In brief
Spain recorded 2,417 hate crime incidents in 2025, a 23.6% increase from 2024 and the highest figure since records began in 2014.
Racism and xenophobia accounted for 934 incidents, while sexual orientation and gender identity accounted for 571, making them the two leading motives.
Islamophobic incidents saw the largest percentage increase of any category, rising 133% compared to the previous year.
Cantabria saw a 54.55% rise, Castilla y León a 46.2% increase, and the Balearic Islands a 29.4% jump in hate crime incidents.
Melilla recorded 21.89 hate incidents per 100,000 inhabitants, the highest rate in Spain, followed by Navarra at 15.65.
Spain topped the ILGA-Europe Rainbow Map 2026 with an 89% score, yet FELGTBI+ reports public harassment rose from 20% to 36% and explicit violence from 7% to 22% since 2024.
Hate crimes in Spain reached an all-time high in 2025, according to the 'Informe sobre la evolución de los delitos e incidentes de odio en España 2025' presented by Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska. The report recorded 2,417 penal infractions and hate incidents, a 23.6% increase from the previous year and the highest number since the statistical series began in 2014.
National overview and key drivers
Racism and xenophobia were the most frequent motives, accounting for 934 incidents. Crimes related to sexual orientation and gender identity followed with 571 incidents, while ideology-based offenses totaled 241. The most dramatic percentage increase was in Islamophobia, which surged by 133%. The most common types of offenses were threats (446) and physical injuries (441), followed by incitement to discrimination (319).
Regional disparities
Melilla recorded the highest rate in the country at 21.89 incidents per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by Navarra (15.65) and Ceuta (10.77). The Basque Country and Asturias both registered a rate of 7.01. Cantabria saw one of the sharpest increases, jumping 54.55% to a rate of 5.72. Castilla y León experienced a 46.2% rise to 136 infractions, with Segovia posting the highest provincial rate nationally at 22.09 per 100,000 inhabitants. The Balearic Islands recorded a 29.4% increase to 66 incidents. Andalusia, despite a rise to 295 known incidents, remained the region with the lowest rate at 3.40 per 100,000 inhabitants.
Victim and perpetrator profile
Nationally, 62.34% of victims were men, with the largest age group being 26 to 40 years old (33.22%). Spanish nationals made up 60.46% of victims. Among foreign victims, who represented 39.54%, the largest groups originated from Africa (16.16%), with Moroccans accounting for 9.98%, and from the Americas (15.65%), primarily Colombians (4.32%) and Venezuelans (2.22%).
Contrast with legal protections
Spain's record hate crime figures stand in contrast to its top ranking on the ILGA-Europe Rainbow Map 2026, where it scored 89% for legal protections and public policies for the LGTBI community. A separate report, 'Estado del Odio LGTBI+ 2026' by FELGTBI+, indicates that public harassment prevalence rose from 20% in 2024 to 36%, while explicit violence surged from 7% to 22%. The report suggests official Interior Ministry data may be undercounted due to systemic under-detection.
- Melilla
- 21.89 per 100,000
- Navarra
- 15.65 per 100,000
- Ceuta
- 10.77 per 100,000
- Basque Country
- 7.01 per 100,000
- Asturias
- 7.01 per 100,000
- Cantabria
- 5.72 per 100,000
- Valencian Community
- 5.69 per 100,000
- Castile and León
- 5.67 per 100,000
- Balearic Islands
- 5.33 per 100,000
- Madrid
- 5.14 per 100,000
- Castile-La Mancha
- 4.95 per 100,000
- National average
- 4.92 per 100,000
- Extremadura
- 4.66 per 100,000
- Murcia
- 4.53 per 100,000
- Galicia
- 4.35 per 100,000
- La Rioja
- 4.28 per 100,000
- Aragon
- 4.05 per 100,000
- Canary Islands
- 3.82 per 100,000
- Catalonia
- 3.82 per 100,000
- Andalusia
- 3.4 per 100,000
Data from the article text
Andalusia in focus
In Andalusia, 295 hate incidents were recorded, with 102 related to racism and xenophobia and 75 to sexual orientation. The region saw 104 arrests, including 40 for sexual orientation motives and 19 for racism. Authorities solved 200 cases. Sevilla led the region with 73 incidents, followed by Málaga (66) and Cádiz (40).