Spaincountry known for its rich culture, gastronomy, landscapes and history, is also distinguished by the cleanliness of its streets. With more than 8,000 municipalities spread across its autonomous communities, it is the second most visited country in the world, reflecting its tourist appeal. In this context, the Consumer and User Organization (OCU) assessed the cleanliness of Spanish cities through a survey carried out in 2023. This OCU survey, in which nearly 7,000 residents from 59 cities participated, made it possible to identify what is the cleanest and dirtiest city in Spain.
The OCU selected the municipality with the highest score in terms of cleanliness. This distinction is based on the perception that residents have of the hygiene in your environmentwhich reflects a commitment to the quality of urban space and the well-being of its inhabitants. Thus, while Spain continues to attract tourists for its various qualities, the cleanliness of its cities has also become an important factor for improve the quality of life and the country’s image internationally.
This is the dirtiest city in Spain according to the OCU
The OCU has published the results of its investigation into cleaning in spanish citiesrevealing significant differences in citizens’ perceptions. Oviedo, in Asturiasstands out as the cleanest city in Spain, with a score of 86 out of 100. This rating is due to the satisfaction of its residents with the cleanliness of its streets, sidewalks and public spaces.
It is followed by two other cities in the north, Bilbao and Vigowith 77 and 76 points respectively. Other cities that also excel in cleanliness are Pamplona and Albacete. The full ranking of the 10 cleanest cities in Spain is led by Oviedo, Bilbao, Vigo, Pamplona, Albacete, Getxo, Soria, Salamanca, San Sebastian and Huesca.
On the other hand, the investigation showed that Palma, Balearic Islandsis the city with the worst score in terms of cleanliness, obtaining only 35 points out of 100. Seville, Alicante and San Sebastián de los Reyes are also among the least clean cities. The survey reveals that urban cleanliness remains a worrying problem, as overall satisfaction has decreased since the previous study in 2019.
Furthermore, it is observed that the major Mediterranean and southern capitalsThe most touristy, tend to receive the lowest scores. Cities like Barcelona, Seville and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria have seen their scores drop significantly since 2019. On the other hand, some cities have shown significant improvements, such as Guadalajara, Jaén and Lugo, which have climbed in the ranking.
The study also highlights that, although a greater cleaning costs does not always translate into better grades, the frequency of cleaning tasks, such as sweeping and mopping, has a positive impact on citizen satisfaction. The OCU recommends increasing the frequency of these tasks to improve the overall perception of cleanliness, especially in the dirtiest city in Spain according to this study.
The best cities to retire in
THE retirement It is a long-awaited moment for many Spaniards who want to enjoy their last years in peace and without stress. This often means leaving their hometown in search of more serene destinations that offer a high quality of life, good weather and adequate services.
A recent study by the OCU ranks Spanish cities based on various factors such as urban cleanliness, cost of living, safety, pollution, cultural offerings, leisure and the real estate market. Vigo stands out as the best city to live in spainachieving first place after a survey of more than 3,000 residents of the country’s 15 largest cities.
Vigo stands out for a combination of favourable factors, including a good climate, excellent urban services and a wide cultural offering for retirees. Residents appreciate the cleanliness of the streets, safety and a reasonable cost of living. In addition, Vigo offers remarkable health care, with a system that receives good marks for its efficiency and accessibility.
You Zaragoza and Bilbao followwhich also rank high in the ranking due to their high quality of life. The report places Vigo, Zaragoza and Bilbao as the cities with the best conditions to enjoy retirement, while Madrid and Barcelona occupy the lowest positions in terms of quality of life.
In terms of health care, A crucial aspect for retirees, Bilbao is positioned as the best-served city. 72% of respondents say they are satisfied with healthcare in the Basque city. Zaragoza and Córdoba also stand out for their healthcare, with 69% and 62% satisfaction respectively.
This focus on quality of health services and other infrastructure demonstrate the importance of these factors in choosing a place to enjoy a peaceful retirement.
