Marina Alta: Valencia’s most materially deprived region, with one in three residents at risk of social exclusion
Despite its reputation as a prosperous tourist destination, the Marina Alta ranks among the most socially and economically vulnerable regions in the Valencia Regional Community, with high levels of poverty, deprivation and social exclusion.
Itsaso Aurrekoetxea Jover | Journalist | 7 June 2026
The Marina Alta has once again been highlighted as one of the most socially vulnerable regions in the Valencia Regional Community. The latest report, Poverty and living condition indicators at the subregional level 2025, published by the Valencian Institute of Statistics (IVE), ranks the Marina Alta as the region with the second-highest poverty risk rate in the entire Valencia Regional Community.
29.2% of the Marina Alta population is at risk of poverty.
Only La Vega Baja, with a poverty risk rate of 31.5%, performs worse. At 29.2%, the Marina Alta sits well above the regional average of 20.2% and ranks among the most vulnerable areas in the Valencia Regional Community, ahead of territories such as La Marina Baixa, El Baix Vinalopó, L’Alacantí and La Safor.
Key Data for the Marina Alta
The IVE report measures six key indicators of poverty and living conditions across the region. The Marina Alta records worse results than the Valencian average in five of the six categories: poverty risk, AROPE (at risk of poverty or social exclusion), material deprivation, severe material and social deprivation, and average income. Only in severe material deprivation does it remain broadly in line with the regional average.
| Indicator 2025 | Marina Alta | Valencia Regional Community | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty risk rate | 29.2% | 20.2% | 9 points above the regional average |
| AROPE: poverty or social exclusion risk | 33.7% | 25.8% | 7.9 points above the regional average |
| Material deprivation | 19.8% | 16.5% | Worst figure in the entire Valencia Regional Community |
| Severe material deprivation | 6.5% | 6.6% | Broadly in line with the Valencian average |
| Severe material and social deprivation | 7.3% | 6.8% | Above the regional average |
| Average income per consumption unit | €16,591 | €20,584 | €3,993 below the Valencian average |
Second worst for poverty: only La Vega Baja fares worse
The poverty risk rate places the Marina Alta in the second-worst position in the Valencia Regional Community. Only La Vega Baja records a higher rate, at 31.5%, followed by the Marina Alta at 29.2% and La Marina Baixa at 25.6%.
At the other end of the scale are Els Ports (14.2%), El Alto Mijares (14.3%) and L’Horta Sud (14.7%). The contrast highlights a pronounced territorial divide, with the poverty risk rate in the Marina Alta almost twice that of the regions with the lowest levels of poverty.
AROPE: one in three residents at risk of poverty or exclusion
The AROPE indicator provides a broader measure of vulnerability, capturing not only monetary poverty but also the risk of poverty or social exclusion. Across the Valencia Regional Community, the AROPE rate stands at 25.8%. In the Marina Alta, however, it reaches 33.7%, meaning that approximately one in three residents is at risk of poverty or social exclusion.
Once again, only La Vega Baja records a worse result, at 36.3%, while La Marina Baixa follows closely behind at 32.3%. Notably, the three regions with the highest AROPE rates are all located along the southern Alicante coastal corridor.
At the opposite end of the scale are Els Ports (19.2%), El Alto Mijares (19.5%) and La Vall d’Albaida (19.9%). The gap between the Marina Alta and Els Ports, the region with the lowest AROPE rate, is 14.5 percentage points, underlining the significant disparities that exist within the Valencia Regional Community.
The map of AROPE rates by region in 2025, from the IVE report Indicadores de pobreza y condiciones de vida a nivel subregional 2025, can be seen in the original article.
Material deprivation: the worst figure in the entire Valencia Regional Community
The most striking finding for the Marina Alta concerns material deprivation. At 19.8%, the region records the highest rate of material deprivation in the entire Valencia Regional Community. This indicator reflects the practical difficulties households face in meeting basic living standards, such as paying bills, covering unexpected expenses, or accessing essential goods and services.
On this measure, the Marina Alta even surpasses La Vega Baja, which records a rate of 19.4%. The figures suggest that the region not only has a lower average income than many other Valencian regions, but also experiences the highest level of everyday material hardship.
At the other end of the scale are Els Ports, L’Alt Maestrat and El Alto Mijares, each with a rate of 13.6%. The gap between these regions and the Marina Alta exceeds six percentage points, highlighting the significant disparities in living conditions across the Valencia Regional Community.
Severe material deprivation: the Marina Alta close to the average
For severe material deprivation, the Marina Alta records a rate of 6.5%, virtually identical to the regional average of 6.6%. This is one of the few indicators on which the region does not rank among the worst performers in the Valencia Regional Community.
The highest rates are found in L’Alacantí (7.8%), followed by València and L’Horta Sud (both 7.6%). La Marina Baixa, La Vega Baja and El Baix Maestrat each record rates of 7.0%.
At the other end of the scale are Els Ports and L’Alt Maestrat, both at 4.9%, and La Vall d’Albaida at 4.6%. These figures suggest that, while severe material deprivation remains a significant challenge across many parts of the Valencia Regional Community, the Marina Alta is broadly in line with the regional average on this particular measure.
Severe material and social deprivation: the region remains above average
For severe material and social deprivation, the Marina Alta records a rate of 7.3%, above the Valencia Regional Community average of 6.8%. While this does not place the region among the worst performers, it remains above the regional average on this indicator as well.
The highest rates are found in La Marina Baixa (8.0%), followed by La Vega Baja (7.8%) and L’Horta Sud (7.6%). Once again, several of the regions with the highest levels of deprivation are concentrated in the southern part of the Valencia Regional Community.
At the opposite end of the scale are El Alto Mijares (5.4%), L’Alt Maestrat (5.3%) and Els Ports (5.2%), highlighting the considerable differences in living conditions that exist between regions.
Average income: almost €4,000 below the Valencian average
The average income per consumption unit in the Marina Alta stands at €16,591, well below the regional average of €20,584. The difference of €3,993 places the region among the lowest-ranked areas in the Valencia Regional Community.
Only La Vega Baja, with an average income of €15,809, records a lower figure. It is followed by La Marina Baixa at €17,135, making the Marina Alta the second-lowest region in the Valencia Regional Community for average income per consumption unit.
At the opposite end of the scale are L’Horta Nord (€23,741), Els Ports (€23,474) and València (€23,017). The gap between L’Horta Nord, the highest-ranked region, and the Marina Alta amounts to €7,150 per consumption unit, illustrating the substantial income disparities that exist across the Valencia Regional Community.
Full data by region
The full set of data provides a clearer picture of the Marina Alta’s position within the Valencia Regional Community. Rather than appearing as an outlier on a single indicator, the region consistently records some of the weakest results across the study, placing it among the most socially and economically vulnerable territories analysed.
| Region | Poverty risk | AROPE | Material deprivation | Severe material deprivation | Severe material & social deprivation | Avg. income per consumption unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valencia Regional Community | 20.2% | 25.8% | 16.5% | 6.6% | 6.8% | €20,584 |
| Els Ports | 14.2% | 19.2% | 13.6% | 4.9% | 5.2% | €23,474 |
| L’Alt Maestrat | 15.0% | 20.0% | 13.6% | 4.9% | 5.3% | €22,601 |
| El Baix Maestrat | 22.6% | 27.8% | 17.4% | 7.0% | 7.4% | €18,758 |
| L’Alcalatén | 15.6% | 20.7% | 14.4% | 5.4% | 5.7% | €22,577 |
| La Plana Alta | 17.9% | 22.9% | 15.3% | 5.7% | 6.0% | €20,933 |
| La Plana Baixa | 16.0% | 20.7% | 15.3% | 5.0% | 5.4% | €20,947 |
| El Alto Palancia | 17.3% | 22.3% | 14.7% | 5.5% | 5.9% | €21,486 |
| El Alto Mijares | 14.3% | 19.5% | 13.6% | 5.1% | 5.4% | €22,822 |
| El Rincón de Ademuz | 18.0% | 23.7% | 14.8% | 5.7% | 6.2% | €21,006 |
| Los Serranos | 17.2% | 22.4% | 14.8% | 5.6% | 6.0% | €21,508 |
| El Camp de Túria | 18.1% | 23.3% | 15.1% | 6.1% | 6.3% | €22,048 |
| El Camp de Morvedre | 18.3% | 22.6% | 15.3% | 5.2% | 6.1% | €21,475 |
| L’Horta Nord | 15.6% | 21.3% | 15.5% | 6.1% | 5.7% | €23,741 |
| València | 17.9% | 23.8% | 16.7% | 7.6% | 6.9% | €23,017 |
| L’Horta Sud | 14.7% | 21.4% | 16.4% | 7.6% | 7.6% | €21,484 |
| La Plana de Utiel-Requena | 17.3% | 22.4% | 15.7% | 5.5% | 6.6% | €20,862 |
| La Hoya de Buñol | 16.4% | 21.4% | 15.0% | 5.5% | 5.9% | €22,424 |
| El Valle de Cofrentes-Ayora | 17.5% | 22.8% | 14.6% | 5.6% | 6.1% | €21,116 |
| La Ribera Alta | 17.2% | 23.1% | 15.0% | 5.6% | 6.7% | €22,043 |
| La Ribera Baixa | 16.6% | 22.2% | 16.4% | 5.7% | 6.2% | €21,431 |
| La Canal de Navarés | 17.0% | 22.6% | 14.8% | 5.6% | 6.0% | €21,434 |
| La Costera | 19.9% | 24.7% | 15.6% | 5.3% | 5.9% | €20,323 |
| La Vall d’Albaida | 15.2% | 19.9% | 14.2% | 4.6% | 5.6% | €22,166 |
| La Safor | 22.1% | 26.3% | 15.4% | 5.7% | 5.8% | €19,984 |
| El Comtat | 17.2% | 22.4% | 14.8% | 5.6% | 6.0% | €21,562 |
| L’Alcoià | 16.2% | 22.2% | 14.9% | 5.6% | 5.8% | €21,120 |
| Alto Vinalopó | 18.1% | 23.7% | 15.0% | 5.4% | 6.3% | €20,487 |
| El Vinalopó Medio | 21.3% | 26.8% | 15.8% | 5.5% | 7.4% | €19,355 |
| Marina Alta | 29.2% | 33.7% | 19.8% | 6.5% | 7.3% | €16,591 |
| Marina Baixa | 25.6% | 32.3% | 17.9% | 7.0% | 8.0% | €17,135 |
| L’Alacantí | 23.3% | 29.6% | 17.3% | 7.8% | 7.2% | €19,882 |
| El Baix Vinalopó | 24.9% | 29.5% | 16.7% | 6.7% | 6.9% | €18,649 |
| La Vega Baja | 31.5% | 36.3% | 19.4% | 7.0% | 7.8% | €15,809 |
The report reveals a concentration of social and economic disadvantage across several regions in southern Valencia. La Vega Baja, the Marina Alta and La Marina Baixa consistently record some of the weakest results in the Comunitat Valenciana. They have the highest rates of poverty risk and AROPE, while also reporting the lowest average income per consumption unit. Together, these indicators point to a persistent pattern of vulnerability affecting much of the southern coastal area.
The overlooked reality of a tourist hotspot
The social picture painted by this report is particularly striking in a region better known for its tourism, attractive coastline, thriving property market and strong economic activity. Yet the IVE study highlights a much less visible reality. Despite the area’s apparent prosperity, a significant proportion of residents continue to experience material hardship, revealing a level of social vulnerability that is often hidden beneath the surface.
Source: ‘Indicadores de pobreza y condiciones de vida a nivel subregional 2025’, Institut Valencià d’Estadística (IVE). Original article by Itsaso Aurrekoetxea Jover, the Marina Alta, 7 June 2026.
Would you like to reply? You can do so in our Facebook group, where Facebook will ask you to join the group first, or write to us at [email protected].