The migration phenomenon in Spain is the result of a combination of factors that have made the country one of the main destinations for migrants in recent years. Armed conflicts and the lack of prospects in their countries of origin are driving many people to leave their homeland in search of a better life. This leads them primarily to regions with more stable economic conditions and favorable integration policies. In a report, the Bank of Spain describes these factors as push and pull factors to explain the high number of migrant arrivals per thousand inhabitants in Spain.
According to the document published on Monday, push factors have gained importance in Spain; that is, migrants’ decisions to come to the country are increasingly influenced by conditions in their countries of origin. At the same time, the Bank emphasizes that Spain’s economic and political progress since 2015 has played an increasingly important role in attracting migrants. Declining unemployment, wage growth, and migration policies that facilitate obtaining stable residency status make Spain a preferred destination, especially for people from Latin America, who also value the country for its shared language and historical ties.
The report also emphasizes that cultural factors such as a shared language or religion, geographical proximity, and historical ties, such as colonial relations or free trade agreements, can also contribute to promoting migration flows by reducing the costs of migration. For example, Spain is the main destination for European migrants from Latin America, while migrants from India often head to the United Kingdom.
Over the past decades, the number of international migrants has increased significantly; in 2020, they accounted for 3.6% of the world’s population, with advanced economies being their main destination. According to the report, the largest increases have been in Asia and the Americas, with migration concentrated primarily in Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand.
The Bank of Spain also explains that economic factors, the employment rate, and the flexibility of migration policies are the main incentives for migrants. Fluctuations in these variables ultimately influence migration processes. An increase in the unemployment rate leads to a decrease in migrant flows, while an increase in wages in the host country increases the influx of immigrants. Furthermore, easier access to stable residency status and bringing one’s family with them increases immigration.
Regarding the push factors cited in the report as crucial for the decision to migrate, the document highlights several aspects. Factors that lead to a decrease in emigration include the absence of armed conflict, greater political stability, and an increase in per capita GDP. Conversely, if the country of origin is affected by economic and political instability or natural disasters, it is very likely that the emigration of its citizens to other countries will increase.
An interesting fact highlighted by the report is that in extremely critical situations in the country of origin, the opposite effect can occur: In already extremely precarious conditions, there is often less emigration, as insecurity prevents citizens from leaving their country and migrating to regions with better prospects. This is evident, for example, in food crises. While mild crises do not have a significant impact on migration, the negative effect increases as the crisis becomes more intense. “This is due to the presence of liquidity constraints: as food crises intensify, migrants use a larger share of their resources to meet their basic food needs, limiting their ability to migrate,” the document states.
