Spain strengthens data on the social economy with new satellite account

The social economy plays a key role in job creation, work integration and inclusive growth, but data on the sector remain incomplete and inconsistent in many Member States.
For this reason, the EU Social Economy Action Plan (SEAP) and the 2023 Council Recommendation on social economy framework conditions both call for better, more reliable statistics on social economy to guide policymaking. Satellite accounts are emerging as effective tools to fill that gap.

Spain has taken a major step forward with the publication of its first Social Economy Satellite Account by the National Statistical Institute (INE). This new framework provides a comprehensive, structured picture of the sector and could contribute to more comparable data across Europe.

A statistical tool to better capture the social economy

Satellite accounts complement national accounts by expanding the economic framework to include activities that traditional statistics often overlook. They allow policymakers and researchers to analyse specific sectors in a consistent and comparable way, while preserving the structure of standard national accounts.

The Social Economy Satellite Account developed by INE captures both economic and employment activities of organisations operating under social economy principles, including cooperatives, mutual societies, foundations and associations. It also extends to a broader set of entities such as labour companies, insertion enterprises and special employment centres, reflecting the diversity of the sector.

Through the integration of these organisations into the national accounting system, the satellite account provides a clearer and more detailed picture of the sector’s size, structure and evolution over time.

Key figures highlighting the Social Economy contribution

Initial results confirm the significant role of the social economy in Spain. 

In 2023, the sector generated €54.4 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA), or 4% of the national total. Its overall production reached €120.7 billion, with €66.3 billion in intermediate consumption, highlighting the scale of its activity.

The sector directly employed around 1.28 million people (5.8% of total employment). During the COVID-19 pandemic, this share rose to 6.5% in 2020, pointing to greater resilience compared to the overall economy.

Turnover has remained stable at around 11% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), peaking at 11.9% in 2020 and returning to 11.1% in 2023, suggesting a steady contribution even in periods of disruption.

The data also show a strong presence across sectors, particularly in agriculture, forestry and fishing (24.9% of GVA), and in services (over 18%).

Beyond its economic impact, the social economy plays a key role in promoting social cohesion, participation and solidarity. In Spain, it builds on a long-standing tradition of organisations addressing social needs such as employment, social services and community development.

The satellite account reflects this broader contribution by including not only economic output and employment, but also volunteering and social engagement, offering a more comprehensive view of the sector’s societal impact. It also highlights volunteering as a key but often overlooked dimension. In 2023, 15.7% of the population over 16 engaged in volunteering (over 6.4 million people). Formal volunteering alone accounted for 10.3% of the population, with an estimated value equal to 0.5% of national GVA.

A step towards better measurement of the social economy

Spain’s initiative represents a major milestone in advancing the measurement of the social economy. 

It places the country alongside Portugal, Luxembourg and Poland, three EU Member States that have already developed satellite accounts.

 Spain’s experience now stands as a leading example and offers inspiration and practical guidance for other countries ready to take this important step. Stronger statistical frameworks will be key to unlocking the full potential of the social economy across Europe.

For more information, see the press release by the Spanish National Statistical Institute (INE) 

 More information 

Detailed results 

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