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Diari de Catalunya

One Third of New Residents in Catalan Municipalities Are Foreigners

Catalonia registered 282,739 municipal changes in 2024, with a notable increase in the foreign population among these internal movements.

Generic image of population movement over a map of Catalonia.
IA

Generic image of population movement over a map of Catalonia.

During 2024, a total of 282,739 people changed their municipal residence in Catalonia, a figure that includes one third of the foreign population and represents a significant increase compared to the previous year.

Recent data from Idescat indicates that the number of people who changed municipalities in Catalonia during 2024 reached 282,739, exceeding by 8,597 the movements recorded in the preceding year. These internal transfers primarily occurred between different counties, accounting for more than half of the total.
A notable aspect of this demographic dynamic is the profile of the individuals who relocated: almost one third of them were foreign nationals. This data highlights the relevance of immigration in the region's internal mobility patterns.
Regarding the internal migratory balance, which measures the difference between population arrivals and departures to or from other Catalan municipalities, several localities recorded positive figures. Terrassa led the list with a balance of 1,470 people, followed by Vilanova i la Geltrú (691), Badalona (601), Sabadell (554), Cunit (452), and Sant Joan Despí (412).
In contrast, major cities such as Barcelona experienced the most negative internal migratory balances, with a loss of 15,221 residents. Other municipalities with significant negative balances included l'Hospitalet (-1,759), Sant Cugat (-824), and Tarragona (-568).

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