The Alt Pirineu i Aran region has concentrated the majority of counties with the highest socio-economic level in Catalunya, according to the latest Territorial Socio-economic Index (IST) compiled by Idescat. This index, which assesses employment, education, immigration, and income status, sets the average for Catalunya at 100.
Pallars Sobirà tops the Catalan rankings with a score of 106.9, slightly lower than the previous year. Following in the province of Lleida, and ranking fifth overall in Catalunya, is the county of Aran with 103.3. Alta Ribagorça completes the trio of Lleida counties above the average, scoring 100.7.
The disparity between mountain and plain areas is notable. Cerdanya (99.9), Solsonès (96.9), and Pallars Jussà (92.5) follow in Lleida's ranking. Conversely, Segarra (84.7) and Noguera (86.6) occupy the lowest positions in the province. Only Alta Ribagorça and Pla d'Urgell showed an improvement compared to the previous year.
Four counties from Lleida are among the ten with the lowest socio-economic level in Catalunya: Segarra (third lowest), Noguera, Pla d'Urgell, and Segrià. Alt Empordà (83.2) and Montsià (84.3) are the counties with the lowest overall scores.
At the municipal level, Capolat and Gisclareny (in Berguedà) lead the index, followed by Matadepera (Vallès Occidental) and Tavèrnoles and Malla (Osona). Regarding census groupings, neighborhoods in Barcelona and Sant Cugat occupy the top 15 positions in the Idescat ranking.
