This is the result of data published today by the National Statistics Institute (INE), which also reflects a positive migratory balance of 9,265 people, while the internal migratory balance - between communities - was negative (-400 people) in the Balearics.
On a national level, the population increased by 182,141 people in the first half of the year, standing at 47,615,034 inhabitants on 1 July 2022, the maximum since records began.
This population growth in the first half of the year was due to a positive migratory balance of 258,547 people, 137.9 percent more than in the same period of 2021, (478,990 immigrations and 220,443 emigrations) which was reduced by acquisitions of Spanish nationality (which affected 105,639 people, according to provisional data). This figure offset the natural increase (the difference between births and deaths), which was negative by 75,409 persons.
The number of foreigners in Spain increased by 172,456 in the first half of 2022, reaching 5,579,947 people. This figure had not grown so much since the second half of 2019 and is the maximum in the historical series, according to the INE.
Among the main nationalities, the largest increases in the first half of the year were among the Colombian population (60,142 more people), Ukrainian (48,396 more) and Venezuelan (31,703 more). And the biggest decreases were in Romania (11,751 fewer people), the United Kingdom (-8,381) and China (-5,058).
In relative terms, the largest increases were for nationals of Ukraine (45.8%), Peru (20.1%) and Colombia (19.1%). In contrast, the largest decreases were among nationals from Ecuador (-2.8%), the United Kingdom (-2.7%) and China (-2.6%).
Among the foreign nationalities that emigrated the most in the first half of 2022, different behaviours can be observed. Thus, of the 20,511 Romanians who emigrated, the highest number of entries had been concentrated in 2006 and 2007, as well as in 2018 and 2019.
On the other hand, of the 16,777 Moroccans who emigrated, they had arrived in Spain to a greater extent in the most recent years (from 2017 to 2020).
Finally, the 12,553 Britons who emigrated in the same period represented highest number of new residents between 2016 and 2019 - but now they appear to moving elsewhere.
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Zoltan TeglasIt's not just insularity. It's also the sun, mail, express and others constantly reassuring the British electorate that they're still the biggest and best. If you never leave blighty or only travel to British resorts, then it's fully validated. As far as you can see. Meanwhile, the other 75% of tourists and expats quietly continue to dominate Spain and other destinations. They just don't see it as a competition, so no need to claim victory.
A pissed up gammon was telling me recently that Spain couldn't survive without the Brits as they make up 90% of the tourists in Spain. When I questioned him on these figures he told me that 90% of the tourists in the resorts he stays at are Brits. It didn't occur to him that if you only stay at places like Benidorm and Magaluf that tends to be the case.
There’s no surprise in knowing that Moroccans and South Americans dominate the immigrant population of Spain and Mallorca but the largest “western” nationality here is Italian. No mention of them. And by far the most visible and seemingly growing immigrant group is the Germans, who appear to be snapping up the best of what the departing Brits are selling. No mention of them either. A bit more digging needed.
Nigel MaudeNo doubt it's much better back in blighty. Sunlit uplands and all. And no foreigners. Good job we left that mess.
After this budget I should imagine more will leave, on the plane here this time a couple behind in the queue were discussing what to sell and what to send back. I think the Malorcans have killed their golden goose, as there appears to be more Moroccans than N Europeans inhabiting the islands and they sure do not bring in outside currency as N Europeans do. Madrid seems to have stumbled over why, with 90 day rules and more, as people just will not be bothered as there are places to live with considerably less hassle where the cost of living is not rising and less bureaucratic hurdles. However not my problem.