Spain: health and care

How long are surgery waiting lists in Spain?

853,740 patients were waiting for non-urgent surgery in Spain's national health system on 31 December 2025, according to the Ministry of Health's waiting list indicators. The average wait was 122 days, four fewer than a year earlier, and 21.6% had waited more than six months.

That is 17.7 patients per 1,000 inhabitants. Traumatology had the most patients waiting (200,604) and plastic surgery the longest average wait (269 days). Regions supply the data; the ministry published a corrected version, listed on its waiting list page.

Official sources: Ministry of Health: waiting list indicators, December 2025 (PDF) · Ministry of Health: waiting lists

How long do Spaniards wait to see a specialist?

Patients in Spain's national health system waited an average of 102 days for a first specialist outpatient appointment on 31 December 2025, according to the Ministry of Health's waiting list indicators.

Waits varied widely between regions, from 16 days in Melilla to 152 days in Navarre. The ministry aggregates data supplied by each region, which is responsible for its accuracy. The figures include patients without an appointment date who had been on the list for more than 60 days.

Official sources: Ministry of Health: waiting list indicators, December 2025 (PDF)

How much does Spain spend on health care?

Spain's current health spending was 9.2% of GDP in 2023, according to the World Bank's current health expenditure indicator, which draws on WHO data. It was 9.7% in 2022 and 10.3% in 2021.

The figure covers public and private spending on health goods and services, excluding investment. Most care is provided through the national health system run by the regions.

Official sources: World Bank: current health expenditure, Spain

How many doctors does Spain have?

Spain had 4.3 physicians per 1,000 people in 2022, according to the World Bank's physicians indicator. The figure was 4.5 in 2020.

The indicator counts practising doctors, both general practitioners and specialists, relative to the population. The number of doctors alone does not show waiting times, which depend on how doctors are distributed between regions and specialties; the Ministry of Health publishes waiting list data separately.

Official sources: World Bank: physicians per 1,000 people, Spain

What is life expectancy in Spain?

Life expectancy at birth in Spain was 83.9 years in 2024, according to the World Bank's life expectancy indicator. It was 83.1 years in 2022.

Life expectancy at birth is the average number of years a newborn would live if current death rates stayed the same throughout their life. Women in Spain live several years longer than men. INE publishes Spain's own life tables, broken down by sex, age and region.

Official sources: World Bank: life expectancy at birth, Spain

How common is fertility treatment in Spain?

6.0% of women under 56 in Spain had undergone assisted reproduction treatment at some point, according to INE's fertility survey 2025 (preliminary results). 34.8% of women said they had fewer children than they wanted.

The survey also found that 15.5% of women did not want children in 2025, up from 12.3% in 2018. The previous fertility surveys were carried out in 1977, 1985, 1999 and 2018. Final results will add information on family structure and the timing of motherhood.

Official sources: INE: fertility survey 2025, preliminary

What is life expectancy in Spain?

83.9 years: that is life expectancy at birth in Spain for 2024, according to the UN Population Division. Its high point since 2005 was 2023, at 83.9 years; its low point was 2005, at 80.2 years. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 79.5 years, and Spain placed 8th highest of 52. Worldwide: 10th of 193.

What is Spain's infant mortality rate?

The UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation puts the infant mortality rate in Spain at 2.6 per 1,000 in 2024. That is the lowest since at least 2005. It is 35th highest of 51 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 3.4 per 1,000. Of 192 countries with 2024 data, 173rd highest.

What is the maternal mortality rate in Spain?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2023, is 3.0 per 100,000. That is the lowest since at least 2005. It is 43rd highest of 51 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 6.0 per 100,000. Of 192 countries with 2023 data, 180th highest.

What share of GDP does Spain spend on health care?

9.2% of GDP: that is current health spending in Spain for 2023, according to the WHO. Since 2005 it has ranged from 7.8% of GDP (2005) to 10.8% of GDP (2020). Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 7.5% of GDP, and Spain placed 16th highest of 51. Worldwide: 41st of 191.

How much of health care in Spain do patients pay for?

The latest figure from the WHO, for 2023, is 20.9%. Since 2005 it has ranged from 20.2% (2009) to 24.7% (2014). It is 28th highest of 51 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 22.0%. World rank, highest first: 122nd of 191.

What is the doctor to patient ratio in Spain?

According to the WHO, the number of doctors per 1,000 people in Spain was 4.3 per 1,000 in 2022. Since 2005 it has ranged from 3.5 per 1,000 (2005) to 4.5 per 1,000 (2020). Europe & Central Asia median: 3.7 per 1,000; Spain is 16th highest of 42. Worldwide: 20th of 125.

What is hospital capacity in Spain?

In 2023, hospital beds per 1,000 people in Spain was 2.9 per 1,000, according to the WHO. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. It is 22nd highest of 23 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 4.2 per 1,000. Worldwide: 36th of 73.

What is measles vaccine coverage in Spain?

In 2024, measles vaccination among children aged 12 to 23 months in Spain was 97.0%, according to WHO and UNICEF. The peak was 98.0% in 2008 and the low 95.0% in 2010. It is 11th highest of 51 in Europe & Central Asia, where the median is 94.0%. Of 191 countries with 2024 data, 31st highest.