Morocco becomes leading foreign nationality in León, Spain

Morocco has become the nationality with the highest number of foreign residents in the Spanish province of León, surpassing Portugal for the first time since statistical tracking began in 2013. According to data from the Permanent Immigration Observatory, as of June 30, 2026, there were 4,247 Moroccan residents with valid documentation, compared to 4,121 Portuguese residents.

The shift occurred during the first quarter of 2026, when Morocco led by only seven residents. By the second quarter, the gap grew to 126. The Moroccan community saw a 7.4% increase over the past year, adding 293 individuals, while the Portuguese population remained relatively stagnant with a gain of only 30 people.

Other significant foreign populations in León include residents from Romania (3,628) and Bulgaria (3,254). The total number of foreign residents in the province reached 33,268 by the end of June, a 9.8% increase from the previous year. This growth rate exceeds both the average for the Castilla y León region (9.1%) and the national average for Spain (7.4%).