, at 0.014, with Spain Castile and Leon Early Medieval (Ibero-Romance Profile) next. That is a very close match, which suggests strong genetic continuity between those ancient people (or close relatives of theirs) and the modern population. A close ancient match is not proof of direct descent: it means those individuals carried a similar overall mix of ancestry.
| # | Ancient sample or group | Period | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spain Castile and Leon Early-High Medieval (Ibero-Romance Profile) | Early to High Medieval, c. 500-1300 AD | 0.0143 |
| 2 | Spain Castile and Leon Early Medieval (Ibero-Romance Profile) | Early Medieval, c. 500-1000 AD | 0.0146 |
| 3 | Portugal High Medieval Kingdoms of Galicia-Portugal Castro de Avelas | High Medieval, c. 1000-1300 AD | 0.0161 |
| 4 | Portugal High-Late Medieval Santarem | High to Late Medieval, c. 1000-1500 AD | 0.0168 |
| 5 | France Early Medieval Merovingian Camp du Chateau (West Med Profile) | Early Medieval, c. 500-1000 AD | 0.0184 |
| 6 | Portugal Late Antiquity-Early Medieval Visigoth Miroico | Late Antiquity to Early Medieval, c. 250-1000 AD | 0.0202 |
| 7 | Spain Catalonia High Medieval | High Medieval, c. 1000-1300 AD | 0.0203 |
| 8 | Portugal Early Modern Montemor-o-Velho | Early Modern, c. 1500-1800 AD | 0.0211 |
| 9 | Spain Catalonia Early Medieval | Early Medieval, c. 500-1000 AD | 0.0218 |
| 10 | Italy Veneto IA-Roman Republic Cisalpine Gaul Verona (Cenomani, West Med Profile) | Roman Republic, c. 500-27 BC | 0.0226 |
Ancient DNA from Spain
Our ancient DNA database holds 1,704 individuals excavated in present-day Spain, dated from about 430,000 BC to 1652 AD. The most frequent Y-DNA haplogroups among them are R1b (262), I2a (90) and E1b (68), and the most frequent mtDNA haplogroups are H (182), U5 (179) and H1 (159). These are people who lived on the same land in the past, not necessarily ancestors of today's Spanish population.
Most frequent Y-DNA haplogroups
Ancient DNA studies on Spain
- Investigating ancient human DNA preservation on cave walls and in rock art (2026)
- The genetic landscape of northeastern Iberian communities from the early to late Iron Age (2026)
- Analysis of medieval burials from Ibiza reveals genetic and pathogenic diversity during the Islamic period (2026)
- Uncovering a Medieval Pogrom: Genetic History of a Jewish Community in Catalonia (Spain) (2026)
- Genetic and historical perspectives on the early medieval inhumations from the Menga dolmen, Antequera (Spain) (2025)
- 'Guess Who?': Forensic genetics and archaeology converge to identify Cristopher Columbus descendants. (2025)
- Further insights into maternal and paternal human histories in southern Iberia (2025)
- The human skull from the siege of La Loma (Santibáñez de la Peña, Palencia, Spain) (2025)
Browse them in our ancient DNA database: 1,704 from Spain.
Compare yourself with Spanish
Paste your G25 coordinates (scaled, one line, with or without a name in front) and we compute your genetic distance to the Spanish average and to its closest neighbours, right in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or stored.
| # | Population | Your distance | Closeness |
|---|
This list only covers Spanish and its neighbours. To find out which of our reports actually fits your DNA, run the free Report Finder: it runs the same fit test that every report uses before an order.
No G25 coordinates yet? Get a free simulated G25 from your raw DNA file, or order G25 coordinates.
About these numbers
A word of caution: these figures describe the average of the Spanish individuals who were sampled, not every person who identifies as Spanish. Individuals vary around that average, and identity is about history, language and family, not about a genetic score. Read this page as a map of deep ancestry, not as a definition.
Method: averaged G25 coordinates, Euclidean distances to other modern and ancient averages, and a non-negative least-squares model against deep ancestral reference populations (data generated 2026-10-01). Read the full method.
Go deeper than the average
This page describes the Spanish average. Your own DNA has its own story: Hesperia – Iberian Ancestry Report (15€) models your genome against the ancient sources and modern communities of the region, era by era, in a personal PDF report.
A report built for people with roots in the Iberian Peninsula: ancient regional core (Iberian hunter-gatherers and Neolithic farmers, Bell Beaker steppe arrival, El Argar and Bronze Age Iberia, Celtiberians and Iberians, Phoenician and...
More populations from Southern Europe
Frequently asked questions
What is the ancient genetic make-up of Spanish?
Modelled with deep ancestral reference populations, the Spanish average is about 56.4% Anatolian Neolithic farmers, 29.2% Steppe herders (Yamnaya) and 11.8% Western hunter-gatherers. These proportions are model estimates for a group average, not exact values for any one person.
Which populations are genetically closest to Spanish?
Leaving aside other regional samples listed under the same name in the G25 sheet (such as Spanish (Castilla-La Mancha, Castilian)), the closest modern populations to the Spanish average are Andalusian, Galician and Portuguese. The closest ancient matches are Spain Castile and Leon Early-High Medieval (Ibero-Romance Profile), Spain Castile and Leon Early Medieval (Ibero-Romance Profile) and Portugal High Medieval Kingdoms of Galicia-Portugal Castro de Avelas.
Can a DNA test tell me if I am Spanish?
No DNA test can confirm an ethnicity or a nationality. What DNA can show is how similar your genome is to the sampled Spanish average and to its neighbours. If you have G25 coordinates, paste them in the comparison box on this page to check that for free.
Which ExploreYourDNA report suits Spanish ancestry?
For the Spanish average, the regional report to choose is Hesperia – Iberian Ancestry Report, which our fit test rates as an excellent match. Your own DNA may differ from the average, so the free Report Finder checks every report against your file before you buy.
Where does the data on this page come from?
From the averaged Global25 (G25) coordinates of the sampled individuals: genetic distances to other modern and ancient population averages, and a non-negative least-squares model against deep ancestral reference populations. The full method is described at https://www.exploreyourdna.com/populations#method.