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External migrations. Emigrations. Counties and Aran, areas and provinces

External migrations. Emigrations. On the continent of destination. Counties, areas and provinces Catalonia
Rest of EU Rest of Europe Africa America Asia Oceania Not stated Total
2024 39,815 25,917 18,111 46,979 15,370 824 0 147,016
2023 43,475 21,411 17,207 45,597 17,200 951 0 145,841
2022 39,735 16,922 13,171 32,576 12,477 1,011 0 115,892
2021 49,834 (b) Break in time series 25,231 (b) Break in time series 24,497 (b) Break in time series 49,352 (b) Break in time series 21,316 (b) Break in time series 1,212 (b) Break in time series 0 (b) Break in time series 171,442 (b) Break in time series
Source: Idescat, based on the INE Migrations and Changes of Residence Statistics.
(b) Break in time series.

Last update: April 9, 2026.

Methodological note

Definition of concepts

External emigration
Change of residence when the municipality of destination is abroad and the municipality of origin is any of the municipalities of Catalonia. External immigration includes people leaving to abroad both of Spanish and foreign nationality.
External migration
Change of residence when the municipality of origin is abroad and the destination is any of the municipalities of Catalonia. External immigration includes the arrival of people coming from abroad both of Spanish and foreign nationality.
International migration
Change of residence between a municipality in Catalonia and abroad.

Methodological aspects

Residential Variation Statistics (RVS) are compiled by the INE from information regarding registrations and delistings due to changes of residence registered in the Municipal Registers, with variation dates from the reference year.

Migratory movement refers to the displacement of an individual due to a change in residence, as well as the characteristics of this migration. The information contained comprises only inter-municipal changes and, as such, changes in residence within the same municipality are excluded.

Yearly residential variation statistics do not refer to the number of people changing residence, but rather to the number of changes made, as a citizen may change residence from one municipality to another more than once a year.

Exterior immigration data is compiled exclusively from municipal registrations of people who have arrived from abroad. Exterior immigration data for the years 2001, 2002 and 2003 have not been published due to a lack of exhaustive data (these population flows tended to be incorporated directly into the Continuous Municipal Register as entries lacking previous registrations). Exterior immigration flow is published again from 2004 onwards as the total number of movements was reasonably exhaustive, even though there is an elevated number of cases where the destination country information is missing.

The external emigration series begins in 2005, the year in which the data, once analysed, is more consistent, even though there is still a large number of cases missing the destination country information.

From 2006 onwards, delistings from the Municipal Register due to expiry are included. These delistings are included as a result of the legislative change to the 7/1985 Organic Law, which regulates Local Ordinances, introduced in the 14/2003 Law on Foreign Nationals, which states that foreigners from outside the European Union must renew their registration on the Municipal Register every two years. If they do not renew, city councils must declare their registration as expired.

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