Foreign entrepreneurs are playing an increasingly important role in the Canary Islands economy, accounting for more than 43% of the growth in self-employed workers recorded across the archipelago over the past four years.

Figures released by the Unión de Profesionales y Trabajadores Autónomos (UPTA) show that the Canary Islands have gained close to 12,000 self-employed workers since July 2022, with more than 5,100 of those additional workers are foreign nationals.

The number of foreign workers registered as self-employed in the islands has increased from 28,496 in July 2022 to 33,628 in July 2026. That represents growth of more than 18% in four years.

Foreign nationals now account for almost 23% of all self-employed workers in the Canary Islands, meaning close to one in every four autónomos across the archipelago is from another country.

The increase has occurred across both Canary Islands provinces.

In the province of Las Palmas, which includes Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, the number of foreign self-employed workers rose from 13,848 in July 2022 to 16,257 in July this year. That represents an increase of 2,409 people.

However, growth has been even greater in the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, covering Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro. There, foreign autónomo registrations increased from 14,648 to 17,371 during the same period — an increase of 2,723.

The western province therefore accounts for approximately 53% of the increase in foreign self-employed workers across the Canary Islands since 2022, compared with 47% in Las Palmas province.

The trend is particularly relevant in an economy where small businesses, hospitality, tourism services, retail and independent professional activities form an important part of everyday commercial life.

It is also significant for the Canary Islands' substantial international population, many of whom have established businesses after making the islands their permanent home.

The figures reflect a broader trend across Spain.

Between July 2022 and July 2026, the number of foreign self-employed workers nationally increased by 132,466 to reach 532,356.

During the same period, the number of Spanish nationals registered as self-employed fell by 7,630.

UPTA says the figures demonstrate the increasingly important role foreign entrepreneurs are playing in the economy and believes this should be reflected in policies designed to support self-employment.

The organisation is calling for stronger information and business-advice programmes, better access to finance and fewer administrative obstacles for people establishing and developing small businesses.

It also argues that the focus should not simply be on helping people start businesses, but on ensuring viable enterprises can survive, consolidate and grow.

For the Canary Islands, the figures provide another indication of the extent to which the foreign-resident population has become embedded in the islands' economic as well as social fabric.