Spain is one of the main destinations for international residents in the European Union. Eurostat data released in early 2026 show how large the foreign-born and non-national population has become, and how it is changing the country’s demographic balance.
- 9.5 million foreign-born residents: Spain among Europe’s main destinations
- 6.9 million non-nationals in Spain: how citizenship shapes the picture
- A decade of change: how Spain’s foreign-born population has grown since 2015
- A younger foreign-born population: age and work in Spain
- What these trends mean for people living in Spain or considering a move
9.5 million foreign-born residents: Spain among Europe’s main destinations
Spain’s foreign-born population in the EU’s big four
On 1 January 2025, Spain was home to around 9.5 million foreign-born residents. That puts it firmly in the top tier of EU destinations for people born abroad, alongside:
Country | Foreign-born residents (approx.) |
|---|---|
Germany | 17.2 million |
France | 9.6 million |
Spain | 9.5 million |
Italy | 6.9 million |
Together, these four countries hosted roughly two-thirds of all foreign-born residents in the EU, even though they accounted for a smaller share of the EU’s total population.
Where Spain sits between high- and low-immigration EU countries
Across the EU as a whole, about 10.4% of the population is foreign-born. Within that average, the countries below show some of the highest and lowest shares:
Country | Share of foreign-born residents (%) |
|---|---|
Luxembourg | 51.5 |
Malta | 32.0 |
Cyprus | 27.6 |
Ireland | 23.3 |
Austria | 22.5 |
Sweden | 20.8 |
Germany | 20.5 |
| Spain | 19.3 |
Poland | 2.6 |
Romania | 3.6 |
Bulgaria | 3.8 |
Slovakia | 4.0 |
Spain’s overall level of diversity sits between these extremes. It does not have the half-foreign-born profile of Luxembourg, but it is far more internationally populated than central and eastern European countries.
6.9 million non-nationals in Spain: how citizenship shapes the picture
Eurostat also looks at residents by citizenship, rather than birthplace. On this measure, Spain again ranks near the top.
On 1 January 2025, Spain was home to about 6.9 million non-nationals – people living in Spain without Spanish citizenship. Only Germany hosted more non-nationals, with about 12.4 million non-nationals.
For long‑term residents from outside the EU, including US and UK citizens, this distinction matters.
- Many people born abroad eventually acquire Spanish nationality after several years of residence.
- Others remain long-term residents with foreign citizenship.
Both groups are part of Spain’s international population, but only the second group shows up in the non‑national total.
A decade of change: how Spain’s foreign-born population has grown since 2015
Between 2015 and 2025, the share of foreign-born residents increased in most EU countries. Only Latvia and Greece saw a decrease in the proportion of foreign-born residents over that period.
Rather than a sudden wave, the last decade largely reflects steady growth in foreign-born numbers, shaped by work opportunities, family reunification and Spain’s enduring appeal for retirees and remote workers.
Mostly non-EU origins: Spain’s foreign-born residents
In most EU countries, including Spain, the majority of foreign-born residents were born outside the EU. Only Luxembourg, Hungary and Slovakia have more intra‑EU foreign-born residents than non‑EU-born.
This broad pattern is consistent with Spain’s long-standing ties to:
- Latin American countries, where Spanish is widely spoken
- North African neighbours such as Morocco
- Other non-EU origins, including the UK since Brexit, and smaller but visible communities from the US, Canada and elsewhere.
A younger foreign-born population: age and work in Spain
Working-age residents: Spain’s foreign-born age profile
Across the EU, foreign-born residents tend to be younger than the native-born population. In 2025, Eurostat estimates that:
- The median age of native-born residents in the EU was 45.2 years
- The median age of foreign-born residents was 43.1 years
The difference may look small at first glance, but the detailed age structure shows a sharper pattern. Compared with native-born residents, foreign-born populations have:
- A higher share of working-age adults (15 to 64 years)
- A lower share of children and adolescents
- A lower share of people aged 60 and over
Spain fits this profile strongly. Spain’s foreign-born population is heavily concentrated in working ages, while the native-born population is older on average.
What a younger foreign-born population means for Spain’s economy and services
Spain has been grappling for years with low birth rates and population ageing, particularly in rural areas and smaller towns. Against that backdrop, a younger and more working‑age foreign-born population has several practical effects:
- Labour market support
Foreign-born residents play an important role in various sectors. - Public finances and services
A larger share of working-age residents paying into Social Security helps to balance rising pension and healthcare costs.
What these trends mean for people living in Spain or considering a move
For foreign residents already in Spain, many of these trends will feel familiar:
- Hearing multiple languages on the paseo marítimo (seafront promenade) or in a plaza
- Finding English-speaking services more easily in big urban areas and coastal provinces than in smaller inland towns
- Seeing a mix of local and international parents at school gates, particularly in areas with strong European and Latin American communities
All demographic data in this article are drawn from Eurostat’s EU population diversity by citizenship and country of birth statistics, extracted in February 2026.
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