Spain 7.1.2

The data in Table 6 show a high degree of decentralisation in public cultural expenditure. Traditionally, territorial governments (regional and local) account for approximately 85% of total public spending in the sector. In 2023, regional and local authorities spent a combined total of 6,529.8 million euro, of which 22% corresponded to regional governments and 61% to local authorities.

At the regional level, the Autonomous Communities accounting for the largest shares of cultural expenditure were Catalonia (25.7%), Andalusia (12.5%), the Valencian Community (10.5%), the Basque Country (10.2%), and Madrid (7.9%).

Table 6: Public cultural expenditure by level of government, 2018 and 2023

Source:      Ministry of Culture (several years) Cultural Statistics Yearbook and Population Census.