4 Origin and nationality of the population

4.1 Population by place of birth

Barcelona has received two major waves of immigration since the beginning of the 21st century, resulting in an increase in both the foreign-national population and the population born abroad. Consequently, in line with recent dynamics in European cities, these inflows of foreign population have led to a transformation of Barcelona’s demographic composition, with a direct impact on increasing the diversity of residents’ origins.

In a global context characterised by globalisation and increasing urbanisation, migration responds to a combination of interrelated factors. These include the search for better employment, educational and quality-of-life opportunities, as well as family reunification processes. At the same time, the persistence of armed conflicts, humanitarian crises and situations of political and economic instability in various regions of the world generates population flows seeking security and international protection. To a lesser extent, policies promoting free movement and academic mobility within the European Union also play a role, as do strategies by companies, universities and research centres aimed at attracting international talent in fields such as technology, finance, innovation and scientific research.

Figure 14: Population distribution by birthplace (1997–2026)

One of the most notable demographic trends in present-day Barcelona is the gradual decline in the relative weight of the native-born population within the total resident population. In fact, the population born in Barcelona ceased to be the majority in 2020, and the January 2026 register data confirm this trend once again: for the seventh consecutive year, the number of registered residents not born in the city exceeds those born in Barcelona. Currently, the population born in the Catalan capital represents 44.6% of the total registered residents, consolidating the sustained downward trend observed in recent years.

The data also show the continued decline in the population born in the rest of Spain. This group has nearly halved its share since the beginning of the 21st century, from 20% of the population in 2010 to 12.4% in 2026. At the same time, a slight decrease is also observed in the proportion of residents born in the rest of Catalonia, although in this case the decline is much more moderate, currently standing at 6.8% of the total population.

The loss of relative weight of groups born in Barcelona, the rest of Catalonia and the rest of Spain has been offset by the sustained growth of the foreign-born population, especially since the beginning of the 21st century and in parallel with intensified international migration flows. In 2023, this group surpassed the symbolic threshold of 30% of the resident population for the first time. Since then, its share has continued to increase at a rate of approximately two percentage points per year, although growth has slowed over the last year, rising from 35.3% in 2025 to 36.2% in 2026, reaching a total of 626,924 people.

Following the intense wave of immigration during the 2000s —which led to a profound transformation of the city’s sociodemographic structure— the economic crisis gave way to a period of stabilisation, during which the foreign-born population remained around 20%–22% of the total. However, in recent years this trend has reactivated strongly: the share of foreign-born population has increased from 22.5% in 2016 to 36.2% in 2026.

Expanding the time perspective back to the beginning of the 21st century makes the scale of demographic change even more evident. In just twenty-five years, the foreign-born population in Barcelona has multiplied eightfold, reflecting a profound transformation in the origin composition of the city’s population.

Figure 15: Population pyramids by birthplace (in % of each group), as of 01/01/2026

Source: Barcelona City Council. Municipal Data Office. Department of Statistics and Data Dissemination. Reading of the Municipal Register of Inhabitants, as of 1 January 2026.
More information available at: Population by birthplace and sex, Population by birthplace and sex (microdata), Population by birthplace and five-year age group, Population by birthplace, sex and five-year age group (microdata).

The growing diversity of Barcelona’s population entails heterogeneity in demographic profiles depending on place of birth, particularly evident in differences in age structures. The population pyramids (Chart 15) show that foreign-born individuals are concentrated in the young and young-adult cohorts aged between 25 and 44 years, which are precisely the most underrepresented groups among those born in Barcelona and in the rest of Spain.

Chart 16 shows that the foreign-born population is comparatively young, with an average age of 39.5 years both for those born in the rest of the European Union and for those born in the rest of the world. These figures contrast with those for the population born in Barcelona (41.9 years), Catalonia (50.5 years on average), and especially the rest of Spain (66.2 years on average).

The concentration of the foreign-born population in family formation ages has mitigated—albeit modestly—the decline in birth rates. Consequently, their contribution to the slight increase in the child population since the second half of the 2000s should be noted. This contribution to births is clearly identifiable in the pyramid shown in Chart 27, which will be discussed later and analysed in depth in the section on natural growth.

Figure 16: Average age of the population by birthplace, as of 01/01/2026

Barcelona’s population shows specific residential patterns according to place of birth. Maps 6–10 illustrate, in relative terms, how different population groups are distributed across the city. The AEBs with the highest proportions of residents born in Barcelona are located in Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, Sant Andreu and Horta-Guinardó. Those born in the rest of Catalonia have a relatively significant presence in Pedralbes and other areas of Les Corts, as well as in some AEBs of Poblenou. By contrast, in Nou Barris and Ciutat Vella, their presence is minimal.

Map 6: Population born in Barcelona by AEB (%), as of 01/01/2026

Map 7: Population born in the rest of Catalonia by AEB (%), as of 01/01/2026

Source: Barcelona City Council. Municipal Data Office. Department of Statistics and Data Dissemination. Reading of the Municipal Register of Inhabitants, as of 1 January 2026.
More information available at: Population by birthplace, Population by birthplace and sex, Rate (%) of foreign-born population, Population by birthplace and sex (microdata).

Map 8: Population born in the rest of Spain by AEB (%), as of 01/01/2026

Map 9: Population born in the rest of the European Union by AEB (%), as of 01/01/2026

Source: Barcelona City Council. Municipal Data Office. Department of Statistics and Data Dissemination. Reading of the Municipal Register of Inhabitants, as of 1 January 2026.
More information available at: Population by birthplace, Population by birthplace and sex, Rate (%) of foreign-born population, Population by birthplace and sex (microdata).

Map 10: Foreign-born population by AEB (%), as of 01/01/2026

Source: Barcelona City Council. Municipal Data Office. Department of Statistics and Data Dissemination. Reading of the Municipal Register of Inhabitants, as of 1 January 2026.
More information available at: Population by birthplace, Population by birthplace and sex, Rate (%) of foreign-born population, Population by birthplace and sex (microdata).

The AEBs with the highest proportions of residents born in the rest of Spain are found in Horta-Guinardó, Nou Barris and Sant Martí. European Union nationals, in addition to their preference for historic central areas, are particularly concentrated in certain parts of Eixample, Gràcia, Pedralbes, Poblenou and Poble Sec. By contrast, they are less present in Nou Barris, Horta-Guinardó and Sant Andreu. Finally, non-EU population groups, although now spread across the entire municipal area, are especially prominent in AEBs in Ciutat Vella, as well as in Sants-Montjuïc, Nou Barris and areas such as Bon Pastor, La Verneda i la Pau, and El Besòs i el Maresme.

Figure 17: Population not born in Barcelona by Spanish municipality of birth, as of 01/01/2026

If we look at the municipalities of origin of residents not born in Barcelona, there are few changes. The main place of origin is the city of Madrid, followed by major cities in the metropolitan area (l’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Badalona or Esplugues de Llobregat), the other three Catalan provincial capitals, other Catalan county capitals such as Sabadell, Terrassa, Reus or Mataró, as well as other large Spanish cities such as Zaragoza, Valencia, Seville, Granada, Málaga, Córdoba or Bilbao.

4.1.1 Foreign-born population: evolution and profile

As of 1 January 2026, there are 626,924 foreign-born people registered in Barcelona. The growth of the foreign-born population has been continuous over recent decades alongside intensification of migration flows; it was only interrupted following the 2008 economic crisis, and this year the annual growth rate has moderated (2.4%) compared to the previous year (6.9%). This growth pattern is observed across all continents of origin.

Figure 18: Evolution of the foreign-born population by continent of birth (1997–2026)

Source: Barcelona City Council. Municipal Data Office. Department of Statistics and Data Dissemination. Reading of the Municipal Register of Inhabitants, as of 1 January 2026.
More information available at: Population by continent of birth, Population by continent of birth and sex, Population by continent and country of birth.

Regarding the origin composition of those born outside Spain, Chart 18 shows that the dominant group in Barcelona is those born in the American continent, with 333,240 registered residents in 2026, representing 53.2% of all foreign-born residents. They are followed by those born in the rest of Europe (127,304, 20.3%), Asia (121,797 people, 19.4%), Africa (43,387 people, 7%), and finally Oceania (1,196 people, 0.2%). The most significant increases compared to 2025 correspond to those originating from Oceania (+8.2%) and Africa (+1.4%). These figures also include 524 residents for whom the country of birth is unknown.

Figure 19: Population pyramids of foreign-born population by continent of birth (in % of each continent), as of 01/01/2026

Source: Barcelona City Council. Municipal Data Office. Department of Statistics and Data Dissemination. Reading of the Municipal Register of Inhabitants, as of 1 January 2026.
More information available at: Population by continent of birth and sex, Population by continent of birth and five-year age group, Average age of the population by continent of birth, Median age of the population by continent of birth.

Foreign-born population groups are not homogeneous in demographic terms. In terms of age structure, population pyramids confirm that, regardless of continent of birth, the foreign population is predominantly young-adult, mainly concentrated between 25 and 45 years of age.

The sex structure varies significantly depending on continent of birth. Overall, the sex composition of the foreign-born population is fairly balanced, slightly favouring women (315,768 women, 50.4%). However, significant imbalances are observed across groups when considering the sex ratio (see Chart 20): a marked male predominance among those born in Africa (193 men per 100 women), Asia (148) and Oceania (130), contrasted with a feminised profile among those born in the rest of Europe (94) and especially in America (79 men per 100 women).

It is also useful to examine the evolution of the sex composition over time, as it reflects the sequencing and gender strategies of migration flows for each group, as well as subsequent family reunification processes.

Figure 20: Sex ratio of the foreign-born population by continent of birth (1997–2026)

Source: Barcelona City Council. Municipal Data Office. Department of Statistics and Data Dissemination. Reading of the Municipal Register of Inhabitants, as of 1 January 2026.
More information available at: Population by continent of birth and sex, Population by continent of birth, sex and five-year age group (microdata).

Map 11: Foreign-born population by country of birth, as of 01/01/2026

Source: Barcelona City Council. Municipal Data Office. Department of Statistics and Data Dissemination. Reading of the Municipal Register of Inhabitants, as of 1 January 2026.
More information available at: Population by country of birth and nationality (Spain/EU/Other foreign), Population by country of birth, Population by country of birth and sex.

Argentina remains the leading country of birth, with nearly 50 thousand people. It is followed by Colombia and Peru, with more than 40 thousand registered residents, and Venezuela and Pakistan, with over 30 thousand. Between 20 thousand and 30 thousand, in descending order, are Ecuador, Morocco, Italy, Honduras and China. Overall, no major differences are observed compared to previous years, apart from minor ranking changes.

Countries from South America feature prominently in this ranking, reflecting historical and cultural ties as well as factors that facilitate obtaining residence or nationality in Schengen countries, including Spain. In fact, more than half (eleven) of the twenty most common origins are from South or Central America.

This partly explains why, of the 626,924 foreign-born residents in Barcelona, 30%—almost one in three—hold Spanish nationality. Chart 21 shows the foreign-born population of the main origins by nationality. Expected overlaps between nationality and place of birth coexist with interesting singularities. The cross-tabulation highlights high proportions of individuals who have acquired Spanish nationality among major Latin American groups. A notable example is the 49,926 people born in Argentina: only 25.1% hold Argentine nationality as their primary nationality, 38.5% hold a nationality from another EU country (mainly Italian)⁶, 35.8% Spanish, and 0.6% another nationality.

Figure 21: Foreign-born population by main countries of birth and nationality, as of 01/01/2026

Source: Barcelona City Council. Municipal Data Office. Department of Statistics and Data Dissemination. Reading of the Municipal Register of Inhabitants, as of 1 January 2026.
More information available at: Population by country of birth and nationality (Spain/EU/Other foreign), Population by birthplace and country of nationality.

4.2 Population by nationality

The Municipal Register records the nationality of registered residents and allows us to classify the inhabitants of the municipality according to this increasingly relevant characteristic, alongside place of birth. Since the beginning of the 21st century, the trend has been one of rapid growth in the foreign-national population in Barcelona, reaching this year a total of 460,409 people⁷, the highest figure ever recorded in the city. However, the pace of growth has slowed significantly compared to previous years, and the year-on-year increase this year has been 0.7%. Indeed, the highest post-pandemic year-on-year growth rate was recorded in 2024 (10.4%), while in 2025 the increase had already moderated to 5.7%. The speed and intensity of this dynamic make foreign nationals the main drivers of demographic growth in the city, while the Spanish-national population has recorded declines in many of the years analysed, as is the case this year, when it decreases by -0.4% compared with 2025.

The population of Spanish nationality has been decreasing since the beginning of the 21st century, specifically since 2003, and has only recorded five annual increases. This downward trend contrasts with the upward trend of foreign nationals, who have experienced strong growth throughout the period, only interrupted during the years of the economic crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic (see Charts 22 and 23). Although it is still early to assess, the 2026 data point to a more moderate growth scenario after the strong intensification of migration flows that began with economic recovery and resumed once the health crisis had been overcome.

In summary, foreign nationals have been the key drivers of Barcelona’s demographic growth throughout the 21st century. Since 1997, their numbers have multiplied by 17, rising from 26,517 to 460,409 people, representing 26.6% of the total population. Furthermore, as highlighted in section 4.1.1, a substantial proportion of foreign-born residents acquire Spanish nationality, especially those born in the Americas. Thus, beyond nationality figures, it is necessary to consider the origin of the resident population, and only by combining both characteristics can the full extent of the diversity of Barcelona’s population be understood.

Figure 22: Population of Barcelona by nationality (2013–2026)

Source: Barcelona City Council. Municipal Data Office. Department of Statistics and Data Dissemination. Reading of the Municipal Register of Inhabitants, as of 1 January 2026.
More information available at: Population by nationality (Spain/EU/Other foreign), Population by nationality (Spain/EU/Other foreign) and sex, Population by nationality (Spain/EU/Other foreign) and sex (microdata), Rate (%) of population with foreign nationality.

Figure 23: Population of Barcelona by nationality (2013–2026), year-on-year variation (%)

Source: Barcelona City Council. Municipal Data Office. Department of Statistics and Data Dissemination. Reading of the Municipal Register of Inhabitants, as of 1 January 2026.
More information available at: Population by nationality (Spain/EU/Other foreign), Population by nationality (Spain/EU/Other foreign) and sex, Population by nationality (Spain/EU/Other foreign) and sex (microdata), Rate (%) of population with foreign nationality.

4.2.1 Foreign population: evolution and profile

Barcelona’s population is undeniably diverse. As of 1 January 2026, the 460,409 foreign nationals registered in Barcelona belong to a total of 181 nationalities, one fewer than in 2025 and five more than in 2023. These figures are significant not only because of their magnitude, but also because of the intensity of the change. In just three decades, Barcelona has moved from having a very homogeneous population (in 1991, foreigners accounted for less than 1.5% of the total) to a situation of increasing demographic heterogeneity. This very high presence of different nationalities is clear evidence of this, as is the number of native languages coexisting in the city⁸.

Figure 24: Share of foreign population (1991–2026)

Source: Barcelona City Council. Municipal Data Office. Department of Statistics and Data Dissemination. Reading of the Municipal Register of Inhabitants, as of 1 January 2026.
More information available at: Population by nationality (Spain/EU/Other foreign), Population by nationality (Spain/EU/Other foreign) and sex, Population by nationality (Spain/EU/Other foreign) and sex (microdata), Foreign population rate (%).

Figure 25: Foreign population by continent of nationality (2000–2026)

Source: Barcelona City Council. Municipal Data Office. Department of Statistics and Data Dissemination. Reading of the Municipal Register of Inhabitants, as of 1 January 2026.
More information available at: Population by continent of nationality, Population by continent of nationality and sex (microdata), Population by continent of nationality and five-year age group, Population by continent of nationality, sex and five-year age group (microdata).

In terms of continental composition, residents holding a nationality from the European Union total 123,113 and represent 26.7% of all foreign nationals. This group continues to grow in both absolute and relative terms, although the pace has slowed. In the case of non-EU nationals, the acceleration in growth has slowed considerably in 2026, although it continues to rise. With an increase of 0.5%, it reaches a new record of 337,296 people, representing 73.3% of all foreign nationals⁹.

By continent, the main novelty this year is that the 159,878 residents with European nationality constitute the largest foreign group, overtaking the Americans, who had held this position since 2023. This is due to the fact that while Europeans grow by 0.6% year-on-year, American nationals decrease by 3.3% compared with 2025, placing them in second position. However, it is worth noting the gap between the number of people holding a nationality from the American continent and the number of people born there (333,240, almost double), a discrepancy explained by the high weight of naturalised citizens within this group.

Beyond absolute figures, the most significant year-on-year increase corresponds to nationals of Asian countries, which grow by 7.8% compared with the previous year and reach 107,771 residents, followed by African nationals with 33,476 registered residents, 0.7% more than the previous year. At the opposite end, nationals from Oceania decrease by 7%.

The distribution of foreign nationals across the city’s districts is shown in Chart 26. Although people from all five continents can be found in each district, persistent territorial patterns can be observed according to nationality groups. On the one hand, Horta-Guinardó, Nou Barris and Sant Andreu stand out for their high concentration of Americans, while Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, Gràcia and Eixample are where the highest numbers of non-Spanish Europeans reside. Finally, Ciutat Vella stands out as the district with the highest number of Asians, where this group is the largest, with 26,223 people, representing 41% of all foreign residents in the district.

Figure 26: Foreign population by continent of nationality and district, as of 01/01/2026

Source: Barcelona City Council. Municipal Data Office. Department of Statistics and Data Dissemination. Reading of the Municipal Register of Inhabitants, as of 1 January 2026.
More information available at: Population by continent of nationality, Population by continent of nationality and sex (microdata), Population by continent of nationality and five-year age group, Population by continent of nationality, sex and five-year age group.

Extending the territorial analysis, Maps 12 and 13 show that the distribution of foreign nationals within Barcelona is far from homogeneous. The Basic Statistical Areas (AEBs) of Ciutat Vella concentrate the highest proportions of foreign residents, as is also observed in areas of Sant Martí close to the Besòs, as well as in districts such as Sant Andreu, Nou Barris, Sants-Montjuïc and the central part of Eixample.

Map 12: Population with foreign nationality in Barcelona by AEB (%), as of 01/01/2026

Map 13: Population with foreign nationality in Barcelona by AEB (year-on-year variation %), 2026

Source: Barcelona City Council. Municipal Data Office. Department of Statistics and Data Dissemination. Reading of the Municipal Register of Inhabitants, as of 1 January 2026.
More information available at: Population by nationality (Spain/EU/Other foreign), Population by nationality (Spain/EU/Other foreign) and sex, Population by nationality (Spain/EU/Other foreign) and sex (microdata), Rate (%) of population with foreign nationality.

The year-on-year increase in the foreign population has slowed considerably compared with 2025. Nevertheless, growth has been widely distributed across the territory: in eight of the ten districts and in most neighbourhoods there is an increase in the proportion of foreign residents. A total of 133 Basic Statistical Areas have gained foreign population. By district, the largest relative increases correspond to Ciutat Vella (+1,048 foreign residents, +1.7%), Sant Andreu (+378, +1.3%) and Sarrià-Sant Gervasi (+301, +1.1%). The two districts experiencing negative growth are Gràcia (-86 foreign residents, -0.3%) and Horta-Guinardó (-19 foreign residents, -0.1%).

The foreign population is slightly male-dominated (220,138 women, 47.8% of the total, and 240,271 men), and as already described in the case of the foreign-born population, this masculinisation varies depending on the continent of nationality: among Americans and Europeans, women are the majority, while among Africans and Asians, men predominate. In terms of age, non-EU nationals are the youngest group, with an average age that gradually increases and reaches 35.89 years. EU nationals are slightly older on average (36.43 years). The counterbalancing effect of immigration on Barcelona’s demographic ageing is evident: the foreign population remains relatively young compared with the average Spanish population, which is 47.75 years.

Figure 27: Population pyramid of Barcelona by birthplace and nationality, as of 01/01/2026

Source: Barcelona City Council. Municipal Data Office. Department of Statistics and Data Dissemination. Reading of the Municipal Register of Inhabitants, as of 1 January 2026.
More information available at: Population by birthplace, sex and five-year age group (microdata), Population by nationality (Spain/EU/Other foreign), sex and five-year age group (microdata).

The combination of nationality and place of birth of registered residents is essential to understanding the sociodemographic composition and evolution of the city of Barcelona. Analysing the population pyramid by jointly considering these two characteristics requires linking the present with recent migration dynamics. Only in this way can the contribution of migration flows over the past two decades be understood, both in terms of total population figures and the age and origin composition of residents in Barcelona.

Although no significant changes are observed compared to 2025, year after year the impact of migration on the growing diversity of origin and nationality among the successive generations currently living in the city has become more pronounced. In addition, the population pyramid shown in Chart 27 provides insight into how the recent arrival of foreign population has had a compensatory effect on demographic ageing, particularly through its concentration among younger generations.

In relative terms, individuals born in Spain with Spanish nationality account for 62.5% of all registered residents. They are the majority among children, young people up to their twenties, and the population from around the age of fifty onwards. Those born in Spain with foreign nationality, on the other hand, represent the smallest group, 1.3% of the total, clearly concentrated among the child population, especially those aged 0 to 4. These children are the offspring of non-naturalised immigrants born after their parents arrived in Spain. Therefore, they constitute clear evidence of the contribution of migration flows to birth rates. Specifically, 17% of children aged 0–4 are foreign nationals despite being born in Spain (12% among children aged 0–9 and 9% among those under 16).

However, to fully understand the contribution of migration to births, it would be necessary to include the children of naturalised immigrants, increasingly numerous, but more difficult to identify in population registers —which do not record parents’ place of birth— and therefore cannot be distinguished from the rest of those born in Spain with Spanish nationality.

Thirty percent of the foreign-born population has acquired Spanish nationality. These individuals represent 11 out of every 100 registered residents in Barcelona and have an age structure broadly distributed between approximately 20 and 60 years. Finally, of the remaining foreign-born population, 70% retain foreign nationality —representing 25.4% of the city’s population— and most are aged between 25 and 44. The large volume of foreign nationals and their age structure explain why they account for nearly half (46.5%) of the young and young adult population (approximately aged 20 to 39).

The educational profile of foreign residents is highly diverse depending on origin. Overall, 42.7% report having a university degree or higher vocational qualification. Among European Union nationals, this proportion reaches 66.2%, almost double that of the Spanish population (37.4%). The lowest proportions of higher education correspond to Africans (15.7%) and Asians (26.2%), while among Americans the percentage is 37.4%, although there is considerable internal variation depending on nationality.

Map 14: Foreign population by country of nationality, as of 01/01/2026

Source: Barcelona City Council. Municipal Data Office. Department of Statistics and Data Dissemination. Reading of the Municipal Register of Inhabitants, as of 1 January 2026.
More information available at: Population by country of nationality, Population by country of nationality and sex, Population by continent and country of nationality.

By nationality, the most numerous group is Italian¹⁰ (54,036 people), followed by Colombian (30,196), Pakistani (26,317), Chinese (23,937), Peruvian (23,300) and French (20,075). Between 10,000 and 20,000 residents are nationals of Morocco, Venezuela, Honduras, Russia, Argentina, India and the Philippines. This year, the countries that have gained the most registered residents are mostly not among the top-ranking nationalities: Bangladesh (+2,095), India (+1,880), Nepal (+1,644), Algeria (+850) and Italy (+621). With the exception of Italy, some of these countries are characterised by unstable political, economic and social contexts. The nationalities that have experienced the greatest declines are Argentina (-1,331), Morocco (-1,297) and Honduras (-1,158).

Figure 28: Foreign population by most frequent nationalities, as of 01/01/2026

The already well-established prominence of Italian nationals within the group of non-Spanish residents is not new, but it continues to intensify year after year, as shown in Chart 29, which also illustrates how Moroccans, Ecuadorians and Pakistanis were once the largest groups.

Figure 29: Foreign population from the most frequent country (1997–2026)

Source: Barcelona City Council. Municipal Data Office. Department of Statistics and Data Dissemination. Reading of the Municipal Register of Inhabitants, as of 1 January 2026.
More information available at: Population by country of nationality, Population by country of nationality and sex, Population by continent and country of nationality.

As mentioned earlier, Barcelona is home to residents of 181 nationalities, in addition to Spanish. This national diversity is spatially distributed across the city following specific patterns, often resulting in concentrations of certain groups in particular areas. For this reason, Map 15 aims to highlight this specificity by identifying the most frequent foreign nationality in each of the city’s 233 Basic Statistical Areas. In total, fourteen nationalities occupy first place across the territory, with Italy (149 AEBs), Colombia (23), China (16), Honduras (12) and Pakistan (11) predominating. Almost the entire city (91% of AEBs) is led by these five nationalities.

Italian nationality is the most widespread: on its own, after Spanish, it is the most frequent nationality in 64% of areas. The only district where it does not lead is Nou Barris, as well as in some parts of Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, Ciutat Vella and areas bordering the Besòs and l’Hospitalet. Colombians (second nationality in 23 AEBs) are mainly distributed across Sant Andreu, Nou Barris and Horta-Guinardó, and more sporadically in Sants-Montjuïc and Eixample.

Chinese nationals stand out particularly in various areas of La Verneda i la Pau, Bon Pastor and Sant Martí de Provençals. Moroccans are concentrated in four areas (Nou Barris, Sant Andreu and Sants-Montjuïc), in a pattern similar to Peruvians. Paraguay is the main nationality in only one AEB in Horta-Guinardó. Hondurans predominate in Nou Barris and Horta-Guinardó. The strong concentration of Pakistanis remains in Besòs i el Maresme (Sant Martí), Trinitat Vella (Sant Andreu), and the lower part of Raval, while Filipinos are particularly present in the northern part of this neighbourhood. In all these cases, these are neighbourhoods with below-average income levels.

The opposite case is that of citizens from France, Russia and the United States, who are clearly associated with higher-income neighbourhoods. French nationals stand out in six AEBs in Sarrià-Sant Gervasi. Russians are concentrated in Diagonal Mar and the seafront area of Poblenou. A new feature this year is the identification of an AEB in the Les Corts neighbourhood (north of Diagonal Avenue) where Iranian nationality is the most frequent foreign nationality, located next to another AEB where US nationals predominate. Finally, as observed in 2025, Ukrainians remain the most numerous nationality in La Verneda i la Pau.

Map 15: Most frequent nationality (after Spanish) by AEB, as of 01/01/2026

Source: Barcelona City Council. Municipal Data Office. Department of Statistics and Data Dissemination. Reading of the Municipal Register of Inhabitants, as of 1 January 2026.
More information available at: Population by country of nationality, Population by country of nationality and sex, Population by continent and country of nationality.