Real poverty in the Basque Country has risen from 4% to 6.1%, according to the survey on social inequalities
Although the ability of families to cover their daily expenses has improved, the difficulty of going on holiday and having a car under the age of 10 has increased.
Jorge Aramendi, coordinator of the Statistical Body for the Demographic Challenge, together with Counsellor Nerea Melgosa. Photo: EFE
The real poverty rate in the Basque Country was 6.1% in 2024, according to data presented by the Counsellor for Welfare, Youth and Demographic Challenge, Nerea Melgosa, and the coordinator of the Statistical Body of the same department, Jorge Aramendi. The data reflects a significant increase, since the previous one, in 2022, was 4%. The official survey on poverty and social inequalities was conducted in almost 4,500 households, with more than 10,000 participants.
The report shows that, although the ability of households to maintain their incomes has improved slightly, the maintenance poverty rate has fallen from 7.3 per cent to 7.2 per cent, but the shortfall in the accumulation dimension has increased: the percentage of households unable to pay at least one week's vacation has increased from 13.9 per cent to 18.8 per cent, and the proportion of households without a car under 10 years of age has increased from 58.1 per cent to 64.4 per cent.
At the same time, some indicators of habitability have improved: housing with moisture problems has fallen from 12.4 per cent to 9.8 per cent, while those exposed to noise and pollution have decreased slightly, from 8 per cent to 7.4 per cent.
Counsellor Melgosa stressed that despite the increase in real poverty, Basque society has the capacity to create an economic, network and community cushion. She also noted a slight improvement in the Gini coefficient, which measures inequality in income distribution, from 26.9% to 25.9%. This represents less inequality, although there are more people in poverty.
The study was carried out in 2024, with an upward trend in inflation, with a year-on-year CPI of 3.6 per cent, which in particular made food, housing and fuel more expensive and affected the saving capacity of many families. Moreover, there is a growing population of foreign origin, with more than 117,000 people arriving in the Basque Country in 2023 and 2024, and a greater weakness in some groups due to difficulties in employment, housing and savings.
You might like
?fmt=webp-alpha&qlt=80)
The 28 people arrested for incidents in connection with an act in Vito Quiles have been released
Sixteen of them have been charged with a crime of public disorder and twelve have been charged with an attack on law enforcement officials.
Euthanasia claims in the Basque Country have increased by 61% and the average length of the process has fallen to 39.4 days
According to the annual report published this Thursday, 107 applications were approved in 2025, 78 benefits were implemented and 31 people died before the completion of the process.
Three Molotov cocktails launched at Bayonne Subprefecture
According to reports from the Prefecture of the Atlantic Pyrenees, the attack took place around 4 a.m., but there was no significant damage.
Three persons investigated in Bizkaia for pretending to be civil guards to obtain data on a victim of gender-based violence
One of those investigated had a sentimental relationship with the woman, with whom he lived in Barakaldo.
A man has been arrested in Donostia as the alleged perpetrator of a sexual assault in the Egia neighbourhood
The San Sebastian City Council Spokespersons Board has convened a rally for tomorrow at 11:45 a.m. in the gardens of Alderdi Eder.
Members of the Foral Police have joined in the pain and supported the families of the five dead officers
The San Alberto de Pamplona Tanatorium will today be the scene of the vigil of the Foral police, where from the first hour of the morning there has been a constant influx of family, friends and colleagues. The driver of the truck injured in the accident has been discharged but is in shock.
Three residents of the former Fournier factory in Vitoria-Gasteiz have been evicted at the second launch in a week in the area
The Ertzaintza and the Vitoria-Gasteiz Local Police, by court order, have evicted three people who were on the industrial ship on Heraclio Fournier Street, alleging poor conditions and insecurity.
Life Nature's Finest Moments: Wednesday, June 3, 2026
On this occasion, the cameras of Life Nature have provided us with images of squirrels, flamingos, bird feeders, hooks, etc.
The judge in the Ibar case has given the prosecutor another month to decide on a new witness
According to Pablo Ibar's defense, the witness identified the two people who committed the murders, which would exonerate Ibar.
A moving minute of silence in the Navarre Parliament in memory of the five dead law enforcement officers
At the beginning of today's session, the Speaker of the House, Unai Hualde, read the institutional declaration adopted early in the morning at the Board of Spokespersons , a text that shows the "pain and grief" caused by the event.