Overview

• The share of autonomous budgets devoted to social policies fell from 67.4% in 2010 to 59.1% in 2024, according to the Asociación Estatal de Directoras y Gerentes de Servicios Sociales.
• In 2024 regional budgets grew by about €9.75 billion, yet allocations to health, education and social services declined by €2.364 billion versus the prior year.
• From 2020 to 2024, spending on core social policies rose 14.5% while other items increased 62%, underscoring a relative deprioritization of social services.
• The association attributes a 2024–2025 stall to the absence of national Presupuestos Generales del Estado, which previously helped correct regional imbalances.
• Per‑capita social outlays vary widely, from roughly €2,703 in Madrid and €2,941 in Catalonia to about €4,500 in Navarra and €4,344 in the Basque Country, with five‑year growth led by Extremadura (+37.9%), the Canary Islands (+35.7%) and Navarra (+35.3%).