Health in Cantabria, Spain: official figures
Life expectancy at birth was 84 years in 2024 (84 for Spain); 8th highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain.
How much does Cantabria spend on health?
Cantabria budgets €1.22 billion for health in 2026, 32.4% of its spending (7th lowest of 17 shares; average 31.4%), the same as in 2025 under the rolled-over budget.
Source: Ministerio de Hacienda · saved copyHow many people are on the surgery waiting list in Cantabria?
14,490 patients were waiting for planned surgery in the public health service of Cantabria on 31 December 2025, 1.7% of Spain's 853,740; that is 24.9 per 1,000 residents, a rate that ranks the highest of 19 health services.
Source: Ministerio de Sanidad · saved copyHow long is the waiting list for an operation in Cantabria?
The average wait for surgery in Cantabria was 137 days at the end of 2025 (3rd longest of 19), and 26.2% of patients on the list had been waiting more than six months.
Source: Ministerio de Sanidad · saved copyHow long is the wait for knee or hip surgery in Cantabria?
Patients waiting for orthopaedic and trauma surgery in Cantabria had waited 188 days on average on 31 December 2025.
Source: Ministerio de Sanidad · saved copyHow long do you wait to see a specialist in Cantabria?
For a first appointment with a hospital specialist, 37,331 people were waiting in Cantabria at the end of 2025 (64.2 per 1,000 residents), with an average wait of 61 days, 4th shortest of 19.
Source: Ministerio de Sanidad · saved copyWhat percentage of patients in Cantabria wait more than 60 days for a specialist?
In Cantabria, 42.7% of patients waiting for a first specialist consultation on 31 December 2025 had been waiting more than 60 days (3rd lowest of 19).
Source: Ministerio de Sanidad · saved copyWhat is the death rate in Cantabria?
The age-standardised death rate from all causes was 771.8 per 100,000 people in 2021 (Spain: 828.8; EU: 1,073.4); 4th lowest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. Age-standardised rates allow fair comparison between places with older and younger populations.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people die of cancer in Cantabria?
The age-standardised cancer death rate was 215.7 per 100,000 in 2023 (Spain: 210.0; EU: 233.1); 6th highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2015 it was 258.1.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people die of heart disease in Cantabria?
Heart and circulatory diseases caused 176.5 deaths per 100,000 in 2023 (age-standardised) (Spain: 200.2; EU: 312.9); 4th lowest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2015 it was 227.2.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people die of respiratory disease in Cantabria?
Respiratory diseases caused 83.8 deaths per 100,000 in 2023 (age-standardised) (Spain: 81.4; EU: 75.2); 9th highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2015 it was 107.8.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the suicide rate in Cantabria?
The age-standardised suicide rate was 6.8 per 100,000 in 2023 (Spain: 8.0; EU: 10.4); 4th lowest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2015 it was 6.3.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people die in accidents in Cantabria?
Accidents, injuries, violence and other external causes killed 34.2 per 100,000 in 2023 (age-standardised) (Spain: 32.9; EU: 49.4); 8th highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2015 it was 27.4.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the infant mortality rate in Cantabria?
The infant mortality rate was 4.0 per 1,000 live births in 2024, against 3.0 for Spain as a whole and 3.5 across the EU; 3rd highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2014 it was 2.2.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many hospital beds does Cantabria have?
Hospitals in Cantabria had 307 beds for every 100,000 residents in 2024, against 283 for Spain as a whole; 10th highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many doctors are there in Cantabria?
Cantabria had 490 physicians for every 100,000 residents in 2024, against 464 for Spain as a whole; 9th highest of 18 autonomous communities in Spain.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people go to hospital in Cantabria?
Hospitals discharged 9,004 in-patients per 100,000 people in 2021 (Spain: 8,983); 8th lowest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2012 it was 9,735.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyCan people in Cantabria get medical care?
In 2025, 1.8% of people reported going without a needed medical examination because of cost, distance or waiting lists, compared with 1.6% nationally; 9th highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people die on the roads in Cantabria?
There were 32 road deaths per million people in 2024, against 36 for Spain as a whole; 7th lowest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2014 it was 31.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is life expectancy for men and women in Cantabria?
Women in Cantabria could expect to live to 86.7 and men to 81.1 at 2024 death rates, a gap of 5.6 years.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow long do people live after 65 in Cantabria?
People who reached 65 could expect 21.9 more years of life in 2024 (Spain: 21.9).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Cantabria compares with other autonomous communities
Health spending, share of the 2026 regional budget (2026)
Cantabria ranks 11 of 17, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Health spending, share of the 2026 regional budget |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Madrid | 33.0% |
| 9 | Balearic Islands | 32.8% |
| 10 | Extremadura | 32.8% |
| 11 | Cantabria | 32.4% |
| 12 | Murcia | 32.0% |
| 13 | Basque Country | 30.9% |
| 14 | La Rioja | 30.8% |
Average wait for planned surgery, 31 Dec 2025 (days) (2025)
Cantabria ranks 3 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Average wait for planned surgery, 31 Dec 2025 (days) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andalusia | 173 days |
| 2 | Catalonia | 142 days |
| 3 | Cantabria | 137 days |
| 4 | Extremadura | 135 days |
| 5 | Aragón | 132 days |
| 6 | Castilla-La Mancha | 117 days |
| 7 | Canary Islands | 106 days |
Surgical patients waiting over six months, 31 Dec 2025 (2025)
Cantabria ranks 3 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Surgical patients waiting over six months, 31 Dec 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andalusia | 32.2% |
| 2 | Catalonia | 32.0% |
| 3 | Cantabria | 26.2% |
| 4 | Extremadura | 23.1% |
| 5 | Balearic Islands | 22.4% |
| 6 | Aragón | 21.7% |
| 7 | Murcia | 19.3% |
Patients waiting for surgery per 1,000 residents, 31 Dec 2025 (2025)
Cantabria ranks 1 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Patients waiting for surgery per 1,000 residents, 31 Dec 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cantabria | 24.9 |
| 2 | Catalonia | 24.8 |
| 3 | La Rioja | 23.8 |
| 4 | Andalusia | 23.5 |
| 5 | Asturias | 22.1 |
| 6 | Extremadura | 22.0 |
| 7 | Murcia | 21.5 |
Average wait for a first specialist appointment, 31 Dec 2025 (days) (2025)
Cantabria ranks 16 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Average wait for a first specialist appointment, 31 Dec 2025 (days) |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Madrid | 68 days |
| 14 | Castilla-La Mancha | 64 days |
| 15 | Galicia | 63 days |
| 16 | Cantabria | 61 days |
| 17 | Basque Country | 49 days |
| 18 | La Rioja | 32 days |
| 19 | Ciudad de Melilla | 16 days |
Deaths per 100,000 (age-standardised, all causes) (2021)
Cantabria ranks 16 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Deaths per 100,000 (age-standardised, all causes) |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Catalonia | 805.9 |
| 14 | Galicia | 785.1 |
| 15 | Basque Country | 779.1 |
| 16 | Cantabria | 771.8 |
| 17 | Castilla y León | 749.1 |
| 18 | Navarre | 725.1 |
| 19 | Madrid | 696.4 |
Cancer deaths per 100,000 (age-standardised) (2023)
Cantabria ranks 6 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Cancer deaths per 100,000 (age-standardised) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Balearic Islands | 220.0 |
| 4 | Andalusia | 217.3 |
| 5 | Basque Country | 216.4 |
| 6 | Cantabria | 215.7 |
| 7 | Galicia | 214.8 |
| 8 | Canary Islands | 214.3 |
| 9 | Murcia | 213.3 |
Heart and circulatory deaths per 100,000 (age-standardised) (2023)
Cantabria ranks 16 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Heart and circulatory deaths per 100,000 (age-standardised) |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Castilla-La Mancha | 191.9 |
| 14 | Catalonia | 184.8 |
| 15 | Basque Country | 178.1 |
| 16 | Cantabria | 176.5 |
| 17 | Castilla y León | 169.3 |
| 18 | Navarre | 167.4 |
| 19 | Madrid | 153.4 |
Respiratory deaths per 100,000 (age-standardised) (2023)
Cantabria ranks 9 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Respiratory deaths per 100,000 (age-standardised) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Castilla-La Mancha | 91.5 |
| 7 | Madrid | 88.8 |
| 8 | Murcia | 84.0 |
| 9 | Cantabria | 83.8 |
| 10 | Galicia | 79.7 |
| 11 | Valencian Community | 79.0 |
| 12 | Catalonia | 78.9 |
Suicides per 100,000 (age-standardised) (2023)
Cantabria ranks 16 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Suicides per 100,000 (age-standardised) |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Aragón | 7.1 |
| 14 | Balearic Islands | 7.0 |
| 15 | Extremadura | 6.9 |
| 16 | Cantabria | 6.8 |
| 17 | Basque Country | 5.8 |
| 18 | Madrid | 5.8 |
| 19 | Ciudad de Ceuta | 5.6 |
Deaths from accidents, injury and violence per 100,000 (2023)
Cantabria ranks 8 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Deaths from accidents, injury and violence per 100,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Canary Islands | 36.0 |
| 6 | Catalonia | 35.7 |
| 7 | Castilla y León | 35.0 |
| 8 | Cantabria | 34.2 |
| 9 | Castilla-La Mancha | 34.0 |
| 10 | Balearic Islands | 33.5 |
| 11 | Extremadura | 33.4 |
Infant deaths per 1,000 live births (2024)
Cantabria ranks 3 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Infant deaths per 1,000 live births |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ciudad de Ceuta | 8.8 |
| 2 | Balearic Islands | 4.2 |
| 3 | Cantabria | 4.0 |
| 4 | Extremadura | 3.8 |
| 5 | Ciudad de Melilla | 3.8 |
| 6 | Andalusia | 3.5 |
| 7 | Valencian Community | 3.4 |
Hospital beds per 100,000 people (2024)
Cantabria ranks 10 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Hospital beds per 100,000 people |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | La Rioja | 319 |
| 8 | Galicia | 317 |
| 9 | Navarre | 316 |
| 10 | Cantabria | 307 |
| 11 | Murcia | 293 |
| 12 | Canary Islands | 290 |
| 13 | Balearic Islands | 277 |
Doctors per 100,000 people (2024)
Cantabria ranks 9 of 18, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Doctors per 100,000 people |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Asturias | 530 |
| 7 | Navarre | 514 |
| 8 | Canary Islands | 498 |
| 9 | Cantabria | 490 |
| 10 | Catalonia | 447 |
| 11 | Murcia | 446 |
| 12 | Castilla y León | 443 |
Hospital in-patient discharges per 100,000 (2021)
Cantabria ranks 12 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Hospital in-patient discharges per 100,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Murcia | 9,450 |
| 10 | Balearic Islands | 9,148 |
| 11 | Navarre | 9,023 |
| 12 | Cantabria | 9,004 |
| 13 | Valencian Community | 8,854 |
| 14 | Madrid | 8,782 |
| 15 | Castilla-La Mancha | 8,064 |
Unmet need for medical care (cost, distance or waiting list) (2025)
Cantabria ranks 9 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Unmet need for medical care (cost, distance or waiting list) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Castilla y León | 2.0% |
| 7 | Navarre | 2.0% |
| 8 | Valencian Community | 1.8% |
| 9 | Cantabria | 1.8% |
| 10 | Madrid | 1.5% |
| 11 | Canary Islands | 1.5% |
| 12 | Ciudad de Ceuta | 1.2% |
Road deaths per million people (2024)
Cantabria ranks 13 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Road deaths per million people |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Andalusia | 41 |
| 11 | Navarre | 39 |
| 12 | Catalonia | 32 |
| 13 | Cantabria | 32 |
| 14 | Canary Islands | 31 |
| 15 | Valencian Community | 30 |
| 16 | Basque Country | 21 |
More on Cantabria: overview · economy and jobs · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · government and politics · Spain
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_mlifexp: Life expectancy at birth, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 62800ed9bbb3…)
- Ministerio de Sanidad: Sistema de Información sobre Listas de Espera en el SNS (SISLE-SNS): data by autonomous community at 31 December 2025 (rectified), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 6fe3e65b851a…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset tran_r_acci: Victims in road accidents by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 a183ad1f888d…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_minfind: Infant mortality rates by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 60cbafea3657…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset hlth_co_disch2t: Hospital discharges by diagnosis and NUTS 2 region (in-patients), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 d93487a1c1f9…)
- 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 hlth_cd_asdr2: Causes of death: standardised death rate by NUTS 2 region of residence, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 308c4b705d5d…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset hlth_silc_08_r: Self-reported unmet needs for medical examination by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 e5484460cdfc…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset demo_r_mlifexp: Life expectancy by age, sex and NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 f5a2a33406b9…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset hlth_rs_physreg: Physicians by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 4ff68eb77f8b…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset hlth_rs_bdsrg2: Hospital beds by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3178c155028f…)
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