Press Release 25/10/2024

PERSONAL AND FAMILY INCOME STATISTICS. 2022

The average income of the population of the Basque Country increased by 7.5% in 2022

58.3% of total personal income came from work, 28.6% from social transfers or benefits, 8.8% from capital gains and 4.3% from economic activities

Basque Country residents aged 18 and over obtained an average personal income of 25,061 euros in 2022, which was an increase of 7.5% (1,748 euros more) compared to the previous year, according to Eustat data.

Regarding distribution by province, Gipuzkoa recorded the highest average personal income (with 26,639 euros), followed by Bizkaia with 24,481 euros and Álava with 23,660 euros. Compared to 2021, once again, in Gipuzkoa the increase in average personal income (9.4%) was higher than that registered in Álava and in Bizkaia (6.7% and 5.8%, respectively).

With regard to the provincial capitals, the aforementioned differences were more pronounced, given that the average income of people residing in San Sebastián (30,809 euros) exceeded the Basque average by 5,748 euros, compared to the resident populations of Bilbao (25,366 euros) or Vitoria-Gasteiz (24,000 euros), which saw incomes closer to the Basque average.

Disposable income, calculated as total income minus income tax and social security contributions by the worker, of the population resident in the Basque Country in 2022 stood at 20,855 euros, a figure equivalent to 83.2% of the total income. Disposable income increased by 1,489 euros in comparison with 2021, up 7.7%. By province, Gipuzkoa, with 22,187 euros, again achieved a higher disposable income than that obtained in Bizkaia, with 20,355 euros, and in Álava, with 19,709 euros.

In terms of the composition of total personal income received by residents of the Basque Country during the 2022 financial year, 58.3% of personal income came from work, with an average of 14,609 euros (986 euros more than the previous year), while the rest was distributed among 28.6% from social transfers or benefits (7,158 euros), 4.3% from economic activities (1,087 euros) and 8.8% from capital gains, both moveable and immoveable (2,208 euros).

In 2022, total income rose by 7.5%, and disposable income by slightly more (7.7%), which extended to all components except income from activities, which fell by 0.1%. Capital gains increased by 20.7% and income from work by 7.2%.

Regarding the distribution of income amongst the population, 1.6 million individuals aged 18 and over received some kind of income, i.e. 87.2%, whilst 12.8% of the population in these age groups did not receive any kind of income during 2022. Furthermore, 59.9% of individuals received an income below the Basque Country average, including those who did not receive any income, whereas 9.2% had an income that more than doubled the average, that is, incomes over 50,122 euros.

The median, the value that establishes the income that divides the population in two equal parts, stood at 20,043 euros, i.e. in 2022 half of the adult population of the Basque Country had an average annual personal income over 20,043 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 30,356 euros, whereas women received an average income of 20,180 euros. In other words, men earned 10,176 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 16,296 euros; this difference increased by 922 euros in 2022 with regards to the previous year.

As for the average personal income among young people aged 18-24 (5,062 euros), in 2022 this was up 12.7% in respect of the previous year. In this age range the average income of men (5,675 euros) increased by 11.8%, while the average income of women (4,405 euros) rose by 14.1%. Although to a lesser degree, the average personal income of young people aged between 25 and 29 (17,183 euros) also increased, up 6.9% in respect of 2021. The increase was slightly higher for men than for women (7.1% and 6.8% respectively).

Half of families in the Basque Country received an average yearly family income above 40,032 in 2022

Average family income in the Basque Country stood at 50,367 euros in 2022. The total family income is obtained by aggregating the personal incomes of all members of the family including minors. The average income for families overall in the Basque Country was almost double the average personal income. Disposable income (after taxes and transfers) stood at an annual average of 41,897 euros (83.2% of the total income) with an increase of 7.3% in respect of 2021.

Once again, Gipuzkoa, with 53,652 euros, was the province with the highest family income, followed by Bizkaia with 49,438 euros and Álava with 46,542 euros. San Sebastián, with 62,010 euros, was the capital with the highest family income, followed by Bilbao, with 50,389 euros and Vitoria-Gasteiz, with 46,906 euros.

Regarding regional distribution, there were also differences between the twenty regions of the Basque Country. Nine regions received family incomes higher than the average, with Plentzia-Mungia (59,929 euros) in Bizkaia; Estribaciones del Gorbea (57,486 euros) in Álava; and Urola Kosta (55,899 euros) in Gipuzkoa of particular note. 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 (48,521 euros) in Gipuzkoa; Encartaciones (43,119 euros) in Bizkaia; and Rioja Alavesa (35,685 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 55,346 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 43,314 euros and was concentrated in the lowest income strata; 6.6% of these families were in the 9,001 to 12,000 euros stratum.

Around 63.6% of families received an income below the Basque Country average (50,367 euros) or no income at all. 2.1% of families were in the latter situation and did not have any income in 2022. On the other hand, 8.1% of families received incomes approximately double the average (>100,734 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 62,659 euros was attained. This maximum was observed in the case of both men (66,978 euros) and women (56,055 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