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Spain

Key statistics

707,415

people were registered as refugees, asylum-seekers, and stateless persons in Spain in 2024

429,352

were registered refugees at the end of 2024, underscoring the country’s ongoing role as an asylum destination 

10,098

people are stateless in Spain, highlighting protection needs for individuals without nationality

Spain has been a signatory of the 1951 Geneva Convention and its Protocol since 1978 and counts on national asylum legislation (law 12/2009). Spain acceded to the UN Statelessness Conventions in 1997 and 2018 and established a statelessness determination procedure in 2001.

By the end of 2024, Spain counted more than 690,000 registered refugees and asylum-seekers. As in previous years, the top nationalities were asylum-seekers from Latin American countries such as Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Honduras and Cuba, although it also registered applications from Moroccan and Sengalese persons.

New arrivals were registered by sea and land (Ceuta and Melilla) through the Western Mediterranean route and the North/West Africa Atlantic route towards the Canary Islands, 70% of them to the Canaries shores. Many people lost their lives in the attempt.

UNHCR has been present in Spain since late 1960 and has a role in the asylum procedure. UNHCR has a Central Office in Madrid and field presence in main sea & land entry points such as Melilla, Málaga, Algeciras (covering Ceuta) and the Canary Islands. UNHCR teams in the field support the Spanish authorities in identifying persons in need of international protection, providing training and advice on asylum and refugee matters.

Spain as a donor

Find out more about the funds raised by the government and private sector in Spain to support UNHCR.

Visit the donor page

Population and financial overview

Spain

Use the year selector to access information from previous years.

Populations

Population types
Population by country
Population by origin

Financial

Budget and expenditure trend
Budget by pillar
Budget by objective
Expenditure by Outcome Area
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas

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Strategy - Country

Strategy

For more information about our work in Spain:

Spain website

Find more information on our work in the area and the latest local news and stories.

Spain|España (Español) website

 

Refworld

Find legislation, case law and UNHCR policy relating to claims for international protection.

Visit Refworld

 

Office contact details

The UNHCR Representative in Spain

UNHCR will be moving to a new office in Madrid. From July 15, 2024, face-to-face services are temporarily suspended. During this time, you can contact us via:

The return to face-to-face service will be announced through our websites and social media:

Thank you very much for your understanding and collaboration during this process.