The positive rating of municipal management in Barcelona has reached a new historic high, matching the 2018 score with a 6.5, according to the 2026 Municipal Services Survey. This figure represents an improvement of one tenth compared to the previous year. Overall satisfaction with living in the city stands at 7.6, the highest since 2019, and satisfaction with one's neighborhood reaches 7.9.
The survey, conducted annually since 1989, interviewed 6,000 citizens between February 2 and April 30 of this year. The results indicate that twenty-three out of twenty-six evaluated municipal services receive a score of 6 or higher. Notable services include neighborhood safety (6.2), access to public transport (positively rated by eight out of ten respondents), and cleanliness (6.6). Only parking receives a score below 6.
Perception of the use of municipal economic resources is favorable, with a majority considering that the City Council manages public money well. The Firefighters lead the service rankings with a score of 8.3, followed by public libraries (8.1), civic centers (7.7), the tram (7.7), and cultural activities (7.6).
Citizen safety improves by three tenths, reaching 5.6. Insecurity remains the main citizen concern (23.8%), although its trend is downward. In contrast, the difficulty of accessing housing reaches 23%, the highest value in the historical series, and is confirmed as the primary personal problem for Barcelonians (16.9%).
At the neighborhood level, concerns vary: in Ciutat Vella, insecurity reaches 44% and tourism is relevant. In Gràcia, tourism and the city model also have significant weight. The main citizen demands to the City Council are to improve security (15.1%), facilitate access to housing (14.8%), and enhance cleanliness (10.3%).
The survey also reflects a socially transforming city, with an increase in the foreign-born population and a reduction in private car ownership. Regarding language, nine out of ten respondents state they can use Catalan in interactions with municipal public services, while only half can do so in bars, restaurants, and shops.
