The provincial territory has seen 490 businesses disappear over a three-year period, with 2023 being the most critical year, marking a net loss of 291 establishments. Donostia, the most populous municipality, stands out as the primary example of this trend, although it has not suffered the most in relative terms. The capital of Gipuzkoa has recorded three consecutive years of declining commercial activity, with 2,268 closures versus 2,049 openings between 2023 and 2025, resulting in 219 fewer businesses.

This figure makes Donostia the municipality with the worst absolute balance in the territory, significantly ahead of towns like Eibar (-65), Arrasate (-46), Oiartzun (-45), Pasaia (-39), or Errenteria (-36). However, some municipalities have experienced a proportionally more severe impact when considering their size.

This is the case for Oiartzun, which shows a negative balance of 45 activities despite having around 10,500 inhabitants; this translates to four fewer establishments per 1,000 inhabitants in just three years. No other municipality exceeds three closures per thousand residents, while Donostia, for example, stands at 1.1. Other municipalities with significant negative trends include Eibar (-65) for a population of nearly 27,000 residents; Pasaia (-39); Arrasate (-46), Azpeitia (-35), or Andoain (-30). This decline extends to most medium and large municipalities such as Oñati (-30), Hernani (-27), Hondarribia (-26), Beasain (-24), Tolosa (-20), and Zarautz (-19).

These figures were provided by the Gipuzkoa Provincial Council in a written response to a question posed by the Popular Party group in the General Assemblies regarding the evolution of local commerce in the territory. The provincial institution did not provide an individualized list of closed and opened establishments, citing the confidential nature of tax data, but it did offer aggregated information by municipality based on the Economic Activities Tax.

Conversely, some exceptions defy this trend. Astigarraga shows the best balance in the territory, with 19 more activities over these three years. Orio also added ten, and Usurbil another 6; while towns like Zumaia or Urretxu are among the few medium-sized localities that manage to remain positive. The case of Astigarraga is easily understood, as it has been the town with the highest population growth in the last two decades, gaining over 3,500 inhabitants since then. In the last three years, after the municipality had consolidated its strong previous growth, it recorded a positive balance of 19 commercial activities.

Due to its proximity to Donostia, this town has become a primary destination for many young people unable to buy or rent housing in the capital, where the real estate market has reached exorbitant levels. This growth has transformed Astigarraga from being a "dormitory town" to consolidating itself as a municipality with a stronger identity, more services, and increasing activity linked to both local commerce and hospitality. Orio also bucks the general trend with ten more activities in the three-year period. In its case, the pull seems more linked to hospitality and tourism, as well as its residential and coastal appeal.

By region, the deterioration is particularly noticeable in the Donostialdea and Oarsoaldea areas, the most metropolitan zone, where the decline in Donostia is compounded by losses in Hernani, Errenteria, Pasaia, and Oiartzun. The setback in industrial regions also stands out: Debabarrena is particularly affected by the sharp decline in Eibar, while Debagoiena shows very negative balances in Arrasate and Oñati. In Goierri and Urola Garaia, although more distributed, negative balances also prevail, with setbacks in Beasain, Ordizia, Legazpi, or Zumarraga.

These data confirm the "growing concern" recently conveyed by the Gipuzkoa Merchants Federation (Gipuzkoa Merkatariak) after the latest Euskomer barometer was released last March. The sector has been complaining for years about the loss of commercial centrality in many urban centers, the aging of part of the merchant population, the lack of generational replacement, the concentration of consumption in large areas, and the rise of online shopping. Internet purchases, as noted by the barometer itself, have gained particular strength among those under 50, and only 23% of Gipuzkoans have never bought through this channel.

The paradox is that, despite all this, local commerce remains a highly valued channel. The Euskomer barometer positions Gipuzkoa as the territory in the Basque Country where it receives the best consideration. The annual study by the trade observatory also detects growing social concern about the disappearance of shops and commercial desertification, data confirmed by the Provincial Treasury.