According to the financial daily El Economista, the population of Romanian citizens living in Spain may drop below 500,000 this year for the first time since Romania joined the European Union. Spain’s National Statistics Institute confirmed that thousands of Romanians left the Iberian country during the second quarter of the year, continuing a steady downward trend that began after reaching a peak of 750,000 registered residents in 2013.
The Peak and Decline of Romanian Migration to Spain
At the beginning of the 2000s, roughly 68,000 Romanian citizens resided in Spain. That population surged rapidly during the economic expansion and construction boom that drove massive demand for labor in the real estate sector, according to El Economista. Romania’s entry into the European Union in 2007 further accelerated this mobility, as Spain offered significantly higher wages and an attractive social protection system.
Official data show that the community expanded from fewer than 100,000 individuals in 2003 to over 700,000 a decade later, peaking at 750,000 between 2012 and 2013. However, the 2007 financial crisis shattered that model. Although some workers continued arriving due to relatively low living costs and cheap housing after the property bubble burst, the long-term migration balance shifted.
The National Statistics Institute recorded a continuous slide in the years that followed, with the total dropping to approximately 690,000 in 2015, 600,000 in 2018, and 565,000 by early 2021. According to figures cited by Stirileprotv.ro, the total fell further to 521,181 by the beginning of 2025. In the second quarter of 2026 alone, 5,300 Romanian citizens officially left Spain.
Housing Costs and Squeezed Purchasing Power
Despite Spain’s broader economic growth—with GDP expanding by 2.7% annually, roughly three times faster than the eurozone average, as reported by Stirileprotv.ro—long-term foreign residents are leaving because living conditions have deteriorated. El Economista notes that housing costs have risen sharply, climbing by more than 80% since 2015 across the country, and surging past 100% in major job centers like Madrid.
For an EU-mobile workforce, comparisons are no longer drawn solely against economic conditions in Eastern Europe. Rising rents and property prices mean that wages no longer stretch far enough to cover family expenses or homeownership easily. Consequently, long-term immigrants find their purchasing power diminished compared to years past.
Did you know? In the second quarter of 2026, arrivals to Spain were led by immigrants from Colombia (34,000), Venezuela (23,300), and Morocco (21,100), even as populations like Romanians and Ukrainians recorded notable departures, according to National Statistics Institute data cited by El Economista.
Parallel Exoduses: Ukrainian and Bulgarian Trends
Romanians are not the only nationality experiencing a migration reversal in Spain. Ukrainian and Bulgarian populations are also registering declines, though for slightly different underlying reasons. Following nine quarters of significant arrivals sparked by the war in Ukraine, data show four consecutive quarters of accelerating departures, according to El Economista.
Interviews conducted by the financial daily with Ukrainian families remaining in Spain revealed that those planning to leave intend to move to other European Union member states rather than return to Ukraine. These families report that while work is available for those willing to labor, current salary levels remain insufficient to afford market-rate housing, frequently forcing multiple families to share apartments.
Meanwhile, the Bulgarian population in Spain is also contracting. El Economista notes that while some Bulgarians face similar housing and wage pressures, many choose to return to Bulgaria, citing strong domestic economic growth and one of the most attractive tax frameworks within the European Union.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Romanians currently live in Spain?
Official estimates indicate the population dropped to 521,181 by early 2025 and is projected by El Economista to fall below 500,000 this year.
Why are Romanian and Ukrainian workers leaving Spain despite economic growth?
According to El Economista and Stirileprotv.ro, soaring housing costs and wages that have failed to keep pace with living expenses in major cities have reduced Spain’s relative advantage as a destination.
Which nationalities are currently arriving in Spain in the highest numbers?
Data from Spain’s National Statistics Institute show that the largest groups of incoming migrants include citizens from Colombia, Venezuela, and Morocco.