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If you've ever wondered how the Region of Murcia's social care stacks up against the rest of the country, the answer isn't encouraging. The Social Services Development Index 2025 (DEC Index), presented this Thursday by the Association of Directors and Managers of social services centres, has given Murcia the lowest score in Spain at just 3.03 out of 10. Only Cantabria (3.95) and Extremadura (4.78) come close, and all three are labelled "irrelevant" in terms of development.

 

It's not just about the ranking either. Murcia is one of only three regions in Spain that still hasn't put together its own catalogue of social services, something 14 other regions have already managed. Gustavo García, coordinator of the DEC Index, says 2026 could be the moment things shift, since "the team is working towards that", even if he admits the Region has a fair bit of catching up to do.

 

Money is at the heart of it. Per capita spending on social services in Murcia actually dipped slightly this year, down from €431.8 to €430.3, and that's well below the national average of €571.1. Compare that with the Basque Country, which spends €1,304 per person, and the gap becomes clear. José Manuel Ramírez, president of the state association behind the report, describes the DEC Index as "the PISA of social services" and says the underlying goal is for regions to reach 2% of GDP spent in this area.

 

The Region does have a few bright spots. It's ahead of the national average on foster care for minors, and on housing places for the homeless. But the shortfalls are harder to ignore. Home care for over 75s covers just 4.5% of that group in Murcia, compared with 12% nationally. Minimum income support reaches only 1.3% of those below the poverty line here, against 6.2% across Spain, and there are far fewer refuge places for women with protection orders than the national average.

 

The Regional Ministry of Social Policy points to a different picture, noting that its budget for this area has grown 72.4% since 2020, well above the national rise of 49.2%, and insists it remains committed to improving care for the elderly and vulnerable despite being, in its own words, "the worst funded in Spain."

 

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