THE massive exodus of foreigners going back to their countries experienced in Spain over the past year has not prevented Alicante from becoming the province with the largest percentage of expat residents.
The number of foreigners is now more than a fifth of the total population, reaching 20.6 per cent, which places the province at the top of the list for Spain in relative terms, and occupying the third place in absolute terms, only beaten by Madrid and Barcelona.
The results are remarkably positive considering that a total of 22,492 foreign residents packed up their belongings and left the country in 2014, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE).
One of the most significant changes is that Alicante, the province capital, has ousted Torrevieja in the second position with 41,434 foreigners. Orihuela has maintained its third position with 31,028 foreign residents. Rojales now holds the first position in relative terms, with 13,669 expats calling the town home, representing almost three quarters (71.6 per cent) of the total population.
