In 2024, almost 29.4% of Alicante province residents had an income per consumption unit below 60% of the national median. This indicator is used to assess the risk of poverty. It is sometimes described in publications as income of less than €1,000 a month, but it does not refer to each resident’s personal salary: the calculation takes household income and household size into account.
These figures come from the Household Income Distribution Atlas published by Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE). In 2024, average net income per person in the province was €13,025 a year, up 5.7% on the previous year. This was below the national average of €15,948.
Income varies considerably across the province
In Torrevieja, average net income per person was €10,379 a year. According to the figures cited in the study, 45.5% of the city’s residents fell below the low-income threshold. Other high figures were recorded in Confrides (45.1%), San Miguel de Salinas (40%), Almoradí (39.2%), Formentera del Segura (38.6%) and Callosa de Segura (38.5%).
Among the municipalities with a smaller share of residents below this threshold is Benillup, at 5.6%. The figure is 14% in Gorga, 14.4% in Sella, 15.1% in Benassau, 15.5% in l’Alqueria d’Asnar and 15.7% in Tibi.
Figures for the province’s larger cities
In Alicante city, 29.3% of the population lives in areas where average income per person is very low. The share of residents below the low-income threshold is 33.6% in Elda, 33.5% in Calp, 33.3% in Xàbia, 32.2% in Orihuela, 32% in Finestrat and 30.7% in Benidorm.
Among the province’s larger municipalities, the figures are lower in Ibi (19%), Mutxamel (19.2%), Sant Vicent del Raspeig (20.1%) and Sant Joan d’Alacant (22.2%).
What the INE statistics measure
The low-income threshold is calculated relative to the national median income per consumption unit. This measure accounts for household size and composition. It does not mean that everyone in this group receives the same amount or personally earns less than €1,000 a month.
The province’s average net income per person of €13,025 a year should not be interpreted as an average salary either. The figure covers the entire population, including people who do not work.
