Society

Moroccans Rank as Top Social Security Contributors in Spain

Tuesday 17 December 2024 - 11:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Moroccans Rank as Top Social Security Contributors in Spain

The Moroccan diaspora plays a key economic role by sending hard currency in the form of remittances to their families.

Moroccans living in Spain are the top foreign contributors to the country’s social security system, official figures reveal. As of November, 342,318 Moroccans were paying into the system, ahead of Romanians with 336,599 contributors. Following Moroccans and Romanians are Colombians, who rank third with 220,892 contributors. They are followed by Italians (193,162), Venezuelans (170,925), and Chinese nationals (121,119).

The total number of foreign social security affiliates in Spain hit a record 2.87 million in November, the highest ever for that month. Of these, 1.6 million are men, and 1.3 million are women. Around 31.3 percent (899,749) of contributors come from EU countries. Non-EU nationals account for 68.7 percent (1.98 million) of all contributors.

Moroccans are the largest non-European immigrant group in Spain with around 879,943, which is roughly a quarter of Spain’s total foreign population. The biggest clusters in Spain are found in Catalonia, Andalusia, and Madrid. Many work in agriculture, construction, and hospitality, and play a crucial economic role back home. Each year, the Moroccan diaspora sends over €800 million in remittances back home to support their families.

The Moroccan community in Spain is largely made up of legal residents. Over a quarter of residents hold long-term residency permits, and around 30,000 earn Spanish citizenship annually.