summary
- The Spain Happy Index 2025 ranks Alicante province, especially Costa Blanca towns, among Spain’s happiest locations.
- Santa Pola, Alicante city, and Elche lead with scores over 89 points.
- Sunny climate, seaside access, and strong health and education services fuel high wellbeing.
- Communities across Spain like Málaga, Ibiza, and the Canary Islands also feature prominently.
- The index evaluates climate, services, natural habitat, and subjective wellbeing for over 8,000 municipalities.
Spain Happy Index 2025 Highlights alicante and Costa Blanca as National Happiness Champions
For those dreaming of a life filled with sunshine, sea breezes, and quality living, the Spain Happy Index 2025 delivers encouraging news. The latest nationwide study, covering more than 8,000 Spanish municipalities, places several towns from the Alicante province and the famous Mediterranean coastline of the costa Blanca at the top of Spain’s happiness rankings.
Top Happy Cities of Alicante Province
The report crowns Santa Pola as the happiest municipality in Alicante, scoring 90.62 points. The city shines with a remarkable 313 days of sunshine annually, blessed with lovely natural surroundings that enhance quality of life.
Trailing close are Alicante city (89.99 points) and Elche (89.40 points),both renowned for their excellent urban amenities,healthcare,education networks,and year-round mild mediterranean climate. Alicante itself boasts 299 days of sun each year, a stable 20ºC average temperature, and minimal wind or rainfall-ingredients that foster wellbeing and contentment.
Costa Blanca: Mediterranean Paradise of Happiness
The happiness wave extends throughout the Costa Blanca coastline, where other municipalities rank very high in the national list:
- Guardamar del Segura: 87.55 points
- El Campello: 87.24 points
- Torrevieja: 87.19 points
- Benidorm: 86.87 points
These towns share a trifecta of key happiness factors-over 300 sunny days a year, pleasant temperatures, proximity to pristine beaches, and developed infrastructure-making Costa Blanca a national benchmark for well-being and relaxation.
Wider Valencian Community and Spain: A Happy Region
| Municipality | Province | Happiness Score |
|---|---|---|
| Valencia (capital) | Valencia | 85.97 |
| Sagunto | Valencia | 86.68 |
| Puçol | Valencia | 85.30 |
| Chilches | Castellón | 85.90 |
| Moncofa | Castellón | 85.36 |
The Valencian Community ranks among the top five autonomous regions nationally for happiness, with coastal and medium-sized towns benefiting from nature and quality infrastructure.
National Context: Sun, Sea and Service drive Happiness Across Spain
The Mediterranean climate, balanced urban life, and infrastructure are big contributors to happiness beyond Alicante. Andalusia’s Málaga (91.36 points) and Almería (90.88 points) top regional rankings with more than 310 days of annual sun and excellent airport connections.Other cities such as Cádiz, Sevilla, and Granada also score highly due to similar climate and services.
In the Balearic Islands, Ibiza leads with 90.86 points, alongside towns like Llucmajor and Calvià, mirroring the Canary Islands’ dominance, which places nine municipalities among Spain’s 20 happiest, including Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Urban centers like Barcelona and Tarragona are also in the top tier, benefiting largely from their coastal locations and connectivity. Notably, even inland cities like Madrid appear in the ranking, proving happiness is not only tied to the seaside.
What Makes a Municipality “Happy”?
The Spain Happy Index, created by Sonneil Homes, assesses multiple criteria:
- Number of sunny versus rainy days per year
- Average annual temperature and wind conditions
- Quality and accessibility of healthcare, education, and transportation services
- Natural environment presence and subjective wellbeing indicators
Alfredo Millá, CEO of Sonneil Homes, explains, “the Mediterranean climate, quality services, proximity to the sea, and a calmer lifestyle place Alicante province in a privileged position.”
Conclusion
Whether you’re seeking a sunny coastal retreat or a city balancing culture and nature, the Spain happy Index 2025 highlights alicante and the Costa Blanca as prime destinations for happiness and wellbeing.With abundant sunshine, beautiful natural settings, and top-notch services, it is no surprise these towns lead the way in quality of life.
For a complete list of municipalities and detailed scores, visit the Spain Happy Index official website.
Sources:
- Periodico Santa Pola, http://www.periodicosantapola.es/actualidad/article/vivir-junto-al-mar-te-hace-mas-feliz-santa-pola-entre-las-ciudades-con-mayor
- Sonneil Homes, Spain Happy Index 2025, https://www.sonneil.com/spain-happy-index/