Population and Housing Census 2023. Studies

As of 1 January 2023, 35.6% of the population aged 15 and over in Catalonia had attained tertiary education, including university studies and higher vocational education and training and equivalent, according to the Population Census. By sex, the percentage was higher in women (37.3%) than in men (33.7%). On the other hand, 13.4% of the population aged 15 and over had attained primary or lower education (11.6% of men and 15.2% of women), 27.5% lower secondary education (29.9% of men and 25.1% of women) and 23.6% upper secondary education (24.8% of men and 22.4% of women).

The counties with the highest percentage of population having attained tertiary education were El Barcelonès (42.2%), El Pallars Sobirà (42.0%) and El Garraf (39.1%). The counties with the lowest percentage were La Terra Alta (21.2%), L’Alt Empordà (24.1%), and El Montsià and La Segarra (25.2% each). The municipalities with the highest percentage were Sant Cugat del Vallès (63.0%), Renau (61.8%) and Sant Just Desvern (61.1%). The municipalities with the lowest percentage were La Jonquera (10.8%), Bovera (15.6%) and Badia del Vallès (16.3%).

By nationality, the percentage of the population having attained tertiary education was 36.4% among Spanish nationals and 31.6% among foreigners. Conversely, considering the population whose highest level of education attained was primary or lower, the proportion of foreign nationals (22.4%) nearly doubled that of Spanish nationals (11.5%).

Data on educational attainment level is provided at inframunicipal level for 5,108 census tracts and 853 census tract groups. For example, in the municipality of Tarragona, the census tract groups with the highest percentage of population having attained tertiary education were Tarragona 12 (Urbanitzacions de Llevant) (59.3%), Tarragona 5 (Nou Eixample Nord-oest) (51.8%), and Tarragona 4 (Nou Eixample Nord-est) (48.8%). The census tract groups with the lowest percentages were Tarragona 9 (Bonavista) (15.3%), Tarragona 8 (Campclar) (16.4%), and Tarragona 7 (Torreforta i Barris Adjacents) (16.7%).

The main indicators of educational attainment and ongoing studies can be visualised by province, areas of the territorial Plan, counties and Aran, municipality, census tract groups, census district and census tracts using Interactive maps.

A total of 37.4% of the population aged 18 to 24 was enrolled in tertiary education programs, including university studies and higher vocational education and training and equivalent. By sex, the percentage was higher in women (42.6%) than in men (32.6%). The counties with the highest proportion of young people who were studying higher education were El Pallars Sobirà and El Pla de l’Estany (41.3% each) and El Vallès Occidental (41.2%). The counties with the lowest percentages were El Baix Penedès (29.5%), La Selva (30.2%) and L’Alt Empordà (31.1%).

Idescat is publishing the results of the Population Census 2023 relating to population studies (level of education attained and current studies). Data are provided for Catalonia, provinces, areas of the Territorial Plan, counties, municipalities, census tract groups, districts and census tracts.