Spain

Did You Know?

Population
44.3
mil.
Visitors per year
57.3
mil.
Renewable energy
9.47
%

How’s Life?

Spain performs favourably in several measures of well-being, and ranks close to the average or higher in several topics in the Better Life Index.

Money, while it cannot buy happiness, is an important means to achieving higher living standards. In Spain, the average household earned 22 972 USD in 2008, slightly more than the OECD average .

In terms of employment, nearly 59% of people aged 15 to 64 in Spain have a paid job. People in Spain work 1654 hours a year, less than in other OECD countries. 57% of mothers are employed after their children begin school, suggesting that women encounter difficulties when balancing family and career.

Having a good education is an important requisite to finding a job. In Spain, 51% of adults aged 25 to 64 have earned the equivalent of a high-school diploma, much lower than the OECD average. As to the quality of its educational system, the average student scored 481 out of 600 in reading ability according to the latest PISA student-assessment programme, lower than the OECD average.

In terms of health, life expectancy at birth in Spain is 81.2 years, two years above the OECD average. The level of atmospheric PM10 – tiny air pollutant particles small enough to enter and cause damage to the lungs – is 28 micrograms per cubic meter, and is higher than levels found in most OECD countries.

Concerning the public sphere, there is a strong sense of community and high levels of civic participation in Spain. 94% of people believe that they know someone they could rely on in a time of need, higher than the OECD average of 91%. Voter turnout, a measure of public trust in government and of citizens' participation in the political process, was 75% during recent elections; this figure is slightly higher than the OECD average of 72%. In regards to crime, 4% of people reported falling victim to assault over the previous 12 months.

When asked, 49% of people in Spain said they were satisfied with their life, below the OECD average of 59%.

These findings are based on data from 2008 or later.

Topics

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Spain in Detail

Housing

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Key Findings

In many OECD countries, home ownership is an important dimension of individual well-being. It protects owners from fluctuations in rents and ensures families a stable and secure shelter. Additionally, the value of a property represents a major source of wealth for households. Over 82% of occupied dwellings in Spain are inhabited by the owners themselves, higher than the OECD-23 average of 67%.

In addition to measuring home ownership rates, it is also important to examine living conditions, such as the average number of rooms shared per person and whether households have access to basic facilities.

The number of rooms in a dwelling, divided by the number of persons living there, indicates whether residents are living in crowded conditions. Overcrowded housing may have a negative impact on physical and mental health, relations with others and the development of children. In addition, dense living conditions are often a sign of inadequate water and sewage supply. In Spain, the average home contains 1.9 rooms per person, more than the OECD average of 1.6 rooms per person. In terms of basic facilities, nearly every dwelling in Spain contains private access to an indoor flushing toilet.

Indicators

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Income

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Key Findings

While money may not buy happiness, it is an important means to achieving higher living standards and thus greater well-being. Higher economic wealth may also improve access to quality education, healthcare and housing.

Household net-adjusted disposable income is the amount of money that a household earns each year after tax. It represents the money available to a household for spending on goods or services. In Spain, the average household net-adjusted disposable income is 22 972 USD a year, slightly higher than the OECD average of 22 284 USD.

Household financial wealth is the total value of a household’s financial worth. In Spain, the average household wealth is estimated at 22 173 USD, lower than the OECD average of 36 808 USD. While the ideal measure of household wealth should include real assets (e.g. land and dwellings), such information is currently available for only a small number of OECD countries.

Indicators

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Jobs

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Key Findings

Having a job brings many important benefits, including: providing a source of income, improving social inclusion, fulfilling one’s own aspirations, building self-esteem and developing skills and competencies. In Spain, nearly 59% of the working-age population aged 15 to 64 has a paid job. This figure is lower than the OECD employment average of 65%.

Unemployed persons are defined as those who are not currently working but are willing to do so and actively searching for work. Long-term unemployment can have a large negative effect on feelings of well-being and self-worth and result in a loss of skills, further reducing employability. In Spain, the percentage of the labour force that has been unemployed for a year or longer is currently at 9.1%, more than three times the OECD average and the highest rate in the OECD.

Indicators

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Community

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Key Findings

Humans are social creatures. The frequency of our contact with others and the quality of our personal relationships are thus crucial determinants of our well-being.

A strong social network, or community, can provide emotional support during both good and bad times as well as provide access to jobs, services and other material opportunities. In Spain, 94% of people believe that they know someone they could rely on in a time of need, higher than the OECD average. 46% reported having helped a stranger in the last month, close to the OECD average.

A weak social network can result in limited economic opportunities, a lack of contact with others, and eventually, feelings of isolation. Socially isolated individuals face difficulties integrating into society as a contributing member and fulfilling personal aspirations. Nearly 7% of people in Spain reported ‘rarely’ or ‘never’ spending time with friends, colleagues or others in social settings; this figure is close to the OECD average.

Indicators

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Education

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Key Findings

A well-educated and well-trained population is essential for a country’s social and economic well-being. Education plays a key role in providing individuals with the knowledge, skills and competences needed to participate effectively in society and in the economy. Most concretely, having a good education greatly improves the likelihood of finding a job and earning enough money. Across OECD countries, men with university-level degrees are 16% more likely to find jobs, and women are 30% more likely. Lifetime earnings also increase with each level of education.

Following a decline in manual labour over previous decades, employers now favour a more educated labour force. High-school graduation rates therefore provide a good indication of whether a country is preparing its students to meet the minimum requirements of the job market.

In Spain, 51% of adults aged 25-64 have earned the equivalent of a high-school degree, much lower than the OECD average of 73%. However, among younger people – a better indicator of Spain’s future – 65% of 25-34 year-olds have earned the equivalent of a high-school degree, still lower than the OECD average of 80%.

But graduation rates, while important, speak little to the quality of education received. The OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) reviews the extent to which students have acquired some of the knowledge and skills that are essential for full participation in modern societies. In 2009, PISA focused on examining students’ reading ability, as research shows that reading skills are more reliable predictors of economic and social well-being than the number of years spent in school. The average student in Spain scored 481 out of 600 in reading literacy, lower than the OECD average of 493.

Indicators

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Environment

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Key Findings

Outdoor air pollution is one important environmental issue that directly affects the quality of peoples’ lives. Air pollution in urban centres, often caused by transport and the use of small-scale burning of wood or coal, is linked to a range of health problems, from minor eye irritation to upper respiratory symptoms in the short-term and chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma, cardiovascular diseases and lung cancer in the long-term. Children and the elderly may be particularly vulnerable.

PM10 – tiny particulate matter small enough to be inhaled into the deepest part of the lung – is monitored in OECD countries because it can harm human health and reduce life expectancy. In Spain, PM10 levels are 27.6 micrograms per cubic meter, higher than the OECD average of 22 micrograms per cubic meter.

Better Policies for Better Lives

Wind energy in Navarre

The region of Navarre began producing wind energy in 1994. It now ranks first in Spain, and is among the top regions in Europe in production of wind energy. Spain ranks second (after Germany) in terms of wind power capacity in Europe, and is the world’s fourth biggest producer of wind power.

In 2004, Navarre produced more than 45% of its electricity consumption from wind. Today, estimates have reached 70%. An outstanding wind power machinery manufacturing sector has been created, currently providing work for over 2 000 people in the region. In Spain the wind energy sector has created 47 000 jobs, 12 000 direct and 35 000 indirect.

The origins of such a spectacular increase in wind power in Navarre lie in a mixture of factors – an excellent wind regime, a focused regional development policy and a national support scheme. The first piece of government legislation to provide substantial backing for renewable energy was introduced in 1994. It obliged all electricity companies to pay a guaranteed premium price for green power over a five-year period. In 1998 a new law confirmed the objective that at least 12% of the country’s energy should come from renewable sources in 2010.

Indicators

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Governance

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Key Findings

A cohesive society is one where citizens have a high degree of confidence in their governmental institutions and public administration. 50% of people in Spain say they trust their political institutions, slightly lower than the OECD average of 56%. High voter turnout is another measure of public trust in government and of citizens' participation in the political process. In the most recent elections for which data is available, voter turnout in Spain was 75% of those registered. This figure is slightly higher than the OECD average of 72%.

Ensuring that government decision making is not compromised by conflicts of interest is key to maintaining trust in government. Transparency is therefore essential to hold government to account and to maintain confidence in public institutions.

Freedom of information laws (FOI) allows the possibility for individuals to access undisclosed information. For such policies to be successful, the public should have a clear understanding of their rights under the law, should be able to file requests with ease and should be protected against any possible retaliation. People in Spain can file a request for information either in writing or online – thus greatly facilitating the FOI process. However, there are no provisions for anonymity or protection from retaliation.

Indicators

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Health

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Key Findings

Most OECD countries have enjoyed large gains in life expectancy over the past decades, thanks to improvements in living conditions, public health interventions and progress in medical care. In 2008, life expectancy at birth in Spain stood at 81.2 years, two years above the OECD average of 79 years.

Higher life expectancy is generally associated with higher healthcare spending per person, although many other factors have an impact on life expectancy (such as living standards, lifestyles, education and environmental factors). Total health spending accounted for 9.0% of GDP in Spain in 2008, which is equal to the average of OECD countries. In 2008, health spending as a share of GDP was the highest in the United States (which spent 16.0% of its GDP on health), followed by France (11.2%), Switzerland (10.7%), and Germany and Austria (both 10.5%). Spain ranks below the OECD average in terms of health spending per person, with spending of 2,902 USD in 2008, compared with an OECD average of 3,060 USD. Between 2000 and 2008, health spending per person in Spain increased, in real terms, by 4.7 % per year on average, a growth rate higher than the average in OECD countries (4.2%).

Throughout the OECD, tobacco consumption and excessive weight gain remain two important risk factors for many chronic diseases.

Spain has achieved progress in reducing tobacco consumption, with current rates of daily smokers among adults standing at 26.4% in 2006, down from 41% in 1985. However, smoking rates in Spain still remain higher than the OECD average of 23.3% in 2008. Sweden, the United States and Australia provide examples of countries that have achieved remarkable success in reducing tobacco consumption, with current smoking rates among adults below 17%.

Adult obesity rates in Spain are higher than the OECD average, but child rates are amongst the highest in the OECD. Two out of 3 men are overweight and 1 in 6 people are obese in Spain. One in 3 children aged 13 to 14 are overweight. The proportion of adults who are overweight is projected by the OECD to rise a further 10% during the next 10 years. Obesity’s growing prevalence foreshadows increases in the occurrence of health problems (such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and asthma), and higher health care costs in the future.

When asked, "How is your health in general?", 70% of people in Spain reported to be in good health, close to the OECD average of 69%. Despite the subjective nature of this question, the answers have been found to be a good predictor of people’s future health care use.

Indicators

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Life Satisfaction

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Key Findings

Happiness can be measured in terms of life satisfaction, the presence of positive experiences and feelings, and the absence of negative experiences and feelings. Such measures, while subjective, are a useful complement to compare the quality of life across countries.

For Spain, like throughout much of the OECD, self-reported life satisfaction has been rising over the last decade. In recent polling, 49% were satisfied with their life and 65% believe that their life will be satisfying five years later.

72% of people in Spain reported having more positive experiences in an average day (feelings of rest, pride in accomplishment, enjoyment, etc) than negative ones (pain, worry, sadness, boredom, etc). This figure is close to the OECD average of 72%.

Indicators

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Safety

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Key Findings

Personal security is a core element for the well-being of individuals, and largely reflects the risks of people being physically assaulted or falling victim to other types of crime. Across the OECD, victimisation rates for conventional crime (theft, robbery, assault) have declined in the new millennium. In Spain, 4% of people reported falling victim to assault over the previous 12 months, close to the OECD average. 33% of people feel unsafe on the street after dark, however, higher than the OECD average of 26%.

The homicide rate (the number of murders per 100,000 inhabitants) is a more reliable measure of a country’s safety level because, unlike other crimes, murders are usually always reported to the police. According to the latest OECD data, Spain’s homicide rate is 0.9, lower than the OECD average.

Indicators

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Work-Life Balance

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Key Findings

Finding a suitable balance between work and life is a challenge for all workers, especially working parents. Some couples would like to have (more) children, but do not see how they could afford to stop working. Other parents are happy with the number of children in their family, but would like to work more. This is a challenge to governments because if parents cannot achieve their desired work/life balance, not only is their welfare lowered but so is development in the country.

In Spain, 57% of mothers are employed after their children begin school; this figure is lower than the OECD average of 66% and suggests that mothers encounter difficulties when balancing family and career.

Another important aspect of work-life balance is the amount of time a person spends at work. Evidence suggests that long work hours may impair personal health, jeopardize safety and increase stress. People in Spain work 1654 hours a year, lower than the OECD average of 1739.

The more people work, the less time they have to spend on other activities, such as time with others or leisure. The amount and quality of leisure time is important for people’s overall well-being, and can bring additional physical and mental health benefits. People in Spain devote 66% of their day, or 15.7 hours, to personal care (eating, sleeping, etc.) and leisure (socializing with friends and family, hobbies, games, computer and television use, etc.) – close to the OECD average.

Better Policies for Better Lives

Spain should strengthen its policies to combine work and family life

Families in Spain find it difficult to combine work and family life, both female employment rates and fertility rates are low in international comparison. At only 1.4 children per woman, fertility rates in Spain have been amongst the lowest in the OECD for the past two decades. Increasingly, women and men first want to establish themselves in the labour market before having children. This has led to a postponement of childbirth and the average age of first childbirth for mothers is now close to 30. Low fertility rates are also related to a fall in the number of large families and a significant proportion of women remaining childless.

Female employment in Spain has risen markedly over the past 15 years, from 32.5% in 1995 to 53.5% in 2009. However, despite this important increase, female employment in Spain is still below the OECD average (59.6%); 75% of mothers go back to work only 8 years after childbirth. Governmental efforts in extending coverage and providing support to families to reduce the cost of childcare have led to an important increase in childcare participation. In 2008, 66.9% of children under 6 years old were enrolled in childcare services (the OECD average is 58.2%). However, out-of-school-hours care is limited and many working parents rely on informal providers: about a quarter of grandparents in Spain take care of their grandchildren on a daily basis.

Indicators

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