El déficit de vivienda en Málaga crece: la construcción solo cubre la mitad de los 55.500 nuevos hogares

The article “El déficit de vivienda en Málaga crece: la construcción solo cubre la mitad de los 55.500 nuevos hogares” is authored by Enrique Ramos and published by Moncloa, a Spanish media outlet that regularly reports on housing and urban policy. It presents an analysis of recent housing construction trends in the province of Málaga, situating the local shortage within broader national patterns and highlighting the implications for sustainable housing development.

Between 2021 and 2025, Málaga added 29 119 new dwellings, representing roughly 52 % of the 55 500 households formed during the same period. This leaves a deficit of 26 375 homes, positioning Málaga as the seventh‑largest housing shortfall among Spanish provinces. The unfinished‑housing stock is modest, with only 5 424 units (0.53 % of the provincial housing stock) remaining unsold.

Málaga’s construction volume surpasses that of Alicante, Sevilla and Valencia, yet it remains insufficient to meet demand. Other provinces display similar mismatches: Córdoba covers about half of its new households, while Almería, Valencia and Lleida achieve only around 20 % coverage. In contrast, Asturias, Guipúzcoa and Navarra resolve roughly 70 % of their housing needs, and Soria and Cáceres are the few regions where building outpaces household formation.

The Bank of Spain estimates a national deficit of 750 000 dwellings for the 2021‑2025 period. Over half of this shortfall concentrates in six provinces—Madrid, Barcelona, Alicante, Valencia, Murcia and Málaga—underscoring the severity of the supply‑demand imbalance in Spain’s most dynamic regions. Nationwide, 1.2 million new households were created while the housing stock grew by only 475 000 units.

Málaga holds 1.025 million existing dwellings against 715 838 households, suggesting a nominal surplus. However, much of the stock is ageing, requiring refurbishment and energy‑efficiency upgrades to meet sustainable housing standards. The limited number of newly built, energy‑efficient homes hampers progress toward climate‑friendly urban development.

Andalusia, the wider region encompassing Málaga, accounts for 68 897 unsold completed units—15 % of Spain’s total idle housing stock. High demand concentrates in economically vibrant and tourist‑driven areas, driving up rents and limiting affordable options for first‑time buyers. The mismatch between rapid household formation and slow construction intensifies pressure on the rental market.

The data illustrate the need for coordinated policies that accelerate the delivery of new, energy‑efficient homes while retrofitting older buildings. Addressing the construction deficit is essential to prevent further escalation of housing costs, reduce carbon emissions associated with building waste, and ensure equitable access to decent, sustainable dwellings across Europe.