Spain sees record growth in foreign population and self-employed workers

Spain is experiencing significant demographic and economic shifts driven by its foreign-born population. In the province of Alicante, the foreign population has reached unprecedented levels, accounting for approximately 25.7% of the total residents. This makes Alicante the Spanish province with the highest relative proportion of foreign nationals. The population is heavily concentrated in five municipalities—Alicante, Torrevieja, Elche, Orihuela, and Benidorm—which together host nearly 44% of the province's foreign residents.

On a national scale, the number of foreign self-employed workers (autónomos) in Spain reached a record 531,568 in July 2026, marking a 9% increase from the previous year. This growth is outpacing the increase in total foreign employment.

In the region of Castilla-La Mancha, foreign entrepreneurship has become a critical driver of economic stability. Over the last four years, the region added 3,857 foreign self-employed workers while losing 3,328 Spanish nationals in the same category. This influx of foreign workers is helping to mitigate challenges related to territorial dispersion and the lack of generational replacement in sectors such as hospitality, commerce, and construction.