The Human Pressure Indicator (HPI), which measures the daily population burden in the Balearic Islandsclosed 2024 with record figures for the archipelago, reaching a maximum of 1,761,311 people in October. This figure represents an increase of 1.9% over the same month of the previous year, according to the Balearic Institute of Statistics(Ibestat). However, Ibiza experienced a different behavior, registering a decrease of 11.8% in the same period, with 234,080 people present, one of the biggest year-on-year drops in the archipelago.
Disparate performance among islands
The rest of the Balearic Islands showed different trends in October. Mallorca led the demographic pressure with 1,362,200 people, an increase of 4.5 % compared to 2023, while Menorca reached a maximum of 148,041 people, growing by 0.5 %. Formentera, on the other hand, also experienced a reduction, with 22,677 people present, 2.7 % less than the previous year.
These data reflect that, although the overall HPI of the archipelago set records, the specific dynamics of each island show significant differences, partly influenced by factors such as the seasonality of tourism and carrying capacity.
A year of maximums for the Balearic Islands
In annual terms, the Balearic Islands reached historic peaks in several months of 2024. August was the month with the highest population pressure, with 2,079,541 people, an increase of 1.8% over the same month last year. Other notable months included September with 1,858,077 people, July with 2,051,560 and June with 1,905,896. Throughout the year, the average peak HPI for 2024 was marked by year-over-year increases in all months, highlighting a 4.1% increase in May and a 2.9% increase in June. These data consolidate an upward trend in the demographic load of the archipelago, with the exception of occasional decreases such as that recorded in Ibiza during October.
A challenge for sustainability
Increasing human pressure in the Balearics poses significant challenges to the sustainability of the islands. Ibiza, although it has registered a significant decrease in October, continues to be a hotspot for tourism activity. Variations in the HPI reflect not only changes in tourism dynamics, but also in resource and infrastructure management capacity. With these figures, 2024 closes as a year of contrasts in the demographic pressure of the Balearic Islands, setting new records while some islands such as Ibiza experience significant declines at key moments. The behavior of tourism and territorial management will continue to be determining factors in the coming years.
