British migration to Spain


British migration to Spain has resulted in Spain being home to one of the largest British-born populations outside the United Kingdom in the world, and the largest in Europe. Migration from the UK to Spain has increased rapidly since the late 1990s and the registered population of British nationals in Spain in 2014 was 297,229.

Demographics

Population size

In 2014, the officially registered population of British nationals in Spain was 236,669 and 107,326 in 2001.

Population distribution

According to the data collected by the INE, the distribution of Britons in Spain in 2005 was as follows:
LocationPopulation
Valencian Community82,214
Andalusia63,472
Canary Islands24,742
Balearic Islands14,744
Catalonia13,747
Region of Murcia9,708
Other autonomies9,564
Community of Madrid6,650

Social issues

Research has shown that most of the British population in Spain is poorly socially integrated into Spanish society. A survey of 340 British migrants in the Province of Málaga, for example, found that one third rarely or never met Spanish people, apart from in shops and restaurants, and that 60 per cent did not speak Spanish well. A number of initiatives have been launched to improve integration of British migrants into Spanish life, including language course provision. As a result of the 2008 global financial crisis, some British people in Spain who want to return to the UK have been unable to do so because of the difficulty of selling property in a depressed local housing market. Figures published in January 2015 showed that 2,973 British nationals were in receipt of unemployment benefits in Spain, paid by the host country. In order to receive an unemployment benefit in Spain, a person must be legally unemployed after making unemployment contributions at least 360 days in the last 6 years and be registered with the employment authorities as available for work The unemployment benefit is paid for a minimum of 4 months and maximum of 24 months, based on the period that the unemployed person has contributed.

Education

There are multiple British international schools located in Spain. The National Association of British Schools in Spain has 52 member schools.