Balearic Islands sees surge in advance directive registrations

The registration of advance directives—legal documents outlining medical preferences, end-of-life care, and organ donation for individuals who may lose decision-making capacity—is seeing significant growth in the Balearic Islands.

Data shows that the volume of registered documents has nearly tripled in four years. In 2021, the Office of Advance Directives recorded 1,065 documents, rising to a record 2,688 in 2024. By the end of the first half of 2026, 1,852 documents had already been registered, a figure that significantly exceeds 2021 levels.

Since the registry's inception, a total of 22,654 documents have been inscribed. Of these, 15,829 were formalized through the Office of Advance Directives, 6,613 through a notary, and 212 via witnesses. Demographic data indicates that women represent the majority of applicants, nearly doubling the number of men.