Economy, jobs and prices in Catalonia, Spain: official figures
GDP per person was 41,800 purchasing power standards (PPS) in 2024, 105% of the EU average; 4th highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. PPS adjust for price differences between countries.
How big is the economy of Catalonia?
The regional economy produced €302.3 billion of output (GDP at market prices) in 2024, 19.0% of Spain's GDP.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate in Catalonia?
The unemployment rate (age 15 to 74) was 8.4% in 2025, against 10.5% for Spain and 6.0% across the EU; 13th highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is youth unemployment in Catalonia?
Youth unemployment (age 15 to 24) was 19.1% in 2025, against 24.9% for Spain; 17th highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow much does Catalonia spend on research and development?
Spending on research and development came to 1.82% of GDP in 2024 (1.50% nationally).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many people in Catalonia are long-term unemployed?
In 2025, 2.6% of the labour force in Catalonia had been unemployed for 12 months or more, against 3.4% for Spain as a whole and 1.9% across the EU; 10th highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2015 it was 10.4%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the unemployment rate for women in Catalonia?
The unemployment rate for women in Catalonia was 9.2% in 2025, against 11.9% for Spain as a whole and 6.2% across the EU; 6th lowest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2015 it was 19.4%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many women in Catalonia are in work?
The employment rate for women aged 20 to 64 reached 72.6% in 2025, against 67.6% for Spain as a whole and 71.3% across the EU; 3rd highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2015 it was 63.0%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyIs the economy of Catalonia growing?
In real terms the economy of Catalonia grew by 4.2% in 2024 (gross value added), compared with 3.9% nationally; 4th highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2014 it was 1.5%.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many cars are there in Catalonia?
There were 450 passenger cars per 1,000 people in 2024, compared with 543 nationally; the lowest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain. In 2014 it was 446.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the average salary in Catalonia?
Employers paid an average of €27,376 per employee in 2024, counting wages, salaries and employer social contributions, against €25,604 across Spain; 3rd highest of 19 autonomous communities in Spain.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow many tourists visit Catalonia?
Hotels, campsites and other tourist accommodation recorded 89.8 million nights in 2025, 66% of them by visitors from abroad.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat is the main industry in Catalonia?
The largest part of the economy of Catalonia in 2024 was trade, transport, hospitality and communications, at 29.1% of gross value added, followed by finance, property and business services (27.7%).
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow industrial is Catalonia?
Industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) made up 18.7% of output in 2024, against 15.6% for Spain.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow fast is the economy of Catalonia growing?
Gross value added rose from €187.3 billion in 2015 to €275.1 billion in 2024 in current prices, an increase of 47% before inflation.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyWhat jobs do people do in Catalonia?
Of the 3,917,600 jobs located in Catalonia in 2024, 28% in public services, education, health and other services, 14% in industry and 1.3% in farming, forestry and fishing.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyAre jobs growing in Catalonia?
The number of people working in Catalonia rose by 19.0% between 2015 and 2024, to 3,917,600.
Source: Eurostat · saved copyHow Catalonia compares with other autonomous communities
Long-term unemployment (% of labour force) (2025)
Catalonia ranks 10 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Long-term unemployment (% of labour force) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Murcia | 4.1% |
| 8 | Valencian Community | 3.5% |
| 9 | Asturias | 3.2% |
| 10 | Catalonia | 2.6% |
| 11 | Madrid | 2.5% |
| 12 | Galicia | 2.5% |
| 13 | Navarre | 2.5% |
Unemployment rate, women (2025)
Catalonia ranks 14 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Unemployment rate, women |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Castilla y León | 9.8% |
| 12 | Balearic Islands | 9.3% |
| 13 | La Rioja | 9.3% |
| 14 | Catalonia | 9.2% |
| 15 | Navarre | 9.1% |
| 16 | Galicia | 8.7% |
| 17 | Madrid | 8.1% |
Employment rate, women aged 20-64 (2025)
Catalonia ranks 3 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Employment rate, women aged 20-64 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madrid | 74.8% |
| 2 | La Rioja | 73.3% |
| 3 | Catalonia | 72.6% |
| 4 | Basque Country | 72.4% |
| 5 | Balearic Islands | 72.0% |
| 6 | Navarre | 70.8% |
| 7 | Galicia | 70.7% |
Real growth in gross value added (2024)
Catalonia ranks 4 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Real growth in gross value added |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Murcia | 5.0% |
| 2 | Canary Islands | 4.7% |
| 3 | Balearic Islands | 4.6% |
| 4 | Catalonia | 4.2% |
| 5 | Andalusia | 4.1% |
| 6 | Madrid | 4.0% |
| 7 | Castilla-La Mancha | 4.0% |
Passenger cars per 1,000 people (2024)
Catalonia ranks 19 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Passenger cars per 1,000 people |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Andalusia | 535 |
| 14 | Ciudad de Ceuta | 520 |
| 15 | La Rioja | 516 |
| 16 | Valencian Community | 510 |
| 17 | Aragón | 499 |
| 18 | Basque Country | 478 |
| 19 | Catalonia | 450 |
Compensation per employee (euros) (2024)
Catalonia ranks 3 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Compensation per employee (euros) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madrid | €29,515 |
| 2 | Basque Country | €29,016 |
| 3 | Catalonia | €27,376 |
| 4 | Navarre | €27,041 |
| 5 | Ciudad de Ceuta | €25,994 |
| 6 | Balearic Islands | €25,193 |
| 7 | Aragón | €25,127 |
Nights spent in tourist accommodation (2025)
Catalonia ranks 2 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Nights spent in tourist accommodation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canary Islands | 102.3 million |
| 2 | Catalonia | 89.8 million |
| 3 | Andalusia | 77.9 million |
| 4 | Balearic Islands | 73.4 million |
| 5 | Valencian Community | 54.7 million |
| 6 | Madrid | 33.0 million |
| 7 | Galicia | 13.5 million |
Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) (2024)
Catalonia ranks 11 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of output from industry (manufacturing, mining and energy) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Asturias | 20.6% |
| 9 | Murcia | 20.0% |
| 10 | Galicia | 19.0% |
| 11 | Catalonia | 18.7% |
| 12 | Extremadura | 17.8% |
| 13 | Valencian Community | 17.4% |
| 14 | Andalusia | 11.7% |
Share of output from finance, property and business services (2024)
Catalonia ranks 3 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of output from finance, property and business services |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madrid | 34.2% |
| 2 | Balearic Islands | 28.3% |
| 3 | Catalonia | 27.7% |
| 4 | Valencian Community | 25.5% |
| 5 | Canary Islands | 24.9% |
| 6 | Asturias | 24.8% |
| 7 | Basque Country | 24.4% |
Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services (2024)
Catalonia ranks 19 of 19, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Share of output from public administration, education, health and other services |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Valencian Community | 21.2% |
| 14 | Aragón | 21.1% |
| 15 | Galicia | 21.0% |
| 16 | Navarre | 20.1% |
| 17 | Madrid | 19.2% |
| 18 | Balearic Islands | 18.8% |
| 19 | Catalonia | 18.6% |
More on Catalonia: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · government and politics · Spain
Sources
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2gdp: GDP per person (purchasing power standards), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c21f724d14a6…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2gdp: GDP per person (euros), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 537f99167955…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2gdp: GDP (million euros), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 e3677c4e6d67…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset lfst_r_lfu3rt: Unemployment rate (age 15-74), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 13f5037ce93a…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset lfst_r_lfu3rt: Youth unemployment rate (age 15-24), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 83bb1aebc10b…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset lfst_r_lfe2emprt: Employment rate (age 20-64), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 03191283bf5f…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset rd_e_gerdreg: Research and development spending (% of GDP), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 36a9132b2284…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset lfst_r_lfu3rt: Unemployment rates by sex, age, educational attainment level and NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 ac151d8a46d5…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset lfst_r_lfe2emprt: Employment rates by sex, age and NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 51bfca80dc8b…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset tran_r_vehst: Stock of vehicles by category and NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 5adf37bcb393…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2gvagr: Real growth rate of regional gross value added (GVA) at basic prices by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 ba2c4bdc7c37…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3empers: Employment (thousand persons) by NUTS 3 region and industry, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 222a97c302d3…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_3gva: Gross value added at basic prices by NUTS 3 region and industry, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c656e8563bdf…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset nama_10r_2coe: Compensation of employees by NUTS 2 region and industry, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 895d7cc9e826…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset tour_occ_nin2: Nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 06f6a82909c0…)
- Eurostat: Eurostat dataset lfst_r_lfu2ltu: Long-term unemployment (12 months and more) by NUTS 2 region, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3d5d17a32863…)
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