Population of Catalonia grew by almost 8,000 in 2021 due to migration

The population of Catalonia increased by 7,951 in 2021, according to estimates from Idescat, the Catalan Statistics Institute. 

The main driving force behind the growth in population was international migration, which accounted for 23,270 people. 

On the other hand, natural population growth was negative, a decrease of 11,708, as there were more deaths than births in all counties except the Girona counties and Segarra. 

In addition, migration with the rest of Spain was also negative, a decrease of 3,708 people. 

Idescat calculates that the resident population in Catalonia was 7,747,709 people on January 1, 2022. 

Barcelona population falls 

The population grew in 34 counties in 2021, and fell in eight. The counties with the greatest growth in relative terms were Baix Penedès, Garraf and Pallars Sobirà, while those that saw the biggest relative population loss were Aran, the Barcelona counties and Garrigues. 

Migration 

In terms of migration – including internal migration within Catalonia and within Spain as well as international migration – 39 counties experienced an increase, while only Aran, the Barcelona counties and the Tarragona counties recorded a decrease. 

The counties with the greatest growth due to migration were Maresme and Vallès Occidental. 

Ageing population 

Catalonia has an ageing population due to the combination of a low birth rate and a high life expectancy. 

The percentage of the population aged 65 and over increased from 19% in 2021 to 19.3% in 2022, while the ratio of over-85s to over-65s went from 16.9 in 2021 to 17.1 in 2022.  

The ageing of the population is not uniform across Catalonia. In six counties, at least a quarter of the population is 65 or older: Terra Alta (29.2%), Ripollès (25.8%), Pallars Jussà (25.6%), Priorat (25.3%), Ribera d'Ebre (25.2%) and Garrigues (25.2%). 

In contrast, Aran (15.9%) and the Girona counties (16.0%), Vallès Occidental (17.3%), Vallès Oriental (17.6%) and the Tarragona counties (17.6%) have the lowest percentage of the population aged 65 or over.