Poverty and living standards in La Palma (Canary Islands, Spain): official figures
In 2024, 23.7% of residents of La Palma were below the poverty-risk threshold of 60% of Spain's median income, against a national rate of 20.2%; only 20 of the 59 provinces and islands had a higher share.
How many people are in severe poverty in La Palma?
Severe low income, below 40% of the median, affected 10.6% of the population of La Palma in 2024 (Spain: 8.9%); the share below 60% has fallen 8.7 points since 2015, when it was 32.4%.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copyWhat is the crime rate in La Palma?
There were 1,958 recorded offences in La Palma in 2025 (2,154 in 2024), a rate of roughly 23 per 1,000 people, the lowest of 59 provinces and islands; the Spanish rate was 51.
Source: Ministerio del Interior · saved copyHow many burglaries are there in La Palma?
Police in La Palma recorded 263 thefts (hurtos) in 2025, down 21.7% on 2024, and 38 burglaries of homes, 0.4 per 1,000 residents (5th lowest of 59).
Source: Ministerio del Interior · saved copyWhat is the average household size in La Palma?
Households in La Palma had 2.60 members on average in 2024, and 29.8% of homes held one person (Spain: 2.50 and 29.1%).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copyMore figures
- Women in La Palma were more likely than men to be below the 60% poverty line in 2024: 24.4% against 23.0%. Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copy
- At the other end, 10.9% of residents of La Palma had more than twice the national median income per consumption unit in 2024, 12th highest of 59 (Spain: 10.6%). Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copy
- Violent robberies in La Palma totalled 19 in 2025 (9 in 2024), and police logged 20 sexual offences and 4 murders or attempted murders. Source: Ministerio del Interior · saved copy
- Cybercrime made up 8.6% of recorded offences in La Palma in 2025 (168 cases, 140 of them online fraud), against 19.8% across Spain. Source: Ministerio del Interior · saved copy
How La Palma compares with other provinces in Spain
Population below 60% of the median income (2024)
La Palma ranks 21 of 59, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Population below 60% of the median income |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | Sevilla | 24.1% |
| 19 | Córdoba | 23.9% |
| 20 | Albacete | 23.7% |
| 21 | La Palma | 23.7% |
| 22 | Tenerife | 23.4% |
| 23 | Fuerteventura | 22.6% |
| 24 | Ourense | 22.1% |
Population above 200% of the median income (2024)
La Palma ranks 12 of 59, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Population above 200% of the median income |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Navarra | 13.3% |
| 10 | Mallorca | 12.3% |
| 11 | Menorca | 11.9% |
| 12 | La Palma | 10.9% |
| 13 | Valladolid | 10.3% |
| 14 | Zaragoza | 10.0% |
| 15 | Girona | 9.9% |
Recorded criminal offences per 1,000 residents (2025)
La Palma ranks 59 of 59, highest first. per 1,000 residents, using the 2024 population in the INE income atlas
| Rank | Area | Recorded criminal offences per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 53 | Ourense | 32.4 |
| 54 | Teruel | 30.9 |
| 55 | Cáceres | 30.7 |
| 56 | Lugo | 29.6 |
| 57 | El Hierro | 28.5 |
| 58 | La Gomera | 24.2 |
| 59 | La Palma | 23.0 |
Home burglaries per 1,000 residents (2025)
La Palma ranks 55 of 59, highest first. per 1,000 residents, using the 2024 population in the INE income atlas
| Rank | Area | Home burglaries per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| 52 | Gran Canaria | 0.73 |
| 53 | Menorca | 0.73 |
| 54 | Lanzarote | 0.45 |
| 55 | La Palma | 0.45 |
| 56 | Melilla | 0.44 |
| 57 | El Hierro | 0.42 |
| 58 | La Gomera | 0.40 |
Change in recorded offences, 2024 to 2025 (2025)
La Palma ranks 58 of 59, highest first.
| Rank | Area | Change in recorded offences, 2024 to 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 53 | Pontevedra | -1.4% |
| 54 | Madrid | -1.7% |
| 55 | Lleida | -2.4% |
| 56 | Barcelona | -2.9% |
| 57 | Tarragona | -6.1% |
| 58 | La Palma | -9.1% |
| 59 | La Gomera | -15.5% |
More on La Palma: overview · economy and jobs · government budget · Canary Islands · Spain
Sources
- Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE): Atlas de Distribución de Renta de los Hogares (ADRH) 2024: indicadores demográficos por provincias e islas (table 53776), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bc6dcbf12939…)
- Ministerio del Interior: Balance de Criminalidad, cuarto trimestre 2025: infracciones penales registradas en comunidades, provincias, islas y municipios de más de 20.000 habitantes, enero a diciembre 2025, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 6b3532029406…)
- Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE): Atlas de Distribución de Renta de los Hogares (ADRH) 2024: población con ingresos por unidad de consumo por debajo/encima de umbrales relativos, por sexo, provincias e islas (table 53694), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 f50367749a3d…)
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