One in Ten Spaniards Affected by Overcrowding

The rate of overcrowding in Spain has risen by 73% over the past decade, affecting 9.5% of the population, according to a report by the CGT union. This means one in every ten people lives in a home with more occupants than considered adequate, a figure that marks a historic high outside of the pandemic year 2020. The rise is linked to soaring housing costs and the broader cost-of-living crisis, which have intensified over the past five years. Since 2021 alone, overcrowding rates have increased by nearly 50%.

Young People, Migrants and Poor Most Affected

Overcrowding disproportionately affects young people, with 20% living in such conditions, followed by 18% of those in poverty and 6.7% of people of migrant origin. In Catalonia, the situation is even more severe, with 13.1% of the population affected, 69% higher than a decade ago. There, one in four people in poverty and one in five migrants live in overcrowded housing. Canarias has the highest rate, with Catalonia second, followed by the Balearic Islands, Madrid and the Region of Murcia, all above the national average.

Housing is a fundamental component for a dignified life and, at the same time, one of the main expenses.

The data comes from the National Statistics Institute's (INE) Survey on Living Conditions and Eurostat, though under-registration in many municipalities suggests the true figures could be higher.

Living Conditions and Economic Pressures

CGT attributes the crisis to a widening gap between wages and housing costs. Over the last ten years, housing prices have risen by 43%, while salaries have increased by only 21%. This disparity has made independent living increasingly unaffordable. More than half of those sharing flats do so for economic reasons. In extreme cases, 13% of people sharing a room live with someone who is not their partner. The union calls for housing to be decommodified, demanding widespread rent reductions, the repossession of properties held by vulture funds and large speculators, and salary guarantee clauses in all collective agreements to ensure wages keep pace with inflation.

Sources: elDiario.es, ine.es.