Murcia's income gap widens, but Molina stays on top

New figures show 91% of the Region remains among Spain’s lowest-earning municipalities, while Molina de Segura leads the gross income table

Only four of the Region of Murcia’s 45 municipalities have escaped Spain’s lowest income bracket, according to figures for 2024 from Atlas of Household Income Distribution.

The National Statistics Institute, INE, places 41 municipalities, or 91%, among the 25% of Spanish localities with the lowest average net income per person. It is the highest proportion of any autonomous community.

The INE divides municipalities into four equal income groups. The lowest group includes places with average annual net income below €13,407 per person.

Murcia city, Molina de Segura, Ojós and Cartagena are the only municipalities above that threshold. Murcia city records €14,716 per person, followed by Molina de Segura at €14,622, Ojós at €14,469 and Cartagena at €13,902.

All four fall within the second national group, lower-middle income. None reaches the Spanish average of €15,948.

Ojós is perhaps the most surprising case. The small town has only about 500 residents, but ranks third in the Region. Its relatively high per capita income is linked to having more residents over 65 and fewer under 65 than the regional average, along with its small size.

At the other end, Fortuna has the Region’s lowest municipal income, at €10,605 per person. Aledo, the fifth wealthiest municipality, reaches €13,237, just €170 short of the threshold needed to leave the lowest bracket.

Incomes did rise across all Murcia municipalities in 2024. However, none moved out of the lowest group because the threshold itself rose from €12,505 in 2023 to €13,407 in 2024, an increase of €902 in a year.

Some of the strongest percentage increases came in lower-income areas. Fuente Álamo recorded the biggest rise, at 8.65%, reaching €11,087 per person. Pliego followed with 8.25% and Calasparra with 8.17%.

Across the Region, average net income per person reached €13,218 in 2024, compared with €15,948 nationally. That leaves a gap of €2,730 per person, wider than the €2,590 difference recorded the previous year.

Regional incomes grew by 6.2%, slightly above the national average of 6.1%. Even so, the absolute difference with the rest of Spain widened by €140.

Andalucía has the second highest proportion of municipalities in the lowest income bracket, at 83.9%, followed by Extremadura at 82%. By contrast, 89.7% of municipalities in the Basque Country are among Spain’s highest-income group, along with 71.3% in Navarre.

Molina leads the gross income table

Separate Tax Agency figures based on gross income show a slightly different picture. Molina de Segura remains the wealthiest municipality in the Region for the fourth consecutive year, with an average gross income of €33,812 in 2024.

Molina’s average rose by 3.43% and is now just €199 ahead of Murcia city, which recorded €33,613 after an 8.5% increase.

Cartagena completes the top three at €30,729, following a 5.6% rise. These are the only three municipalities in the Region above €30,000.

San Javier is fourth at €29,860, while Las Torres de Cotillas is fifth at €27,475. Alhama de Murcia has climbed two places to sixth, with an average gross income of €26,362.

At the lower end, Moratalla records €21,083, Ricote €20,742 and Albudeite €20,584.

The Region’s average gross income was €28,623 in 2024, placing it 14th among Spain’s 17 autonomous communities. Madrid remains the wealthiest at €43,674, followed by Catalonia at €37,937.
 

You might also be interested in: Eleven of Spain's fifteen poorest towns are in Andalucía 

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