Madrid reaches 20% of the State's GDP while Catalonia remains at 18.9%

BarcelonaThe Community of Madrid already accounts for 20% of the gross domestic product (GDP, an indicator that measures the size of an economy) of the State, while Catalonia remains in second place with 18.9%, according to data published this Wednesday by the National Statistics Institute (INE). These data show growth last year in Madrid's economy (2.7%) slightly above the Spanish average (2.6%), while Catalonia grew below it (2.5%).

According to the historical series from the INE, in 2015 for the first time Madrid equaled Catalonia's weight in the Spanish economy, 19%, but since that year the community presided over by Isabel Díaz Ayuso has been gaining weight, and closed 2025 with 20%, while Catalonia remained at 18.9%. In fact, if the historical series, which begins in the year 2000, is analyzed, Catalonia has maintained its weight in the Spanish economy. Thus, in the year 2000, Catalonia contributed 18.9% of the Spanish GDP, the same percentage as in 2025. In contrast, Madrid has been gaining weight and has gone from 17.5% of the Spanish GDP in 2000 to the current 20%.

In GDP per capita, that is, the wealth of a community divided by the number of its inhabitants, Catalonia remains in fourth place, with 39,199 euros per inhabitant, above the Spanish average of 34,237 euros per inhabitant. The ranking is also led by Madrid, with 47,220 euros; followed by the Basque Country, with 42,492 euros; and Navarre, with 40,421 euros.

In fact, according to INE data, the GDP per capita in Madrid in 2025 grew by 5.5% compared to 2024, while in the case of Catalonia it did so at a slightly lower rate, of 4.7%. Worse is the case of the Basque Country, which despite maintaining second place in GDP per capita, suffered a fall, going from 44,755 euros per inhabitant in 2024 to 42,492 in 2025. On the other hand, Navarre, which is in third place, improved, going from 39,076 euros per inhabitant in 2024 to 40,421 euros in 2025.

Murcia leads the growth

Last year, the autonomous communities that recorded the highest increase in their GDP in volume terms were the Region of Murcia (3.8%), Extremadura (3.2%), La Rioja and Castile and León (both 3%). Conversely, the communities that recorded the lowest real increase in their GDP were Cantabria (1.7%), Asturias and the Basque Country (both with 1.9%). However, all communities presented GDP increases higher than that of the European Union (EU-27), which was 1.4%.

Regarding GDP per capita, while Madrid, the Basque Country, Navarre and Catalonia occupied the top positions, the communities with the lowest GDP per capita were the autonomous cities of Melilla (22,302 euros) and Ceuta (24,622 euros), followed by Andalusia (26,091 euros) and Extremadura (26,740 euros). The Spanish average stood at 34,237 euros per inhabitant and the European Union average at 41,700 euros. Seven communities exceeded the Spanish average record and two, the European one.

In absolute terms, the Spanish GDP in 2025 was 1.69 trillion euros. Of this amount, Madrid contributed 337,216 million euros, Catalonia 319,955 million and Andalusia 227,356 million.