The demographic landscape of foreign residents in León has undergone a significant transformation, marking a historic shift that has seen Morocco emerge as the nationality with the largest number of foreign residents in the province for the first time since the statistical series began in 2013. As of June 30, 2026, there were 4,247 Moroccan residents holding valid residency documentation, outpacing Portugal, which previously held this position for over a decade with 4,121 residents, according to data published by the Permanent Immigration Observatory.
This transition occurred in the first quarter of this year when Morocco surpassed Portugal by a narrow margin of just seven residents, reaching 4,125. By the second quarter, this lead had expanded to 126, with the Moroccan community growing by 293 individuals over the past year, reflecting a 7.4% increase, while the Portuguese community saw a modest gain of only 30, remaining relatively stagnant around the 4,100 mark since 2023. Completing the top four are Romania, with 3,628 residents, and Bulgaria, with 3,254, both of which have also shown little movement in their numbers.
Overall, by the end of June, León counted 33,268 foreign residents with valid residency certificates or cards, an increase of 2,980 from the previous year, which represents a growth rate of 9.8%. This rate surpasses both the average for the Castilla y León region (9.1%) and that of Spain as a whole (7.4%). León now ranks as the third province within the community for the number of foreign residents, following Valladolid (52,415) and Burgos (46,890), and accounts for 13.2% of the total regional foreign population.
The Rise of Non-EU Nationals
The data from the Observatory categorize foreign residents into two main groups: citizens of the European Union, who reside in Spain under the free movement regime and hold a registration certificate, and nationals from third countries, who require a residency authorization under the general regime. The evolution of these groups in León has been starkly contrasting.
The EU regime has been stagnant for years, peaking in June 2025 with 17,532 individuals, but has since declined by 1.1%, now totaling 17,342. In contrast, the general regime has surged from 12,630 to 15,824 individuals in just twelve months, marking a remarkable 25.3% increase. This growth rate significantly outpaces that of Spain overall, where this demographic increased by 15.6%, and is slightly above the regional average of 24.7%. León ranks ninth among the 52 provinces and autonomous cities in terms of growth within the general regime, with five provinces from Castilla y León featuring in the top nine of this classification, led by Zamora, which saw an impressive 37% growth.
Between 2013 and 2016, the number of non-EU nationals with authorization in León steadily declined until reaching a low of 7,327 in December 2016. Since then, this figure has more than doubled, reflecting a 116% increase. Notably, much of this growth has occurred in the last year. If the current trend continues, the number of non-EU residents is expected to surpass that of EU residents in León before the end of the year, a phenomenon that has never been recorded in the historical data.
Long-Term Authorizations Dominate
A breakdown by reason for authorization provides insight into this phenomenon. Long-term authorizations, which pertain to individuals who have been settled in Spain for years, remain the most prevalent, totaling 5,545; however, this number has remained stable and has even slightly decreased. The growth has primarily stemmed from temporary authorizations, with those granted for roots rising from 1,613 to 2,120, and other exceptional circumstances increasing from 1,703 to 2,225. Authorizations allowing individuals to combine self-employment and wage labor have more than doubled, reaching 1,477, while family reunification authorizations rose from 577 to 1,046.
The most striking change is the new temporary residency category for family members of Spanish citizens, which has surged from just 11 individuals in June 2025 to 1,059 a year later. This influx coincides with the implementation of the new Immigration Regulation in May 2025, which transitioned non-EU family members of Spanish citizens from the EU regime to the general regime. This shift accounts for part of the movement between these two groups and, consequently, the slight decline in EU certificates. In León, the primary beneficiaries of this new category are Colombians (347), Dominicans (175), and Cubans (133).
The impact of new arrivals is also reflected in the type of documentation. Initial authorizations, which are granted for the first time, have increased by 56% in one year, now totaling 6,124, representing nearly four out of every ten valid authorizations in the general regime.
In terms of origins, Latin America is a significant driving force behind this growth. Residents from Central and South America have risen from 7,592 to 9,698 over the past year, a 27.7% increase. Colombia alone has seen its resident population grow to 3,100, an increase of 856 individuals (+38.1%), positioning it on the verge of surpassing Bulgaria as the fourth largest nationality in the province. In 2016, the Colombian population in León was just 1,064, indicating a nearly threefold increase. Moreover, the Colombian community is the primary recipient of root authorizations in the province, with 866 out of the 2,120 granted.
Venezuela's residents have surged from a mere 205 in 2016 to 1,697 today, marking an increase of 458 in the past year. Peru has also contributed significantly, with 686 residents, representing a 40% increase since June 2025, while Cuba reports 491 residents. From Africa, besides Morocco, there are notable increases in the populations of Senegal (297) and Mali (257), with Mali having only 15 residents a decade ago.
The two regimes illustrate opposing demographic profiles. Among EU nationals, 38.7% are aged 50 or older, with 2,389 exceeding 65 years, reflecting a long-standing Portuguese, Romanian, and Bulgarian immigration that is now aging without sufficient replacement. In contrast, only 21.7% of non-EU nationals are 50 years or older, and there are 2,085 minors under 16, comprising 13.2% of the general regime.
In terms of gender, males dominate both groups, totaling 17,783, or 53.5% of the overall population, compared to 15,485 females. The imbalance is greater among EU nationals (9,455 males to 7,887 females) than among non-EU nationals (8,273 to 7,551). Lastly, 1,989 foreign residents in León, or 6%, were born in Spain. The number of British citizens residing in the province under the Withdrawal Agreement post-Brexit remains minimal, with only 102 individuals, down from a peak of 126 a year earlier.
As reported by lanuevacronica.com.
