More than 300,000 Britons have chosen to settle in Spainfinding an ideal home in regions such as Andalusia and the Balearic Islands, attracted by the mild climate, tranquillity and more affordable cost of living. Most of these Britons are retirees who choose to enjoy their retirement on the Spanish coast, where they can relax and enjoy the beaches, something that would be unattainable in the United Kingdom. There are around 474,000 foreign retirees living in Spainbeing the most popular country in the European Union to spend the so-called golden years.
Following Brexit, the British are no longer citizens of the European Community, which has influenced their migration to Spain. According to Eurostat, half of the British who have applied for residence permits in the European Union have chosen Spain as their preferred destinationconsolidating them as the third largest foreign population in the country.
Municipalities preferred by the British
More than 50% of Britons prefer to live on the Mediterranean coast of Spain to enjoy the good weather, beaches, gastronomy and cultural offering of these provinces. The most popular places are Alicante, Malaga and the Balearic Islands. Cities like Barcelona, Murcia, Tenerife, Las Palmas, Almería and Madrid They also attract a sizeable British population, especially among retirees, with 34% over 65 and 30% aged 50 to 64.
Among the British’s favourite Spanish towns is Orihuela in Alicantewhere more than 10,000 people live out of a total population that is just over 80,000, so The English represent 12% of the totalIn Malaga, the picturesque white village of Mijas It is home to more than eight thousand Britishwhere one in ten inhabitants speaks English.
Other popular destinations include Calvi in Mallorca, Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol, Torrevieja and Benidorm. It also highlights Almucar for its coast and climate, Sitges (Barcelona) for its artistic and alternative lifestyle, and Miraflores de la Sierra in Madrid for its trails and for adapting perfectly to the outdoor lifestyle.
Municipalities that have more British than Spanish
Taking this reality to the extreme, there are cases in small municipalities where the British outnumber the Spanish in their population. Partaloa and Los Gallardos in Almerawhere the British make up the majority of the population, even exceeding 50%. Other coastal towns such as Arboleas and Sierra de los Liabrales They also attract a large number of British people, seduced by their tranquillity and natural beauty.
In addition, Rojales in the Valencian Communityis one of the municipalities with the most British in all of Spain, con Nearly 70% of its 16,560 inhabitants are foreignersmostly British. Rojales’ appeal began in the 1970s with the creation of Ciudad Quesada, a macro-urbanization driven by businessman Justo Quesada, which today has 30,000 homes and a golf course. Initially it attracted Swiss, but quickly became a favourite destination for the British. Today, Quesada City It is a popular enclave that offers an atmosphere that remember the United Kingdomwith shops, restaurants and services that allow Britons to maintain their lifestyle.
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