Alt Penedès and Garraf show sustained demographic growth, primarily driven by migratory movements, according to the new edition of the Socioeconomic Indicators Yearbook of the Mancomunitat Penedès-Garraf. These regions surpass 116,000 and 164,000 inhabitants respectively, with population increases of 1.67% in Alt Penedès between 2024 and 2025 and nearly 10,000 new residents in Garraf over four years.
The natural balance, which measures the difference between births and deaths, is negative in both regions, underscoring the importance of migration as a driver of population growth. In Alt Penedès, the internal migration balance has more than doubled in three years, rising from 962 to 2,101 people, thus compensating for the negative natural balance.
In Garraf, the migratory dynamic is even more pronounced. In 2024, 10,491 arrivals from other parts of Spain were registered against 7,909 departures, resulting in a positive balance of 2,582 people. Over four years, the accumulated internal migration balance amounts to 11,520 people.
This migratory growth also transforms the population's composition. In Garraf, almost a quarter of residents were born outside Spain, while in Alt Penedès this percentage stands at 17.3%. The increase in population from South America is particularly notable in both regions.
Parallel to population growth, the regions face a structural aging process. In Alt Penedès, people aged 65 or over represent 18.73% of the population, compared to 14.52% for those under 15, with nearly 4,900 more elderly individuals than children. In Garraf, one in five people is 65 or older, and the average age is 44.32 years, with a clear female majority in the oldest age groups.
The labor market maintains a positive trend, accompanying demographic growth. In Alt Penedès, the number of salaried employees reached 37,075 people by the end of 2025, a 1.10% increase from the previous year, with a registered unemployment rate of 7.98%, lower than the Catalan and Spanish averages. Hiring increased by 5.9% during 2025, although temporary employment remains high (62.49%).
In Garraf, salaried employment grew by 1.71% to 26,815 workers, and the number of self-employed increased by 2.63% to 12,080. The registered unemployment rate stood at 9.29%, and it is noteworthy that more than half of the contracts formalized (52.42%) are permanent.
The Yearbook also points out labor market challenges, such as the high incidence of unemployment among people aged 55 and over and among women. In Alt Penedès, unemployed individuals over 55 represent more than a third of the total, while in Garraf, nearly four out of ten unemployed people are 55 or older. Employment quality also shows differences, with temporary contracts exceeding 60% in Alt Penedès compared to 52% permanent contracts in Garraf.
The report offers a comprehensive view of the evolution of the Penedès and Garraf regions, including indicators on economic activity, housing, tourism, mobility, consumption, and the environment, painting a picture of a growing territory facing significant demographic and social challenges.
