Presentation of the GEM Spain Report 2024-2025

On 30 June 2025, Madrid hosted the official presentation of the GEM Spain Report 2024-2025, which confirms for the fourth consecutive year the sustained growth of the Entrepreneurial Activity Rate, reaching 7.2% of the adult population. However, the intention to start a business stagnates at 11.2%, which could slow down future growth.

The report, prepared by the Spanish Entrepreneurship Observatory in collaboration with Enisa, the MAPFRE Sustainable Finance Observatory and the Rafael del Pino Foundation, is consolidated as a key tool for understanding the dynamics of the Spanish entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Its conclusions are especially valuable for entrepreneurs, investment agents and startups, as it offers a practical guide that helps to detect opportunities and understand the structural challenges of the business environment in Spain.

Main findings

The report includes a series of key trends that define the current state of entrepreneurship in Spain:

• Recent entrepreneurial activity (TEA) is growing for the fourth consecutive year, reaching 7.2% of the adult population.
• The intention to start a business stagnates at 11.2%, which could slow down future growth.
• Madrid and Catalonia lead in entrepreneurship rates, while other regions show more conservative profiles.
• Artificial Intelligence is consolidating itself as a key factor for the future viability of businesses.
• Entrepreneurial profile is ageing: 70% of new entrepreneurs are over 35 years old.
• Women are more entrepreneurial in consumer services, although with less initial capital and less international orientation.
• Foreign residents and people with disabilities show entrepreneurship rates higher than the national average.
• The rural environment is recovering activity, led by women.

Conditions of the entrepreneurial environment

The scores of the national panel of experts on the general quality of the environment for entrepreneurship in Spain have improved slightly in 2024. Overall, the National Index of the Entrepreneurial Context (NECI) reaches 4.3 points, but Spain ranks 38th out of the 56 countries evaluated.

Access to physical infrastructures and services is the factor best valued by experts, with a score of 6.7 out of 10. There is also an improvement in the valuation of entrepreneurial education in the post-school stage (5.2) and in the cultural perception of entrepreneurship (4.2).

However, some aspects fail the assessment of the panel of experts. Access to finance remains limited (4.0), and ease of entry into the domestic market has worsened (3.9), so improving access to finance is crucial. Bureaucracy and taxation continue to be perceived as major obstacles, with scores below 4. 

Education and training: keys to success

Entrepreneurial education is key in an environment marked by innovation and competitiveness. The report highlights the value of mentoring and practical training, which are essential to equip entrepreneurs with real skills and competencies. Incorporating these programs from school stages and throughout life allows you to cultivate a solid entrepreneurial culture.

A solid training not only develops technical skills, but also enhances creativity and critical thinking, pillars of future entrepreneurial generations.

Innovation and Sustainability: essential factors

A third of the people participating in the report highlight the transfer of R+D from the academic to the industrial field as a key driver of entrepreneurship. Promoting this collaboration is essential, since alliances between universities and companies allow ideas to be turned into viable businesses.

In addition, 63% of recent entrepreneurs say they take social impact into account in their decisions, and 61% of entrepreneurs in charge of established initiatives have taken steps to minimize environmental impact. This synergy between innovation and sustainability strengthens competitiveness and generates a positive and lasting impact on society.

Gender perspective in entrepreneurship

In 2024, female participation in entrepreneurship continues to grow, with a TEA that goes from 6.1% to 6.8%.  In addition, women are close to men in terms of innovation capacity: 49% of recent women entrepreneurs innovate in products compared to 51% of men, and 47% do so in business processes compared to 49% of men

Expectations of digitalisation are also increasing among women, although their initiatives are still less capitalised and less internationally oriented. Only 9% of initiatives led by women operate in medium-high technological level sectors, compared to 16% in the case of men. 

These data show the need to design public policies that encourage women's leadership, reduce structural barriers and promote an inclusive entrepreneurial culture from an early age.

Territorial dynamics of entrepreneurship

The report highlights regional differences in entrepreneurial behaviour. Madrid and Catalonia lead in the creation of initiatives, although they also register high closure rates. Navarre stands out for its strength in consolidated entrepreneurship, while La Rioja and the Basque Country show more conservative profiles, with less entrepreneurial intention but greater stability.

In addition, foreigners residing in Spain undertake twice as many as Spaniards, and the rural environment is recovering activity led by women.

Identifying these dynamics is essential to design adapted support strategies, which maximise success according to the local profile and context.

Challenges and opportunities

Despite the advances, Spain continues to be the country with the lowest perception of opportunities for entrepreneurship among the 51 analysed in the GEM Global report. Although the fear of failure has been reduced, entrepreneurial intention remains stagnant and the entrepreneurial profile continues to age: 70% of entrepreneurs are over 35 years old. In addition, the life cycle of businesses is shortened, especially when they do not outlive the founders.

These challenges coexist with clear opportunities: the sustained growth of entrepreneurial activity, the promotion of innovation, digitalisation and sustainability, and the prominence of new profiles such as women entrepreneurs, foreign residents and people with disabilities.

The GEM Spain Report 2024-2025 offers a roadmap to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem, adapt it to new realities and ensure that entrepreneurship is a viable, inclusive and transformative option for society as a whole.

If you want to know more about this report, we invite you to download it: in this link.