Press Release 20/02/2014
The main dwellings of the Basque Country had an average comfort index of 72 points out of 100
85.9% of main dwellings were owned, of which 37.1% had payments pending
In 2011 the comfort index of the main dwellings of the Basque Country reached a value of 72 points out of 100, according to Eustat data. The comfort index is calculated by taking into account the structural characteristics of the dwelling (surface area, age, number of rooms and of bathrooms) and its amenities (gas supplied by pipe, communications, lift, etc.).
By province, Álava stood out with a comfort index of 77.6 points, nearly 6 points above the overall average. Gipuzkoa had an index of 72.3 points, and Bizkaia, 70.2.
At a regional level, the most comfortable dwellings were in Llanada Alavesa (79.3 points), Alto Deba (75.1), and Plentzia-Mungia (73.9). On the other hand, the regions with the lowest values were Markina-Ondarroa (65.8), Valles Alaveses (66.8) and Tolosa (69.4).
At municipal level, the municipalities with the most comfortable dwellings included Oñati (80.2), Vitoria-Gasteiz (79.7), Ziortza–Bolibar and Iruña de Oca (both 79.6), Etxebarri (79.4), Aretxabaleta (79.1) and Alegria-Dulantzi (78.5). At the opposite extreme, the municipalities where dwellings had the lowest comfort index were: Alegia (59.9), Elantxobe and Orexa (both with 59.7), Leintz-Gatzaga (59.5), Arakaldo (59.4), Beizama (59.1) and Lizartza (59 points).
Two out of five main dwellings in the Basque Country enjoyed a high degree of comfort
A comfort index below 50 points is considered low, up to 74 points medium, and 75 and above, high. In terms of this classification, 56.9% of the dwellings in Álava were in the highest stratum, followed by 38.1% in Gipuzkoa and 33.4% in Bizkaia. Bizkaia was the province with the highest percentage of dwellings in the lowest level (6.8%), while in Gipuzkoa the proportion was just 3.1% and in Álava it scarcely reached 1%.
By municipalities, in Oñati, Iruña de Oca, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Etxebarri, Aretxabaleta, Ziortza-Bolibar, Irura and Alegria-Dulantzi, three out of five dwellings were located in the highest comfort interval. At the opposite extreme, municipalities such as Sestao, Arakaldo, Legorreta, Zaratamo and Getaria stood out, where nearly one in five dwellings had a low level of comfort.
In the capitals, the comfort index of Vitoria-Gasteiz was 79.7 points, with 64.5% of main dwellings in the high comfort category. In Donostia/San Sebastián the index was 74.1 points and 45.1% of dwellings had a high comfort level. For its part, in Bilbao the index was 70.8 points and 33.8% of main dwellings were in the highest comfort level.
Nearly nine out of ten main dwellings in the Basque Country were owned
According to the 2011 Population and Housing Censuses, the most common tenancy classification was property, at 85.9%, while just over one in ten dwellings were under lease. 37.1% of dwellings under ownership had payments pending.
In Gipuzkoa 86.4% of dwellings were owned, 86% in Álava and 85.6% in Bizkaia. Álava was the Province with the highest percentage of dwellings under ownership with payments pending, at 42%, followed by Gipuzkoa at 37.1% and Bizkaia at 35.7%.
As regards dwellings under lease, the percentage was the same in Álava and Bizkaia, 8.5%, while in Gipuzkoa it stood at 7.7%.
Although the increase in the number of main dwellings (+110,000) makes comparison with the year 2001 difficult, during that year the proportion of dwellings under ownership was lightly higher (89.5%) and those under lease was slightly lower (7%). Moreover, only 22.5% of the former had a mortgage, which was 15 points lower than in 2011.
At municipal level, there was a difference of 24 points in the percentage of main dwellings under ownership. Thus, in seventeen municipalities the property classification characterised more than 90% of dwellings, especially in Elduain (93.3%), Arama (94.2%) and Altzaga (96.5%). On the other hand, in Olaberria and Gaintza dwellings under ownership represented 72.4% and 74.4%, respectively.
Regarding the capitals, in Bilbao, 84.9% of dwellings were owned, in Donostia/San Sebastián 85.9% and in Vitoria-Gasteiz, 86.1%.
Finally, en Kripan, Elduain, Altzaga, Ajangiz and Yécora the proportion of main dwellings under lease was less than 1%. Only in twelve municipalities of the Basque Country was this percentage higher than 10%, with the highest value in the municipality of Arakaldo. As far as the capitals are concerned, in Donostia/San Sebastián 8% of main dwellings were under lease, 8.8% in Vitoria-Gasteiz and 9.2% in Bilbao.
Three out of five main dwellings in the Basque Country had an Internet connection
58.2% of dwellings in the Basque Country had an Internet connection. Álava was the province with the highest percentage, with 60.2% of main dwellings, followed Gipuzkoa, with 59.1%, and Bizkaia, with 57.1%.
At municipal level, the lowest percentages were in Lanestosa (27.7%), Kripan (32.9%), Leza (35.2%), Añana (35.4%) and Lagrán (36%). At the opposite extreme were the municipalities of Barrika (72.9%), Elburgo/Burguelu (71.8%), Laukiz (71.3%) and Sopelana (70%).
In Vitoria-Gasteiz and Donostia/San Sebastián, the percentages of dwellings with an Internet connection were similar - 61.2% in the former and 60.7% in the latter - while in Bilbao the figure stood at just 55.9%.
Eight out of ten main dwellings in the Basque Country had a landline and mobile telephone
79.8% of main dwellings had a landline and mobile telephone, with minimal differences between provinces: Gipuzkoa 80.7%, Bizkaia 79.4% and Álava 79.6%.
In cases where the dwelling had only one of the two appliances, there was a preference for a mobile telephone, 10.9%, compared to a landline, 7.7%.
The municipality where the greatest number of main dwellings had a landline and a mobile telephone was Getxo (85.2%) and the municipality with the greatest number of dwellings without either of the two appliances was Alkiza, 3.9%.
For further information:
Eustat - Euskal Estatistika Erakundea / Instituto Vasco de Estadística
C/ Donostia-San Sebastián, 1 01010 Vitoria-Gasteiz
Press Service: servicioprensa@eustat.eus Tlf: 945 01 75 62
Further press releases on the CPV2011 of the Basque Country
Databank on the CPV2011 of the Basque Country