Health in La Rioja, Spain: official figures
Life expectancy at birth was 83.9 years in 2024 (84 for Spain); 9th highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain.
How much does La Rioja spend on health?
La Rioja budgets €652 million for health in 2026, 30.8% of its spending (4th lowest of 17 shares; average 31.4%), 4.3% more than in 2025.
Source: Ministerio de Hacienda · saved copyHow many people are on the surgery waiting list in La Rioja?
7,822 patients were waiting for planned surgery in the public health service of La Rioja on 31 December 2025, 0.9% of Spain's 853,740; that is 23.8 per 1,000 residents, a rate that ranks 3rd highest of 19 health services.
Source: Ministerio de Sanidad · saved copyHow long is the waiting list for an operation in La Rioja?
The average wait for surgery in La Rioja was 78 days at the end of 2025 (4th shortest of 19), and 6.4% 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 La Rioja?
Patients waiting for orthopaedic and trauma surgery in La Rioja had waited 91 days on average on 31 December 2025.
Source: Ministerio de Sanidad · saved copyHow long do you wait to see a specialist in La Rioja?
For a first appointment with a hospital specialist, 8,481 people were waiting in La Rioja at the end of 2025 (25.8 per 1,000 residents), with an average wait of 32 days, 2nd shortest of 19.
Source: Ministerio de Sanidad · saved copyWhat percentage of patients in La Rioja wait more than 60 days for a specialist?
In La Rioja, 53.0% of patients waiting for a first specialist consultation on 31 December 2025 had been waiting more than 60 days (5th lowest of 19).
Source: Ministerio de Sanidad · saved copyWhat is the death rate in La Rioja?
Adjusting for age, 815.3 people per 100,000 died in 2021, against 828.8 for Spain as a whole and 1,073.4 across the EU; 10th highest 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 La Rioja?
The age-standardised cancer death rate was 203.8 per 100,000 in 2023, compared with 210.0 nationally and 233.1 in the EU; 4th lowest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2015 it was 232.2.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people die of heart disease in La Rioja?
Heart and circulatory diseases caused 211.2 deaths per 100,000 in 2023 (age-standardised), compared with 200.2 nationally and 312.9 in the EU; 9th highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2015 it was 242.0.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people die of respiratory disease in La Rioja?
Respiratory diseases caused 62.1 deaths per 100,000 in 2023 (age-standardised), compared with 81.4 nationally and 75.2 in the EU; 3rd lowest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2015 it was 72.1.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the suicide rate in La Rioja?
The age-standardised suicide rate was 8.6 per 100,000 in 2023, compared with 8.0 nationally and 10.4 in the EU; 6th highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2015 it was 7.2.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people die in accidents in La Rioja?
Accidents, injuries, violence and other external causes killed 39.2 per 100,000 in 2023 (age-standardised), compared with 32.9 nationally and 49.4 in the EU; 4th highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2015 it was 35.8.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the infant mortality rate in La Rioja?
2.9 babies in every 1,000 born alive died before their first birthday in 2024 (Spain: 3.0; EU: 3.5); 7th lowest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2014 it was 2.1.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many hospital beds does La Rioja have?
Hospitals in La Rioja had 319 beds for every 100,000 residents in 2024 (Spain: 283); 7th highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many doctors are there in La Rioja?
La Rioja had 359 physicians for every 100,000 residents in 2024 (Spain: 464); 2nd lowest of 18 autonomous communities in Spain.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people go to hospital in La Rioja?
Hospitals discharged 9,912 in-patients per 100,000 people in 2021, against 8,983 for Spain as a whole; 5th highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2012 it was 10,565.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyCan people in La Rioja get medical care?
In 2025, 3.0% of people reported going without a needed medical examination because of cost, distance or waiting lists, against 1.6% for Spain as a whole; 2nd highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people die on the roads in La Rioja?
There were 43 road deaths per million people in 2024 (Spain: 36); 8th highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2014 it was 35.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is life expectancy for men and women in La Rioja?
Women in La Rioja could expect to live to 86.6 and men to 81.3 at 2024 death rates, a gap of 5.3 years.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow long do people live after 65 in La Rioja?
People who reached 65 could expect 21.9 more years of life in 2024 (Spain: 21.9).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow La Rioja compares with other autonomous communities
Health spending, share of the 2026 regional budget (2026)
La Rioja ranks 14 of 17, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Health spending, share of the 2026 regional budget |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Cantabria | 32.4% |
| 12 | Murcia | 32.0% |
| 13 | Basque Country | 30.9% |
| 14 | La Rioja | 30.8% |
| 15 | Valencian Community | 28.2% |
| 16 | Catalonia | 24.7% |
| 17 | Navarre | 23.1% |
Average wait for planned surgery, 31 Dec 2025 (days) (2025)
La Rioja ranks 16 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Average wait for planned surgery, 31 Dec 2025 (days) |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Valencian Community | 88 days |
| 14 | Castilla y León | 87 days |
| 15 | Ciudad de Melilla | 82 days |
| 16 | La Rioja | 78 days |
| 17 | Galicia | 73 days |
| 18 | Basque Country | 64 days |
| 19 | Madrid | 50 days |
Surgical patients waiting over six months, 31 Dec 2025 (2025)
La Rioja ranks 16 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Surgical patients waiting over six months, 31 Dec 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Castilla y León | 13.8% |
| 14 | Asturias | 10.4% |
| 15 | Ciudad de Melilla | 8.2% |
| 16 | La Rioja | 6.4% |
| 17 | Galicia | 5.7% |
| 18 | Basque Country | 2.3% |
| 19 | Madrid | 0.8% |
Patients waiting for surgery per 1,000 residents, 31 Dec 2025 (2025)
La Rioja ranks 3 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)
La Rioja ranks 18 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)
La Rioja ranks 10 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Deaths per 100,000 (age-standardised, all causes) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Asturias | 848.3 |
| 8 | Castilla-La Mancha | 837.2 |
| 9 | Canary Islands | 826.2 |
| 10 | La Rioja | 815.3 |
| 11 | Aragón | 811.6 |
| 12 | Balearic Islands | 807.4 |
| 13 | Catalonia | 805.9 |
Cancer deaths per 100,000 (age-standardised) (2023)
La Rioja ranks 16 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Cancer deaths per 100,000 (age-standardised) |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Catalonia | 207.6 |
| 14 | Ciudad de Melilla | 206.3 |
| 15 | Castilla-La Mancha | 206.0 |
| 16 | La Rioja | 203.8 |
| 17 | Navarre | 193.6 |
| 18 | Madrid | 186.6 |
| 19 | Ciudad de Ceuta | 184.3 |
Heart and circulatory deaths per 100,000 (age-standardised) (2023)
La Rioja ranks 9 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Heart and circulatory deaths per 100,000 (age-standardised) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Valencian Community | 228.8 |
| 7 | Aragón | 222.3 |
| 8 | Extremadura | 220.7 |
| 9 | La Rioja | 211.2 |
| 10 | Asturias | 210.5 |
| 11 | Balearic Islands | 204.1 |
| 12 | Galicia | 192.4 |
Respiratory deaths per 100,000 (age-standardised) (2023)
La Rioja ranks 17 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Respiratory deaths per 100,000 (age-standardised) |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Navarre | 74.7 |
| 14 | Asturias | 73.4 |
| 15 | Balearic Islands | 71.9 |
| 16 | Castilla y León | 68.4 |
| 17 | La Rioja | 62.1 |
| 18 | Aragón | 55.8 |
| 19 | Basque Country | 51.5 |
Suicides per 100,000 (age-standardised) (2023)
La Rioja ranks 6 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Suicides per 100,000 (age-standardised) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Canary Islands | 10.0 |
| 4 | Navarre | 9.2 |
| 5 | Andalusia | 9.1 |
| 6 | La Rioja | 8.6 |
| 7 | Valencian Community | 8.4 |
| 8 | Catalonia | 7.6 |
| 9 | Murcia | 7.5 |
Deaths from accidents, injury and violence per 100,000 (2023)
La Rioja ranks 4 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Deaths from accidents, injury and violence per 100,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Asturias | 43.2 |
| 2 | Galicia | 40.0 |
| 3 | Navarre | 39.6 |
| 4 | La Rioja | 39.2 |
| 5 | Canary Islands | 36.0 |
| 6 | Catalonia | 35.7 |
| 7 | Castilla y León | 35.0 |
Infant deaths per 1,000 live births (2024)
La Rioja ranks 13 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Infant deaths per 1,000 live births |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Asturias | 3.1 |
| 11 | Catalonia | 3.0 |
| 12 | Castilla-La Mancha | 2.9 |
| 13 | La Rioja | 2.9 |
| 14 | Madrid | 2.8 |
| 15 | Castilla y León | 2.7 |
| 16 | Navarre | 2.4 |
Hospital beds per 100,000 people (2024)
La Rioja ranks 7 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Hospital beds per 100,000 people |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Castilla y León | 343 |
| 5 | Extremadura | 343 |
| 6 | Basque Country | 327 |
| 7 | La Rioja | 319 |
| 8 | Galicia | 317 |
| 9 | Navarre | 316 |
| 10 | Cantabria | 307 |
Doctors per 100,000 people (2024)
La Rioja ranks 17 of 18, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Doctors per 100,000 people |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Castilla y León | 443 |
| 13 | Valencian Community | 438 |
| 14 | Balearic Islands | 419 |
| 15 | Galicia | 389 |
| 16 | Andalusia | 360 |
| 17 | La Rioja | 359 |
| 18 | Castilla-La Mancha | 328 |
Hospital in-patient discharges per 100,000 (2021)
La Rioja ranks 5 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Hospital in-patient discharges per 100,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Catalonia | 10,241 |
| 3 | Asturias | 10,128 |
| 4 | Basque Country | 10,126 |
| 5 | La Rioja | 9,912 |
| 6 | Castilla y León | 9,729 |
| 7 | Galicia | 9,684 |
| 8 | Extremadura | 9,500 |
Unmet need for medical care (cost, distance or waiting list) (2025)
La Rioja ranks 2 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Unmet need for medical care (cost, distance or waiting list) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Castilla-La Mancha | 3.1% |
| 2 | La Rioja | 3.0% |
| 3 | Galicia | 2.4% |
| 4 | Aragón | 2.2% |
| 5 | Andalusia | 2.1% |
| 6 | Castilla y León | 2.0% |
| 7 | Navarre | 2.0% |
Road deaths per million people (2024)
La Rioja ranks 8 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Road deaths per million people |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Balearic Islands | 50 |
| 6 | Galicia | 48 |
| 7 | Asturias | 43 |
| 8 | La Rioja | 43 |
| 9 | Extremadura | 42 |
| 10 | Andalusia | 41 |
| 11 | Navarre | 39 |
More on La Rioja: 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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