Spain granted nationality to a record 299,732 foreign residents in 2025, according to final data published by the National Statistics Institute (INE). This represents an 18.7% increase compared with 2024 and marks the highest number recorded since the statistical series began in 2013.
The figures show a major rise in Spanish nationality acquisitions among foreign residents living in the country. The INE data covers people who were habitually resident in Spain and obtained Spanish nationality during the year, after previously holding another nationality or being stateless.
Moroccans, Colombians, and Venezuelans Led the List
The most common previous nationality among those who became Spanish citizens in 2025 was Moroccan, with 42,114 cases. It was followed by Colombian nationals, with 37,712, and Venezuelan nationals, with 36,271.
After Morocco, the remaining nine countries in the top 10 were from South America, Central America, and the Caribbean, showing the strong presence of Latin American communities among new Spanish citizens.
Top 10 Previous Nationalities Acquiring Spanish Citizenship in 2025
| Rank | Previous nationality | Number of acquisitions |
| 1 | Morocco | 42,114 |
| 2 | Colombia | 37,712 |
| 3 | Venezuela | 36,271 |
| 4 | Honduras | 20,745 |
| 5 | Peru | 15,920 |
| 6 | Cuba | 14,390 |
| 7 | Ecuador | 13,689 |
| 8 | Argentina | 11,291 |
| 9 | Dominican Republic | 9,915 |
| 10 | Nicaragua | 8,951 |
Women Made Up the Majority
Women represented the majority of people who acquired Spanish nationality in 2025. According to the INE, 55.4% were women, equal to 166,069 cases, while 44.6% were men, equal to 133,663 cases.
By age group, people aged 30 to 39 formed the largest group of new Spanish citizens. They were followed by those aged 40 to 49, showing that most nationality acquisitions were concentrated among working-age adults.
Spanish Nationality by Age Group and Sex
| Age group | Total | Men | Women |
| Total | 299,732 | 133,663 | 166,069 |
| 0–9 | 44,957 | 23,127 | 21,830 |
| 10–19 | 41,181 | 21,121 | 20,060 |
| 20–29 | 39,905 | 17,157 | 22,748 |
| 30–39 | 72,023 | 29,293 | 42,730 |
| 40–49 | 57,750 | 25,039 | 32,711 |
| 50–59 | 29,910 | 12,657 | 17,253 |
| 60 and over | 14,006 | 5,269 | 8,737 |
Residence Was the Main Route to Spanish Nationality
The main way foreign residents acquired Spanish nationality in 2025 was by residence, with 253,836 cases. This route accounted for the vast majority of acquisitions. The second most common route was by option, with 45,715 cases.
Nationality by option was especially common among younger people. The INE reported that 88.9% of acquisitions by option were among people under 20 years old. The remaining 181 cases were recorded under other modes, including nationality by letter of naturalisation and unknown cases.
Modes of Spanish Nationality Acquisition in 2025
| Mode of acquisition | Total cases |
| Residence | 253,836 |
| Option | 45,715 |
| Other modes | 181 |
| Total | 299,732 |
Catalonia and Madrid Recorded the Highest Numbers
By region, Catalonia had the highest number of Spanish nationality acquisitions in 2025, with 70,933 cases. It was followed closely by the Community of Madrid, with 69,566 cases. Together, Catalonia and Madrid accounted for 46.9% of all nationality acquisitions in Spain during the year.
The lowest numbers were recorded in La Rioja, with 1,719 cases, and Extremadura, with 1,764 cases. The autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla registered 347 and 852 acquisitions, respectively.
Regions With the Most Spanish Nationality Acquisitions
| Rank | Region | Number of acquisitions |
| 1 | Catalonia | 70,933 |
| 2 | Community of Madrid | 69,566 |
| 3 | Valencian Community | 32,388 |
| 4 | Andalusia | 27,538 |
| 5 | Basque Country | 14,230 |
| 6 | Canary Islands | 13,366 |
| 7 | Castilla-La Mancha | 10,596 |
| 8 | Region of Murcia | 9,747 |
| 9 | Aragon | 9,378 |
| 10 | Balearic Islands | 9,236 |
Spain Was the Most Common Country of Birth
The most frequent country of birth among people who acquired Spanish nationality in 2025 was Spain, with 52,886 cases. Among those born outside Spain, the most common country of birth was Colombia, with 37,094 acquisitions.
Other common countries of birth included Venezuela, Honduras, Morocco, Peru, Cuba, Ecuador, Argentina and the Dominican Republic. This shows that nationality of origin and country of birth do not always match, especially for people born in Spain to foreign-national families.
Arrival in Spain: 2019 Was the Most Common Year
The INE also reported that 16.7% of the people who acquired Spanish nationality in 2025 had always lived in Spain. The remaining 83.3% had previously lived abroad before moving to Spain.
Among those who had immigrated to Spain, the most common year of arrival was 2019. According to the INE, this means many of the people who acquired nationality in 2025 took around six years to obtain Spanish citizenship.