The influx of migrants to the UK since 2004 is being partially balanced by increasing numbers of people leaving the UK for good. This is a long-term trend and has resulted in an estimated 5.5 million Britons living abroad. There are now significant permanent British populations in several other EU countries.

The Spanish Costas have long been a draw for rain-soaked and windswept northern Europeans. Many, but not all, are British. Some 1.8 million properties in Spain are owned by foreign nationals, around 600 000 of them are British. Many are holiday homes, but a significant number are owned by permanent residents - in other words, migrants. The British and Germans dominate the emigrant property market and 60% of migrants are over 45 years old. Among them are:

~a significant number of retirees.
~those in their 30s and 40s who have moved to set up businesses.
~people who have moved partly as property speculators. They may still have business links with the UK, and some even 'commute'.

Why have so many people migrated? Clearly the sun is the biggest draw, plus a perceived relaxed lifestyle. Property prices are lower than in the UK, as are taxes for ex-pats, and utility bills are around 50-60% of UK prices. The exchange rate between the pound and the Euro was also good In addition, the distance between Spain and the UK has been 'shrunk' by:

~the rise of low-cost airlines such as easyJet
~a long-term road-building program in Spain
~the internet, which makes business and family communication with the UK much easier.

However, there is a price. For retirees, aging in Spain can become difficult - there is often a lack of care, healthcare costs can mount, and many of the purpose-built retirement communities are isolated and designed for people in good health, not those becoming frail. Furthermore, since the financial crisis the exchange rate has decreased and many have been returning.

Rampant coastal development has detracted from the natural beauty of the landscape and water supply is a major issue as urbanisation exceeds available resources. Many Spaniards feel that the new arrivals fail to integrate, and live in ex-pat enclaves that have little economic impact other than to inflate property prices for locals.

	Created by Holly Lovering over 10 years ago

Taken from the Edexcel AS Geography text book, with some more facts.