Foreign nationals make up nearly 20% of Catalan population

The number of foreign nationals living in Catalonia has risen significantly over the past five years, and now accounts for 19.3% of the population.

According to provisional data from Spain's National Statistics Institute (INE) as of January 1, 2026, there are now 1.58 million foreign nationals living in Catalonia, almost one in five people. 

Over the same period, the share of people born abroad, regardless of nationality, has also increased, reaching 2.14 million people.

Catalonia's population growth in recent years is closely linked to immigration.

Catalonia ranks third in Spain for share of foreign nationals, behind the Balearic Islands (21.8%) and the Valencian Community (20.5%).

In the last five years, Catalonia's share of foreign residents grew 3.4 percentage points, slightly above the Spanish average of 3.2 points.

Almost half of foreign residents are between 25 and 44 years old, with the largest group aged 30 to 34. 

Among that group, people born between 1991 and 1995, more than a third do not have Spanish nationality.

Foreign-born population rising 

The foreign-born population is also rising. Catalonia's proportion of 26.1% is second in Spain after the Balearic Islands (29.3%). Since 2021, this share has increased 5.8 points, faster than the Spanish average of 4.9 points.

Among the 2.14 million people born abroad, the largest concentrations are also in the 25-44 age group. In the 30-34 age group, almost half (49.3%) were born abroad. 

Among those aged 25–29 (44.9%), 35–39 (47.6%) and 40–44 (41.6%), the share is also notably high, and in all four age groups the percentages have risen by between six and ten points over the past five years.

Spain now has, for the first time, over 10 million foreign-born residents out of 49.57 million people.

Catalonia's total population has also increased. On January 1, 2026, the region had 8,208,894 residents, a 1% increase compared to a year before. That growth is lower than recent years.

By province, Tarragona saw the most growth (+1.64%), adding 14,365 residents, followed by Lleida with a 1.4% increase (6,430 more people). Barcelona gained 56,485 residents and Girona 7,488, though in both provinces growth stayed below 1%.