Migration bubble: "Spain takes in more immigrants than France and Germany combined"

Spain recorded the EU's largest net migration in 2025, surpassing **France** and **Germany** combined. This influx of people offsets natural population decline and contributes to economic growth.

Spain has become the main recipient of immigration within the European Union. In 2025, the country posted a positive net migration balance of nearly **583.000 people**. This figure represents more than a quarter of the total 2 million net immigrants added by the bloc that year. The scale of this flow is such that Spain took in more people through this channel than **Germany** and **France** combined, accounting for around **28%** of the EU's total migration growth.

## Stemming depopulation

The arrival of immigrants has been crucial to counteracting Spain's negative demographic trend. During 2025, the country experienced negative natural growth, with some **442.000 deaths** compared with just **321.000 births**, a loss of more than **121.000 inhabitants**. Immigration has not only offset this loss but also enabled a net increase in the total population of approximately **462.000 people**.

## Growth and economic challenges

This demographic increase is intrinsically linked to part of Spain's economic growth. A larger population, especially of working age, translates into a bigger labour force, a boost to consumption and greater demand for goods and services, including housing. This is an example of what is known as extensive growth: expanding the economy by adding more workers.

However, an increase in gross domestic product (GDP) does not automatically guarantee a proportional rise in individual wealth. To ensure that economic growth translates into greater wellbeing per inhabitant, it is essential to improve productivity, encourage investment and increase the capital available per worker. Spain thus faces the dual challenge of capitalising on this influx of population to strengthen its productive capacity and ensure that such growth is also reflected in higher income and quality of life for its citizens.