Foreign Residents Now Make Up Almost a Quarter of Alicante’s Population

Alicante province now hosts almost a quarter of its population as foreign nationals, making it the Spanish region with the highest proportion of overseas residents. As of January 1, 2025, there were 497,387 foreign nationals living in the province, accounting for 24.5% of Alicante's total population of 2.03 million. British nationals remain the largest overseas community, with 68,904 residents, but Colombians have surpassed them in recent years, growing from 40,997 to 51,224.

The six most common nationalities represent 50.3% of the foreign population. Foreign residents are concentrated in key municipalities, with Alicante city hosting the largest number at 76,685. However, foreign residents also account for a significant portion of the population in smaller municipalities, with some having over half of their residents being foreign.

The concentration is especially evident in the Vega Baja region. The role of immigration in offsetting Alicante's demographic decline has become increasingly important. With 13,207 births and 16,946 deaths in 2024, the province experienced a natural population decrease of 3,739. However, foreign residents contributed to a natural growth of 1,238 people, a stark contrast to the Spanish population's decline of 4,977.

Foreign mothers now account for 32.6% of all births registered in Alicante, with Moroccan and Colombian women leading in this demographic. The report highlights the growing role of foreign nationals in Alicante's workforce, with 135,550 foreign workers registered in 2025, representing 17.8% of all workers. They are particularly prominent in agriculture, domestic service, and education, with 77,949 foreign pupils making up 21.5% of the student population.

Finally, the number of foreign residents obtaining Spanish citizenship in Alicante continued to rise in 2025, with 9,460 people granted citizenship, up by 113 from the previous year.