Iranians in Spain

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Iranians in Spain

There are about 8,200 people in Spain who were born in Iran (as of 2018). About 5,135 Iranians living in Spain are foreign residents with Iranian citizenship (not Spanish citizens).

They speak Spanish and Persian, and also other Iranian languages such as Azerbaijani, Armenian, and Kurdish. Most are Shia Muslims, with some practicing Zoroastrianism.

Iranians have lived in Spain for more than a thousand years. Early scholars like Razi noted Iranians in Al-Andalus in the 10th century, and Ibn Battuta said Iranians there preferred Granada because it reminded them of home.

Modern immigration to Spain grew mainly after the 1979 Iranian Revolution, when many Iranians came as political refugees.

A 1992 survey of Iranians in Spain found: about 31.7% worked in administration, 18.2% were professionals or technicians, 25.7% worked in trade, and 11% in agriculture. Most were aged 25–54, and women made up about 20% of the group. This relatively high share of women is because many Iranians came as political refugees rather than for work.