SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE/MADRID, 12 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Canary Islands rank as the fifth autonomous community with the least social expenditure per person, amounting to 3,050 euros, according to a report released on Thursday by the Association of Directors and Managers of Social Services.
When comparing 2009 to 2023, social expenditure—which encompasses health, education, and social services—has increased by 34.3% in absolute figures, rising from 5,022.67 million to 6,748.3 million euros. However, this sum reflects a 2% decline in the proportion of the overall budget.
Per capita expenditure has escalated by nearly 23% (569.79 euros) over the past 14 years.
The archipelago allocates 34.2% of its budget to health, equating to 1,710.3 euros per person, with education constituting 20.5%, translating to 1,026 euros per inhabitant.
Specifically regarding social services, they make up 6.3% of the autonomous accounts, placing the islands at the bottom of Spain regarding expenditure per inhabitant (313.1 euros).
Nationally, the report indicates that Madrid (2,464 euros) and Catalonia (2,942 euros) are the two autonomous communities with the least financial investment in Social Policies per inhabitant in 2023.
Conversely, Extremadura (3,960 euros), Asturias (3,681 euros), and Cantabria (3,546 euros) are noted for higher spending.
The report also reveals that the percentage allocated by the autonomous communities to social policies (Health, Education, and Social Services) has declined from 67.4% in 2010 to 58.4% in 2023, a drop of nine points over these years.
In this scenario, the Basque Country and Navarre are leading in per capita spending on social policies in 2023, exceeding 4,000 euros. The communities under common regime include Extremadura, Asturias, and Cantabria.
Following them are Castile and Leon (3,504 euros); La Rioja (3,422 euros); Galicia (3,297 euros); Aragon (3,251 euros); Castile-La Mancha (3,248 euros); Valencian Community (3,239 euros); Balearic Islands (3,196 euros); Canary Islands (3,050 euros); Andalusia (3,035 euros); Murcia (3,008 euros); Catalonia (3,942 euros), and Madrid (2,464 euros).
The report also emphasises that the Valencian Community, Asturias, the Balearic Islands, and Extremadura have raised their investment in social policies by over 1,000 euros per inhabitant since 2009.
