Foreign demand for property purchases remains especially strong in the Canary Islands, according to data from Idealista, with the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife recording one of the highest levels of international interest in Spain.
In Santa Cruz de Tenerife, foreign buyers account for 26.5% of demand for homes, while in the province of Las Palmas the figure stands at 20.3%.
The data places both Canarian provinces among the main areas of interest for international buyers in Spain, particularly alongside coastal and island destinations where foreign demand continues to play a major role in the residential market.
In the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Germans are the most active foreign buyers, followed by Italians and Britons. In Las Palmas, Germans also lead the ranking, although they are followed by Britons and Italians.
The Canarian towns with the highest foreign demand
At municipal level, several towns in the Canary Islands stand out for their particularly high level of international demand. Tijarafe, on La Palma, records the highest proportion of foreign interest in the archipelago, with 55.1% of demand coming from international buyers.
It is followed by Pájara, in Fuerteventura, where foreign demand reaches 52.6%. Mogán, in Gran Canaria, ranks next with 47.4%, while Antigua, also in Fuerteventura, reaches 46.5%.
These figures show that foreign interest is not limited to the main urban centres or the most traditional tourist areas. Instead, demand is spread across different islands and municipalities, especially in locations associated with coastal living, tourism, second homes and international residential communities.
Foreign demand concentrated on the coast and islands
Across Spain, foreign demand for property continues to be concentrated mainly along the Mediterranean coast and in the island territories.
The provinces with the highest levels of international interest are Alicante, where foreign demand accounts for 32.3% of the total, followed by the Balearic Islands with 28.2%, Málaga with 27.1% and Santa Cruz de Tenerife with 26.5%. These four areas are the only provinces where foreign demand exceeds 25% of total interest in home purchases.
In total, 14 Spanish provinces record foreign demand above 10%, all of them located on the coast. In these markets, searches are mainly carried out by citizens from the United Kingdom, Germany, France and the Netherlands.
Girona, with 22.5%, and Las Palmas, with 20.3%, are also above the 20% mark. They are followed by Almería, with 17.4%, Murcia with 15.8% and Granada with 15%. Other provinces where foreign demand ranges between 10% and 15% include Tarragona, with 13.4%, Valencia with 11.7%, Cádiz with 11.5% and Huelva with 11.1%.
By contrast, in Spain’s largest residential markets, foreign demand represents a smaller share because domestic demand is much greater. In Barcelona province, foreign interest accounts for 8.1% of demand, while in Seville it stands at 4.7% and in Madrid at 3.9%. In these three major markets, US buyers stand out alongside British, German and French nationals.
German dominance in the islands
The Idealista data also shows clear differences in buyer nationality depending on the region. German buyers dominate searches in both Spanish archipelagos. In the Balearic Islands, they account for 43.5% of all foreign demand. In Santa Cruz de Tenerife, they represent 22.4%, while in Las Palmas they account for 21.3%.
This confirms the strong position of German buyers in island markets, including both the Balearic and Canary Islands. British buyers, meanwhile, are more prominent in southern mainland Spain. They lead international demand in Almería, Málaga, Murcia and Granada, areas that have historically formed part of the Anglo-Saxon residential market in Spain.
They also have a strong presence in the Valencian Community, while Dutch buyers stand out particularly in Alicante and across much of the Mediterranean coast.
The study, carried out by Idealista/data during the first quarter of the year, also highlights the role of geographical proximity. In Girona, close to the French border, French buyers account for 32.8% of foreign demand. French buyers also lead searches in Castellón and Tarragona.
In Huelva, Portuguese nationals account for 25.2% of foreign interest, reflecting the influence of the province’s proximity to Portugal.
Towns where foreign demand exceeds domestic demand
A more detailed analysis by municipality reveals that in some towns foreign interest in buying a home is greater than domestic demand.
This is especially visible in the Balearic Islands. In the Mallorcan towns of Canyamel, Cala d’Or and Cala Ratjada, foreign demand exceeds 60%, with German buyers accounting for more than 50% and, in some cases, reaching as much as 80%.
Outside the Balearic Islands, Cómpeta in Málaga also records foreign demand above 60%. Several other municipalities fall within the 50% to 60% range. These include Oria in Almería; Nerja and Frigiliana in Málaga; Moraira, Benitachell and Benissa in Alicante; as well as Tijarafe in La Palma and Pájara in Fuerteventura.
The list of the 20 municipalities with the highest international appeal also includes Empuriabrava and Roses in Catalonia, which are especially popular with French buyers.
In the Canary Islands, Mogán and Antigua also appear among the municipalities with the strongest international demand, attracting buyers from countries such as Norway, the United Kingdom and Italy. The ranking is completed by Iznájar in Córdoba and the Murcian towns of Abanilla, Fuente-Álamo and Los Alcázares.
Alicante, Palma and Málaga lead among provincial capitals
Among provincial capitals, Alicante ranks first for international demand. Foreign searches account for 21.8% of total interest in the city, with French, German and British buyers all playing an important role and no single nationality clearly dominating.
Palma ranks second, with international searches accounting for 18.5% of total demand. In the Balearic capital, German buyers have a particularly dominant presence, representing 44% of all foreign demand. They are followed at a considerable distance by Swedes, with 11.7%, and Britons, with 5.9%.
Málaga completes the top three provincial capitals, with foreign demand representing 14.8% of total searches. One of the most notable developments in the city is the rise of the United States as the main source market, ahead of the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.
According to the data, this consolidates Málaga’s position as a destination of interest for high-net-worth American buyers.
US demand also leads international searches in other provincial capitals, including Valencia, where foreign demand accounts for 13.6%, Barcelona with 12.1%, Girona with 11.8%, Tarragona with 11.1% and Cádiz with 10.9%.
In Santa Cruz de Tenerife, where foreign searches represent 9.8% of demand, German buyers are the leading nationality. The same is true in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where international demand stands at 8.8%. In Castellón de la Plana, where foreign demand accounts for 9.4%, Romanian buyers appear among the top three nationalities interested in purchasing property.
