Murders by immigrants in Spain have surged by 69% over the past decade, according to official Ministry of the Interior data analyzed by La Gaceta. The figures, covering the years 2013 to 2023, show a marked increase in violent crimes linked to foreign nationals.
In 2013, 81 foreigners were arrested or investigated for homicides, but by 2023, that number had jumped to 137, a 69% rise. While overall homicide cases increased by 28% during the same period, the share of foreign nationals involved grew at a much faster rate, raising concerns about their disproportionate role in Spain’s crime statistics.
The data may be further skewed by foreign nationals who obtained Spanish citizenship, effectively no longer being categorized as “foreigners.” This is a common tactic across Europe to downplay immigrant crime figures. Since 2020, while the total number of homicide arrests has remained relatively stable, the arrests of foreign nationals have soared by 35%, from 101 in 2020 to 137 in 2023.
This rise in immigrant-related violent crime mirrors the growing presence of foreign nationals in Spanish prisons. As of recent data, 28% of Spain’s prison population is foreign-born, with Moroccans, Colombians, Romanians, and Algerians making up the majority. Moroccans alone account for nearly 30% of the foreign prison population, despite representing only 1.9% of Spain’s total population. The foreign inmate population has increased by 16% since 2020, compared to just a 3% increase in the number of Spanish prisoners.
Additionally, figures from the Spanish National Institute of Statistics show that in 2021, 45.6% of all sexual assault convictions involved foreigners. In Catalonia, this issue is particularly pronounced, where 91% of those convicted of rape are foreigners, even though they make up just 17% of the region’s population. The region is now a hotspot for violent crime in Spain, with foreigners overrepresented in serious offenses.
In fact, Catalonia is home to the highest rates of violent robberies and intimidation in Spain. Barcelona, the region’s capital, recorded an alarming 823.9 violent robberies per 100,000 people—six times the national average and far outpacing Madrid’s rate, despite having only half the population.
