Rise in Gender Violence Cases in the Canary Islands
The Canary Islands reported 2,974 cases of gender-based violence in the first quarter of 2026, an increase of 131 incidents or 4.6% compared to the same period last year. The number of women affected rose from 2,482 to 2,672, representing a 7.7% increase, according to data from the Observatory against Domestic and Gender Violence.
The region’s rate of 23.4 victims per 10,000 women is the third highest in Spain, following the Balearic Islands at 28.7 and Navarra at 24.5. The national average stands at 18.1. The lowest rate was reported in Galicia, with 12.3 victims per 10,000 women.
Of the victims in the Canary Islands, 1,967 were Spanish and 705 foreign nationals, including ten minors. During this quarter, 329 women opted out of testifying against their abuser, an increase from previous years, with 176 being Spanish and 153 foreign.
Courts registered 383 requests for protection orders, a decline of 2.8% from the previous year. Of these, 252 were granted, while 128 were denied. A total of 681 convictions were handed down, with a conviction rate of 96.5%.
The overall number of criminal proceedings increased by 4.5% to 2,893, which included various types of urgent and preliminary investigations, as well as minor crime trials.
In terms of incidents reported by island, Fuerteventura had 176 cases, Gran Canaria 1,430, Lanzarote 244, El Hierro 2, La Gomera 6, La Palma 67, and Tenerife 1,208.
