Canary Islands Poverty Figures Reveal the Hidden Struggle Behind the Tourism Boom
The Canary Islands are known around the world for their sunshine, beaches and busy holiday resorts. Yet behind the familiar image of a thriving tourist destination, many local people are facing growing pressure to cover everyday costs. A new report on poverty and social exclusion in the Canary Islands has highlighted how difficult life can be for households even while tourism remains a major part of the regional economy.
According to the 2026 report from EAPN Canarias, more than 704,000 people — around 31.2% of the population — are at risk of poverty or social exclusion. The figure places the archipelago above Spain’s national rate of 25.7%, and the report warns that progress in reducing hardship has stalled after several years of improvement.
What does “at risk of poverty or social exclusion” mean?
The AROPE indicator is broader than income poverty alone. It combines measures relating to income, severe material and social deprivation, and households where adults have a low level of employment. Being included in the figure does not mean every person experiences the same circumstances, but it indicates that a substantial number of people are living with financial vulnerability.
The report estimates that around 517,000 people in the islands are below the poverty threshold. These figures use a different measure from the wider AROPE total, so they should not be treated as interchangeable.
Housing costs are a major pressure
One of the clearest patterns in the report is the difference between people renting a home at market rates and those who own their property. It estimates that 45.4% of market-rate renters are at risk of poverty or social exclusion, compared with 27.2% of homeowners.
For many residents, rent competes with the cost of food, transport, electricity, water and other essentials. The report also highlights people who have fallen behind with housing payments, showing how a sudden bill or change in income can quickly become a serious problem. These pressures are particularly important in islands where tourism and housing demand can overlap, although the experience varies between municipalities and households.
Children and families are especially exposed
The report puts the AROPE rate for children and teenagers in the Canary Islands at 41.1%. Households with dependent children can face additional costs for food, school needs, transport and childcare, while having less room to absorb an unexpected expense. The figures underline why poverty is not only about employment: having a job does not always guarantee that a household can comfortably meet all its basic costs.
The report also identifies higher levels of risk among unemployed people and people with disabilities. Women are reported to face a higher risk rate than men. These broad statistics do not describe every individual situation, but they show that financial hardship is not spread evenly across society.
A growing economy does not automatically mean every household is secure
Tourism brings employment, customers and revenue to the Canary Islands, including Lanzarote. However, headline visitor numbers and economic growth do not necessarily show whether every resident can afford housing, replace a broken appliance or manage an unexpected expense. The latest poverty report raises a question for the islands: how can economic activity translate more consistently into secure living conditions for local people?
It is also worth distinguishing between different official measures. The Canary Islands Statistics Institute (ISTAC), reporting on its 2025 household living-conditions survey, said 17.6% of the population was at risk of income poverty under that survey’s measure. This is not directly comparable with the 31.2% AROPE figure, because the indicators cover different circumstances and use different methods. Clear definitions matter when comparing figures or discussing whether conditions are improving.
What happens next?
EAPN Canarias has called for coordinated action to address poverty and social exclusion, with particular attention to affordable housing, adequate income support and stable employment. The data also point to the importance of making support services easy to access and ensuring that help reaches people before temporary financial difficulty becomes long-term hardship.
For residents, these figures put a number on challenges that can otherwise remain hidden behind the islands’ postcard image. For visitors, they offer a reminder that the Canary Islands are not only a holiday destination but also home to communities whose daily lives depend on wages, housing and essential services.
