Population and Housing Census. 2024. Foreign population
The foreign population resident in Catalonia was 1,444,192 on 1 January 2024, representing 18.0% of the Catalan population. The number of foreigners increased by 6.0% compared to the previous year.
The highest proportions of foreign population were recorded in the counties of La Segarra (29.5%), L'Alt Empordà (25.9%) and El Barcelonès (23.9%). In 12 Catalan counties, at least 20.0% of the population were foreigners (in 2023 the counties were 9). In contrasts, the lowest proportions of foreign population were registered in the counties of El Lluçanès (8.2%), El Moianès (10.0%), El Vallès Oriental (10.5%) and L’Anoia (10.7%).
The total amount of inhabitants with a foreign nationality increased in 38 Catalan counties and Aran, compared to the previous year. The largest increases were registered in El Solsonès (26.6%), L’Alt Urgell (11.2%) and El Berguedà (10.1%). Decreases were only registered in 3 Catalan counties: La Segarra (−2.9%), El Ripollès (−1.2%) and El Moianès (−0.1%). Likewise, it must be taken into account that El Solsonès and La Segarra were affected by the change of county designation of Torà and Biosca (in the same way that Osona is affected by the creation of the county of El Lluçanès).
In Catalonia there were 50 municipalities in which the percentage of foreign population was higher than 25%. The highest percentages of foreign population were in the municipalities of Guissona (51.6%), Castelló d’Empúries (45.2%), La Portella (40.4%), Lloret de Mar (39.7%) and Sant Pere Pescador (38.6%).
The foreign population living in Catalonia was represented by more than 180 nationalities. Of these, the Moroccan population was the largest (with 241,179 people, representing 16.7% of the foreign population) and with a higher proportion of men than women (58.1% and 41.9%, respectively). The second nationality with the largest presence in Catalonia was Colombian (with 94,196 people, accounting for 6.5% of the foreign population) with a higher proportion of women (53.8%) than men (46.2%). The following nationalities were Italian (with 86,822 people, representing 6.0% of the total number of foreigners) and Romanian (with 85,922 people, accounting for 5.9% of foreigners).
Compared to the previous year, by nationality, the increases in the population from Colombia (17,789), Peru (8,529), Marrocco (7,125), Italy (6,014) and Venezuela (5,172) stand up.
By continent of origin, the American population was the largest in Catalonia on 1 January 2024, accounting for 32.3% of the foreign population living in Catalonia. Second place went to the European population (30.9%), of which 21.6% was from the European Union and 9.4% from the rest of Europe, followed by the African population (23.2%).
The American population experienced the highest increase (46,128 people), accounting for 11.0%. It was followed by Europe, with an increase of non-EU population by 9,391 people (3.1%) and the population from the rest of Europe by 8,444 people (6.7%).
The Population Census is considered as the statistical reference source for the foreign population. From 2021 on, the Municipal Population Register provides the series of foreign population from 2000 to 2022.