Rising Population and Foreign Property Ownership in Canaries

The population of the Canaries has risen to just over 2.1 million, according to the latest compilation of statistics provided by town halls in the region.

Canary Islands Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Tenerife la palma, La Gomera and El Heirro - The figures show that the number of foreigners registered as living here permanently now stands at 305,000, nearly 15% of the total for the Islands. The overall rate of population increase has slowed compared to previous years, with the latest figure representing a mere 0.5% rise, according to the National Institute for Statistics. Spain's official population has risen to 41.2 million, of whom 5.7 million are foreigners (12%). Real Estate sales in the Canary Islands has contributed to the influx of foreigners who have chosen to leave the cooler parts of Northern Europe behind for the warmer winter months of the Canary Islands.