The ninth FOESSA Report on Social Exclusion and Social Development in Spain, presented in November 2025 by Cáritas Española and the FOESSA Foundation, stands as one of the country’s most significant sociological studies. It is based on the sixth Survey on Social Needs and Inclusion (EINSFOESSA), conducted during the first half of 2024.
Verian had the privilege of undertaking the fieldwork for this major research project, which provides a multidimensional perspective on Spain’s social reality. Over 12,000 face-to-face household interviews (CAPI) were carried out across the country, gathering information on more than 31,000 individuals. This effort has resulted in a robust and representative dataset, essential for subsequent analysis.
The report was produced by 140 researchers from 51 universities, research centres, foundations, and Third Sector organisations. In addition to the national study, 22 regional reports were developed, offering detailed findings from the various autonomous communities, the cities of Ceuta, Melilla, Ibiza and Albacete, and the Diocese of Barcelona.
Key findings
The Ninth FOESSA Report reveals that social exclusion in Spain is not the result of individual inaction, but rather of a system that fails to provide genuine opportunities for inclusion.
Despite people’s efforts to move forward, they face structural barriers that perpetuate inequality: the inaccessibility of housing, precarious employment, insufficient educational attainment, deteriorating health, and lack of social networks are pushing millions into situations of vulnerability.
Moreover, social exclusion disproportionately affects women, young people, children, and migrants, and is further exacerbated by the ecological crisis and growing individualism.
- The middle class is contracting, leaving many families increasingly vulnerable. This is leading to an unprecedented level of social fragmentation.
- Severe social exclusion now affects 4.3 million people — a 52% increase since 2007.
- Housing and employment have been identified as the main drivers of social exclusion. Access to decent housing and stable employment remains extremely difficult for many people. 45% of those living in rented accommodation are at risk of poverty, highlighting how the housing market is contributing to growing inequality. Meanwhile, employment has lost its protective function: 47.5% of the working population (11.5 million people) experience job insecurity.
- Inequality remains a structural feature. Spain continues to be one of the most unequal countries in Europe. This inequality is not circumstantial, but embedded within the system.
- The report confirms that poverty and exclusion are transmitted across generations. Children of parents with low educational attainment are more than twice as likely to fall into poverty as those whose parents have higher education. Furthermore, individuals who do not complete compulsory secondary education (ESO) are 2.7 times more likely to experience severe social exclusion.
The Ninth FOESSA Report, based on data collected by Verian, is conceived as a tool for identifying the key levers needed to place social justice and the common good at the centre of Spain’s collective vision for the future. It is not enough to address the symptoms of exclusion; it is essential to tackle the structural causes that generate and perpetuate it. For example:
- There is a need to move towards policies that recognise the deep interconnection between housing, employment, health, education, and social relationships. Social exclusion cannot be addressed through isolated or compartmentalised approaches. Improving access to housing, for instance, will have little real impact unless it is accompanied by stable employment and functioning public services.
- The urgency of strengthening public services is also evident, particularly in the areas of mental health, primary care, post-compulsory education, and access to housing — sectors where deficiencies are directly affecting the most vulnerable. For example, the report highlights that 6% of vulnerable families with serious illnesses did not receive medical care (twice the rate observed in the general population), and that diagnoses of anxiety and depression double among those living in situations of severe exclusion.
- Job insecurity, which affects millions of people, must no longer be accepted as the norm. Particular support is needed for young people and women, who are disproportionately affected by job insecurity. Young people, in particular, enter the labour market under worse conditions, with salaries up to 30% lower than those of previous generations.
- The report also highlights the situation of vulnerable families, such as single-parent households, where the rate of social exclusion has risen from 12% to 29% since 2007, or families with irregular immigration status, who face exclusion rates of up to 68%. These groups require targeted measures that acknowledge their specific challenges and provide real pathways to inclusion.
- Another key issue is the need to rebuild the social fabric: isolation — the absence of a network of relationships — among people experiencing severe exclusion has increased fivefold in the past six years. As such, community, neighbourhood, and family networks are essential to reversing exclusion and must be strengthened through public policy.
- In terms of the ecological model, the report highlights the need for a just transition: progress towards sustainability cannot come at the expense of those already experiencing energy poverty. Moreover, it is urgent to reduce the environmental impact of high-income households, which consume up to four times more in private transport and three times more residential energy than low-income households — making them the highest consumers and polluters.
- Finally, the report calls for a cultural shift: in contrast to individualism and the “everyone for themselves” mentality, it proposes placing mutual care and our community at the centre. This means moving from a notion of wellbeing based on individual consumption to one of “well-caring” — a concept that recognises our interdependence and the need to build a fairer, more sustainable, and more cohesive society.
Impact of the findings
The report aims to serve as a tool for social transformation. Its findings should act as a starting point for rethinking how public and social policies are designed in Spain.
The regional reports will allow the general diagnosis to be adapted to the specific realities of each autonomous community, city, or territory, and are expected to help guide public policies that are better tailored to each context.
FOESSA also makes the study’s data available for use by researchers, social organisations, and public administrations, with the aim of deepening the analysis and designing more effective interventions.
At Verian, we are proud to have contributed to this project with the quality and rigour that define our work. This study not only provides data — it offers insights that can help transform society towards a fairer, more inclusive, and more sustainable model.
Want to learn more?
You can find detailed information about this major project at the following links:
If you would like to get in touch with our team, please use the contact form available on this website.
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