Spain experiences historic 11% GDP slump in 2020 due to pandemic

Very slight 0.4% economic growth over fourth quarter

Shopping centers in Catalonia were forced to close after the Christmas season (by Aina Martí)
Shopping centers in Catalonia were forced to close after the Christmas season (by Aina Martí) / ACN

ACN | Madrid

January 29, 2021 03:17 PM

The National Institute for Statistics' latest quarterly accounts, which were published on Friday, paint a bleak picture of a Spanish economy drastically impacted by Covid-19.

Spain's GDP contracted by 11% in 2020 compared to the previous year as a result of the pandemic and the restrictions imposed in an attempt to curb the spread of the virus that the INE describes as an "unprecedented challenge" with wide-ranging consequences.

Although there was 0.4% growth over the fourth quarter, it was far from the 16.4% increase experienced over the summer following the drastic 17.9% plummet during strict lockdown months of the spring.

Fourth-quarter growth was still down 9% on third-quarter gains and 9.1% below the October-December 2019 figures.