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Diari de Catalunya

Foreign Population in Maresme Grows by 4.3% but Remains Below Catalan Average

The Maresme region has seen a significant increase in its foreign resident population, though its proportion continues to be lower than the Catalan average.

Generic image of a Mediterranean square with people, symbolizing population diversity.
IA

Generic image of a Mediterranean square with people, symbolizing population diversity.

The Maresme region has experienced a 4.3% increase in its foreign population over the last year, although its relative presence remains below the Catalonia average.

According to the 2025 Foreign Population X-ray, prepared by the Local Development Observatory of the Comarcal Council, the region currently hosts 66,641 foreign nationals, representing an increase of 2,747 individuals compared to the previous year.
Despite this growth, the percentage of the foreign population in Maresme stands at around 14% of the total, a figure notably lower than the Catalan average, which exceeds 18%. This difference places Maresme at the lower end of the regional ranking for the relative presence of foreign residents.
The distribution of this population is uneven among municipalities. Towns such as Calella lead the list with over 22% foreign population, followed by localities like Caldes d'Estrac, Santa Susanna, and Mataró. Other municipalities exceeding the regional average include Pineda de Mar, Premià de Mar, Cabrils, and Malgrat de Mar, while Òrrius shows significantly lower percentages.
Regarding origin, the Moroccan community continues to be the most numerous, representing more than a fifth of the total. They are followed by the Italian and Chinese populations. However, the predominant nationality varies by municipality, with Moroccans leading in several coastal and inland areas, Italians being the majority in central and southern localities, and Chinese notably present in specific towns. Unique cases include Òrrius, with a French predominance, Sant Iscle de Vallalta with a significant Gambian presence, and Santa Susanna, with a relevant Ukrainian community.
The study highlights the growing diversity of Maresme, while also revealing territorial disparities in the distribution of the foreign population within the region.

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