Two out of three Catalans want to limit the entry of immigrants
The percentage has increased by twenty points compared to two years ago.
BarcelonaA growing number of Catalans believe that immigration to the country should be curbed. Specifically, two out of three are in favor of limiting their arrival, representing 63.7% of the Catalan population, a figure that has increased by almost 20 percentage points compared to two years ago. This is one of the findings of the latest survey by the Institute of Political and Social Sciences, published this Tuesday. The survey was based on 2,000 face-to-face interviews conducted between October 13 and November 22, 2025, with a margin of error of 2.2%. However, the director of the institute, Oriol Bartomeus, pointed out that this figure is almost identical to that of 1993. "There is a worsening in the short term, but not if we compare it in the long term," he said, after noting that the population has increased tenfold in the last twenty years.
Why has the number of people who believe that immigration should be limited increased again in the last two years? According to Bartomeus, it's due to "the agenda effect," meaning that this issue has been placed at the center of political debate, projecting "negative opinions." If we break down this opinion by political party, it's among Junts voters where the opinion that immigration should be curbed is growing the most. "We associate this with the emergence of Aliança Catalana," Bartomeus said. However, although the most notable increase in this opinion among Junts voters was between 2023 and 2024, in the last year this increase has spread to voters of all parties. Support for the concept of immigration has also declined compared to two years ago: it has fallen from 59.7% to 52.4%.
Young men continue to lean more to the right.
The current survey also detects a consolidation of the trend among young men to position themselves ideologically further to the right. In fact, while a year ago this trend was more prevalent among 18- to 24-year-olds, it has now expanded to include the 25- to 34-year-old age group (20%). This ideological position has also increased by 17% among younger women, aged 18 to 24.
This trend toward a more right-wing position is a generational dynamic that emerged after 1986. Between 1950 and 1985, there was a more progressive citizenry profile, but this trend broke in 1986 and consolidated in the 1940-1995 generation, when the prevailing dynamic was to hold "more right-wing" positions, explained Bartomeus. Indeed, this trend is repeated when it comes to evaluating democracy as a political system. 63.6% of those born in 2006 support this system, a percentage that contrasts sharply with those born before the return to democracy, who support it at a rate of 85%. Younger men are also the most likely to reject feminist positions. In fact, this stance has declined compared to a year ago: from 57.7% to just over 50%. Although women between the ages of 18 and 24 remain the most feminist, this proportion has decreased compared to a year ago. On average, support for the concept feminism It has decreased in the last two years: it has gone from 67% to 59%.
The "no" vote for independence remains in the majority.
The "no" vote for independence remains the majority at 55.6%, although it has dropped one percentage point compared to a year ago. Support for independence thus stands at 38%. The survey confirms that Aliança Catalana voters are the least in favor of independence among the pro-independence parties. In total, only 56% of voters in Orriols declare themselves pro-independence, while 44% would support remaining in Spain. Esquerra voters are the next least likely to support independence, with 67.8% declaring themselves pro-independence. This electorate has seen the greatest shift in opinion since 2018, when 83.6% supported independence. CUP voters have the highest percentage of support for an independent state (86.5%), although this support has also declined compared to 2018 (92.6%). Something similar is happening among Junts voters, where 85.3% declare themselves pro-independence, a lower percentage than the 90.6% in 2018.
The evaluation of political leaders
Salvador Illa remains the preferred political leader to be president of the Generalitat (Catalan government), and in fact, he is almost the only one whose support has increased compared to the poll from a year ago. Only Silvia Orriols, leader of Aliança Catalana, has seen a surge as the preferred candidate for president: she is now favored by 8.8% (compared to 2.6% a year ago). This percentage is at the expense of those who want Carles Puigdemont, leader of Junts, to preside over the Generalitat: while 14.5% preferred him a year ago, that percentage is now 10.2%. Oriol Junqueras, leader of ERC, remains in third place, almost tied with Puigdemont, with 10.1% support. Orriols is the leader who receives the most positive rating among her voters (8.65). However, as other polls have shown in recent months, the leader of Aliança Catalana is the second most highly regarded political figure among both Junts and Vox voters. "This demonstrates the broad appeal of Silvia Orriols," Bartomeus stated.
