Potential house buyers who come to Casas Mallorca rightly ask us about who lives here.  After all, when you buy a primary residence or a holiday home, you do want to know who your neighbours will be!

Surprisingly nearly 20% of the Balearic residents are foreigners. That’s about 222,000 people out of the total of 1,175,000, and the figure is 18% for the island of Mallorca.

The population of the Sóller valley numbers around 14,000, a number that has not risen meaningfully in the last 8 years despite the area’s growing popularity.  Statistics published recently show that almost a quarter of Sóller’s population was not born in Spain.

France accounts for Soller’s largest non-Spanish-born population, many of whom have obtained Spanish nationality. Likewise, many Colombians by birth have become Spanish citizens.

Of the foreign residents that live here but do not have Spanish citizenship, the British are the largest group followed closely by the Germans.  Our Swedish and Italian friends will also want a mention here! Interestingly, the number of Irish citizens officially residing in the Baleares has risen by 60% since the Brexit referendum, begging the question of whether the new EU entry rules have prompted British citizens to change nationalities!

In summary, the community of the valley is hugely international, yet all our many nationalities socialise and work together in impressive harmony.  Informal networks run hiking, football, padel and tennis groups that welcome new members.  There is a thriving music culture scene, using the numerous small concert venues around Sóller for classical and contemporary events – and let’s not forget the always-impressive International Music Festival which takes place every summer, just up the road in Deia.