Garafía: The Poorest Municipality in the Canary Islands
Overview of Economic Disparity
Recent data from the Tax Agency, based on income tax returns for 2022, provides an insight into average incomes across Spanish municipalities with more than a thousand inhabitants. The report highlights a clear divide between large urban centres and rural areas, where purchasing power remains significantly below the national average. In the Canary Islands, one small municipality stands out for having the lowest gross average income per inhabitant, at just €16,997 per year. Despite its privileged natural surroundings, its economic reality reflects the challenges faced by regions distant from major productive centres.
Garafía, La Palma
This municipality is Villa de Garafía, located in the northwest of La Palma. With an average income of less than €17,000, it ranks not only at the bottom of the Canary Islands but also among the most modest in Spain, although still above some towns in Andalusia and Castilla-La Mancha. Other Canarian municipalities with low average incomes include El Tanque (€18,874), Barlovento (€18,897), Vallehermoso (€19,234), and Los Silos (€19,367). The trend clearly indicates that rural areas of the archipelago concentrate the lowest income figures.
Economic Foundations and Challenges
Garafía’s economy is primarily based on agriculture, livestock farming, and sustainable tourism. While these sectors are essential for maintaining the population and preserving the environment, they do not guarantee high incomes. Additionally, an aging population and the absence of large industrial hubs limit opportunities for skilled employment. The municipality’s rugged topography and restricted access to services also have a direct impact on its development. Covering an area of 103 km², Garafía encompasses challenging cliffs, ravines, grasslands, and arable land, complicating connectivity and the establishment of new economic activities.
Natural Beauty and Tradition
Despite these limitations, Garafía is a true natural monument. The municipality hosts protected areas such as the natural monument of the Costa de Hiscaguán, the Guelguén reserve, and the Pinar de Garafía, which collectively account for nearly a third of its territory. Its extreme geography ranges from green, steep cliffs to cold, snow-capped peaks in winter, like those at Roque de los Muchachos. This location houses the Gran Telescopio de Canarias (GRANTECAN), one of the largest telescopes in the world, placing Garafía on the international scientific map.
Cultural Heritage and Local Products
The local livestock tradition has led to one of the island’s culinary treasures: the smoked goat cheese of Garafía, known for its golden rind and distinctive flavour. Its artisanal production preserves a craft passed down through generations, becoming a hallmark of the area. The village also shares a profound connection with the sky. The so-called “Sky Law,” approved in 1988, protects the quality of the island’s night sky, establishing Garafía as one of the best places on Earth for astronomical observation.
Between Poverty and Potential
Income data reflects a harsh economic reality but also conceals the potential of a municipality that treasures unique landscapes and valuable natural resources. Garafía is both one of the poorest communities in the Canary Islands and a privileged setting for science, traditional agriculture, and rural tourism.
