How have immigration patterns in Spain evolved in recent decades?
Immigration patterns in Spain have evolved significantly in recent decades. In the early 1990s, Spain was a relatively closed society, with few immigrants from other countries. Since then, however, Spain has become a major destination for immigrants from all over the world.
The main driver of this change has been the country’s economic growth. Spain’s economy has grown significantly since the 1990s, and this has attracted immigrants from all over the world. The most significant source of immigrants has been Latin America, particularly from countries such as Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru. Other significant sources of immigrants include Morocco, Romania, and China.
The number of immigrants in Spain has grown steadily since the 1990s. In 2017, there were 5.6 million foreign-born people living in Spain, representing 12.5% of the total population. This is up from 4.3 million in 2011 and 3.1 million in 2001.
Immigrants in Spain are highly diverse. In 2017, the largest immigrant group was from Romania (15.3%), followed by Morocco (13.9%), Ecuador (9.3%), Colombia (7.2%), and China (5.2%). Other significant immigrant groups include the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy.
Immigrants in Spain tend to be highly educated and skilled. In 2017, the unemployment rate among immigrants was 13.7%, compared to 17.2% among the native-born population. This suggests that immigrants are contributing to the Spanish economy and helping to drive economic growth.
The Spanish government has taken steps to make the country more welcoming to immigrants. In 2017, the government passed a law that allowed immigrants to apply for Spanish citizenship after five years of residence in the country. This has helped to make Spain more attractive to immigrants, and has helped to increase the number of immigrants in the country.
Immigration patterns in Spain have evolved significantly in recent decades. The country has become a major destination for immigrants from all over the world, and the number of immigrants in the country has grown steadily. The Spanish government has taken steps to make the country more welcoming to immigrants, and this has helped to make Spain an attractive destination for immigrants. Immigrants in Spain tend to be highly educated and skilled, and are contributing to the Spanish economy and helping to drive economic growth.