Bedbugs surge in Spain as tourism fuels urban infestations
Rentokil’s 2025 data shows cockroaches still dominate pest calls, but bedbugs jumped to 14.6% of enquiries, driven by rising tourist traffic.
According to Rentokil’s latest annual pest report, cockroaches remained the most common complaint in Spain in 2025, representing 39.1% of all service enquiries. Bedbugs rose to second place with 14.6% of calls, a spike the company attributes to the country’s record tourist arrivals and frequent changes in household occupancy. Zaragoza topped the city rankings, where bedbug enquiries reached 24.75%, and the Madrid region followed with a 21% share, reflecting its role as a transport and business hub.
Catalonia, home to Barcelona, stayed near the national average at just under 13%. Anticimex corroborates the trend, noting steady increases in bedbug work since 2020 across several regions. Both firms caution that their figures measure demand for treatment, not absolute infestation levels, and official statistics are limited because Spain lacks mandatory reporting. Travelers are advised to keep luggage off beds and inspect accommodations to avoid bringing bugs home.
Why it matters
Rising bedbug infestations threaten tourists and residents, highlighting the need for better pest-control measures in heavily visited Spanish cities.
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