The advance estimates of population reveal a significant demographic shift: while the 0-15 age group decreased by 12,890 people in the first six months of 2026, the 16-64 age group increased by 24,425, and the 65 and over group grew by 15,438.
This pattern, with a decline in the young population and an increase in the adult and elderly population, has been constant since 2018. Since then, the 0-15 age group has decreased by 118,472 people, while the 16-64 and 65 and over groups have grown by 565,895 and 236,579 people, respectively.
By provinces, all four registered population increases in the first half of 2026. Barcelona gained 16,798 inhabitants, Girona 881, Lleida 2,853, and Tarragona 6,441. In relative year-on-year terms, Tarragona and Lleida show the highest growth (1.6% and 1.4% respectively), followed by Barcelona (1.0%) and Girona (0.5%).
