Spanish Official Development Assistance reaches highest level in 15 years

The contribution from all Spanish public administrations exceeded €4.55 billion in 2025: some €529 million more than the previous year and the highest figure in Spain in the last 15 years.

As a result, Spain’s contribution represents the second-largest year-on-year increase among all member States, and Spain once again ranks above the DAC average. Spanish Cooperation thus ranks 11th in terms of total ODA volume within the OECD, moving up one place from the previous year.

The trend that began in 2024, which continues with the 2025 figures, represents a historic decline in ODA. In 2025, the largest year-on-year decline in DAC history occurred, amounting to 26.4% (23.1% in real terms) globally.  

“In the face of this worrying global trend, Spain is leading the way in ODA growth,” said Minister José Manuel Albares, citing the commitment set out in Law 1/2023 on Sustainable Development Cooperation and Global Solidarity and detailed in the Spanish Cooperation Master Plan 2024–2027. “Spain is increasing its contribution at a critical juncture and playing a counter-cyclical role, which positions us as a reliable and strategic partner helping to mitigate the impacts of cuts, and as a global actor fulfilling its commitment to the international cooperation system and the multilateral system as a whole,” explained Albares.

The volume of ODA managed by the General State Administration in 2025 rose from €3.6 billion to €4.116 billion, representing a 14% increase. This figure accounts for 90% of Spanish ODA, almost one percentage point more than the previous year. 

Of these funds, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation increased its ODA volume by 184 million euros, exceeding 1.022 billion euros and consolidating its position as the second-largest manager of these funds, with more than 22% of the total, second only to the Ministry of Finance, which is responsible for channelling Spain’s contribution to the European Union budget.

The Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), which operates under the Ministry through the State Secretariat for International Cooperation, increased its ODA budget for a second consecutive year to over €610 million, the highest figure since 2011.

Estimates indicate that decentralised cooperation accounts for just under 10% of total ODA. As for the contribution of the Autonomous Communities, Catalonia, the Valencian Community and the Basque Country remain the regions contributing the largest volume of ODA to Spanish Cooperation as a whole, whilst the Canary Islands and Galicia are the regions that will see the greatest increase in their contribution by 2025. 

Data provided by the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP) suggest that aid flows from local governments remain at similar absolute levels to the previous year, accounting for around 2.13% of total ODA in 2025. 

Meanwhile, according to data provided by the Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities (CRUE), it is estimated that public universities continue to contribute around 0.25% of Spanish ODA.

Spanish ODA is dedicated to responding to major humanitarian crises and working with developing countries in their efforts to create economic opportunities and decent work for all; combating hunger and poverty in all their dimensions; reducing inequalities and achieving gender equality; and bringing about fair ecological, economic and digital transitions that leave no one behind.

It is also a fundamental tool for protecting human rights, including cultural rights and the rights to education, health, food, water and sanitation, and for combating the effects of climate change and preserving the environment.