Sant Cugat del Vallès recorded an internal migratory balance of -824 people in 2024. This means more residents left for other Catalan municipalities than arrived, according to data from Idescat, the Statistical Institute of Catalonia. This figure represents one of the country's most negative balances, surpassed only by larger cities such as Barcelona and L'Hospitalet de Llobregat.

The data emerges from a year of strong residential mobility across Catalonia. The region saw 282,739 changes of residence between municipalities, marking a 3% increase from the previous year. This figure represents the highest number recorded since 2006, highlighting a dynamic period of population movement.

Foreign nationals accounted for almost a third of these internal residence changes in Catalonia, at 32.7%. This proportion significantly exceeds their overall share of the population, which stands at 18.7%, according to Idescat. This indicates a high degree of mobility within this demographic group across the territory.

Shifting Populations Across Catalonia

Overall, municipalities with more than 50,000 inhabitants collectively registered a negative internal migratory balance of 15,785 people. Meanwhile, smaller municipalities experienced population gains, suggesting a territorial redistribution. Most residential movements, 57.3%, occurred between different regions, while 42.7% took place within the same region.

Many Catalan regions show a positive internal migratory balance, with notable gains in Maresme, Baix Llobregat, Vallès Oriental, and Vallès Occidental. Conversely, other areas, such as the Barcelonès region, which includes Barcelona city, recorded significant population losses to other parts of Catalonia.

Housing Pressure Drives Relocation

In contrast to municipalities experiencing losses, several intermediate Catalan cities recorded the most positive internal migratory balances. Terrassa gained 1,470 people, Vilanova i la Geltrú added 691, Badalona saw an increase of 601, and Sabadell gained 554 residents, according to Idescat. Municipalities like Cunit and Sant Joan Despí also showed positive balances.

These gaining areas are generally intermediate cities or environments with lower residential pressure compared to larger urban centres. This pattern suggests that some residents leaving municipalities with a more strained housing market relocate to areas offering more accessible housing conditions. The availability and affordability of housing play a crucial role in these migration decisions.

Sant Cugat's Demographic Challenges

Sant Cugat's negative balance is not an isolated event. Demographic data indicates that Sant Cugat shows a relatively smaller proportion of young adults compared to other age groups. This aligns with the trend of residents moving to other parts of the territory.

Idescat data reveals that Sant Cugat has 18.65% of its population aged 0 to 15 years. This high proportion highlights the significant presence of family households in the municipality. This contributes to shaping a demographic structure where other age brackets hold a relatively smaller share of the total population.

This reality is consistent with the behaviour of internal migratory flows, which reflect residential changes at different life stages. Although statistics do not detail the specific causes of these movements, the dynamic fits into a general context of increasing residential mobility. It also highlights differences between municipalities regarding housing access.

This trend contributes to shaping a city model with a significant presence of families with children and middle-aged residents. Other age groups, however, tend to move to municipalities offering different conditions. Sant Cugat's situation fits into a broader dynamic where larger municipalities collectively show a negative internal migratory balance, while smaller ones gain population.

Catalonia continues to grow in overall population thanks to international migration. In 2024, the total migratory balance reached 122,593 people, the second highest in 17 years. This growth was driven primarily by arrivals from abroad. This external growth coexists with internal territorial redistribution dynamics, reflecting varying residential opportunities across municipalities.

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Originally published by Sant Cugat del Vallès. Read original article.