Barcelona, a decade of neighborly relief

BarcelonaThe Catalan capital is a unique demographic case study. "It's the epicenter and magnet of attraction, but instead of growing significantly, it has remained more or less stable over the last decade," explains Arlinda García Coll, a doctor in human geography at the UB and an expert in internal and international migration and residential mobility. "Barcelona is flat due to the replacement component," explains the demographer. In short: it's not growing as much because the people who arrive end up replacing—or expelling—those who already lived there.

In the last 10 years, Barcelona has grown from 1.6 million people to 1.7 million. This represents a population increase of just over 5%, while L'Hospitalet has grown by 11% and other cities in the metropolitan area fluctuate between 10% and 13%, as is the case of Sant Cugat or Rubí, or rise much more, as is the case of Sant Just Desvern, with 27%. According to the latest data from Barcelona City Council, the Catalan capital is also growing, driven by the influx of new immigrants, while births and deaths are tending to stabilize.

There are already some recent data that reinforce Garcia Coll's thesis. Barcelona is growing, but at an increasingly slower pace, and the number of families with minor children is declining, accounting for less than a quarter of all households (21.8%). Furthermore, the native population continues to decline, and in 2019, there was a significant shift: for the first time, the number of registered residents not born in the city was higher than those born in the city. Currently, the native population represents less than half, at 45%. Furthermore, registered residents of foreign nationality are increasing and now represent 26% of the population.

"There is a population shift: an expulsion of the traditional middle, lower-middle, and even upper-middle classes, who are being replaced by foreigners with high purchasing power and tourist rentals," says Garcia Coll. "Lifelong Barcelona residents are leaving because even those with job stability and a decent salary can't afford a home," she explains. The demographer details that those "entering" are "foreigners, with high purchasing power, who are transforming the neighborhood in terms of both commerce and services."

In parallel, the departures are characterized by the search for cheaper housing and even by an increasingly growing phenomenon, which is moving into a second home. "There are parents who leave to leave their Barcelona apartment to their children or children who decide to make a permanent life in what was their parents' second home," explains the expert.

All of this means that the population in Barcelona has not experienced any major population increase. This is despite the boom widespread in Catalonia. "Are there any good things about it? Yes, there are more and better jobs, for example, and more money moving around, but what we see, in general terms, is that gentrification and touristification are serious and are devastating life in the neighborhoods and the entire social and cohesive fabric the city once had," he concludes.