Spain ranks 1st in the EU-27 for regular immigration: in 2024 it registered 1,288,562 arrivals and 662,294 departures, for a net balance of +626,268. In 2025 first-time asylum applications came to 141,050, 21% of the EU total; citizenship acquisitions in 2024 numbered 252,476.
Regular migration
The series includes all citizenships — EU citizens moving between member states and returning nationals included — and counts those moving their usual residence for at least 12 months. Compared with 2019, immigration is up 72%.
Immigration Emigration
| Year | Immigration | Emigration | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,288,562 | 662,294 | +626,268 |
| 2023 | 1,250,991 | 608,695 | +642,296 |
| 2022 | 1,258,894 | 531,889 | +727,005 |
| 2021 | 887,960 | 696,866 | +191,094 |
| 2020 | 467,918 | 248,561 | +219,357 |
| 2019 | 750,480 | 296,248 | +454,232 |
| 2018 | 643,684 | 309,526 | +334,158 |
| 2017 | 532,132 | 368,860 | +163,272 |
| 2016 | 414,746 | 327,325 | +87,421 |
| 2015 | 342,114 | 343,875 | −1,761 |
| 2014 | 305,454 | 400,430 | −94,976 |
| 2013 | 280,772 | 532,303 | −251,531 |
| 2012 | 304,053 | 446,606 | −142,553 |
| 2011 | 371,331 | 409,034 | −37,703 |
| 2010 | 360,705 | 403,377 | −42,672 |
| 2009 | 392,962 | 380,121 | +12,841 |
| 2008 | 599,075 | 288,432 | +310,643 |
Asylum applications
First-time applications for international protection lodged in Spain in 2025 came to 141,050 (the 1st-highest in the EU). The series peak remains 2024, with 165,475 applications.
| Year | First-time claims |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 141,050 |
| 2024 | 165,475 |
| 2023 | 160,475 |
| 2022 | 116,150 |
| 2021 | 62,070 |
| 2020 | 86,385 |
| 2019 | 115,195 |
| 2018 | 52,740 |
| 2017 | 33,040 |
| 2016 | 15,570 |
| 2015 | 14,605 |
| 2014 | 5,460 |
| 2013 | 4,295 |
| 2012 | 2,360 |
| 2011 | 2,975 |
| 2010 | 2,545 |
| 2009 | · |
| 2008 | · |
New citizenships
In 2024 citizenship acquisitions came to 252,476, the 2nd-highest in the EU-27. It is a lagging indicator: today's new citizens typically immigrated several years ago. The main previous citizenships of new citizens (2024): Morocco (42,910), Ecuador (10,871), Argentina (8,558), Pakistan (6,395), Romania (5,973).
| Year | Acquisitions |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 252,476 |
| 2023 | 240,208 |
| 2022 | 181,581 |
| 2021 | 144,012 |
| 2020 | 126,266 |
| 2019 | 98,954 |
| 2018 | 90,774 |
| 2017 | 66,498 |
| 2016 | 150,944 |
| 2015 | 114,351 |
| 2014 | 205,880 |
| 2013 | 225,793 |
| 2012 | 94,142 |
| 2011 | 114,599 |
| 2010 | 123,721 |
| 2009 | 79,590 |
| 2008 | 84,170 |
Who leaves
In 2024, 137,719 of the country's own citizens moved abroad (the 5th-highest in the EU). The true number is almost certainly higher: emigration is measured through de-registrations, and people who leave do not always deregister.
Compare with the other EU countries or return to the atlas.