Arboleas is most ‘British’ town

    Figures have recently been released showing the number of foreigners living in Spanish municipalities. A report, drawn up by the Caja España bank, collates all the national, regional, provincial and municipal data collected by different government agencies in 2007. The official population of Spain last year was just over 45 million of which ten per cent were foreigners, seven per cent of whom are immigrants from the U.K., a surprisingly low total of 315,000 English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish, considering the millions here in Spain we hear about in the British press. The majority of foreigners living in Spain are from South America, with 1.5 million here followed by half a million Romanians.

    The majority of the British living here in Spain are to found in the province of Alicante where they make up six percent of the 1.8 million population. The proportion in Malaga is lower, with 3.75 percent of the 1.5 million population being British. Here in Almeria 2.4 percent of the total 650,000 are Brits.

    Locally Arboleas stands out, as half of its 4,000 inhabitants are Brits, something to be taken into account in the next municipal elections. The next highest proportion is to be found in Partaloa with 48% of its 750 population. And consecutively: Bedar; 38% of 910 inhabitants, Los Gallardos; 36% of 3400 inhabitants, Mojacar; 34% of 6,500 inhabitants, Zurgena; 21% of 2,700 inhabitants, Turre; 20% of 3,250 inhabitants, Albox; 7.6% of 11,000 inhabitants, Vera; 6.6% of 12,000 inhabitants, Huercal Overa; 3% of 16,000 inhabitants and Cuevas del Almanzora 4.7% of 11,500 inhabitants.

    All of these figures reflect those registered at the local councils, that is those on the 'Padron'. These are the figures used to calculate the money each town receives from the regional government, the number of police, school provision and generally the services provided by the council. They are certainly not a completely accurate reflection of the numbers actually living in many of these towns. It is in the best interests of all those living here in Spain to register on the Padron of the town where they live.