Catalonia is the fourth most competitive region in the country

BarcelonaCatalonia is the fourth most economically competitive region in Spain, surpassed only by the two chartered communities (which have different funding systems), the Basque Country and Navarre, and the Community of Madrid, which benefits from being the capital. This is reflected in the ninth edition of theRegional competitiveness report in Spain 2025The report, presented by the General Council of Economists of Spain (CGE) and sponsored by Banc Sabadell, highlights that regional competitiveness is slowing its pace of progress in 2024, but the gaps between autonomous communities have narrowed over the last decade. Specifically, this study is based on the 2024 Regional Competitiveness Index (Icreg 2024) and provides a map of the state of territorial competitiveness in Spain, accompanied by a dynamic analysis to identify trends and the evolution of structural competitiveness. The analysis reveals that the average structural competitiveness of the 17 autonomous communities increased by 2% in 2024, in line with the average evolution of the 2008-2024 period, although showing a "progressive slowdown, having overcome many of the disruptions that have affected recent years." In 2024, the high competitiveness group remains comprised of the Community of Madrid, Navarre, and the Basque Country, although the latter two have swapped positions. Catalonia remains in the next tier as the sole member of the medium-high competitiveness level, and the group of communities with a relatively medium-low competitiveness level consists of La Rioja, Aragon, Galicia, Castile and León, Cantabria, and the Principality of Asturias, which has progressed from the low level. Finally, the low competitiveness group is made up of Murcia and the Valencian Community, which have swapped positions, Castile-La Mancha, the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands, Andalusia, and Extremadura. The report highlights human capital, the institutional environment, and innovation as Catalonia's most dynamic areas. It also emphasizes the positive trend in long-term unemployment and temporary employment, continuing and adult education, as well as aspects such as inequality, employment, air traffic, and the fleet of environmentally friendly vehicles. Also noteworthy is business dynamism, research, and patents. In contrast, Catalonia has seen a negative trend in external openness, the deficit, productivity, R&D spending, and female employment.

Convergence

Across the country, all axes, except for those related to business efficiency, contribute positively to the growth of the Regional Competitiveness Index (Icreg), with the economic environment, labor market, and human capital axes standing out for their dynamism. In this regard, the Council of Economists has justified the analysis of territorial convergence due to the relevance of this phenomenon to balanced growth, regional cohesion, overall efficiency, improved access to services, and institutional stability, creating more attractive environments for investment and collective well-being. "Based on the analysis carried out, it is confirmed that regional structural competitiveness in Spain has shown an acceptable convergent pattern in the period 2013-2024, once the Great Recession crisis had ended," the text states, concluding by indicating the gaps between regions with more and less convergence. According to the president of the organization, Miguel Ángel Vázquez Taín, "the general environment is characterized by solid economic growth, supported by the dynamism of domestic demand and the positive contribution of external demand, thanks to the strong boost from tourism." However, Vázquez Taín states that "the sluggishness of goods exports is worrying." Finally, the president of the economists emphasizes that "despite considerable differences between regions persisting over the last 15 years, regional competitive convergence is a reality that should encourage all stakeholders to persevere in this objective."