Galicia has emerged as one of Spain’s leading regions for extreme longevity, with a growing number of residents surpassing the age of 100. Figures attributed to the Sociedade Galega de Xeriatría e Xerontoloxía (SGXX) count 2,039 centenarians in Galicia out of 19,639 across Spain, about 10.4% of the national total. Women account for most centenarians. A team from the Universidade de Vigo is investigating why certain Galician communities have such high concentrations.
Led by psychologist and gerontologist José María Faílde, the research focuses on two areas: the ZEL-G Sur (Zona de Extrema Longevidad-Galicia Sur) and the ZEL-G Centro. Identified for their unusually high prevalence of centenarians, these zones are being compared with international longevity clusters, including Sardinia. The team is working with the Universidade de Santiago and the Instituto Galego de Estatística, alongside the Fundación de Medicina Xenómica de Galicia, to examine genetic and social factors as well as environmental influences. Galicia has not received a formal global “Blue Zone” designation; the project is studying areas with impressive longevity rather than conferring that status.
Initial findings suggest that medical advances alone do not explain Galicia’s longevity rates. Researchers instead point to sustained physical activity and strong social ties, as well as moderate climates and low stress levels. Many centenarians in these regions have lived through war, emigration, and periods of scarcity, yet remain active well into old age. Women make up the majority of Galicia’s centenarians: the latest data cited by the research show that three out of every four people over 100 are female.
To build their dataset, the team accesses protected microdata from national and regional statistics institutes, a process requiring special research and judicial permissions. Once centenarians are identified, researchers visit them at home, conduct interviews, and collect saliva samples to look for genetic and epigenetic patterns. Faílde describes these individuals as a unique “health heritage” that deserves preservation.
Statistical analysis from 2022 placed Galicia second in Spain for centenarians per 100,000 inhabitants, behind Castilla y León. Galicia is also one of Spain’s oldest regions: figures reported in connection with a geriatric nursing congress put the share of residents over 65 at 27%. Asturias was at 28.5%, with Castilla y León at 27.4%. That older population base is an impressive part of the demographic context for interpreting centenarian totals. Galicia’s growth rate has accelerated since 2008, outpacing that of other regions. Areas such as Ourense and A Paradanta in Pontevedra stand out for their high reported concentrations.
Local figures illustrate the scale of those clusters. Covelo, in Pontevedra, was reported to have 12 centenarians among slightly more than 2,400 residents in 2024, roughly 500 per 100,000. A Paradanta has also been reported at about 500 per 100,000, while Ourense’s reported rate is around 87 per 100,000. These figures describe different geographic areas and population snapshots, so they should not be read as a like-for-like comparison. Residents have cited home-produced food and strong social relationships as possible explanations, while researchers are examining a wider set of influences.
One of the most striking cases is Esperanza Cortiñas, who, at nearly 110 years old, is considered the “grandmother of Galicia.” Born in Carballedo (Lugo) in 1916, Cortiñas attributes her longevity to a lifetime of work and mental activity, along with a daily routine that includes social games and dancing. Her story reflects patterns researchers have observed: rural centenarians often remain physically active until late in life, and many have shown impressive personal ability to recover. The routine of another Galician centenarian, 105-year-old Eustaquio Pérez, offers a similar individual example: he has described walking four kilometres every day. Personal accounts illustrate active ageing, while population-level research is needed to assess broader patterns.
Geography also appears to play a role. Many municipalities with high concentrations of centenarians are in mid-mountain areas, far from the coast. Studies cited by the research team suggest that living at altitudes between 400 and 900 meters may induce mild hypoxia, triggering cellular defense mechanisms that could contribute to longevity. By contrast, metabolic syndrome is more common below 200 meters.
Social factors also matter. Men benefit from living with a partner, while most female centenarians are widows. Researchers warn that modern lifestyles, with sedentary habits and processed foods, contrast sharply with the traditional patterns among Galicia’s oldest residents, including their less superficial relationships. They also note that unwanted loneliness, now the subject of growing academic attention, can shorten life expectancy by more than a decade.
The region’s age profile reflects both survival and population movement. Instituto Galego de Estatística figures cited in regional reporting show that 14,620 people aged 16 to 34 left Galicia in 2024, 16.2% more than in 2021. The departure of younger residents can increase the proportion of older people, making population structure an impressive consideration alongside longevity rates. The team says the trend of increasing longevity in Galicia could persist for another 15 years as current nonagenarians move into the centenarian bracket. Findings could inform public health strategies across Spain. In other Spanish regions, unresolved issues such as the ongoing investigation into the Sa riera drowning in Girona continue to show how local factors shape demographic outcomes, as seen in this report on safety concerns in Catalonia.
Population ageing also presents a challenge for health services. Reporting on a geriatric nursing congress at Hospital Álvaro Cunqueiro in Vigo said public hospitals in Vigo and Lugo had a total of five geriatric nurses, two in Vigo and three in Lugo. Their specialist positions were consolidated in July 2026. The congress coverage called for expanded geriatric nursing provision and closer multidisciplinary integration.
Spain’s demographic field is shifting, and researchers are preparing to publish their next set of results. The debate over what drives extreme longevity in Spain is far from settled.
Spain’s overall life expectancy remains among the highest in Europe, and the country regularly ranks in the global top five. The phenomenon of “Blue Zones” has drawn international attention, with researchers worldwide seeking to understand the conditions associated with healthy ageing. Galicia’s case suggests that no single factor, whether genetics, geography, or lifestyle, can fully account for the region’s impressive concentration of centenarians. As the population ages, understanding these dynamics will matter to policymakers and healthcare providers, as well as families.
