Living in Spain is not so popular during the crisis - Costa del Sol

Living in Spain

Spain's population grew by 700,000 per annum between 2002 and 2007. With the financial crisis, net inward migration fell to 400,000 in 2008, and even further to only 47,000 in 2009 and 62,000 in 2010.

In 2011 Spain lost 70,000 residents in the first half of the year. Even with a surplus of 43,000 births, the country's population dropped by 27,000 between January and June.

"The negative migration balance is mainly due to immigrants returning home," says Julio Perez, a population specialist at Spain's Scientific Research Council (CSIC). "What surprises me is that the figure isn't higher in view of Spain's 21% rate of unemployment," he adds.

Mostly foreigners who are leaving Spain
Of the 70,000 residents lost so far this year, 63,000 were foreigners, most of whom were working in the building trade.

Source: CSIC

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