The foreign population on the Costa Blanca is still rising, with the latest figures showing a steady increase over the past year.
By 31 December 2025, there were 7,500,944 foreign nationals with valid residency documents in Spain. This represents a 4.5% increase compared to the previous year, according to data from the Observatorio Permanente de la Inmigración (OPI).
EU and non-EU residents
Of the total:
- 3,804,191 people hold a registration certificate as EU or EFTA (AELC) citizens
- 3,497,284 have residency under general immigration rules
- 199,469 are British nationals and their family members with a TIE linked to the Withdrawal Agreement
In total, 4,003,660 people fall under EU, EFTA or Withdrawal Agreement status.
Around 13% of this group are family members of EU or EFTA citizens.
The largest nationalities in this category are:
- Romania: 1,136,518
- Italy: 514,054
- United Kingdom: 382,474
Together, these three account for 51% of the total.
Age and gender profile
The gender split remains stable:
- 51% men
- 49% women
Foreign population on the Costa Blanca
Since July 2020, more than 280,000 British nationals and their family members have applied for residency under the Withdrawal Agreement.
Of these, 250,713 applications (89%) have been approved.
More than half of approved applications are concentrated in three provinces:
- Alicante/Alacant: 63,937 (26%)
- Málaga: 44,179 (18%)
- Illes Balears: 18,574 (7%)
Older age groups dominate, with those aged 50 and above making up 64% of the total.
Growth in non-EU residents
There are 3,497,284 foreign nationals living in Spain under general immigration rules, an increase of 9% over the past year.
Over the last decade, this group has grown by more than 1.38 million people.
By region of origin:
- Africa: 35%
- Central and South America: 33%
- Asia: 16%
- Non-EU European countries: 15%
Among nationalities, Venezuelan residents have seen a sharp increase again in 2025, rising by 24.4% after a slower period the year before.
In contrast, the number of Honduran nationals has slightly decreased by 0.7%.
New residency option
A new immigration regulation introduced in May 2025 created a residency option for family members of Spanish nationals.
Seven months after its introduction, 42,792 people hold this type of permit:
- 56% are women
- 8% are under 16
The main nationalities in this group are:
- Colombia
- Cuba
- Peru
Increase in student permits
The number of foreign students and their families in Spain has also increased.
By the end of 2025, 85,690 people held a study permit, a rise of 52% compared to the previous quarter.
The most common nationalities in this category are:
- Colombia: 11,263
- Peru: 7,636
- Morocco: 6,737
- United States: 6,623
