The number of Britons living in Spain has declined but the number of Spaniards moving to the United Kingdom is increasing, according to official figures. This complete role reversal has taken many people by surprise with Spaniards exchanging their paella and sangria for fish and chips and a cup of tea!
The number of Britons living in Spain fell by 2.2 percent this year and now stands at about 400,000 people. Meanwhile, the number of Spaniards living in Britain stands at about 200,000 with 7,000 having relocated over the last few months. There has been a steady increase over the last few years.
Young Spaniards have moved to the UK for better job opportunities, especially in healthcare (nursing) and service industries.
Popular spots for Spaniards moving to the United Kingdom are West London (Kensington, Chelsea, Lambeth), Manchester, Bristol, Nottingham, Cambridge, and Northern Ireland.
While many adapt well, some expats note potential ‘ghettoization’ or difficulty fully integrating, similar to British expats in Spain.
The decline in the British population has been blamed on higher living costs and the decline in the value of sterling against the euro. Spain is still one of the main places where Britons would like to live but post Brexit this has been made more difficult.