The Independent Authority for Fiscal Responsibility (AIReF) today published its estimate of GDP by Autonomous Region for the first quarter of 2026, using the methodology known as METCAP, the Methodology for Quarterly Estimation of GDP by Autonomous Region, developed by the institution. METCAP provides the first freely accessible estimates in Spain offering this information. Updates are published on a quarterly basis and are available to all users on the AIReF website.
These estimates are produced once the National Statistics Institute (Instituto Nacional de Estadística) publishes Spain’s quarterly advance GDP figure. Accordingly, on 30 April 2026 the data corresponding to the first quarter of the year were published. A summary of the GDP growth estimates by Autonomous Community, and their evolution in both quarter-on-quarter and year-on-year terms, can be seen in the tables below:
Year-on-year, the Valencian Community recorded the highest GDP growth, at 3.2%, followed by the Community of Madrid at 3.1% and Andalusia at 2.8%. By contrast, Asturias recorded the lowest growth rate, at 1.9%, followed by the Basque Country at 2.1%, and Aragon and the Chartered Community of Navarre, both with growth of 2.2%.
In quarter-on-quarter terms, the Community of Madrid stood out for its strong performance, with growth of 0.8%, followed by Murcia and the Balearic Islands, both at 0.7%. The lowest quarter-on-quarter growth rates were recorded in Castile and León, at 0.4%, and in Extremadura, the Valencian Community, Cantabria and Aragon, all at 0.5%.
As is customary, AIReF provides users with an easy-to-use web-based interface that allows comparisons across Autonomous Communities and with national GDP.
The quantitative methodology combines three sources of statistical information for regional analysis: monthly short-term indicators disaggregated at territorial level; annual data compiled under national accounts standards by the Regional Accounts of Spain (CRE); and national-level estimates published in the Quarterly National Accounts (CNTR). This approach brings together the timeliness of short-term indicators, the structural information provided by the CRE and a quarterly national benchmark that ensures consistency across individual regional estimates.
To learn more about how we produce these data, see our AIReF Divulga post: Do you know how much your Autonomous Region’s economy is growing?.
