Spain’s population at all-time high

Spain’s population has topped the 47 million mark for the first time in its history, thanks largely to a rise in immigration.

New figures released by Spain’s National Institute of Statistics show that the population went up by 163,336 between the beginning of January and the end of June last year, putting the total at 47,100,396.

Immigration fuelled this rise with 209,097 more people arriving to live in the country than leave it during this period. Overall, there were 348,625 new Spanish and foreign residents in the first half of 2019; 21.8 per cent up on the previous year. At the same time only 139,528 moved elsewhere; a 17.5 per cent drop on 2018.

At the halfway point of 2019, there were 5.02 million non-Spaniards living in Spain, representing 10.7 per cent of the population. This is the highest proportion of foreigners living in the country since the end of 2012.

By nationality, Colombians were the largest group entering Spain over the six-month period (27,920), followed by Venezuelans (24,238) and Moroccans (20,627).

Of the 139,528 immigrants who left Spain, Romanians accounted for the biggest group (16,525), followed by Moroccans (9,396). In all 6,049 British citizens moved away.

The UK was the main destinations for the Spaniards who left the country (8,310), followed by France (4,235), and Germany (3,258).

The most popular location for new immigrants was Catalonia, followed by Madrid and then Valencia.

Article published 13th January 2020