Below you will find basic demographic and healthcare market data on Spain, plus specific information about the medical device and healthcare industries.
Overview of medical device industry: The Spanish medical device market is the fifth largest market in Western Europe. It was valued at US$4.5 billion in 2015 – a 15% decrease from 2014. Market growth is projected to be slow, due in part to Spain's ongoing economic challenges, and will reach US$5.6 billion by 2019. Despite the low growth, Spain will remain one of the largest medical device markets in Europe.
Small and mid-sized companies account for 90% of Spanish medical device manufacturing industry, but a few large companies that control the majority of the domestic market. Nevertheless, Spain's healthcare system relies on imported products, mostly from Europe—Germany in particular—and the United States.
Opportunities in the Spanish market: Spain's reliance on imported devices makes it an accessible market for foreign manufacturers, especially European, American, and Asian companies. Cost-efficient products are in the best position to enter the Spanish market, and there is modest demand for ophthalmology, absorbents, medical probes, and osteotomy products.
Industry challenges in Spain: Spain's economic crisis forced its medical device market to evolve. Spanish manufacturers focused on exporting to maintain growth. The healthcare sector continues to control costs due to significant budget cuts, so low-cost sources of medical technology are more appealing. European and American manufacturers currently dominate Spain's import market, but will see increased competition from Asian manufacturers. While the Spanish economy is expected to recover and the medical device market remains stable, it is not a high-growth market.
How Spain compares to other markets
| SPAIN | GERMANY | UNITED KINGDOM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 48,146,134 | 80,854,408 | 64,088,222 |
| Primary language(s) | Spanish | German | English |
| Total healthcare spending | $128billion | $437 billion | $252 billion |
| Healthcare expenditures total (% of GDP) | 9% | 11.3% | 9.1% |
| Healthcare expenditures per capita | $2658 (USD) | $5411 (USD) | $3935 (USD) |
| Expenditures on healthcare | Government: 71% Private: 29% |
Government: 77% Private: 23% |
Government: 83% Private: 17% |
| Size of medical device market (USD) | $5.3 billion (USD - 2014) | $26 billion (USD – 2014) | $9.5 billion (USD) |
| Number of hospital beds | 3.6 per 1000 people | 8.2 per 1000 people | 2.9 per 1000 people |
| Age distribution | 0-14 years: 15% 15-64 years: 67% 65 years and over: 18% (2015 est.) |
0-14 years: 13% 15-64 years: 66% 65 years and over: 21% (2015 est.) |
0-14 years: 17% 15-64 years: 65% 65 years and over: 18% (2015 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth | Male: 79 years Female: 85 years |
Male: 78 years Female: 83 years |
Male: 78 years Female: 83 years |
| Currency | Euro (€) | Euro (€) | Pound sterling (£) |
Want to see how Spain compares to many other countries in Europe and around the world? Download our free PDF Healthcare spending by country.
