Foreign Residents Outnumber Spaniards in 15 Alicante Municipalities

Foreign residents now outnumber Spaniards in 15 municipalities across Alicante province, with Rojales leading the numbers. The province, home to one of Spain's largest foreign populations, ranks after only Madrid and Barcelona in terms of non-Spanish residents. As of early 2025, there were nearly 497,000 foreign nationals registered in the region, with figures rising to over 656,000 in the first half of 2026, making up about a quarter of the total population.

Concentrations of foreign residents are predominantly found in major cities and coastal communities. Five municipalities account for nearly half of the province's foreign population, largely concentrated along the northern and southern coastlines, with fewer in inland areas and the Vinalopó region. The Migration Secretariat of the Diocese of Orihuela's report reveals that foreign nationals now make up the majority in 13 municipalities, with five having around 60% foreign residents.

Rojales, a municipality of approximately 17,500 residents, has nearly 12,000 foreign nationals, with British and European (outside EU) residents forming a significant part of its population. Similar patterns are seen in nearby San Fulgencio and smaller municipalities like Daya Vieja, Benitatxell, Llíber, Murla, and Hondón de los Frailes, where over 60% of residents are foreign, predominantly European citizens, especially Britons and non-EU nationals.

In coastal towns and areas near major tourist destinations, foreign residents also constitute a significant portion of the population, such as Calp (54%), Finestrat (50%), and l’Alfàs del Pi (50%).

British nationals, with over 68,000 registered, form the largest foreign community in Alicante province, though their composition varies by municipality. Areas with the highest foreign population proportions often have strong populations of South American (33% in Alicante city) and African (over half in Albatera) origins.