The Canaries are an aging population: 150 people over the age of 64 for every 100 under 16
The Canary Islands have entered a phase of accelerated demographic ageing that now surpasses the national average. In 2025, the Archipelago recorded an ageing index of 149.5%, meaning there are nearly 150 people aged over 64 for every 100 under 16.
The figure confirms a structural shift in the population pyramid and marks a definitive end to the region’s long-held image as one of Spain’s youngest communities.
The increase is particularly significant compared with the previous year. In 2024, the ageing index stood at 142.6%, meaning the figure has risen by almost seven points in just twelve months, the sharpest annual increase in the historical series. As a result, the Islands now sit in the upper-middle tier of Spain’s regional ranking and are drawing closer to territories traditionally characterised by older populations.
The data come from Ageing and Labour Ageism, a report published by the Adecco Foundation’s Observatory of Vulnerability and Employment, based on official statistics from the National Institute of Statistics (INE). The study warns that ageing has become a defining factor for the future of the labour market, both in the Canary Islands and across Spain.
Labour market strains
This demographic shift carries profound implications for the labour market. An ageing workforce means fewer people will be available to work, creating challenges in generational replacement, talent shortages and increasing difficulty in filling key positions, particularly in strategic and high-demand sectors.
The report highlights a structural paradox: while the population ages and the labour force becomes more senior, the job market continues to sideline older workers. Long-term unemployment affects 34% of all unemployed people, but rises to 48.5% among those over 45, a proportion that increases sharply with age. For many, long-term unemployment becomes a chronic condition and, in some cases, an unstable bridge to retirement.
The situation is expected to worsen in the coming decade. More than 5.3 million people aged 55 or over are projected to leave Spain’s labour market, while only 1.8 million young people will enter it, creating a generational replacement gap of almost 3.5 million workers. In practical terms, for every three people retiring, only one new worker joins the labour force, an imbalance that threatens long-term economic sustainability.
Untapped potential
Against this backdrop, mobilising senior talent emerges as a crucial tool for absorbing the impact of demographic ageing. The analysis suggests that if unemployed people over 45 were reintegrated into the labour market, the generational gap could be reduced by more than 30%, highlighting the scale of untapped economic potential.
For the Canary Islands, now ageing at the same pace as the rest of Spain, the challenge is twofold: ensuring sufficient labour supply to sustain its economic model, and tackling ageism that pushes experienced workers out at a time when their contribution is increasingly essential. Demography is no longer a background factor; it has become one of the key determinants shaping the economic and employment future of the Archipelago.
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