In Spain, levels of satisfaction with life and optimism about the future are somewhat higher than the European average, according to the European Quality of Life Survey (EQLS), carried out by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions. Despite high levels of overall life satisfaction, the survey reveals some economic deprivation and hardship, especially among women and older people, reflecting slightly lower household income levels in Spain, in comparison with other former EU15 Member States. Older people in Spain tend to be less satisfied and are markedly less optimistic about the future.

Tension between men and women in Spain is apparently higher: 17% of Spanish men report a lot of tension compared to the EU25 average of 10%, while 22% of Spanish women say this compared to the EU25 average of 13%. More Spanish women workers fear losing their jobs in the coming six months than overall in the EU15 countries. Spain is the only country in which more than twice as many women as men fear this.

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