Migration figures in Spain 2010-2021
Even though Spain has been losing its nationals for most of the last decade, the inflow migration figures of the Mediterranean country saw an increase over the last few years, except for 2020, ceasing the country’s ongoing downward trend in population in 2016. The population of Spain has been growing for many years and was projected to increase by one million by 2027.
A matter of balance
The net migration rate of Spain changed its course mainly due to the great inflow of foreigners that move to reside in the Mediterranean country. Spain’s immigration flow slowed down after the 2008 financial crisis, albeit the number of foreigners that opted to change their residence saw a significant growth in the last years. In 2021, Moroccans ranked first as the foreign nationality that most relocated to Spain, distantly followed by Colombians and Italians.
Spain does not have the highest number of immigrants in Europe
In recent years, the European Union confronted a rising number of refugees arriving from the Middle East. Migration figures show that Germany accommodated approximately 15 million foreign-born citizens, ranking it as the country that most hosted immigrants in Europe in 2020. By comparison, Spain’s foreign population stood bellow seven million, positioning the Western Mediterranean country third on the European list of foreign-born population. Unfortunately, thousands of persons have died ore gone missing trying to reach Spanish territory, as more and more irregular migrants opt to use dangerous maritime routes to arrive at Southern Europe from Africa's coasts.
A matter of balance
The net migration rate of Spain changed its course mainly due to the great inflow of foreigners that move to reside in the Mediterranean country. Spain’s immigration flow slowed down after the 2008 financial crisis, albeit the number of foreigners that opted to change their residence saw a significant growth in the last years. In 2021, Moroccans ranked first as the foreign nationality that most relocated to Spain, distantly followed by Colombians and Italians.
Spain does not have the highest number of immigrants in Europe
In recent years, the European Union confronted a rising number of refugees arriving from the Middle East. Migration figures show that Germany accommodated approximately 15 million foreign-born citizens, ranking it as the country that most hosted immigrants in Europe in 2020. By comparison, Spain’s foreign population stood bellow seven million, positioning the Western Mediterranean country third on the European list of foreign-born population. Unfortunately, thousands of persons have died ore gone missing trying to reach Spanish territory, as more and more irregular migrants opt to use dangerous maritime routes to arrive at Southern Europe from Africa's coasts.
