In recent years, Catalonia has seen increased migration from Barcelona and its suburbs to medium-sized cities, bringing significant changes to the region. The population growth in these municipalities comes with serious challenges to infrastructure and social services. For residents, this means new difficulties in accessing education, housing, and healthcare, while authorities face urgent pressure to find solutions and prevent a decline in quality of life.
As El Pais notes, there is virtually no free space left in Barcelona and housing costs continue to rise. This is forcing many to look for alternatives in cities with populations between 30,000 and 100,000. However, in these towns, infrastructure and social services are struggling to keep up with the increasing number of residents. As a result, municipalities like Figueres, Calafell, and Vic are experiencing housing shortages, overcrowded schools, and a growing strain on social services.
Demographic shift
According to Institut d’Estadística de Catalunya (Idescat), over the past ten years, the population of Calafell has increased by more than 32%, while Vic is approaching a 20% rise. During the same period, Barcelona saw growth of only 5.8%. This imbalance is forcing medium-sized towns to tackle problems that were previously seen only in major cities. In Calafell, for instance, roughly 400 new students enrolled in schools in a single year — equivalent to opening another educational institution. However, no new schools have been built for more than ten years, resulting in overcrowded classrooms.
Vic faces a different situation: without the influx of migrants, schools would be losing entire classes. Currently, about 6,000 children study here, and more than half come from migrant families. This helps maintain demographic balance but creates new challenges for the education system and social integration. The mayor highlights that school cafeterias are overcrowded, lacking both space and staff to properly serve all students.
Financial pressure and hidden population numbers
Another issue is the gap between official population figures and the actual number of residents. Calafell has about 33,000 registered inhabitants, but up to 50,000 people actually live there. This leads to underfunded municipalities and extra pressure on local services. Many avoid registering their residence to keep access to medical specialists in Barcelona, yet rely on local emergency services, overburdening local health centers.
Vic is also challenged by high population turnover: each month, up to 400 new registrations and 300 deregistrations are recorded. This instability complicates city planning and development. The mayor emphasizes that the city cannot become a ‘gateway’ for people arriving on tourist visas without housing or work. He calls on the Catalan government to take greater responsibility for migration and integration issues.
Transport and quality of life
In Sant Cugat del Vallès, housing and transport remain major challenges. Over the past ten years, the city’s population has grown by 12%, and more than half of the residents believe that further growth will negatively affect quality of life. During rush hour, trains to Barcelona are overcrowded, and the city center struggles with internal migration and overloaded infrastructure. The mayor notes that improving public transport could reduce dependence on private cars and ease the burden on roads.
According to El Pais, medium-sized cities across Catalonia are facing the same issues as large metropolitan areas but with fewer resources to address them. Housing, education, and transport are increasingly urgent concerns, pushing local governments to seek new ways to manage population growth. Analysis by russpain.com shows similar trends in other parts of Spain, where internal migration is reshaping cities and prompting a reconsideration of resource allocation policies.
Recent events show that similar infrastructure and population challenges have been reported in other Spanish cities. For example, in Málaga, the tourism sector kept growing despite disruptions in railway services, which also led to pressure on local amenities. For more on how cities are adapting to the influx of new residents and tourists, see the article on the situation in Málaga.
In recent years, Spain has faced new demographic challenges linked to internal migration and shifts in population structure. Regions that previously saw little influx are now experiencing increased demand for housing, education, and healthcare. Municipalities are being forced to adapt, reconsider budgets, and seek additional sources of funding. These developments affect not only Catalonia but also other autonomous communities, making the issue relevant across Spain.
