Original Research · March 2026
Spain Pest Risk Index 2026
We scored 89 Spanish cities and towns across five risk factors — climate, humidity, infrastructure age, urban density, and season length — to produce the most comprehensive pest pressure ranking available for expats and homeowners in Spain.
Key Findings
🏆 Highest-risk region: Andalucía
With 17 locations averaging 79/100, Andalucía dominates the top of the index. The combination of extreme summer heat, ancient Roman and Moorish drain infrastructure, coastal humidity, and year-round tourism makes the entire region a high-risk zone — not just the cities.
🌧️ Safest region: Galicia & Atlantic North
Despite being Spain's wettest region, Galicia scores lowest (avg 21/100). Cool Atlantic temperatures (rarely above 25°C) keep cockroach populations negligible. The same applies to Cantabria and the Basque Country — Spain's Atlantic climate creates a natural pest barrier.
🏝️ Islands: A tale of two climates
The Canary Islands score high (avg 64/100) primarily due to their year-round warm climate — cockroaches remain active 12 months a year. The Balearics score slightly lower (avg 63/100) with a pronounced summer peak. Both island groups require year-round prevention, not seasonal treatment.
🏙️ Madrid: Lower than you'd expect
Spain's capital scores 54/100 — Medium risk, not High. The hot summers are offset by Madrid's low humidity and continental climate. The German cockroach is the main concern in apartment buildings, but the pressure is significantly lower than any coastal city of comparable size.
Top 10 Highest-Risk Locations
All 14 Very High-risk locations are in Andalucía, Murcia, or the Valencia coast
Average Risk by Autonomous Community
Full Index — All 89 Locations
Sort by any column · Filter by region or risk level
Showing all 89 locations
No locations match your filters.
How We Scored Each Location
Each location is scored out of 100 across five equally-weighted factors (0–20 each). Scores reflect structural, long-term conditions — not temporary pest activity.
Average peak summer temperature and number of months above 20°C. Higher temperatures accelerate cockroach reproduction rates — populations can double in weeks above 30°C. Based on 30-year meteorological averages from AEMET (Spain's national weather agency).
Number of months per year when mean temperatures exceed 18°C — the threshold below which cockroach activity and reproduction slow significantly. The Canary Islands score highest here (near year-round), while Atlantic northern Spain scores lowest (3–4 months).
Ambient humidity, coastal proximity, and prevailing moisture sources. Cockroaches require moisture to survive. Coastal Mediterranean cities score highly; arid interior cities like Madrid and Zaragoza score lower despite hot summers.
Age and condition of the urban sewer and drainage network. Roman and Moorish-era drainage systems (Seville, Córdoba, Cartagena, Cádiz) create extensive underground cockroach habitats connected directly to residential buildings. Modern 1990s resort developments score lower.
Population density per km², intensity of food service activity, and peak tourism volume. More people and restaurants means more organic waste, which directly sustains cockroach populations. High-density tourist resorts (Torremolinos, Benidorm) score highest despite shorter histories.
Important note on score interpretation
Risk scores reflect structural pest pressure conditions — climate, humidity, and infrastructure. They do not reflect current infestation rates, which vary by individual property, building age, and prevention practices. A score of 80 means the conditions strongly favour pest activity; it does not mean every home has cockroaches. Conversely, a score of 25 does not mean pest problems are impossible — only that background pressure is low.
10 Lowest-Risk Locations
Spain's Atlantic coast has genuinely low pest pressure — a fact that surprises many expats
Find Your Location's Detailed Guide
Every location in this index has a dedicated guide covering neighbourhood risk profiles, the cockroach species most common in that area, and specific prevention recommendations.