The autonomous community of Andalusia has achieved a milestone in its business fabric by exceeding 5,500 medium and large enterprises for the first time. As of January 1, 2025, the region had 5,558 companies with 50 or more employees, representing a 2.4% increase compared to the previous year, adding 132 more companies in absolute terms. This figure marks the highest level since the historical series began.
This qualitative advancement in Andalusia's productive system, traditionally characterized by high fragmentation around self-employed individuals and micro-enterprises, brings the region's business structure closer to that of other Spanish territories. This data comes from the 2025 Directory of Companies and Establishments with Economic Activity, compiled by the Institute of Statistics and Cartography of Andalusia (IECA).
The growth of these companies has been reflected in the employment they generate, exceeding 1.44 million workers, an increase of 1.1%. These companies, which represent less than 1% of the regional productive fabric, account for approximately 47% of the workforce.
Within this segment, the largest companies, those with 250 or more employees, led the advance with a 5.5% increase, reaching 952. Companies with 100 to 249 employees grew by 2.9%, adding 48 new firms to reach 1,710. The most numerous group, with 50 to 99 employees (2,896 companies), experienced a 1.2% growth, with 34 additions.
Seville remains the province with the highest number of companies of at least 50 employees, with 1,159 after adding 25. It is followed by Málaga, with 812 (about 20 more). Almería recorded the highest percentage growth (2.7%), followed by Málaga (2.5%) and Seville (2.2%). Córdoba grew by 2%, Jaén by 1.3%, and Huelva by 1.1%. Conversely, Granada lost five companies (-1.1%) and Cádiz three (-0.6%).
Since 2007, the number of medium and large enterprises in Andalusia has seen a significant recovery. After a decline during the economic crisis that hit a low in 2014 with 2,932 firms, the trend reversed, achieving an accumulated increase of nearly 90% in just over a decade to reach the current historical figure of 5,558.
The overall business fabric of Andalusia also expanded, reaching a record of 673,918 companies with economic activity in 2025, a 4.5% increase. This boosted the number of employed individuals to 3,068,333, a 2.1% rise.
By sector, real estate, professional, and other services led the growth with 20,662 more companies (+12%). Information and communications (+10.8%) and public administration, education, and health (+10%) also stood out. Commerce lost 1,272 companies (-1%), while industry declined by 0.9%.
