More Romanians live in Spain than any other EU country, and Moroccan residents account for the largest community of African origin. However, the largest diaspora growth is occurring in the Venezuelan community, with an annual growth rate of 18 percent in 2019.
The Spanish coast has become a site of irregular immigration, as have the Canary Islands and other Spanish territories. This includes asylum seekers entering the country to seek refugee status in the European Union. However, the number of irregular arrivals has decreased since its 2018 peak.
Many migrants are looking for employment opportunities, in spite of Spain’s rather high unemployment rate. In 2019, two million foreigners had found work in Spain.
