Foreign residents in Barcelona exceed 25% for the first time

The population of Barcelona grew for the second consecutive year in 2023, reaching 1,702,814 inhabitants, an increase of 2.6% over the previous year, according to the census of January 1, 2024. 

Population growth has been "heterogeneous but widespread," occurring in all neighborhoods and districts of the city, a council spokesperson explained. 

This increase is attributed to migratory movements, with a 10% increase in the number of registered foreigners. 

In fact, the number of foreigners living in Barcelona now totals 430,000, representing more than 25% of the registered population - a record in the city's recent history. 

Meanwhile, the number of births continues to decline, with just over 11,000 births in 2023, the lowest number since 1939.  

However, after two years of stability, mortality has fallen to 14,700 deaths, the lowest number since 2019.  

The census also recorded a historic high in the number of centenarians, topping one thousand for the first time in the city. 

One in four residents born abroad

For the first time in history, one in four Barcelonans has foreign nationality.  

The number increased by 10.4% throughout 2023, reaching a new high of over 25% of the registered population.  

In total, there are 432,556 foreign nationals among the 1.7 million residents.

"Among those foreigners who traveled to Barcelona in 2023, we see a gender-based balance, and they are young adults who say they have a quite high education level, as 45% say they have been to university. In total, 83% of residents have been born abroad, but 63% say they come from abroad," María Jesús Calvo, Barcelona city council data department, said to journalists.

Barcelona is home to people from 180 different nationalities, in addition to Spanish nationals. 

Four of these nationalities were newly recorded last year: Brunei, Comoros, Belize, and North Korea. 

The second most common nationality in Barcelona is Italian (50,052 residents), followed by Colombian (28,551 residents), Pakistani (over 24,000), and Chinese (nearly 22,000 residents).