Immigration shift in Spain: British expats part of growing wave of new residents

Around one in four foreign residents in Spain arrived between 2023 and 2024, according to figures from the Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE). The data is drawn from Spain’s municipal population register, known as the Padrón Continuo, which records the year in which residents were first registered in the country.

The figure does not refer to annual immigration flows but to the proportion of the current foreign resident population whose arrival dates fall within that two-year period. It reflects how recently a significant share of foreign residents have established themselves in Spain.

Morocco, Romania and the United Kingdom remain the largest communities

The INE data shows that the largest foreign resident groups in Spain continue to be nationals of Morocco, Romania and the United Kingdom. These three communities have been consistently among the most numerous over a long period and remain the main nationalities within the foreign population overall.

The Moroccan community is the largest, reflecting both geographic proximity and long-standing labour migration patterns. Romanian nationals form the largest EU group in Spain, with significant numbers working across construction, agriculture and service sectors. The British population remains one of the most established non-EU communities, particularly concentrated in coastal and rural retirement areas.

Other sizeable communities include Italian nationals, who are increasingly present in urban areas and professional sectors, as well as Chinese nationals, who are often concentrated in commerce and retail activity. Colombian and Venezuelan nationals also form large groups, with numbers that have grown steadily over the past decade.

Recent arrivals dominated by Latin America and North Africa

While long-term resident figures remain dominated by European and North African nationalities, the composition of arrivals in 2023 and 2024 shows a different pattern. A large proportion of new registrations in this period come from Latin American countries, particularly Colombia, Venezuela, Peru and Honduras.

Morocco also continues to represent a major share of new arrivals due to its proximity and established migration links with Spain. In addition, Ukraine appears among recent arrivals, reflecting displacement linked to the war that began in 2022 and subsequent relocation within Europe.

These patterns indicate that recent population growth among foreign residents is being driven by a combination of labour migration, family reunification and humanitarian displacement, depending on country of origin.

What the data measures

The figures are based on the Padrón Continuo, Spain’s continuous population register. This system records residents who are officially registered with local authorities, a requirement for access to healthcare and other public services.

The register includes information such as nationality, place of residence and year of registration. However, it does not measure migration flows directly, meaning it cannot fully distinguish between permanent settlement and shorter-term residence.

Because the data is administrative, it captures individuals who are registered in Spain at a given time, rather than tracking movements in and out of the country in real time.

Where foreign residents are concentrated

Foreign residents are unevenly distributed across Spain. Higher concentrations are found in large urban centres such as Madrid and Barcelona, where employment opportunities are more diverse and housing is more accessible for new arrivals.

Coastal areas, particularly along the Mediterranean and parts of the Canary and Balearic Islands, also show high levels of foreign population. These regions attract both long-term residents and seasonal workers, depending on the local economy.

By contrast, rural inland areas generally have lower proportions of foreign residents, although some agricultural regions depend heavily on seasonal labour migration.

Methodological considerations

The INE register is considered the most comprehensive source of population data in Spain, but it has limitations. It does not distinguish clearly between temporary and permanent residence, and it relies on administrative registration rather than survey-based migration data.

As a result, the figures provide a reliable overview of population structure but not a complete picture of migration behaviour or duration of stay.

Interpretation of recent trends

The fact that a significant share of foreign residents arrived in 2023 or 2024 indicates a period of recent demographic change. It suggests that Spain’s foreign population is not only growing but also being renewed through new inflows.

The contrast between established European communities and more recent arrivals from Latin America and North Africa highlights different migration pathways. European migration is largely linked to mobility within the EU, while Latin American and North African flows are more strongly associated with labour demand and, in some cases, humanitarian factors.

Conclusion

The latest data from the INE shows that around one in four foreign residents in Spain have arrived in the past two years. While Morocco, Romania and the United Kingdom remain the largest communities overall, recent arrivals are more heavily concentrated among Latin American and North African nationalities. The figures reflect recent changes in Spain’s foreign population structure as recorded through the national municipal register.