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Population resident abroad as of 1 January. By continent. Counties and Aran, areas and provinces

Population resident abroad as of 1 January. By continent. Counties and Aran, areas and provinces Catalonia
European Union Rest of Europe Africa North and Central America South America Asia Oceania Total
2026 141,000 80,261 6,122 76,197 108,029 11,631 4,183 427,423
2025 134,989 77,558 5,760 71,130 102,401 10,744 4,097 406,679
2024 128,205 74,138 5,668 66,699 97,504 10,212 4,060 386,486
2023 121,152 70,457 5,548 62,446 94,550 9,302 3,912 367,367
2022 116,000 67,601 5,626 60,136 94,619 9,198 3,831 357,011
2021 109,632 62,283 5,229 57,668 93,452 8,693 3,557 340,514
2020 129,116 34,722 5,082 56,630 93,784 8,395 3,460 331,189
2019 119,972 33,524 4,676 54,379 93,075 7,673 3,300 316,599
2018 110,856 32,465 4,033 52,102 92,725 7,209 3,135 302,525
2017 100,904 30,969 3,530 48,855 90,687 6,601 2,828 284,374
2016 90,947 29,453 3,057 44,860 87,052 6,032 2,633 264,034
Source:
2016-2018: Idescat. Population register of inhabitants residing abroad.
2019-2026: Idescat, based on the INE's Register of Spaniards Resident Abroad Statistic.
Note: As of May 2023, the data are presented according to the current territorial distribution (in accordance with Law 7/2023, on the creation of El Lluçanès county, which also territorially modifies Osona).

Last update: April 22, 2026.

Methodological note

Definition of concepts

Population residing abroad
Individuals who habitually live abroad, who are Spanish nationals, being or not their only nationality, and whose last municipality of registration is in Catalonia. The reference date is 1 January of each year.

Methodological aspects

The statistics on the population residing abroad are obtained from the Register of Inhabitants Residing Abroad and are considered as an official statistical activity. The reference date is 1 January of each year.

The Register of Inhabitants Residing Abroad is the administrative register of individuals who habitually live abroad, who are Spanish nationals, being or not their only nationality, and whose last municipality of registration is any of those in Catalonia. The reference date is 1 January of each year.

The Act 4/1996 of 10 January, modifying the Act 7/1985 of 2 April, which regulates the bases for the local ordinances in relation to the Municipal Population Register, establishes that the General State Administration shall create a Register of Spanish Inhabitants Residing Abroad. “The individuals registered in this Register are considered inhabitants of the Spanish municipality which figures in the data of their last registration solely for purposes of exercising the right to vote and are not considered in any case as inhabitants of the aforesaid municipality."

It is made up using the data existing in each Register of the Consular Office or Section of the Diplomatic Mission.

For further information about these statistics, you may check the methodology.