Percentage of vacant housing units over the whole residential stock in Spanish municipalities with population over 2.000 (2011). The higher ratios are in smaller municipalities, in which a limited number of development projects can have an enormous impact.

Percentage of vacant housing units over the whole residential stock in French municipalities with population over 2.000 (2009). The demographic crisis in rural areas is clear

The Spanish municipality over 20.000 with the highest ratio of vacant housing units was in 2011 Torre-Pacheco, with a grand total of 20.386 units, of which 7.326 vacant units. The presence of large tourism subdivisions built during the last decade, with problems to get a first buyer, explains this partially. 

In France, Vichy (pop 25.100) had a total of 20.319 housing units, including 1.233 seasonal homes and 4.408 vacant units (22%).  A real estate market moved by spa tourism seems to be at least partially the reason.