British Nationals in Spain Far Exceed Previous Estimates
1,200% Surge of British Nationals Residing in Cantabria Over the Last Decade
New figures from Instituto Cántabro de EstadĂstica reveal a staggering increase of British nationals residing in Cantabria, Spain, with numbers skyrocketing from just 735 in 2013 to nearly 9,610 in 2024. This marks an unprecedented 1,207% increase over the 11-year period, far exceeding previous estimates and raising questions about underreporting in earlier years.
Key Findings
- Total increase from 2013 to 2024: 8,875 individuals
- Percent increase: 1,207.48%
- Peak year: 2024 with 9,610 registered British nationals
- Average annual number of British nationals (2013-2024): 1,777
The surge, particularly notable during the 2022-2023 period, appears to correlate directly with the post-Brexit environment. Before Brexit, many British nationals likely saw no urgency to formalize their residency due to free movement privileges within the EU.
Cantabria, though experiencing significant growth, remains one of the regions with the smallest populations of British nationals, ranked 15th out of 17 Autonomous Communities, so this is a large increase relative to the population there.
About the Author
Duncan Trevithick is orginally from the UK and moved to Spain shortly after the end of the pandemic. He now resides in the beautiful south of Spain with his wife and is slowly growing his squadron of rescue cats.
Duncan has analyzed and curated the sources for this data-driven research.
For media inquiries or further information, please contact Duncan at [click to reveal email].
Research Data
Extranjeros con certificado de registro o tarjeta de residencia en vigor
View DataAccessed on: October 16, 2024