Employment in Foreign Controlled Enterprises in Spain

Spain: Employment in Foreign Controlled Enterprises was 15.1% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
15.1%
Change on year
up 6.2%
World rank
31st
of 36 countries
All-time high
15.1%
in 2023
All-time low
9.1%
in 2008
Years of data
16
2008–2023

Employment in Foreign Controlled Enterprises in Spain, 2008–2023

0510152008201520232008: 9.1 Percentage of total2009: 9.3 Percentage of total2010: 10.6 Percentage of total2011: 11.1 Percentage of total2012: 11.5 Percentage of total2013: 12.3 Percentage of total2014: 12.2 Percentage of total2015: 12.6 Percentage of total2016: 12.8 Percentage of total2017: 13.4 Percentage of total2018: 13.3 Percentage of total2019: 13.9 Percentage of total2020: 14.6 Percentage of total2021: 14 Percentage of total2022: 14.2 Percentage of total2023: 15.1 Percentage of total

Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage of total.

Analysis

In 2023, employment in foreign controlled enterprises in Spain stood at 15.1%. That is the highest value across all 16 years on record.

The figure is up 6.2% on the previous year and up 23.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, employment in foreign controlled enterprises in Spain peaked at 15.1% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 9.1%, in 2008.

That places Spain 31st out of 36 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 16 years of available data.

Employment in Foreign Controlled Enterprises in Spain, year by year

Annual values for Employment in Foreign Controlled Enterprises in Spain, 2008 to 2023.
Year Percentage of total Change
2008 9.1% —
2009 9.3% +1.4%
2010 10.6% +14.5%
2011 11.1% +4.5%
2012 11.5% +4.1%
2013 12.3% +6.4%
2014 12.2% -0.6%
2015 12.6% +3.4%
2016 12.8% +1.7%
2017 13.4% +4.4%
2018 13.3% -0.4%
2019 13.9% +4.0%
2020 14.6% +5.1%
2021 14.0% -3.8%
2022 14.2% +1.5%
2023 15.1% +6.3%

Spain compared with similar countries

  • Spain's 15.1% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 20.2%, 75% of the median. (27 countries reporting)
  • Spain's 15.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 20.2%, 75% of the median. (28 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 9.2% 9.1% 9.3% 2
2010s 12.4% 10.6% 13.9% 10
2020s 14.5% 14.0% 15.1% 4

Countries ranked near Spain

  1. 28 Portugal 15.5% compare
  2. 29 Netherlands 15.4% compare
  3. 29 Netherlands 15.4% compare
  4. 32 Germany 12.2% compare
  5. 33 France 11.9% compare
  6. 34 Italy 9.9% compare

See the full ranking of 37 places →

More work & labour data for Spain

All data for Spain →

Frequently asked questions

What is employment in foreign controlled enterprises in Spain?
Employment in foreign controlled enterprises in Spain was 15.1% in 2023, according to Eurostat.
What is the highest employment in foreign controlled enterprises recorded in Spain?
The highest recorded value was 15.1% in 2023.
What is the lowest employment in foreign controlled enterprises recorded in Spain?
The lowest recorded value was 9.1% in 2008.
How does Spain rank for employment in foreign controlled enterprises?
Spain ranks 31st out of 36 countries with data for 2023.
Is employment in foreign controlled enterprises rising or falling in Spain?
Over the last ten years it is up 23.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Spain data come from?
The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Employment in Foreign Controlled Enterprises. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Employment in Foreign Controlled Enterprises in Spain. Statizoid, drawing on Eurostat. Retrieved 27 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/employment-in-foreign-controlled-enterprises/spain/

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About this data

Indicator
Employment in Foreign Controlled Enterprises
Unit
Percentage of total
Source
Eurostat
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat)
Coverage
37 places, 571 data points, 2008–2023
Last refreshed