Colombian diaspora and Spain : colonial ties and emerging profiles

Abstract

Since the 1960s, persistent political instability, armed conflict and economic recession has compelled substantial numbers of Colombians to emigrate-initially to neighbouring countries such as Venezuela, subsequently to the United States and more recently to European destinations, notably Spain. This sustained emigration has given rise to a significant and expanding Colombian diaspora, which continues to grow, undergo sociodemographic transformations and contribute to the reconfiguration and expansion of diaspora spaces within host societies. Drawing on data from the United Nations Global Migration Database and official Spanish national registers, this study: (1) investigates the growth of the Colombian diaspora and the evolving role of Spain within it; (2) analyses the characteristics of Colombian migration flows to Spain, including their magnitude, structural features and composition, as well as their demographic impact; and (3) examines the transformations in the sociodemographic profile and territorial distribution of the Colombian population in Spain between 2000 and 2020.