The International Talent Monitor (ITM) study, presented in February 2026 and conducted the previous summer, gathered opinions from 794 participants of 27 nationalities. This analysis not only illustrates the perceptions and image projected by the city but also helps define the most common profiles of international residents, known as 'expats'.
More than half of the respondents (54%) are women, and 49% are between 35 and 49 years old. A total of 30% report an annual salary of up to 50,000 euros. Oriol Molas, co-founder and general director of the opinion analysis agency GAPS, explained that these profiles are grouped into five typologies, although some individuals might fit into more than one group.
They have made Barcelona their home, seeking security, stability, and environments where they can grow.
Among the identified archetypes is the 'young professional', who values Barcelona's cosmopolitan character and quality of life, even as they seek social integration. Also prominent are 'families', who seek stability and integrate into local health and education services, considering the city their long-term home.
Another group consists of 'executives', professionals with high incomes who are very satisfied with their life in the city and contribute to positioning Barcelona as an attractive hub for executive talent. Finally, there are 'lifestyle seekers', with more modest incomes who choose the city for its climate and atmosphere, and 'long-term residents', who have lived in Barcelona for over a decade and act as 'natural ambassadors' for the Catalan capital.
