Barcelona
Ciutat Refugi Ajuntament de Barcelona

The first report is presented from the Barcelona Observatory on Migration and Refuge, a body which must analyse the impact of diversity in the city and help design more effective policies.

Barcelona City Council has launched the Observatory on Migration and Refuge, a new body aiming to bring rigorous data on the reality of migration in the city. The Observatory will draft annual reports for the design of more effective public policies and combat hate speech, generally based on false premises. The initiative is promoted by the Area for Social Rights and developed by the Institut Metròpoli.

The first report, corresponding to 2025, offers a detailed snapshot of migration dynamics and highlights the fundamental role that the foreign population has in the demographic and labour fabric. At present, 31.3% of people in Barcelona were born abroad, compared to just 5% in the year 2000. Migrants account for majorities in the key age range for the labour market (from 25 to 39) and represent nearly a third of the salaried population.

Despite this potential, the study shows some structural inequalities. Households of foreign origin devote over 40% of their income to housing, more than double that of the native population, and are often concentrated in professional sectors with low qualifications and high levels of precariousness, such as domestic work and hospitality. In addition, the lack of recognition for academic qualifications represents the underuse of talent: some 43% of foreigners have higher studies, yet many do not work in the area they trained in.

Despite the difficulties, public perception of diversity is very positive. According to the report, 94% of people of foreign origin and 87.7% of Spanish citizens have a favourable opinion of the plurality of origins living in Barcelona.