Population and Housing Census. 2025. Foreign population

There were 2,039,015 people born abroad residing in Catalonia as of 1 January 2025, 628,310 of whom held Spanish citizenship. The population born abroad with Spanish citizenship represented 30.8% of those born abroad residing in Catalonia, reaching the highest percentages among residents in El Vallès Oriental (39.6%) and El Baix Llobregat (37.2%).

The figure for the population born abroad (2,039,015) was higher than that of the foreign national population (1,522,819 people). On the other hand, the majority of the foreign national population had been born abroad (1,410,705 people) and a part had been born in Spain (112,114 people).

Those born abroad represented 25.1% of the population residing in Catalonia, but there were 3 counties where this proportion exceeded 30%: El Barcelonès (34.1%), L'Alt Empordà (31.6%) and La Segarra (31.5%). At the other extreme, there were 3 other counties where this proportion did not reach 15%: El Lluçanès (11.4%), El Pallars Sobirà (14.3%) and El Moianès (14.6%).

Regarding the foreign national population, this represented 18.7% of the Catalan population. The highest proportions were those of La Segarra (30.1%), L'Alt Empordà (25.9%) and El Barcelonès (24.9%), while the lowest were those of El Lluçanès (9.3%), El Moianès (10.3%) and El Vallès Oriental (11.1%)

Compared to the previous year, the population born abroad increased by 132,183 people (6.9%) in Catalonia as a whole and also increased in all counties and Aran, with variations ranging from the highest in El Solsonès (12.8%) and El Lluçanès (11.5%), to the most modest in El Pallars Sobirà (1.7%) and L'Alta Ribagorça (2.2%).

The foreign national population increased by 78,627 people (5.4%) in Catalonia and also increased in all counties and Aran, except in El Pallars Sobirà (-0.5%). The largest increases were recorded in El Solsonès (14.7%), El Lluçanès (12.7%) and L'Alt Urgell (10.8%).

By place of birth, the population born in America represented 47.4%, followed by those born in Africa (20.7%), ahead of those born in Europe (20.3%). The main countries were Morocco (303,065), Colombia (160,238), Argentina (116,720), Peru (100,730) and Ecuador (96,802).

By nationality , the American population was also the most numerous (32.8%) and second place corresponded to the population of European nationality (29.9%), of which 21.1% was from the European Union and 8.8% from the rest of Europe. They were followed by nationals of Africa (23.2%). The countries with the most foreigners were Morocco (252,843 people), Colombia (107,178), Italy (91,925), Romania (84,842) and China (67,739).

In Catalonia, there were 56 municipalities where the percentage of foreign national population was over 25%. Guissona (51.8%), Castelló d'Empúries (45.5%), La Portella (42.1%), Sant Pere Pescador (39.5%) and Lloret de Mar (38.5%) stood out. Regarding the place of birth, there are 107 municipalities where the percentage of those born abroad was over 25%. Guissona (51.0%), Castelló d’Empúries (49.5%), La Jonquera (46.2%), Lloret de Mar (45.4%) and Salt (44.8%) stood out.

The main indicators of nationality and place of birth, by provinces, areas of the Territorial Plan, counties and Aran, municipalities, census tract groups, census districts and census tracts, can be viewed in the Maps section of the Idescat website.