Press Release 28/09/2023

PERSONAL AND FAMILY INCOME STATISTICS. 2021

The average income of the population of the Basque Country increased by 4.3% in 2021

58.4% of total personal income came from work, 29.1% from social transfers or benefits, 4.7% from economic activities and 7.8% from capital gains

Basque Country residents aged 18 and over obtained an average personal income of 23,313 euros in 2021, which was an increase of 4.3% (970 euros more) compared to the previous year, according to Eustat data.

Regarding distribution by province, Gipuzkoa recorded the highest average personal income (with 24,341 euros), followed by Bizkaia with 22,944 euros and Álava with 22,373 euros. However, compared to 2020, in Gipuzkoa the increase in average personal income (3.5%) was below that registered in Álava and in Bizkaia (4% and 5%, respectively).

With regard to the provincial capitals, the aforementioned differences were more pronounced, given that the average income of people residing in San Sebastián (27,558 euros) exceeded the Basque average by 4,245 euros, compared to the resident populations of Bilbao (23,592 euros) and Vitoria-Gasteiz (22,615 euros), which saw incomes closer to the Basque average.

Disposable income, calculated as total income less income tax and social security contributions by the worker, of the population resident in the Basque Country in 2021 stood at 19,366 euros, a figure equivalent to 83.1% of the total income. Disposable income increased by 667 euros in comparison with 2020, up 3.6%. By province, Gipuzkoa, with 20,169 euros, again achieved a higher disposable income than that obtained in Bizkaia, with 19,082 euros, and in Álava, with 18,613 euros.

In terms of the composition of total personal income received by residents of the Basque Country during the 2021 financial year, 58.4% of personal income came from work, with an average of 13,623 euros (817 euros more than the previous year), while the rest was distributed among 29,1% from social transfers or benefits (6,772 euros), 4.7% from economic activities (1,088 euros) and 7.8% from capital gains, both moveable and immoveable (1,830 euros).

In 2021, total income rose by 4.3%, which extended to all components except transfer income, which fell by 1.7%. Income from work increased by 6.4% and that from capital gains by 10.3%.

Regarding the distribution of income amongst the population, 1.6 million individuals aged 18 and over received some type of income, that is, 86.3%, whilst 13.7% of the population in these age groups did not receive any type of income during 2021. Furthermore, more than 59.5% of individuals received an income below the Basque Country average, including those who did not receive any income; whereas 9.7% had an income that more than doubled the average, that is, incomes over 46,626 euros.

The median, the indicator that establishes the income that divides the population in two equal parts, stood at 18,707 euros, that is, in 2021 half of the adult population of the Basque Country had an average annual personal income over 18,707 euros; while the other half received an income below this amount.

The average personal income varied in terms of age and gender. As regards the first aspect, income increases progressively with age, until reaching its maximum in the 55-59 age group, when it starts to decrease as the age ranges move further away from those associated with the active population.

The distribution of income between men and women was uneven. Men in the Basque Country received an average income of 28,360 euros, whereas women received an average income of 18,659 euros. In other words, men earned 9,701 euros more than women. The greatest difference was recorded in the 70-74 age group, where the average income for men exceeded that of women by more than 15,000 euros. Despite the significant differences being maintained, in 2021 there was a decrease of 855 euros compared to the previous year.

As regards the average personal income among young people aged 18-24 (4,490 euros), in 2021 this was up 13.3% in respect of the previous year. In this age range the average income of men (5,077 euros) increased by 15.6%, while the average income of women (3,861 euros) rose by 10.3%. The average personal income of young people aged between 25 and 29 (16,069 euros) also increased, although to a lesser degree, up 8.4% in respect of 2020. The increase was slightly higher for men than for women (8.5% and 8.1%, respectively).

Half of families in the Basque Country received an average yearly family income above 37,536 in 2021

Average family income in the Basque Country stood at 47,005 euros in 2021. The total family income is obtained by aggregating the personal incomes of all adult members of the family including minors. The average income for families overall in the Basque Country stood at almost double the average personal income.

Once again, Gipuzkoa, with 49,144 euros, was the province with the highest family income, followed by Bizkaia with 46,534 euros and Álava with 44,057 euros. San Sebastián, with 55,564 euros, was the capital with the highest family income, followed by Bilbao, with 47,021 euros and Vitoria-Gasteiz, with 44,232 euros.

As regards regional distribution, there were also differences between the twenty regions of the Basque Country, which remained unchanged compared to 2020 in terms of the regions with the highest and lowest figures. Nine regions received family incomes higher than the average, with Plentzia-Mungia (56,249 euros) in Bizkaia; Estribaciones del Gorbea (54,257 euros) in Álava; and Urola Kosta (52,201 euros) in Gipuzkoa particularly standing out. In contrast, the eleven remaining regions had family incomes lower than the average, and the lowest figures of the classification were found in Bajo Bidasoa (45,481 euros) in Gipuzkoa; Encartaciones (40,607 euros) in Bizkaia; and Rioja Alavesa (35,392 euros) in Álava, which was the region with the lowest family income in the Basque Country.

There were inequalities regarding family income depending on the gender of the main earner. Where the main earner was a man, families had an average income of 51,548 euros, with the majority of families being concentrated in the intermediate and high strata, whereas if the main earner was a woman, the average income stood at 40,465 euros and was concentrated in the lowest income strata; 7.7% of these families were in the 9,001 to 12,000 euros stratum.

Around 63.1% of families received an income below the Basque Country average (47,005 euros) or received no income at all. 2.3% of families were in the latter situation and did not have any income in 2021. On the other hand, 8.3% of families received incomes approximately double the average (>94,010 euros).

Family income increased progressively as the person who contributed most income to the household got older until the 55 to 59 age group was reached, the age at which a maximum average income of 58,862 euros was attained. This maximum was observed in the case of both men (62,574 euros) and women (53,128 euros). Families with an income above the Basque Country average were those where the main earner was aged between 40 and 64.

For further information: Euskal Estatistika-Erakundea / Basque Statistics Institute C/ Donostia-San Sebastián, 1 01010 Vitoria-Gasteiz Press Service: servicioprensa@eustat.es Tel.: 945 01 75 62