Seasonal Population Estimates. 2021
In 2021, 19 counties and Aran registered a positive seasonal population balance, meaning that the number of people actually present exceeded the number of registered residents. El Tarragonès, with an annual full-time equivalent population (AFTE) of 23,749 people, was the county to record the highest seasonal population in absolute terms. It was followed by El Baix Empordà with 22,546 people, La Selva with 11,713 people and L’Alt Empordà with 11,084 people. By contrast, El Baix Llobregat (−22,802), El Vallès Occidental (−20,055) and El Barcelonès (−14,314) were notable among the 22 counties with a negative seasonal population balance.
The Catalan municipality to record the most significant seasonal population in absolute terms was Barcelona (AFTE population of 23,883), followed by Salou (9,405) and Tarragona (7,713). The municipalities with the most significant negative seasonal population balances were L'Hospitalet de Llobregat (AFTE population of −13,808), Badalona (−12,150) and Santa Coloma de Gramenet (−10,042).
The county with the highest seasonal population in relation to its registered population was El Pallars Sobirà (27.3%). By contrast, the county of L’Anoia had the lowest seasonal population in relative terms (−4.0%). Among the municipalities, Pals stands out for having a seasonal population estimated to have been equivalent to 62.1% of its registered population. It was followed by Tossa de Mar, Castell-Platja d'Aro and Santa Susanna, which experienced increases in their resident populations of between 39.0% and 47.1%.
In relation to 2020, 19 counties saw their seasonal populations increase, although the vast majority did not return to the pre-pandemic figures recorded in 2019. By way of an example, the county with the most significant seasonal population in Catalonia, El Tarragonès, recorded 41,536 people in 2019, 11,393 people in 2020, and 23,749 in 2021. In Barcelona, the municipality with the largest seasonal population in absolute values, the figure for 2021 (AFTE population of 23,883) was very similar to the figure for 2020 (23,842) but significantly lower than the figure for 2019 (91,633).