Spain Ranked As The Most Popular Destination For British Retirees
Spain News
Published: 21 April 2023 15:04 CET
Retiring abroad is becoming an increasingly popular option for many British people. While some retirees may choose to stay in the UK, others are looking for new adventures and experiences, as well as better weather and lower living costs, by moving to countries such as Spain, Australia, Portugal, Thailand, Canada, France, India, New Zealand, Italy, and Greece.
Spain, in particular, has long been a favourite destination among British retirees, and the recent study by Retirement Solutions has provided data to back up this anecdotal observation. The study analyzed the average monthly search volume for various Google search phrases relating to retiring abroad, including "retire in X," "best place to retire in X," “retire in X from UK,” and "can I retire in X," among others.
By combining different Google search terms with each country, Retirement Solutions calculated the total search volume and ranked the top 10 countries where Brits want to spend their retirement years.
The study revealed that Spain came out on top, with an average monthly search volume of 1,050. This finding is hardly surprising, given Spain's appealing climate, affordability, proximity to friends and family in the UK, and relaxed pace of life. Despite the bureaucratic complications brought about by Brexit, Spain remains a popular retirement destination among Britons, and even after Brexit, the country's British population continues to grow.
The Ministry of Migrations in Spain has recently released new data indicating that a staggering 409,763 British nationals are currently residing in Spain. This figure is notably higher than the one provided by Spain's official statistics body, the INE, which bases its calculation on the number of Brits holding TIE cards. Since not all British nationals in Spain possess this residency permit, the INE's figure falls short by over 115,000 individuals.
The sociological profile of British residents in Spain is also interesting. On average, they are 54 years old, which is considerably higher than other non-European migrant groups, such as those from Pakistan and Morocco, whose median ages are 33 years.
It's worth noting that the southern region of Andalusia, home to the famous Costa del Sol, is the most popular region for Brits to live in, with a total of 92,180. The Valencia region, which includes the Alicante province, comes second with a total of 87,699, followed by the Canary Islands with 29,631. Other autonomous communities with a sizeable British population include Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, Murcia, and the Spanish capital of Madrid.
Retirement Solutions' study provides valuable insights into the preferences and choices of British retirees. The spokesperson for the study commented, "There are many ways to spend your retirement, whether that be picking up new hobbies or becoming more active – but one thing that many people may not get to experience as well as they’d like to is visiting different countries and exploring new cultures. For this reason, retiring abroad is very appealing to many Brits."
Sources
https://www.thelocal.com/20230421/spain-named-country-where-brits-most-want-to-retire-in-the-world/
