Spain ’ s economy may be recovering as it shakes off the effects of the crisis , but that isn ’ t slowing down the number of Spaniards who are moving abroad . In total , 76,197 people with Spanish nationality registered as residents in foreign countries in the last year , according to the latest data from the National Statistics Institute ( INE ) , and which was published on Tuesday . The number has been growing year on year since 2009 , with nearly 2.5 million Spaniards now living in countries in Europe , America , Africa , Asia and Oceania . In just under 10 years , the number of Spaniards abroad has grown by nearly 70 % Between January 2017 and the same month in 2018 , the census of Spaniards living in other countries has risen 3.2 % . According to the Register of Spaniards Residing Abroad ( PERE ) , in the last year new residents were mostly seen in Europe ( 40,022 ) , followed by the Americas ( 30,470 ) . It is these territories where the majority of Spaniards abroad reside , with 62 % living in the Americas and 35 % in Europe since 2009 . The total number has been rising since 2009 , when nearly 1.5 million Spaniards were registered as living abroad – principally in Argentina , France and Venezuela . By 2012 , that number had risen to 1.8 million people and in 2016 , 2.3 million . In just under 10 years , the number of Spaniards abroad has grown by nearly 70 % , according to data from the INE . Demographer Amparo González , from the Spanish National Research Council ( CSIC ) , explains that the INE figures do not necessarily represent the number of Spaniards born in Spain who packed up and left the country in the wake of the economic crisis . The specialist points out that the numbers also include people who were not born in the country , but who have Spanish nationality or who have more than one nationality and live in foreign countries . The figures show that only a third of those Spaniards registered in other countries in 2017 were actually born in Spain The INE figures show that only a third of those Spaniards registered in other countries in 2017 were actually born in Spain . More than half were born in their current place of residence , and 8 % in a third country . González explains that the phenomenon is partly accountable to the fact that , during the years of growth in Spain , some of those migrating into the country secured Spanish nationality . With the arrival of the crisis and the resulting problems with unemployment , many returned to their countries of origin , where they registered as Spanish nationals . “ These people have strong incentives to register with Spanish nationality and pass it on to their children , ” González explains . Spaniards who were born in Spain and who emigrate , however , may live abroad for years without actually registering at a consulate . In the last year , the biggest rise in Spanish population living abroad , in absolute terms , was seen in the United Kingdom ( 12,141 ) , the United States ( 11,012 ) , France ( 9454 ) , and Argentina . In relative terms , the biggest rises in countries with more than 10,000 Spanish residents were seen in the UK ( 10 % ) , the US ( 8 % ) and Bolivia ( 7 % ) . Venezuela , meanwhile , saw a fall in its Spanish population of 7.3 % . English version by Simon Hunter .
The biggest rise in absolute terms was seen in the United Kingdom , with 12,141 new registrations