Poverty and living standards in Basque Country, Spain: official figures
Disposable household income was 26,800 PPS per person in 2023; the highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain.
How many people in Basque Country are at risk of poverty?
The share of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion was 14.7% in 2025, against 25.7% for Spain; the lowest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many households in the Basque Country cannot afford an unexpected expense?
22.0% of households in the Basque Country could not meet an unexpected expense from their own resources in 2025, compared with 35.7% across Spain (the lowest of 19); in 2021 the figure was 20.2%.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copyWhat percentage of people in the Basque Country cannot afford a holiday?
In 2025, 19.5% of households in the Basque Country could not afford a week's holiday away from home once a year (Spain 31.5%).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copyHow many homes in the Basque Country cannot keep warm?
10.4% of households in the Basque Country could not keep their home adequately warm in 2025, ranking 2nd lowest of 19 communities and cities (national 16.1%).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copyHow many households in the Basque Country are behind on rent or mortgage payments?
5.2% of households in the Basque Country had fallen behind on mortgage, rent or utility payments for their main home in the 12 months before the 2025 survey, against 9.8% nationally.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copyHow many families in the Basque Country cannot afford to eat meat or fish?
3.0% of households in the Basque Country could not afford a meal with meat, chicken or fish every second day in 2025; 5.2% could not afford a car and 3.9% a computer.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copyWhat is the standard of living in the Basque Country?
16.9% of households in the Basque Country could not replace worn-out furniture in 2025 (Spain 26.3%).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copyWhat is the poverty rate in Basque Country?
The at-risk-of-poverty rate was 9.3% in 2025, measured against 60% of median income in Spain, compared with 19.5% nationally; the lowest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2015 it was 10.9%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people in Basque Country cannot afford basic necessities?
3.0% of people suffered severe material and social deprivation in 2025, meaning they could not afford at least 7 of 13 basic items such as heating, a week away or replacing worn-out furniture, compared with 8.1% nationally; the lowest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2015 it was 6.6%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many households in Basque Country have nobody in work?
Very low work intensity affected 7.3% of people under 65 in 2025 (households where working-age adults worked under 20% of the time they could), compared with 8.0% nationally; 5th lowest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2015 it was 13.9%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the average income in Basque Country?
After taxes and benefits, households had €24,200 per person to spend or save in 2023, compared with €18,300 nationally and €21,000 in the EU; the highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2013 it was €17,600.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people in Basque Country use the internet?
94.6% of people used the internet at least once a week in 2025, compared with 95.4% nationally; 7th lowest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2015 it was 78.1%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- 96% of households had broadband in 2021. Source: Eurostat · saved copy
How Basque Country compares with other autonomous communities
Social services spending, share of the 2026 regional budget (2026)
Basque Country ranks 14 of 17, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Social services spending, share of the 2026 regional budget |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Castilla-La Mancha | 8.3% |
| 12 | Andalusia | 8.2% |
| 13 | Catalonia | 7.2% |
| 14 | Basque Country | 6.7% |
| 15 | Canary Islands | 6.5% |
| 16 | Aragón | 6.5% |
| 17 | Balearic Islands | 4.9% |
Households unable to meet an unexpected expense, 2025 (2025)
Basque Country ranks 19 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households unable to meet an unexpected expense, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Cantabria | 28.8% |
| 14 | Balearic Islands | 28.3% |
| 15 | Castilla y León | 28.1% |
| 16 | Aragón | 27.8% |
| 17 | La Rioja | 27.0% |
| 18 | Navarre | 22.4% |
| 19 | Basque Country | 22.0% |
Households unable to afford a week of holiday, 2025 (2025)
Basque Country ranks 19 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households unable to afford a week of holiday, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Ciudad de Ceuta | 26.3% |
| 14 | Balearic Islands | 24.7% |
| 15 | Aragón | 24.5% |
| 16 | La Rioja | 24.4% |
| 17 | Navarre | 22.2% |
| 18 | Madrid | 20.3% |
| 19 | Basque Country | 19.5% |
Households unable to keep the home adequately warm, 2025 (2025)
Basque Country ranks 18 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households unable to keep the home adequately warm, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Cantabria | 14.3% |
| 14 | La Rioja | 14.2% |
| 15 | Balearic Islands | 14.0% |
| 16 | Castilla y León | 12.0% |
| 17 | Aragón | 11.3% |
| 18 | Basque Country | 10.4% |
| 19 | Navarre | 7.8% |
Households in arrears on housing payments, 2025 (2025)
Basque Country ranks 19 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households in arrears on housing payments, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Navarre | 7.8% |
| 14 | Asturias | 7.1% |
| 15 | La Rioja | 7.1% |
| 16 | Castilla y León | 6.8% |
| 17 | Cantabria | 6.7% |
| 18 | Galicia | 6.4% |
| 19 | Basque Country | 5.2% |
At-risk-of-poverty rate (after social transfers) (2025)
Basque Country ranks 19 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | At-risk-of-poverty rate (after social transfers) |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Catalonia | 14.3% |
| 14 | Cantabria | 13.9% |
| 15 | Aragón | 13.6% |
| 16 | Madrid | 12.7% |
| 17 | Navarre | 12.3% |
| 18 | Balearic Islands | 11.6% |
| 19 | Basque Country | 9.3% |
Severe material and social deprivation rate (2025)
Basque Country ranks 19 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Severe material and social deprivation rate |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Aragón | 6.5% |
| 14 | Extremadura | 6.3% |
| 15 | Cantabria | 5.0% |
| 16 | Navarre | 4.8% |
| 17 | La Rioja | 4.3% |
| 18 | Balearic Islands | 3.6% |
| 19 | Basque Country | 3.0% |
People in households with very low work intensity (2025)
Basque Country ranks 15 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People in households with very low work intensity |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Galicia | 7.6% |
| 13 | Navarre | 7.4% |
| 14 | La Rioja | 7.4% |
| 15 | Basque Country | 7.3% |
| 16 | Catalonia | 5.9% |
| 17 | Aragón | 4.9% |
| 18 | Balearic Islands | 4.6% |
Disposable household income per person (euros) (2023)
Basque Country ranks 1 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Disposable household income per person (euros) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Basque Country | €24,200 |
| 2 | Madrid | €22,600 |
| 3 | Navarre | €21,400 |
| 4 | Catalonia | €19,900 |
| 5 | Aragón | €19,900 |
| 6 | Asturias | €19,500 |
| 7 | Balearic Islands | €19,100 |
People who use the internet regularly (2025)
Basque Country ranks 13 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People who use the internet regularly |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Canary Islands | 95.6% |
| 11 | Castilla-La Mancha | 95.0% |
| 12 | Murcia | 94.7% |
| 13 | Basque Country | 94.6% |
| 14 | Andalusia | 94.0% |
| 15 | Extremadura | 93.2% |
| 16 | Castilla y León | 93.2% |
More on Basque Country: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · government and politics · Spain
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2hhinc: Disposable household income per person (PPS), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bd6019768e9f…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset ilc_peps11n: At risk of poverty or social exclusion, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 94dcf245d20e…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset isoc_r_broad_h: Households with broadband, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b02c9a1ef222…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset isoc_r_iuse_i: Individuals regularly using the internet by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 fb4ff8800853…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset ilc_li41: At-risk-of-poverty rate by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 27849ad61b9a…)
- Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE): Encuesta de Condiciones de Vida: hogares con carencia material por comunidades autónomas (table 9975), 2021-2025, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 02b05141cf11…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset ilc_mdsd18: Severe material and social deprivation rate by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 62e6e6fba571…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset ilc_lvhl21n: People living in households with very low work intensity by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8b5e993ae943…)
- Ministerio de Hacienda: Presupuestos Generales de las Comunidades Autónomas, año 2026 (resumen ejecutivo, published 31 March 2026), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 81db80f35219…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2hhinc: Income of households by NUTS 2 region (euros per inhabitant), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a7441dafca51…)
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