Balearic Islands: 37.8% struggle to make ends meet

Across Mallorca and the rest of the Balearic Islands, 37.8% of people struggle to make ends meet, figures for 2025 show. Poverty group EAPN-ES published the report on Thursday, 15 October. The figure covers the Balearic Islands as a whole, not Mallorca separately.

Housing takes a large share

People at risk of poverty in the Balearic Islands spend 41.2% of their income on housing, compared with 16.4% across the wider population. EAPN-ES says housing costs leave people more vulnerable.

Rent or mortgage payments have been late for 9% of the population. Another 10.3% have fallen behind on electricity or gas bills, while 12.8% cannot keep their homes at an adequate temperature in winter.

Fewer at risk, but poverty rises

About 190,000 people in the Balearic Islands were at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2025. That is 15.2% of the population, down one percentage point from the previous year. Among children, the figure reaches 23%.

The poverty rate itself rose by 0.3 percentage points to 11.6%, or about 145,000 people. The report also finds that 67.2% of Balearic households that may qualify for Spain’s minimum-income benefit do not receive it. EAPN-ES is calling for more public housing for social rent and greater support for families.

Topics: Housing · Social affairs · Palma

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com