Cáritas Ibiza: Spanish users are 21%, not majority

Cáritas Ibiza sparks controversy: 21% of users are Spanish, presented as majority

The event took place this Tuesday in Ibiza, in mid-July. Bishop Vicent Ribas and Cáritas Diocesana coordinator Gustavo Gómez presented the 2025 report. Among the data, one figure stood out: 21% of those assisted were Spanish, compared to 79% foreigners from 77 different nationalities. "Knowing that 21% were Spanish debunks theories and discourses," Gómez stated. However, this claim has generated intense debate regarding the use of statistics.

21% is not a majority, but it is sold as such

Mathematically, 21% is not a majority, nor even a large minority. But when breaking down the data by nationality, Spaniards turn out to be the largest individual group. That is, among the 77 nationalities present, the Spanish one contributes the most users. This does not negate that, summing all foreigners, they are almost four times more numerous. The strategy of presenting the data as a "Spanish majority" has been described by many as an exercise in statistical manipulation. "From the creators of negative growth comes the 20% majority," some joked.

National context: Cáritas and other aid programs

At the national level, Cáritas data for 2024-2025 shows a different reality: 43% of those assisted in direct care were Spanish, versus 57% foreigners. In the Minimum Vital Income (Ingreso Mínimo Vital), Spaniards represent 82.5% of beneficiaries; in regional insertion incomes, around 71%. The gap in Ibiza is particularly striking, with only 21% Spanish users, well below the average. Some point to the foreign population on the island, heavily linked to tourism and construction, suffering precariousness that leads them to rely more on food aid. Others note that many counted "Spaniards" could be naturalized citizens, which would further reduce the percentage of native-born Spaniards.

Testimonials and criticism of Cáritas operations

Personal experiences questioning distribution criteria have emerged in the debate. A former employee recounted that at a Cáritas office, priority was given to irregular immigrants over disabled Spanish women, claiming the former "are alone and have no other way forward." It was also mentioned that some centers teach beneficiaries to cook because purchase tickets show processed foods and pastries, suggesting there is no real food need, but rather consumption habits. These anecdotes, however, are not generalizable and contrast with the entity's official account.

The unsettling data

What nobody disputes is the figure: 21% Spanish, 79% foreign. The Cáritas coordinator assures that this 21% "debunks theories and discourses." But, given the uproar, it is the headline itself that has been debunked. The lingering question is: if 21% is a success against alarmist discourses, what should the Spaniards who make up 79% of the poor in the Minimum Vital Income think?