Guiris go home? Look at the numbers

Graffiti appeared around Malaga following recent housing protests, leaving many wondering if the phrase "Guiris go home" is directed at expats. The housing debate in Spain has seen foreigners blamed for affordable housing issues. "Guiri" is a colloquial term for a foreign visitor or foreigner, often used for northern Europeans or English speakers.

Some foreign residents, particularly British, French, Dutch, Polish, and German individuals, view Spain as their home and have a positive impact on the Spanish economy. Foreign residents generate economic activity through various means, and there are a significant number of Spanish nationals living abroad as well. Spain's official PERE statistics show that there were around 1.7 million Spanish nationals habitually resident abroad in 2021.

While foreign demand may put pressure on house prices and infrastructure, it also contributes to Spain's GDP growth. The foreign population made a direct contribution of between 0.4 and 0.7 percentage points to Spain's annual per-capita GDP growth between 2022 and 2024. Therefore, it is essential to distinguish between questioning the impact of foreign demand and labeling foreigners as the problem.

These individuals have built lives in Spain and contribute to the local economy, making Spain their home.