The quality of life perceived by Spaniards has improved slightly between 2023 and 2024, according to new data from Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE).
The study, published on Friday, shows a 0.26% national improvement in the overall quality of life index, rising from 101.203 points in 2023 to 101.467 in 2024.
In Andalucia, residents also reported feeling an improvement, though at a slower pace than the national average. The region’s score increased from 99.394 to 99.543 points, a rise of 0.15%.
Andalucia remains near the bottom of Spain’s regional ranking for perceived quality of life, ahead only of Galicia (99.337) – but is at least improving.
Other regions performing below the national average include Extremadura (101.43), Catalonia (101.31), Castilla-La Mancha (101.11), and Murcia (100.36).
At the top of the list are Navarra (105.187), La Rioja (103.913) and the Basque Country (103.735) – regions that consistently outperform others in terms of wellbeing and living standards.
The INE uses 2008 as a reference year, assigning it a base value of 100. Andalucía’s current figure (99.543) shows that, even after 16 years, the region continues to fall just below the national benchmark.
What’s behind the improvement?
The INE’s Multidimensional Quality of Life Indicator evaluates nine factors, ranging from health and education to environment and social relationships.
In Andalucia, this year’s modest improvement is mainly attributed to better conditions in material living standards, employment, and health.
However, residents reported a decline in education, leisure and social relationships, safety, environmental quality, and overall life experience. The indicator covering governance and basic rights remained unchanged compared with last year.
Long-term trend
Looking back to 2008, when the first report was published, Andalucia’s perceived quality of life has increased by 1.7%, from 97.910 to 99.543 points in 2024.
That long-term improvement is slightly higher than the national increase over the same period, with Spain as a whole rising 1.5%, from 100 to 101.467 points.
While progress has been slow, the figures suggest that Andalusians today feel marginally better off than they did 16 years ago.
Why northern Spain feels more fulfilled
According to Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE), the regions of Navarra, La Rioja and the Basque Country once again top the national ranking for perceived quality of life.
Each year, the INE’s Multidimensional Quality of Life Indicator evaluates nine areas to determine how Spaniards rate their overall wellbeing.
All three regions show strong results across multiple dimensions of the index. Navarra, which has led the ranking for more than a decade, scores particularly well in health, education, environment, and leisure and social relations.
Residents report a high sense of life satisfaction and community, while the region’s clean environment and manageable population size contribute to positive perceptions.
The Basque Country and La Rioja also perform strongly in material living conditions, employment, and education, which are key pillars of perceived wellbeing.
Another major factor is the combination of higher living standards and effective public services. Navarra and the Basque Country enjoy some of Spain’s highest average incomes and lowest unemployment rates.
Access to quality healthcare and education is also above the national average, while public infrastructure tends to be modern and efficient. These advantages translate into higher scores for material conditions, health, and work-life balance.
The environmental dimension also plays an important role. The three northern regions are known for their clean air, green landscapes and relatively low pollution levels. Environmental quality, together with the ease of access to outdoor leisure activities, reinforces the sense of wellbeing captured in the INE survey.
Social cohesion is another ingredient. In places such as Navarra, a strong sense of local identity and community translates into better ratings for leisure, social relations and overall ‘experience of life’.
Residents often express high levels of satisfaction with their communities, social support networks and safety, all of which raise their perceived quality of life.
Population scale also matters. With smaller populations than Spain’s large metropolitan regions, Navarra and La Rioja benefit from a more manageable size, allowing for efficient public service delivery and fewer pressures on infrastructure. Less congestion, shorter commutes and a slower pace of life contribute to greater satisfaction.
It is important to note that the INE’s index measures perceived rather than purely objective quality of life.
In other words, it reflects how residents feel across different areas of wellbeing, not just hard economic figures.
Factors such as regional pride, expectations and social cohesion can influence these perceptions.
