Surge in Immigrant Population in Spain

A Spanish newspaper has reported that the number of immigrants in European nations has surpassed 10 million, with Spain alone seeing an influx of 2,207,700 new arrivals since 2021.

Using data released in February by the National Institute of Statistics (INE), the newspaper highlighted that by the end of 2025, out of 49.57 million residents in Spain, over 10 million will be foreign-born. The regions with the highest concentrations of immigrants are Catalonia, Madrid, and Valencia.

Héctor Cebolla, a researcher from the Institute of Economics, Geography and Population, noted that the migration patterns in Spain are largely driven by economic factors. Immigrants tend to settle in areas where jobs are more plentiful.

“Our migration is mainly economic and focused on regions with dynamic labor markets,” Cebolla stated. “It’s unlikely that migrants will move to places like Soria or Zamora; they’re going to be drawn to job-rich areas.”

The INE does not provide data that breaks down the immigrant population, but by early 2025, it estimated that immigrants in Spain made up 9.45 million of the total population, increasing by around 500,000 in just that year, reaching over 10 million by year-end.

The article noted that 50.4% of Spain’s immigrant population originated from the Americas, predominantly Colombia and Venezuela. European immigrants account for 25.5%, with Romania and the United Kingdom being the largest sources. African immigrants make up 17.4% of the total, with Morocco leading among those countries.

“The pattern is evident: Migration to Spain continues to be robust. Since 2021, we’ve seen 2,207,700 new foreign-born residents,” the newspaper observed.

Cebolla elaborated on the demographic landscape, mentioning that China has historically had a minimal presence in Spain—largely due to Spain’s stronger connections with North Africa and Latin America.

In addition to the economic migration trend, Cebolla pointed out that there is a distinct profile of European migrants who are often attracted by the Mediterranean climate. This is particularly the case for retirees opting for regions like Alicante and Malaga.

“The Mediterranean Arc draws people due to its combination of agricultural land and business hubs like Valencia and Alicante,” Cebolla said. Another researcher, Jordy Bayona, detailed that Ukraine has seen the largest influx of migrants in Spain, primarily stemming from the ongoing conflict with Russia, with many being women and children. Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, and Cuba also follow in contributing to the growing immigrant population.

Recently, Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez unveiled a controversial plan aimed at granting amnesty to 500,000 undocumented immigrants if they can demonstrate continuous residence in Spain since December 31, 2025, among other lenient criteria.