Catalonia - Statistics & Facts
Facing the Mediterranean Sea and bordering France and Andorra, Catalonia is Spain's second-largest autonomous community. Inhabited since prehistoric times, the region has seen its territory conquered by various civilizations, leading to the foundation of historically important cities such as Barcelona and Tarragona. Today, it is inhabited by almost eight million people, having increased its population by more than a million in the first decade of the 21st century.
In spite of this population growth, the region has a higher crude death rate than its crude birth rate, which has seen the number of births decline since 2008, showing that the increase in inhabitants is due to internal and external migration. As of January 2022, approximately 16 percent of its population came from abroad, with residents from Africa being the largest group.
There has been a downward trend in the activity rate in the region. In 2022, it fluctuated between 60 and 62 percent. Regarding unemployment, although it is lower than the national average, the region registered a rate of 8.44 percent in the third quarter of 2023. However, this phenomenon does not affect the population equally. As in the rest of Spain, youth unemployment is more prominent. In 2022, approximately 24 percent of Catalonia's young residents between the ages of 16 and 24 were unemployed.
Despite the unique cultural feeling, this is not necessarily associated with the recent movements of independence. In November 2023, 31.4 percent of respondents said Catalonia should remain an autonomous community of Spain, while almost 31 percent said it should be an independent state.
In spite of this population growth, the region has a higher crude death rate than its crude birth rate, which has seen the number of births decline since 2008, showing that the increase in inhabitants is due to internal and external migration. As of January 2022, approximately 16 percent of its population came from abroad, with residents from Africa being the largest group.
Economic climate
Catalonia's economy is centered on the services sector, which accounts for 70 percent of the region's gross domestic product (GDP). This sector, together with the existing industrial activity, represents the region´s thriving economy, which had a GDP of approximately 270.2 billion euros in 2022. When considering the entire GDP of the country, the Catalan participation accounts for more than 20 percent of the total amount.There has been a downward trend in the activity rate in the region. In 2022, it fluctuated between 60 and 62 percent. Regarding unemployment, although it is lower than the national average, the region registered a rate of 8.44 percent in the third quarter of 2023. However, this phenomenon does not affect the population equally. As in the rest of Spain, youth unemployment is more prominent. In 2022, approximately 24 percent of Catalonia's young residents between the ages of 16 and 24 were unemployed.
Catalan identity and independence
Due to its long history, Catalonia has developed its own cultural identity over the centuries. Recently, a third of the population said they felt more Catalan than Spanish or only Catalan. Regarding the Catalan language, which originated from Vulgar Latin independently from Spanish, 39 percent of respondents in 2023 said that they considered it to be their mother tongue. Catalan enjoys equal and official status to Spanish in the region.Despite the unique cultural feeling, this is not necessarily associated with the recent movements of independence. In November 2023, 31.4 percent of respondents said Catalonia should remain an autonomous community of Spain, while almost 31 percent said it should be an independent state.
