How does healthcare in Spain compare with your home country?

Key rules

• Outcomes: Spain is among the best in the EU and OECD on life expectancy and avoidable deaths.
• Waiting times: Non-urgent surgery and first specialist visits in the public system can mean waits of months.
• Region: Waits and spending per person differ a lot between regions, so where you live changes your experience.
• Private cover: Roughly one in four residents also holds private health insurance.

The short answer

Spanish healthcare is high-performing on outcomes. Waiting times and regional differences are the weak points, and there is a large private sector alongside the public system. For most people it compares well with other rich countries. How well it works for you depends on where you live and whether you add private cover.

How good are the outcomes?

People in Spain live longer than almost anyone in Europe. Life expectancy at birth was about 84 years in 2023, against an EU average of about 81.4. Spain is usually first or second in the EU and near the top of the OECD, behind Japan and South Korea.

Spain also does well on deaths that could have been prevented or treated. Its rates are well below the EU average. Countries such as Germany, the UK and the US have lower life expectancy and more avoidable deaths. Lifestyle and diet play a part in these results, not only the health service.

Where the public system is slower

Urgent care is not the problem. Non-urgent care is. Recent national averages for the public system:

• Non-urgent surgery: about 750,000 to 800,000 people waiting, with an average wait of roughly 90 to 120 days.
• First specialist consultation: about 2.2 to 2.4 million people waiting, with an average of roughly 70 to 90 days.

Traumatology, ophthalmology, dermatology and neurosurgery have the longest waits. The timeline below shows the waits at a glance. If you come from a country with fast specialist access, this is the biggest change you will notice.

The private sector is large

About 25 to 27 percent of residents, roughly 12 to 13 million people, hold private health insurance on top of public cover. Many have it through an employer. Civil servants use a separate scheme called MUFACE. Many residents use private cover mainly to skip public waiting lists for specialists and tests. Treat it as an optional extra, not a requirement.

Your region matters

Health is run by the 17 autonomous communities, so the service you get depends on where you live. Public spending per person differs by around 500 euros or more a year between regions. Andalusia, Madrid and Valencia are often near the bottom, and the Basque Country, Asturias and Navarra near the top.

Surgical waits differ too. The Canary Islands, Catalonia and Andalusia tend to have long waits. The Basque Country, Madrid and Navarra tend to have shorter ones. Appointment delays in primary care also vary. If healthcare is a big factor in choosing where to settle, compare the regions you are considering, not just Spain as a whole.

What this means for your decision

• Expect good overall outcomes and solid basic care.
• Expect waits for non-urgent specialist care and surgery in the public system.
• Consider private insurance if short waits matter to you.
• Check the current waiting-list figures for your region before you choose where to live.

Timeline and deadlines

• Wait for a first specialist consultation in the public system: On average roughly 70 to 90 days from referral

• Wait for non-urgent surgery in the public system: On average roughly 90 to 120 days once you are on the list

Frequently asked questions

How long do you wait for a specialist in the Spanish public system?

The average wait for a first specialist consultation in the public system is roughly 70 to 90 days. Around 2.2 to 2.4 million patients are on that list at any time.

Do many people in Spain also pay for private health insurance?

Yes, about 25 to 27 percent of residents, roughly 12 to 13 million people, hold private insurance on top of public cover. Many of these policies come from an employer or, for civil servants, through MUFACE, a mutual scheme for state employees.

Does healthcare quality depend on which region you live in?

Yes, health is run by the 17 autonomous communities, so waits and spending differ by where you live.

Is life expectancy in Spain higher than in other rich countries?

Yes, Spain has one of the highest life expectancies in the EU, about 84 years at birth against an EU average of about 81.4. Its deaths from preventable and treatable causes are also well below the EU average. Germany, the UK and the US do worse on both.