Population and Housing Census 2024. Marital status

As of 1 January 2024, 34.8% of the population aged 16 and over in Catalonia were single, 43.9% were married, 8.5% were separated or divorced and 6.6% were widowed.

The counties with the highest proportion of married people were El Lluçanès (51.4%) and La Segarra (51.1%), while the lowest proportions were recorded in El Barcelonès (38.9%) and Aran (41.7%). With regard to the separated or divorced population, El Baix Penedès (10.9%) and El Garraf (10.2%) had the highest percentages, while La Terra Alta (5.4%) and L’Alta Ribagorça (6.2%) had the lowest.

Marital status varies considerably with age. Single is the most common marital status among people aged 16 to 39. Among those aged 40 to 84, the married population predominates, whereas from the age of 85 onwards the most common marital status is widowed.

By age group, the highest concentration of single people is recorded among those aged 16 to 29, where single men (562,889) outnumber single women (501,284). The married population is concentrated mainly between in the 45 to 59 age group, where married men (538,206) slightly outnumber married women (528,206). Separated or divorced people are also concentrated primarily in the 45 to 59 age group, although separated or divorced women (157,018) outnumber separated or divorced men (130,666). Finally, the highest number of widowed people is found in the 75 to 89 age group, where widowed women (193,209) far outnumber widowed men (35,497).

By relation to economic activity, 45.7% of the employed population are married, 41.4% single, 10.0% separated or divorced and 1.1% widowed. Of the unemployed population, 45.9% are married, 37.2% single, 12.5% separated or divorced and 1.9% widowed. Of the population receiving a retirement or early retirement pension, 62.4% are married, 20.3% are widowed, 9.2% are separated or divorced and 7.3% are single.

By level of education attained, 42.2% of single people have higher education and 4.9% have primary education or lower. Among married people, 37.7% have higher education and 13.1% have primary education or lower. Among separated or divorced people, 39.8% have higher education and 6.0% have primary education or lower. Among widowed people, 13.5% have higher education and 45.7% have primary education or lower.

Idescat publishes the results of the Population Census relating to marital status for the years 2022, 2023 and 2024. Data are provided for Catalonia, the provinces, the areas of the Territorial Plan, the counties, the municipalities, the census tract groups, the census districts and the census tracts.