Spain
Spain
UNHCR in Spain works with the government to protect the rights and well-being of asylum-seeker and refugee communities, providing advisory services and support.
Are you a refugee, asylum-seeker or stateless person looking for help? Visit the HELP site to find support and services from UNHCR.
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.
Population and financial overview
Spain
Use the year selector to access information from previous years.
Populations
Population types
Population types
Note: The "Stateless" category does not include stateless people who are also in other categories, to avoid double counting. The total number of stateless, across all categories, is .
NB: 2025 figures are planning figures.
Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder for years until 2022, UNHCR planning figures (COMPASS) otherwise.
Population by country
Population by country
NB: 2025 figures are planning figures.
Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder for years until 2022, UNHCR planning figures (COMPASS) otherwise.
Population by origin
Population by origin
NB: 2025 figures are planning figures.
Source: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder for years until 2022, UNHCR planning figures (COMPASS) otherwise.
Financial
Budget and expenditure trend
Budget and expenditure trend
Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.
Budget by pillar
Budget by pillar
Budget by objective
Budget by objective
Note: The table presents the budget for this operation broken down at the objective level. Resource allocation at the objective level is subject to change during the course of the year as the operational situation evolves and priorities shift. The current budget, reflected in the bottom line of this table, is updated on a monthly basis and is replaced by the final budget at year-end.
Expenditure by Outcome Area
Expenditure by Outcome Area
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Impact Area
Source: 2023 budget as approved by the Executive Committee in October 2022.
2022 current budget as approved by the High Commissioner as of October 2022; pending presentation to the ExCom's Standing Committee.
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Source: 2023 budget as approved by the Executive Committee in October 2022.
2022 current budget as approved by the High Commissioner as of October 2022; pending presentation to the ExCom's Standing Committee.
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Impact Area
Source: 2024 budget and 2023 current budget are taken from the budget document approved by UNHCR's Executive Committee in October 2023.
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Impact Area
Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Source: 2025 budget was approved by ExCom in October 2024 while the 2024 budget figures include the latest supplementary appeals and are updated on a monthly basis.
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Impact Area
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
Budget by Outcome and Enabling Areas
yearselected
Strategy - Country
Strategy
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:
- phone: +34 910 772 150 (Monday to Friday, from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm)
- email: [email protected]
- Spain's HELP information portal.
The return to face-to-face service will be announced through our websites and social media:
- ACNUR Spain website
- Spain's HELP website
- ACNUR Spain on X
- ACNUR Spain on LinkedIn
- ACNUR Spain on Instagram.
Thank you very much for your understanding and collaboration during this process.
