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Small Area Socioeconomic Index. 2023

In 2023, there were 110 census tract groups in Catalonia with a Small Area Socioeconomic Index (IST) more than 20 points below the Catalan average. Almost all of these groups were concentrated in 44 municipalities distributed across the territory of Catalonia, except in L’Alt Pirineu i Aran Area: 66 of these census tract groups were in the Metropolitan Area, 18 in the Girona Counties Area, 9 in the Ponent Area, 8 in El Camp de Tarragona Area, 4 in the Central Counties Area, 3 in Les Terres de l’Ebre Area and 2 in El Penedès Area. At the other end of the scale, there were 62 census tract groups with a socioeconomic index 20 points or more above the Catalan average. Of these, 58 were located in the Metropolitan Area, 2 in the Girona Counties, 1 in El Camp de Tarragona and 1 in the Ponent Area.

Census tract groups are territorial units of between 5,000 and 20,000 inhabitants made up of contiguous census tracts with similar socioeconomic characteristics. In municipalities with more than 12,000 inhabitants, census tract groups are sub-municipal units similar to neighbourhoods.

As for municipalities with more than 500 inhabitants, those with the highest Small Area Socioeconomic Index in 2023 were Matadepera (129.9), Fontanals de Cerdanya (124.9) and Castellolí (124.8). At the other end of the scale, the municipalities with the lowest socioeconomic index were Barbens (56.5), Salt (59.8) and Sant Pere Pescador (62.9).

There were significant differences in the socioeconomic level of the 947 Catalan municipalities: 42 municipalities had an IST that was 20 points or more above the Catalan average and, at the other end of the scale, 31 had an IST more than 20 points below the average. Meanwhile, the largest group of municipalities (522) had a medium-high IST, which was between the Catalan average and up to 20 points above it. Finally, there were 352 municipalities with a medium-low IST, i.e., between 20 points below the Catalan average and the average itself.

The IST index brings together information from six indicators in a single value: two on employment situation, two on educational level, one on immigration status and one on income.

In terms of municipalities with more than 500 inhabitants, those with the highest and lowest values for each of the indicators were as follows:

  • Employed population aged 20 to 64 (66.8% in Catalonia as a whole). This indicator showed the highest value in Campllong (81.7%) and the lowest in Talarn (37.4%).
  • Low-skilled workers (11.6% in Catalonia as a whole). The municipality with the lowest value was Matadepera (3.0%) and the one with the highest value was Sant Pere Pescador (34.1%).
  • Population aged 20 or over with low educational level (13.7% in Catalonia as a whole). The municipality with the lowest value was Vallromanes (3.8%) and the one with the highest value was La Fatarella (29.4%).
  • Young population without post-compulsory education (22.9% in Catalonia as a whole). This indicator shows the greatest inequality between municipalities. The municipality with the lowest value was Fontanals de Cerdanya (3.2%) and the one with the highest was La Jonquera (55.7%).
  • Foreigners from low- or middle-income countries (13.5% in Catalonia as a whole). The municipalities with the lowest values were Maspujols, Monistrol de Calders and Muntanyola (1.1% for all three municipalities), and the one with the highest was Guissona (52.5%).
  • Average income per person (€16,461 in Catalonia as a whole). The municipality with the highest value was La Riba (€28,987) and the one with the lowest value was Salt (€10,843).

The results for the municipality of Barcelona are also presented for the city’s 73 neighbourhoods as defined by the City Council. Of these, 11 had an IST below 80, including Ciutat Meridiana (67.8), El Besòs i el Maresme (72.8) and Barri Gòtic (73.9). At the other end of the scale, nine neighbourhoods had an IST equal to or above 120, including Les Tres Torres (132.1), Sant Gervasi–Galvany (128.2) and Sarrià (127.3).

The IST is a relative index with no unit of measurement, with a reference value for Catalonia of 100, which summarises various socioeconomic characteristics of the resident population of a territory and quantifies the differences both between and within municipalities.

The IST results are published at the sub-municipal level for 853 census tract groups, Barcelona’s neighbourhoods and 5,108 census tracts in Catalonia. Results are also available by county and for all municipalities. This information can be viewed via the ISD map viewer

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Further information