Migratory Movements. 2022

In 2022, 272,971 changes in residence were registered between municipalities in Catalonia. Cities have a negative balance of 13,599 residents who moved to non-urban municipalities.

Analysis of migration within Catalonia based on the degree of urbanisation of municipalities confirms a process of urban deconcentration: cities had more outflows than inflows, while Barcelona is the municipality with the most net outflows to the rest of Catalonia (−10,079 people).

The municipalities in semi-dense towns and areas (generally between 5,000 and 50,000 inhabitants) were the main recipients of migration inside Catalonia, with a positive balance of 9,531 inhabitants in 2022. Likewise, municipalities in rural areas registered 4,048 more inflows than outflows.

Over half of the 272,971 changes in residence within Catalonia (57%) also entailed a change of county. A total of 34 counties had a positive balance of migration with the rest of Catalonia, led by El Vallès Oriental (1,634) and El Baix Penedès (1,577). By contrast, 7 counties had a negative balance, led by El Barcelonès (&mninus;13,279), while Aran recorded the same number of inflows as outflows from municipalities in the rest of Catalonia.

By nationality, 29.4% of the internal movements registered in Catalonia were by foreign nationals, even though they account for 17.2% of the population.

The balance of migratory flows with the rest of Spain was negative in 2022. Emigration (55,972) exceeded immigration (50,107) and the net balance was negative (−5,865 people). Counties with negative balances included El Baix Llobregat (−1,417) and El Vallès Occidental (−1,098), whilst only 9 counties had a positive balance.

In relation to external migration, the net balance was positive at 158,546 people, which is the highest figure ever recorded. By nationality, the external balance for foreign nationals was 165,069 inhabitants, while for Spanish nationals it was negative (−6,523). The external balance of migration was positive in all counties and Aran.

The Migratory Movements statistics from 2022 onwards is sourced from Migrations and Changes of Residence Statistics by INE, while from 1998 to 2021 the source was the Residential Variations Statistics by INE. This switch means migration balances and flows in Catalonia and with the rest of Spain can be considered comparable with the previous series, while the external migration flows are higher in the new source.