Spain Leads the EU in Immigrant Reception This Century, According to the UN
Spain has established itself as the top destination for foreign nationals within the European Union this century. According to estimates from the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) in its International Migrant Stock 2024 report, Spain’s foreign-born resident population expanded by 6.8 million people between 2000 and 2024.
Across the broader European continent, only the United Kingdom recorded a higher absolute increase in its immigrant population over the same period, adding 7.1 million foreign-born residents. However, following Brexit, Spain ranks first among current EU member states, outpacing Germany (+6.4 million), Italy (+4.4 million), and France (+3.0 million).
From Two to Nearly Nine Million in 24 Years
The UN DESA study measures changes in the total stock of international migrants—people residing in a country other than their country of birth, including refugees. By mid-2024, Spain’s foreign-born population reached nearly 8.9 million, compared to approximately two million at the turn of the century.
At the continental level, Europe added 40.8 million immigrants during the first quarter of the century (+67%). Nearly half of that overall growth was absorbed by just three nations: Spain, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
Diversified Migration Patterns
The UN estimates—derived primarily from national population censuses and administrative registries—highlight a multi-faceted migration model in Spain. The substantial surge reflects sustained arrivals from Latin America and Africa, intra-EU mobility, and the impact of recent global refugee movements.
