Pollença has been crowned as the second healthiest city in Spain, according to a study conducted by ZAVA, an online medical service specialising in wellness and weight management. The report, which analyses quality of life in more than 200 cities across the country, highlights the Mallorcan town for its balance between natural surroundings, clean air and access to aquatic spaces.

Pollença

Photo: Consell de Mallorca.

With a score of 8.99 out of 10, Pollença is only surpassed by Teruel, which leads the national ranking. The northern Mallorcan town stands out for its impressive number of swimming areas – 1,548 per 10,000 inhabitants – as well as its excellent air quality (index 17). The study also highlights its balanced proportion of healthy food outlets compared to fast-food establishments, which contributes to a more sustainable and well-balanced lifestyle by the sea.

Palma, ranked 162nd

In contrast, Palma ranks 162nd overall and fifth among Spain’s major cities – behind Málaga, Murcia, Barcelona and Madrid – with a score of 6.68 out of 10. The Balearic capital has 16 parks and 5.6 gyms per 10,000 inhabitants, but is penalised for its scarcity of walking routes and a lower density of green areas compared to smaller towns. Nonetheless, Palma stands out for maintaining good air quality and an expanding network of sports facilities.

The analysis reveals a clear trend: medium-sized and small cities offer better conditions for health and well-being than large urban centres. None of Spain’s major metropolitan areas appear among the top-ranked cities.

Study methodology

The ZAVA study evaluated each locality based on indicators such as the number of parks, gyms, swimming areas, walking routes, healthy food outlets and air quality, using data from OpenStreetMap and pollution indices from IQAir. In total, cities with more than 17,000 inhabitants were analysed to produce a national urban well-being ranking.

With this result, Pollença strengthens its image as a benchmark for quality of life in the Balearic Islands, where the natural environment, the sea and an active community make all the difference.