Matadepera and Salt: The Two Faces of Socioeconomic Inequality in Catalonia

Idescat's latest territorial index ranks Matadepera as the wealthiest municipality while Salt remains at the bottom.

Generic image showing the urban contrast between different neighborhoods in Catalonia.
IA

Generic image showing the urban contrast between different neighborhoods in Catalonia.

The Idescat has released the Territorial Socioeconomic Index (IST), confirming Matadepera as the wealthiest municipality in Catalonia, while Salt remains the town with the lowest indicators for another year.

This index, developed over the last decade, analyzes key variables such as employment status, education levels, immigration, and average income. With the Catalan average set at 100 points, Matadepera leads the ranking at 129.9, followed by Tiana and Sant Just Desvern. Conversely, Salt recorded the lowest score at 59.8.
Social disparity is particularly evident in education. In Matadepera, only 5.2% of young people lack post-compulsory education, whereas in Salt, this figure rises to nearly 50%. Regarding low-skilled labor, the gap is also significant, with 3% in the Vallès town compared to 24.6% in the Girona area.