According to data published by Spain's National Statistics Institute (INE) on May 28, 2026, a record 299,732 foreign residents acquired Spanish nationality in 2025. This marks the highest number of naturalizations in a single year since records began.
Moroccans were the leading nationality among new Spanish citizens, accounting for 67,000 acquisitions. They were followed by nationals from Venezuela (37,000), Colombia (30,000), Ecuador (20,000), and Peru (15,000). The increase is attributed to a combination of factors, including the processing of long-pending applications and a rise in residency among Latin American and North African communities.
The INE report highlights that the majority of new citizens (over 60%) were under the age of 40, and women slightly outnumbered men. The regions with the highest number of naturalizations were Madrid, Catalonia, and the Valencian Community.
This surge in naturalizations reflects Spain's evolving demographic landscape and its role as a key destination for migrants from both Latin America and North Africa. The data is based on civil registry entries processed by the Ministry of Justice.
