Editing Spain (section)

=== Immigration ===
{{Main|Immigration to Spain}}
[[File:Distribución de la población extranjera en España (2005).png|thumb|Distribution of the foreign population in Spain in 2005 by percentage]]

According to the official Spanish statistics ([[Instituto Nacional de Estadística (Spain)|INE]]) there were 6.8&nbsp;million foreign residents in Spain in 2025 (13.9%)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ine.es/dyngs/Prensa/es/ECP4T24.htm|title=Instituto Nacional de Estadística. Estadística del Padrón Continuo|publisher=[[Instituto Nacional de Estadística (Spain)|Instituto Nacional de Estadística]]|website=ine.es|access-date=13 February 2025}}</ref> while all citizens born outside of Spain were 9.3&nbsp;million in 2025, 19.11% of the total population.<ref name="ine.es">{{cite web|url=https://www.ine.es/dyngs/Prensa/es/ECP4T24.htm|title=Cifras de Población (CP) a 1 de enero de 2025 Estadística de Migraciones (EM). Datos provisionales|publisher=[[Instituto Nacional de Estadística (Spain)|Instituto Nacional de Estadística]]|website=ine.es|language=Spanish|access-date=13 February 2025}}</ref>

According to residence permit data for 2011, more than 860,000 were Romanian, about 770,000 were [[Moroccan people|Moroccan]], approximately 390,000 were British, and 360,000 were [[Ecuadorian people|Ecuadorian]].<ref>[http://www.ine.es/prensa/np648.pdf INE] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723120919/http://www.ine.es/prensa/np648.pdf|date=23 July 2013 }}, 2011.</ref> Other sizeable foreign communities are Colombian, Bolivian, German, Italian, [[Bulgarians|Bulgarian]], and Chinese. There are more than 200,000 migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa living in Spain, principally [[Senegalese people|Senegaleses]] and [[Nigerian people|Nigerians]].<ref>"[https://archive.today/20120530050737/http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/295183,financial-crisis-reveals-vulnerability-of-spains-immigrants--feature.html Financial crisis reveals vulnerability of Spain's immigrants – Feature]". The Earth Times. 18 November 2009.</ref> Since 2000, Spain has experienced high [[population growth]] as a result of immigration flows, despite a birth rate that is only half the replacement level. This sudden and ongoing inflow of immigrants, particularly those arriving illegally by sea, has caused noticeable social tension.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ine.es/prodyser/pubweb/anuario06/anu06_02demog.pdf|publisher=Instituto Nacional de Estadística|title=Avance del Padrón Municipal a 1 de enero de 2006. Datos provisionales|access-date=13 August 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080726044741/http://www.ine.es/prodyser/pubweb/anuario06/anu06_02demog.pdf|archive-date=26 July 2008 }} and {{cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_21/b4035066.htm|title=Spain: Immigrants Welcome|access-date=13 August 2008|work=Business Week|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006223656/https://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_21/b4035066.htm|archive-date=6 October 2008 }} and {{cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14628564/site/newsweek/print/1/displaymode/1098/|title=Immigrants Fuel Europe's Civilization Clash|access-date=13 August 2008|publisher=MSNBC|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513052346/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14628564/site/newsweek/print/1/displaymode/1098/|archive-date=13 May 2008|url-status=dead }} and {{cite web|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/01/22/news/spain.php|title=Spanish youth clash with immigrant gangs|access-date=13 August 2008|work=International Herald Tribune|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080603175159/http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/01/22/news/spain.php|archive-date=3 June 2008 }}</ref>

Within the EU, Spain had the 2nd highest immigration rate in percentage terms after [[Cyprus]], but by a great margin, the highest in absolute numbers, up to 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_OFFPUB/KS-NK-06-001/EN/KS-NK-06-001-EN.PDF|publisher=Eurostat|title=Population in Europe in 2005|access-date=13 August 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080819191607/http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_OFFPUB/KS-NK-06-001/EN/KS-NK-06-001-EN.PDF|archive-date=19 August 2008 }}</ref> The number of immigrants in Spain had grown up from 500,000 people in 1996 to 5.2&nbsp;million in 2008 out of a total population of 46&nbsp;million.<ref>[http://www.workpermit.com/news/2007-10-10/spain/spanish-immigration-budget-increases.htm Spain to increase immigration budget] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080830020653/http://workpermit.com/news/2007-10-10/spain/spanish-immigration-budget-increases.htm|date=30 August 2008 }}, 10 October 2007</ref> In 2005 alone, a regularisation programme increased the legal immigrant population by 700,000 people.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/may/09/spain.gilestremlett|title=Spain grants amnesty to 700,000 migrants|work=The Guardian|location=London|date=9 May 2005|access-date=20 July 2009|first=Giles|last=Tremlett|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829050736/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/may/09/spain.gilestremlett|archive-date=29 August 2013 }}</ref> There are a number of reasons for the high level of immigration, including Spain's cultural ties with Latin America, its geographical position, the porosity of its borders, the large size of its underground economy and the strength of the agricultural and construction sectors, which demand more low cost labour than can be offered by the national workforce.

Another statistically significant factor is the large number of residents of EU origin typically retiring to Spain's Mediterranean coast. In fact, Spain was Europe's largest absorber of migrants from 2002 to 2007, with its immigrant population more than doubling as 2.5&nbsp;million people arrived.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ine.es/inebase/cgi/um?M=%2Ft20%2Fe245%2Fp08%2F&O=pcaxis&N=&L=0|title=Population series from 1998|publisher=[[Instituto Nacional de Estadística de España|INE]] Spanish Statistical Institute|access-date=14 August 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071102141040/http://www.ine.es/inebase/cgi/um?M=%2Ft20%2Fe245%2Fp08%2F&O=pcaxis&N=&L=0|archive-date=2 November 2007|url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2008, prior to the onset of the economic crisis, the ''Financial Times'' reported that Spain was the most favoured destination for Western Europeans considering a move from their own country and seeking jobs elsewhere in the EU.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://international.ibox.bg/news/id_1406161495|publisher=News.bg|title=Europeans Favour Spain for Expat Jobs|access-date=13 August 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010033728/http://international.ibox.bg/news/id_1406161495|archive-date=10 October 2008}}</ref>

In 2008, the government instituted a "Plan of Voluntary Return" which encouraged unemployed immigrants from outside the EU to return to their home countries and receive several incentives, including the right to keep their unemployment benefits and transfer whatever they contributed to the Spanish Social Security.<ref>[http://www.planderetornovoluntario.es/index_uno.html Plan de Retorno Voluntario] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018081322/https://www.planderetornovoluntario.es/index_uno.html|date=18 October 2011 }} Gobierno de España</ref> The programme had little effect.<ref>[https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB123275552359911807 Spain's Jobs Crisis Leaves Immigrants Out of Work] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710041236/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB123275552359911807|date=10 July 2017 }}, The Wall Street Journal, 24 January 2009</ref> Although the programme failed to, the sharp and prolonged economic crisis from 2010 to 2011, resulted in tens of thousands of immigrants leaving the country due to lack of jobs. In 2011 alone, more than half a million people left Spain.<ref name=emigracion /> For the first time in decades the net migration rate was expected to be negative, and nine out of 10 emigrants were foreigners.<ref name=emigracion>[http://www.elpais.com/articulo/sociedad/580000/personas/van/Espana/elpepisoc/20111008elpepisoc_2/Tes 580.000 personas se van de España] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111115152500/http://www.elpais.com/articulo/sociedad/580000/personas/van/Espana/elpepisoc/20111008elpepisoc_2/Tes|date=15 November 2011 }}. El País. Edición Impresa. 8 October 2011</ref>