Register of Inhabitants Residing Abroad. 2026
The number of Catalans residing abroad stood at 427,423 people as of 1 January 2026, a figure representing an increase of 5.1% compared to the previous year. These are individuals with Spanish citizenship who currently live abroad and have their last registration recorded in Catalonia.
Compared to a year ago, the number of Catalans residing abroad who were born abroad (284,516 people) increased by 7.1%, and those born in Catalonia (128,833) by 1.7%. In contrast, those born in the rest of Spain (13,746) decreased by 1.1%. A total of 66.6% of residents abroad were born abroad, while 30.1% were born in Catalonia and 3.2% in the rest of Spain.
By county, 217,015 inhabitants residing abroad have their last registration in a municipality in the county of El Barcelonès. They are followed, in absolute numbers, by El Vallès Occidental (29,224) and El Baix Llobregat (23,054). All counties have more people registered abroad in 2026 than they had in the previous year. The largest relative increases correspond to La Noguera (17.4%) and La Segarra (11.0%).
Regarding the last registered municipality, 192,869 inhabitants residing abroad are registered in the municipality of Barcelona. This is followed by L’Hospitalet de Llobregat (9,918) and Terrassa (8,654). In relation to 2025, the highest increases among municipalities with more than 1,000 inhabitants residing abroad correspond to Mollet del Vallès, with a rise of 6.9%, followed by Olot, Roses, Sitges and Sant Feliu de Guíxols, each recording increases of more than 6.4%.
By country of residence, France ranks first with 62,335 Catalan residents, followed by the United Kingdom with 39,012 residents, Argentina with 38,166 Catalan residents and Germany in fourth place with 35,470.
The Catalan-born population living abroad (128,833 people) resides primarily in Europe (69.1%) and, to a lesser extent, in America (25.1%). By country, France ranks first (with 23,058 residents born in Catalonia), followed by the United Kingdom (14,943), Germany (14,278), Andorra (10,363) and the United States (9,298).
Of the 284,516 people born abroad, 208,602 were born in the same country where they now reside, while 75,014 were born in other countries. The population born in their country of residence is located predominantly in America (61.7%). By country, Argentina is first, followed by France and Mexico. In contrast, those born in a country different from their country of residence live mainly in Europe (70.1%).
By county, those with the highest proportion of foreign-born inhabitants residing abroad are La Noguera (78.2%), El Pallars Jussà (74.7%) and El Barcelonès (73.5%). In contrast, the highest proportions of inhabitants residing abroad who were born in Catalonia are found in La Cerdanya (47.9%), Osona (44.7%), and El Berguedà (43.8%).
On the other hand, in 2025 there were 33,947 new registrations in the consular registers. These new entries resulted from births, naturalisations, previous omissions or emigration from Catalonia abroad. Of the new registrants, 77.2% were born abroad, 21.2% were born in Catalonia, and 1.6% were born in the rest of Spain.
France continues to be the country with the largest number of new registrations, followed by Argentina and the United Kingdom. America has consolidated their position as the leading continent for new registrations, ahead of Europe.