Region · Spain · All places
Four sunlit islands, a tourism economy that runs on summer and a housing market that has outrun local wages.
The Balearic Islands lie in the western Mediterranean, off the coast of València and Catalonia. There are four main islands: Mallorca, the largest, with the capital Palma; Menorca, quiet and green; Ibiza (Eivissa), famed for nightlife; and tiny Formentera. Each has a separate character, though they share a language, a climate and an economy that depends on visitors.
Millions of people visit every year, and the islands produce more per head than most Spanish regions. They also have some of the highest housing costs in the country, a heavy dependence on a short season, and the problems that follow: crowds, traffic, pressure on water and a shortage of homes for local workers.
For people with money or remote income and a love of the sea, they are hard to beat. For anyone on an ordinary local wage, they are hard going.
Data as of · the latest figures cover Jun 2026
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What the data says
Illes Balears stands out for wellbeing; it is weaker on prosperity and safety. A typical 70 m² rental costs about €673 a month (2024).
Who it suits, 0 to 100
Practical conclusions we draw from Illes Balears’s figures. They are inferences, not official statistics: each says what it rests on.
A large international and graduate population means English is common at work, in cafés and among neighbours. Contracts, the town hall and most doctors work in Spanish or Catalan.
Catalan is an official language alongside Spanish. Expect it on signs, at the town hall and in state schools.
People born abroad are in work less often than people born in Spain. Remote income or a job offer makes the move far easier.
Ensaimada pastry, sobrassada sausage, tumbet vegetables, fresh fish and island wine.
Loud and fast in July and August, slow and local from November to March.
Beach clubs and superclubs on Ibiza, harbour bars and old-town restaurants in Palma.
Palma is the one real city, with Ibiza Town and Maó as small island capitals and villages in the hills.
Island Catalan and Spanish, with German and English widely used by residents and workers.
Sant Joan horse festivals in Menorca, Sant Sebastià in Palma, village patron festivals all summer.
Sailing, diving, coastal and mountain walking, and cycling through the Tramuntana.
On Mallorca, Palma is a good-looking, walkable city with a Gothic cathedral on the sea, a harbour full of yachts and quiet old streets with courtyards. The Serra de Tramuntana, on the west coast, has stone villages, olive terraces and coastal paths, and the east and south have sandy bays. Ibiza is clubs, beach bars and superyachts in high summer, and a quieter island of pine forest, hippy markets and farmhouses the rest of the year. Menorca is calmer, a protected biosphere reserve with white villages, coves and horse festivals. Formentera is flat, with white sand, reached only by boat.
The islands change completely between July and January. In summer they are loud, hot and busy, with the best restaurants and beach clubs booked days ahead. From November to March many hotels, beach bars and restaurants close, and island life goes back to locals, small cafés and wood fires. Ibiza shuts down the most. Palma and its markets stay alive.
The local language is an island form of Catalan (mallorquí, eivissenc), co-official with Spanish. German and English are widely spoken, and Palma has a large international community. Food is Mediterranean with island twists: ensaimada pastry, sobrassada sausage, tumbet, fresh fish and local wine.
The islands were a quiet farming and fishing region until the 1950s, when charter flights from northern Europe made them one of the first mass-tourism destinations in the world. Hotels, golf courses and villas followed, and over time the islands attracted a more varied group: wealthy second-home owners, yacht owners, artists, retirees and remote workers, especially from Germany and the United Kingdom.
Tourism now dominates employment and incomes, and seasonal contracts are common. Many jobs close in winter, and workers who cannot find a flat live in vans or shared rooms. Unemployment is 8.8% (2025). Youth unemployment is 17.1% (2025). The average gross salary is €29,075 a year (2024).
Demand from visitors and second-home buyers pushes housing towards the top of Spanish prices. A typical 70 m² flat rents for about €673 a month (2024). Buying costs €3,981 per square metre (Q2 2026). Housing is not the weak point on the ranking, because incomes are higher than in much of Spain, but it feels tight to anyone paid at a local rate.
The islands are also limited places. Water, electricity, land and landfill are all finite, and every summer tests them. Residents have protested against overcrowding, and the regional and local governments have started to restrict tourist rentals and some developments. The islands have a low poverty rate, and wellbeing comes out strong, but crime is high, with a lot of opportunistic theft from visitors in the busy resorts. Theft is 940 per 100k people (2024).
Figures for Illes Balears. Each shows the period it covers.
Each card uses Illes Balears data only and compares it with other regions. Open “Why this score?” to see the measures behind it.
Wellbeing is strong: in the top quarter of European metro regions.
Material deprivation: 3.60% — better than 79% of European metro regions
Strong: 78 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| At risk of povertyIlles Balears · 2025 | 11.6% | better than 76% of European metro regions |
| Material deprivationIlles Balears · 2025 | 3.60% | better than 79% of European metro regions |
Housing is around the middle: in the bottom quarter of Spanish regions.
Households spending >40% of income on housing: 6.40% — better than 75% of European metro regions
Average: 46 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Households spending >40% of income on housingIlles Balears · 2025 | 6.40% | better than 75% of European metro regions |
| Rent per m²Illes Balears · 2024 | 9.62 €/m² a month | better than 18% of Spanish regions |
| Rents, change in a yearIlles Balears · 2024 | 4.00% | better than 9% of Spanish regions |
| Buying price per m²Illes Balears · 2026-Q2 | 3,981 €/m² | better than 8% of Spanish regions |
| House prices, change in a yearIlles Balears · 2026-Q2 | 13.7% | better than 39% of Spanish regions |
Jobs is around the middle: behind most European metro regions.
Median gross salary: 24,962 € a year per worker — better than 74% of Spanish regions
Average: 42 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Median gross salaryIlles Balears · 2024 | 24,962 € a year per worker | better than 74% of Spanish regions |
| UnemploymentIlles Balears · 2025 | 8.80% | better than 22% of European metro regions |
| Employment rate (20–64)Illes Balears · 2025 | 75.5% | better than 32% of European metro regions |
| Long-term unemploymentIlles Balears · 2025 | 1.60% of the workforce | better than 55% of European metro regions |
| Youth unemployment (15–24)Illes Balears · 2025 | 17.1% | better than 52% of European metro regions |
| Labour-force participationIlles Balears · 2025 | 77.3% | better than 41% of European metro regions |
| Youth not in employment/education/trainingIlles Balears · 2025 | 11.6% | better than 32% of European metro regions |
| Jobs in high-tech sectorsIlles Balears · 2025 | 2.60% of jobs | better than 0% of European metro regions |
Healthcare is below average: in the bottom 10% of European metro regions.
Infant mortality: 4.20 per 1,000 births — worse than 94% of European metro regions
Below average: 36 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Wait for a specialist appointmentIlles Balears · 2025-H2 | 71.0 days | better than 62% of Spanish regions |
| Wait for surgeryIlles Balears · 2025-H2 | 105 days | better than 44% of Spanish regions |
| DoctorsIlles Balears · 2024 | 419 per 100k people | better than 17% of European metro regions |
| Life expectancyIlles Balears · 2024 | 83.5 years | better than 69% of European metro regions |
| Infant mortalityIlles Balears · 2024 | 4.20 per 1,000 births | better than 6% of European metro regions |
Safety is below average: in the bottom 10% of European metro regions.
Recorded crime: 67.9 per 1,000 people — worse than 97% of Spanish regions
Below average: 32 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| HomicidesIlles Balears · 2024 | 0.57 per 100k people | better than 77% of European metro regions |
| Recorded crimeIlles Balears · 2025 | 67.9 per 1,000 people | better than 3% of Spanish regions |
| RobberiesIlles Balears · 2024 | 116 per 100k people | better than 25% of European metro regions |
| BurglariesIlles Balears · 2024 | 166 per 100k people | better than 50% of European metro regions |
| Road deathsIlles Balears · 2024 | 5.00 per 100k people | better than 8% of European metro regions |
| Assault rateIlles Balears · 2024 | 361 per 100k people | better than 50% of European metro regions |
| TheftsIlles Balears · 2024 | 940 per 100k people | better than 62% of European metro regions |
| Vehicle theftsIlles Balears · 2024 | 96.0 per 100k people | better than 48% of European metro regions |
Prosperity is weak: in the bottom quarter of European metro regions.
Household income per person: 21,100 PPS per person — worse than 79% of European metro regions
Weak: 21 out of 100, where 50 is typical for the comparison group. These are the measures behind it.
| Measure | Value | Compared with peers |
|---|---|---|
| Household income per personIlles Balears · 2023 | 21,100 PPS per person | better than 21% of European metro regions |
| Economic output per personIlles Balears · 2024 | 40,300 PPS per person | better than 21% of European metro regions |
What we cannot score for Illes Balears yet
The islands have a mild Mediterranean climate. Summers are hot, dry and humid, with warm nights and sea temperatures that are perfect for swimming. Winters are mild but not warm, rain and wind can be fierce, and the Tramuntana mountains of Mallorca can see snow.
It is a summer region. The best swimming and sailing run from May to October, and the best months for walking are April, May, September and October. In winter the islands are calm and green and suit people who like quiet, though a lot of the places that make summer worth having are shut.
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78/100 · strong · 4th of 35 European metro regions
8.8% in 2025
5.1% in Sep 2026
4.2% in 2024
40,300 PPS in 2024
13.7% in Q2 2026
€9.6 per m² a month in 2024
€3,981 per m² in Q2 2026
83.5 years in 2024
75.5% in 2025
Facts about the people who live in Illes Balears. Shown as context only: none of this changes a score.
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Fit from the data, 0 to 100, against other Spanish regions. Open a group to see the figures behind it.
Palma has galleries, music and a good restaurant scene, but the main culture is the landscape and the food. Ibiza has a world-famous club scene, and Menorca has its own horse festivals.
Nothing stands out.
Better in the region for culture, food and nightlife: Palma (69)
Not measured yet: Commute by public transport, Lifestyle, Median age, Transport, Walk most.
Villas, private healthcare, marinas and a large international wealth community make Mallorca the premium end of Spain. Prime property is very expensive.
Better in the region for high earners and investors: Calvià (58)
Not measured yet: Average dwelling size, Distance to the main airport, Education, Environment, Income tax and social security, average earner, Total tax on labour, average earner.
Seasonal jobs in tourism and hospitality, with limited career paths and expensive housing. It suits a season more than a career.
Better in the region for young professionals: Ibiza (61), Palma (53)
Not measured yet: Commute by public transport, Lifestyle, Median age, Transport.
Strong demand in tourism, yachting, real estate and hospitality, with high costs for premises and staff. The market is rich but seasonal.
Better in the region for founders and self-employed: Ibiza (61), Palma (60), Calvià (53)
Not measured yet: Connectivity, Digital, Distance to the main airport, Regulatory quality.
The University of the Balearic Islands is small, rooms for students are scarce and the island is far from the rest of Spain. It is not a student region.
Not measured yet: Commute by public transport, Cost of Living, Cycle most, Education, Lifestyle, Median age, Price level vs EU average, Transport, Walk most.
Mild winters, strong private healthcare and a big foreign community, but high costs and quiet winters in resort areas. Savings matter more than a pension here.
Better in the region for retirees: Calvià (63), Ibiza (52), Palma (49)
Not measured yet: Climate, Cost of Living, Days above 35 °C, Environment, Frost days, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry).
The islands rank near the top for rent among Spanish regions, and for ordinary workers they are among the dearest places to live. There is little room for a low-income move, even in winter.
Not measured yet: Cost of Living, Price level vs EU average.
Safe and outdoorsy, with international schools around Palma. Housing is dear, space is tight and summer crowds are tiring.
Better in the region for families with children: Calvià (46)
Not measured yet: 15-year-olds' maths (PISA), Average commute (one way), Average dwelling size, Childcare availability, Education, Environment, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), Pre-primary participation.
Good connections to northern Europe, many coworking spaces in Palma and a beautiful setting. Rents are among the highest in Spain.
Nothing stands out.
Not measured yet: Climate, Connectivity, Cost of Living, Digital, Distance to the main airport, Fixed broadband penetration, Homes with fibre to the door, Lifestyle, Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry).
Sailing, diving, hiking, cycling and swimming are the daily menu. Summer crowds and heat are the limit.
Nothing stands out.
Nothing stands out.
Not measured yet: Climate, Days above 35 °C, Environment, Fine-particle pollution (PM2.5), Frost days, Lifestyle, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry), Rainy days (≥1 mm), Strong-wind days.
Taxes, residency and the wider economy are set nationally, so they are the same in Illes Balears as anywhere in Spain.
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Guide written 2026-10-22. Figures are refreshed as new official data is published; the period beside each number says what it covers. “Our read” cards are our inferences from those figures. How we score
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