In 2025, Spain reached a new demographic record: more than 10 million of its residents were born outside the country. According to the latest data from the National Statistics Institute (INE), this figure represents approximately 20% of the total population, which stands at 49,570,725
inhabitants.
The data reflects a profound transformation in the country's demographic composition. In simple terms, one out of every five residents in Spain was born in another country, a proportion that had not previously been recorded in recent history.
Pedro Sánchez with the king of Morocco.
The growth of the foreign population contrasts with the evolution of citizens born in Spanish territory. In 2015, the country had more than 40.5 million people born in Spain. A decade later, in 2025, that figure fell to 39.6 million, implying a drop of close to 2%
.
The phenomenon responds to multiple factors, including the constant arrival of migrants in search of economic opportunities. During 2025, for example, Colombian citizens led the new arrivals to the country. According to INE data, 147,500 Colombians arrived in Spain over the past year, making it the foreign community with the highest recent
growth.
Institutions such as the United Nations and the Bank of Spain have warned on different occasions that the country would need around 300,000 migrant workers per year to sustain the productive system and finance the welfare state in a context of population aging, without considering the promotion of the birth rate.
In this scenario, the government of the socialist Pedro Sánchez recently announced an extraordinary regularization for immigrants who are in an irregular administrative situation. According to official estimates, the measure could benefit about 500,000 people.
Moroccan migration highlights culture shock.
However, some analysis centers argue that the actual number of foreigners in an irregular situation could be even higher. The Funcas study center estimated that at the beginning of 2025 there would be around 840,000 immigrants without regular documentation
in the country.
The Government maintains that regularization seeks to reduce the informal economy and improve the working conditions of those who today work without legal coverage, while the opposition highlights the impact of culture shock and the associated increase in insecurity.
