Catalonia's population is getting older, with 3,000 centenarians for the first time

Catalonia has 3,051 centenarians, people 100 years old or older, for the first ever time, according to the latest population estimates from the Statistical Institute of Catalonia (Idescat).

The number of centenarians has grown continuously since the 1980s, when there were only 185, and in the last decade, they have gone from 2,000 to 3,000.

The vast majority of this group, 83.5%, are women.

The number of 100+ year olds doubles approximately every 10 years.

As for the population as a whole, it is estimated that Catalonia has 8,154,627 residents as of July. This represents an increase of 41,137 people during the first half of the year, and a 1.1% increase compared to July 1, 2024.

The statistics show that Catalonia is getting older. The first half of 2025 saw the age group from 0-15 years decrease by 10,869 people, while the population from 16-64 years is up by 35,375 people, as is the group of 65+ year olds, of whom there are 16,631 more.

In relation to a year ago and in relative terms, the population from 0 to 15 years decreases by 1.9%, while that of 16 to 64 years increases by 1.4% and that of 65 years or over does so by 2.3%.

The proportion of the population over the age of 60 has passed 26%, a historical record and ten percentage points higher than four decades ago. More than 20% of the total population is aged between 60 and 79. 

Meanwhile, 5.95% of Catalan residents are over the age of 80.