Canary Islands Report Highest Litigation Rates in Spain for Q3 2025

SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 17 Dec. (EUROPA PRESS) – The Canary Islands have emerged as the region with the highest litigation rates in Spain for the third quarter of 2025, recording an alarming rate of 41.14 cases per 1,000 inhabitants. This statistic highlights the ongoing legal challenges faced by residents and underscores the pressing need for judicial reform in the archipelago.

Analysis of Litigation Trends

During this period, the judicial system in the Canary Islands processed a total of 92,107 cases across various legal categories, including civil, criminal, administrative, and social. This figure reflects a 15.6% decline compared to the same quarter in the previous year, indicating a potential shift in legal activity or perhaps a backlog in case processing. Despite this decrease, the archipelago’s litigation rate remains significantly above the national average of 31.25 cases per 1,000 inhabitants, with a difference of 9.89 cases. The Canary Islands have consistently led the country in litigation rates for the past five years, and the current figures indicate a notable gap between them and the second-highest region, the Balearic Islands, which reported 35.28 cases per 1,000 inhabitants.

The high litigation rate in the Canary Islands raises questions about the factors contributing to this trend. Legal experts suggest that a combination of socio-economic conditions, population density, and the accessibility of legal services may play a role in the increased number of cases. As the region continues to grapple with these challenges, the implications for both residents and the judicial system are profound.

Breakdown of Unresolved Cases and Jurisdictional Insights

As of the end of September 2025, there are 264,099 unresolved cases in the Canary Islands, marking a concerning 10.5% increase from the previous year. This backlog of cases poses significant challenges for the judicial system, as it strains resources and prolongs the resolution process for individuals seeking justice. In terms of case resolutions, the courts managed to close 95,463 cases, which is a 3% decrease compared to the summer of 2024, further exacerbating the issue of unresolved litigations.

Breaking down the cases by jurisdiction, the civil courts reported 32,503 new cases, a significant drop of 32.3% from the previous year. The number of resolved civil cases also fell by 5.4%, leaving 167,842 cases pending. In the criminal courts, 49,358 new cases were filed, reflecting a slight increase of 1.2%, while 46,516 cases were resolved, which is a 1.8% decrease. This resulted in 53,013 open cases, a 9.9% rise from the same period last year.

The administrative jurisdiction saw a dramatic decline of 53.1% in new cases, totaling only 2,241. However, the courts managed to resolve 2,882 cases, an increase of 22.8%, leaving 17,376 cases pending, which is a 21% rise. The social jurisdiction experienced an increase of 5.5% in new cases, totaling 8,005, while 5,636 cases were resolved, a decrease of 5.6%. This left 25,868 unresolved cases, reflecting a 9.9% increase from the previous year. The disparities in case resolutions across different jurisdictions highlight the complexities and varying challenges faced by the judicial system in the Canary Islands.

Judicial Performance and Case Management

In the second quarter of 2025, the judicial authorities in the Canary Islands issued 21,913 judgments, which is a slight decrease of 0.2% compared to the same quarter in 2024. On average, this equates to 99.60 judgments per court. Additionally, there were 54,633 rulings, down by 3.9%, averaging 248.33 per court, and 20,670 decrees, averaging 114.51 per court. These statistics reflect the ongoing challenges faced by the courts in managing their caseloads effectively.

The courts also recorded 15,616 executions of judgments, with 18,598 resolved, while 173,618 cases remained pending at the end of the quarter. The pending case rate in the Canary Islands was reported at 2.77, which is the eighth lowest in Spain, compared to the national average of 3.09. The resolution rate for the region stood at 1.04, surpassing the national average of 1.00, placing the Canary Islands in a favorable position alongside Castilla León and Galicia.

Furthermore, the congestion rate, which measures the number of pending cases relative to those resolved, was recorded at 3.76, making it the seventh highest in the country and slightly below the national average of 4.09. This indicates that while the courts are managing to resolve cases at a rate that is competitive nationally, the sheer volume of pending cases continues to be a significant concern.

Key points

• The Canary Islands recorded 41.14 litigation cases per 1,000 inhabitants in Q3 2025.
• A total of 92,107 cases were registered across four legal jurisdictions.
• There are currently 264,099 unresolved litigations in the archipelago.
• The civil jurisdiction saw a 32.3% decrease in new cases compared to the previous year.
• The criminal jurisdiction recorded 49,358 new cases, a 1.2% increase from last year.
• The administrative jurisdiction experienced a 53.1% decline in new cases.
• The pending case rate in the Canary Islands is 2.77, below the national average.