Poverty and living standards in Cantabria, Spain: official figures
Disposable household income was 20,300 PPS per person in 2023; 10th highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain.
How many people in Cantabria are at risk of poverty?
The share of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion was 19.2% in 2025, against 25.7% for Spain; 15th highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many households in Cantabria cannot afford an unexpected expense?
28.8% of households in Cantabria could not meet an unexpected expense from their own resources in 2025, compared with 35.7% across Spain (7th lowest of 19); in 2021 the figure was 28.7%.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copyWhat percentage of people in Cantabria cannot afford a holiday?
In 2025, 32.8% of households in Cantabria 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 Cantabria cannot keep warm?
14.3% of households in Cantabria could not keep their home adequately warm in 2025, ranking 7th lowest of 19 communities and cities (national 16.1%).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copyHow many households in Cantabria are behind on rent or mortgage payments?
6.7% of households in Cantabria 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 Cantabria cannot afford to eat meat or fish?
4.5% of households in Cantabria could not afford a meal with meat, chicken or fish every second day in 2025; 4.3% could not afford a car and 5.1% a computer.
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copyWhat is the standard of living in Cantabria?
21.1% of households in Cantabria could not replace worn-out furniture in 2025 (Spain 26.3%).
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) · saved copyWhat is the poverty rate in Cantabria?
The at-risk-of-poverty rate was 13.9% in 2025, measured against 60% of median income in Spain, compared with 19.5% nationally; 6th lowest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2015 it was 14.9%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people in Cantabria cannot afford basic necessities?
In 2025, 5.0% of residents were severely materially and socially deprived (unable to afford 7 or more of 13 everyday necessities), compared with 8.1% nationally; 5th lowest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2015 it was 3.7%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many households in Cantabria have nobody in work?
Very low work intensity affected 9.0% of people under 65 in 2025 (households where working-age adults worked under 20% of the time they could), compared with 8.0% nationally; 9th highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2015 it was 15.8%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the average income in Cantabria?
Disposable household income averaged €18,300 per person in 2023 (Spain: €18,300; EU: €21,000); 10th highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2013 it was €13,300.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people in Cantabria use the internet?
95.8% of people used the internet at least once a week in 2025, compared with 95.4% nationally; 9th highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2015 it was 75.5%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- 95% of households had broadband in 2021. Source: Eurostat · saved copy
How Cantabria compares with other autonomous communities
Social services spending, share of the 2026 regional budget (2026)
Cantabria ranks 9 of 17, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Social services spending, share of the 2026 regional budget |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Castilla y León | 8.9% |
| 7 | Madrid | 8.7% |
| 8 | Valencian Community | 8.6% |
| 9 | Cantabria | 8.6% |
| 10 | Murcia | 8.5% |
| 11 | Castilla-La Mancha | 8.3% |
| 12 | Andalusia | 8.2% |
Households unable to meet an unexpected expense, 2025 (2025)
Cantabria ranks 13 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households unable to meet an unexpected expense, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Galicia | 31.1% |
| 11 | Asturias | 30.8% |
| 12 | Madrid | 30.1% |
| 13 | Cantabria | 28.8% |
| 14 | Balearic Islands | 28.3% |
| 15 | Castilla y León | 28.1% |
| 16 | Aragón | 27.8% |
Households unable to afford a week of holiday, 2025 (2025)
Cantabria ranks 10 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households unable to afford a week of holiday, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Ciudad de Melilla | 34.2% |
| 8 | Asturias | 33.4% |
| 9 | Valencian Community | 33.3% |
| 10 | Cantabria | 32.8% |
| 11 | Castilla y León | 28.7% |
| 12 | Catalonia | 28.2% |
| 13 | Ciudad de Ceuta | 26.3% |
Households unable to keep the home adequately warm, 2025 (2025)
Cantabria ranks 13 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households unable to keep the home adequately warm, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Asturias | 16.2% |
| 11 | Madrid | 15.3% |
| 12 | Valencian Community | 14.8% |
| 13 | Cantabria | 14.3% |
| 14 | La Rioja | 14.2% |
| 15 | Balearic Islands | 14.0% |
| 16 | Castilla y León | 12.0% |
Households in arrears on housing payments, 2025 (2025)
Cantabria ranks 17 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)
Cantabria ranks 14 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | At-risk-of-poverty rate (after social transfers) |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Asturias | 17.2% |
| 12 | Galicia | 16.0% |
| 13 | Catalonia | 14.3% |
| 14 | Cantabria | 13.9% |
| 15 | Aragón | 13.6% |
| 16 | Madrid | 12.7% |
| 17 | Navarre | 12.3% |
Severe material and social deprivation rate (2025)
Cantabria ranks 15 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Severe material and social deprivation rate |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Asturias | 6.7% |
| 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% |
People in households with very low work intensity (2025)
Cantabria ranks 9 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People in households with very low work intensity |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Castilla-La Mancha | 10.0% |
| 7 | Murcia | 10.0% |
| 8 | Castilla y León | 9.5% |
| 9 | Cantabria | 9.0% |
| 10 | Valencian Community | 7.9% |
| 11 | Extremadura | 7.7% |
| 12 | Galicia | 7.6% |
Disposable household income per person (euros) (2023)
Cantabria ranks 10 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Disposable household income per person (euros) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Balearic Islands | €19,100 |
| 8 | La Rioja | €18,900 |
| 9 | Castilla y León | €18,500 |
| 10 | Cantabria | €18,300 |
| 11 | Galicia | €17,800 |
| 12 | Ciudad de Ceuta | €16,100 |
| 13 | Valencian Community | €16,000 |
People who use the internet regularly (2025)
Cantabria ranks 9 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People who use the internet regularly |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Aragón | 96.7% |
| 7 | Valencian Community | 96.3% |
| 8 | La Rioja | 96.0% |
| 9 | Cantabria | 95.8% |
| 10 | Canary Islands | 95.6% |
| 11 | Castilla-La Mancha | 95.0% |
| 12 | Murcia | 94.7% |
More on Cantabria: 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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