.jpg)
Gandia, April 20, 2926 - the Chair of Territory Thinking Joan Noguera has publish a new edition of the newsletter of the Territory Observatory of Gandia, for March 2026, which analyses three strategic areas for the city’s future: demographic trends, the business structure, and waste management.
Gandia is facing record-low birth rates, an economy that remains vulnerable in the wake of the pandemic, and challenges in waste management.
In the social field, the report shows that Gandia has reached record-low birth rates. Since 2008 the number of births has fallen approximately 40%, while the fertility remains well below the replacement rate, with figures ranging from 1.11 to 1.26 children per woman. In addition, there has been a gradual rise in the age at which women give birth, which now averages over 31 years. The study also highlights the growing role of foreign mothers, who account for nearly 40% of births and help offset the demographic decline.
As for the economy, the city maintains a stable business landscape, with an average of 2,377 companies in 2025. Despite the recovery following the impact of COVID-19, It has not yet fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels and has an economy heavily weighted toward the service sector, which accounts for more than 84% of businesses. The report shows the vulnerability of the smaller businesses related to self-employment, which are particularly vulnerable to economic fluctuations and seasonal variations.
In the environmental field, the analysis of the waste management in La Safor reveals room for improvement. Gandia positions itself as the primary generator of waste in absolute terms, but it has lower per-capita rates of separate waste collection than other municipalities in the region, especially in fractions like paper, cardboard or glass. At the same time, there has been a significant increase in the waste generation rate, in line with European regulatory requirements, which underscores the need to promote improvements in efficiency and public awareness.
Given the situation, the Chair of Territory Thinking Joan Noguera, highlights the significance of developing comprehensive public policies that address demographic, economic, and environmental challenges in a coordinated manner. Among the proposed lines of action, the following stand out: strengthening support for families, diversifying the local economy, and improving recycling systems, as well as ensuring greater transparency and communication with the public.
The Territory Observatory of Gandia continues to establish itself as a key tool for the municipality’s strategic analysis and planning, providing accurate and up-to-date information to support public and private decision-making.
A tool at the service of the region
The Newsletter of the Territory Observatory is addressed to to public officials, technical staff, social and economic stakeholders, the academic community, and the general public, and has established itself as a key tool for understanding Gandia’s development from a comprehensive, data-driven perspective.
You can download and read the whole brochure on the official website of the Chair:
