An IMGW News Report
More than 337,000 Latin American women have acquired Spanish citizenship over the past ten years, according to the Spanish Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration. The data, updated as of June 2024 and released on International Women’s Day, highlights a growing trend in naturalisations among Latin American nationals.
Latin American Women Lead Naturalisation Figures
“These trends reflect broader historical, political, and geographical ties between Spain and its former colonies.”
Between 2014 and 2023, a total of 337,191 Latin American women secured Spanish nationality, benefiting from Spain’s preferential two-year residency requirement for nationals from Latin America. This group represents the largest demographic among foreign-born Spanish citizens, followed by Moroccans (134,510), Colombians (57,421), Bolivians (49,300), and Ecuadorians (45,241).
Overall, 646,952 women obtained Spanish nationality through residency during this period, making up 54% of all naturalised citizens. In addition to citizenship, Latin American women also represent the largest share of foreign nationals holding valid residence permits for study purposes in Spain.
Geography, History & Politics Play a Key Role
These trends reflect broader historical, political, and geographical ties between Spain and its former colonies. Spain maintains special legal pathways for Latin American nationals, acknowledging its colonial past and cultural connections. The two-year residency requirement—far shorter than the standard ten years for other nationalities—illustrates this privileged route to citizenship.
Similarly, Morocco’s strong presence in Spain’s naturalisation figures can be attributed to geographic proximity, historical migration patterns, and labour agreements between the two countries. With Spain located just across the Strait of Gibraltar, Moroccan nationals have historically migrated in search of economic opportunities, and many have now obtained permanent status.
Spain’s Foreign-Born Female Population Surpasses 3.4 Million
Currently, Spain hosts over 3.4 million foreign women with legal residence documentation. Of these, nearly half (48%) reside in the country long-term, with the highest numbers originating from:
- Romania (527,320)
- Morocco (401,444)
- Italy (208,826)
The Spanish government’s latest data also reveals that as of February 2025, 1.24 million foreign women were registered with the Spanish Social Security system, accounting for 43% of all foreign residents in the country.
Record-Breaking Citizenship Acquisitions in 2023
Spain saw a significant rise in naturalisations in 2023, with 240,208 foreign nationals obtaining citizenship—an increase of 32.3% compared to 2022. Of these, 54.8% were women, with the largest proportion aged between 30 and 49.
Moroccans, Colombians, and Venezuelans formed the most frequent nationalities of origin, reflecting how migration patterns align with historical and geopolitical realities. Given Spain’s colonial legacy in Latin America and its geographic position near North Africa, these numbers reinforce the natural pull certain regions have toward Spain.
