Barcelona's population has reached its highest level in four decades, according to new data published by the city's Municipal Data Office. The Catalan capital now has 1,732,066 registered inhabitants — a figure not seen since the mid-1980s.
The growth is overwhelmingly driven by international migration. Foreign nationals now account for 26.4% of Barcelona's total population, a record high that reflects the city's transformation into one of southern Europe's most cosmopolitan urban centres.
Who is moving to Barcelona?
The data reveals a city of extraordinary diversity. Barcelona is home to residents from 182 nationalities. Italian nationals form the largest foreign community at over 50,000 residents — nearly double the next group. Colombians (28,551), Pakistanis (24,706), Chinese (21,876), and Peruvians (21,090) round out the top five.
The expat factor
Within the broader foreign population, residents from wealthier nations now number 86,654, representing 5.1% of Barcelona's total population. The growth has been driven by Barcelona's emergence as a major European tech hub, Spain's digital nomad visa, and post-pandemic lifestyle migration.
Infrastructure under pressure
The population surge is not without consequences. Barcelona's housing market faces additional pressure from the influx. The city's average rent has risen 12% year-on-year, and the tourist apartment ban affecting 10,000 buildings was partly motivated by the need to return housing stock to the long-term rental market.
