Moroccans remain Spain’s largest foreign community, with low higher education rates

Spain’s National Institute of Statistics has confirmed that Moroccans remain the largest foreign-born community in the country, with 1,165,955 residents as of January 1, 2025, according to annual population data released on Wednesday.

The figures show sustained arrivals in recent years, with 136,417 Moroccans settling in Spain in 2024, 119,571 in 2023, and 92,299 in 2022. In 2021, 76,553 arrivals were recorded, while a significant wave dates back to 2001–2010, when 353,197 Moroccans established residency.

The institute noted that these results are based on population statistics for 2024 and 2025, which, for the first time, rely entirely on administrative data rather than household surveys, following Spain’s updated methodology after the 2021 census.

Moroccans top the list of foreign communities in Spain, ahead of Colombians (978,041), Venezuelans (692,316), and Romanians (521,181).

Lower access to higher education

Despite their strong demographic presence, Moroccans rank among the lowest in terms of access to higher education, with a rate of just 9.3%, the lowest among major foreign communities. Romanians follow at 14.5%, and nationals from the Dominican Republic at 17.8%.

By contrast, Venezuelans record the highest share of higher education at 47.4%, followed by the French (45.5%) and Argentinians (44.3%). The highest concentrations of highly educated residents are found in the outskirts of Madrid and Barcelona, particularly in Tres Cantos, Las Rozas de Madrid, and Sant Cugat del Vallès, where the rate exceeds 63%. The lowest rates are observed in Rojales, Níjar, and Jódar.

Overall, 33.6% of Spain’s population aged 15 and over have completed higher education, rising to 42.7% among those aged 25 to 64. Women outperform men in this area, with rates of 46.9% compared to 38.4%.

In terms of employment, Chinese nationals have the highest employment rate among foreign communities at 61.5%, followed by Ecuadorians (56.7%) and Romanians (56.4%). The institute did not provide a separate employment rate for Moroccans among the major foreign nationalities.