Barcelona: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Barcelona: The unemployment rate in Barcelona was 7.9% in 2024 (8.0% for women, 7.8% for men).
- Health in Barcelona: The infant mortality rate was 3.1 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024.
- Poverty and living standards in Barcelona: Police recorded 169,678 criminal offences in the municipality of Barcelona in 2025, down 3.6% on 2024 (175,951); that puts Barcelona 15th of 15 major Spanish cities ranked from the biggest rise to the biggest fall.
- Government and politics in Barcelona: In the EU's 2023 survey of quality of life in European cities, 47% of residents of Barcelona agreed that there is corruption in their local public administration.
What is the population of Barcelona?
Barcelona had 3,767,382 inhabitants (urban agglomeration) on 1 July 2023, according to an official estimate (usual residents) reported to the United Nations.
Source: United Nations Statistics Division · saved copyHow does Barcelona rank among cities in Spain?
Of the 49 cities the UN table lists for Spain (capitals and places of 100,000 or more), it is 2nd largest.
Source: United Nations Statistics Division · saved copyHow many women and men live in Barcelona?
Women and girls made up 51.7% of residents (1,947,608 female, 1,819,774 male).
Source: United Nations Statistics Division · saved copyHow much debt does Barcelona city council have?
Barcelona city council owed €1.29 billion at the end of 2025, the 2nd largest debt of 15 major Spanish cities and 56% of all town hall debt in its province.
Source: Ministerio de Hacienda · saved copyWhat is the population of Barcelona?
Barcelona had 2,658,830 residents on 1 January 2024 according to the EU Urban Audit; 12.3% were under 15 and 20.6% were 65 or older.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyIs Barcelona growing?
The population shrank by 17.0% between 2012 and 2024.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many young children are in childcare in Barcelona?
65% of children under 5 were in day care or school in 2024 (645 per 1,000).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many students are there in Barcelona?
257,293 students were enrolled in higher education in Barcelona in 2024, 97 for every 1,000 residents.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people in Barcelona have a degree?
Of adults aged 25 to 64 in Barcelona in 2023, 51% had a degree-level education, 23% an upper secondary education and 26% at most lower secondary schooling.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyMore figures
- 62% of people in Barcelona were satisfied with schools and other educational facilities (EU quality of life in European cities survey, 2023). Source: Eurostat · saved copy
Who runs Barcelona?
In Spain, cities and towns are run by autonomous communities: Elected parliament; president elected by parliament. Health, education, social services, planning; many make laws. Powers vary by statute of autonomy.
How local power works in Spain
Cities of a similar size in Spain
- Madrid 5,115,272
- València 1,439,503
- Sevilla 881,124
- Bilbao 790,197
- Zaragoza 683,949
- Málaga 587,068
- Murcia 467,501
- Palma 430,640
- Granada 408,869
- Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 380,863
- Santa Cruz de Tenerife 368,482
- Alicante/Alacant 350,598
- Pamplona/Iruña 339,972
Up a level: all cities in Spain · Spain · government and power
Sources
- United Nations Statistics Division: Demographic Yearbook 2024, Table 8: Population of capital cities and cities of 100 000 or more inhabitants, latest available year, 2005-2024, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c6784df022e…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_cpop1: Urban Audit: population on 1 January by age groups and sex (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0ef23d60abc9…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_clivcon: Urban Audit: living conditions (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bc58ab68d418…)
- Ministerio del Interior: Balance de Criminalidad, cuarto trimestre 2025: infracciones penales registradas en comunidades, provincias, islas y municipios de más de 20.000 habitantes, enero a diciembre 2025, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 6b3532029406…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_cfermor: Urban Audit: fertility and mortality (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bd2b301d78c2…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_clma: Urban Audit: labour market (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 be050965f9c6…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_percep: Quality of life in European cities survey 2023: perception (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 81bd3e277f3e…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ctran: Urban Audit: transport (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c4e74aa07496…)
- Ministerio de Hacienda: Deuda viva de las Entidades Locales a 31/12/2025: ayuntamientos, diputaciones, consejos y cabildos insulares, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 831355e52dd9…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset urb_ceduc: Urban Audit: education (cities), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 af187c7040a4…)
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