Population and Housing Census 2024. Migration

317,912 people took up residence in Catalonia in 2023, according to data from the 2024 Population Census. Of these, 276.153 were born abroad (a 86.9%), 19,135 in the rest of Spain (6,0%) and 22,624 in Catalonia (7.1%). These figures include people who arrived in Catalonia for the first time and people who had already lived there previously but had been temporarily residing abroad.

Of the 8,012,231 inhabitants on 1 January 2024, by year of arrival in Catalonia, 4.0% arrived in 2023 (317,912), 3.5% in 2022, 2.3% in 2021, 6.0% between 2016-2020, 3.1% between 2011-2015, 8.5% between 2001-2010, 2.7% between 1991-2000, 1.8% between 1981-1990 and 10.8% before 1981. 57.3% have always lived in Catalonia (4,594,150 people).

The results show differences in the year of arrival by place of birth. Of the 4,981,501 inhabitants born in Catalonia, 4.594.150 have always lived there. Besides, 387.351 have lived outside Catalonia temporarily and returned to take up residence Catalonia (22,624 returned in 2023 and 19,086 in 2022).

Of the 1,124,048 inhabitants born in the rest of Spain, 773,480 arrived in Catalonia before 1981 (68.8%), 19,135 arrived in 2023 and 16.882 in 2022.

Of the 1,906,682 foreign-born people residing in Catalonia, 14.5% (276,153 people) last arrived in 2023 and 12.9% (245,767 people) in 2022. The period 2001-2010 also stands out, when 544,689 people arrived for the last time (a 28.6% of those currently residing in Catalonia).

Data are provided also on the previous place of residence regardless of the year of migration. 28.1% of the population of Catalonia have always lived in the municipality in which they currently reside. 35.4% had previously lived in another municipality in the province and 6.2% in another province of Catalonia. 10.2% of the population previously lived in another autonomous community and 15.0% lived abroad. The previous place of residence is not recorded for 5.0% of the population.

In terms of residential mobility, 23.1% of the population has moved to their municipality of residence in the last five years. By counties and Aran, El Baix Penedès, where 32.5% of the population has settled in their municipality in the last five years, stands out followed by La Cerdanya (30.8%) and El Garraf (27.0%). By municipalities, there are 85 where more than a third of the population has arrived in the last five years. Talarn (49.5%), Montferri (43.6%) and Montmaneu (42.0%) stand out.

Idescat publishes the results of the 2024 Population Censuses regarding migrations (year of arrival in the municipality, year of arrival in Catalonia, year of arrival in Spain and previous place of residence). Data are provided for Catalonia, provinces, areas of the Territorial Plan, counties, municipalities, census tract groups and census tracts.

Idescat disseminates a set of migration indicators which can be viewed on interactive maps.