El Comtat has the largest number of people over 85-years-old

The Province of Alicante has 46,592 people over the age of 85 according to the National Statistics Institute.

According to the numbers the largest number of people over 85 live inland in the El Comtat region of the province.

Using the town of Beniarres as an example, 78 residents out of a total population of 1,118 are over 85-years-old which equates to 7% of the town’s population.

Unfortunately, like many of Spain’s inland towns, many young people are forced to move away in search of work, a problem not lost on Beniarres mayor Francisco Selles.

“We worry about that as much as the lack of services,” admitted Beniarres mayor Francisco Selles.

“Because there are fewer of us and many are very elderly, it becomes difficult to provide adequate services for the local population,” he said.