Population and Housing Census 2022. Studies

On 1 January 2022, 34.7% of the population aged 15 and over in Catalonia had higher education, including university studies and higher vocational education and training and equivalent, according to the Population Census. By sex, the percentage was higher in women (36.4%) than in men (33.0%). On the other hand, 14.0% of the population aged 15 and over had primary education or lower (12.0% of men and 15.9% of women), 27.9% had lower secondary education (30.3% of men and 25.6% of women) and 23.4% had upper secondary education (24.7% of men and 22.2% of women).

The counties with the highest percentage of population with higher education were El Barcelonès (41.2%), El Pallars Sobirà (41.1%) and El Garraf (38.1%). The counties with the lowest percentage were La Terra Alta (20.4%), L’Alt Empordà (23.6%), and La Selva and La Segarra (24.7% each). The municipalities with the highest percentage were Gisclareny (64.0%), Sant Cugat del Vallès (62.5%) and Renau (61.5%). The municipalities with the lowest percentage were La Jonquera (10.4%), Bovera (15.3%) and Badia del Vallès (15.6%).

By nationality, the percentage of the population with higher education was 35.6% for Spaniards and 30.3% for foreigners. The 10 countries with the most foreigners included France (64.2%), Italy (63.7%) and Venezuela (53.8%). As for the population with primary education or lower, the figure was 12.3% for Spaniards and 22.9% for foreigners. By countries, this included Pakistan (42.2%), Morocco (40.0%) and Honduras (32.7%).

A total of 38.4% of the population aged 18 to 24 was enrolled in higher education, including university studies and higher vocational education and training and equivalent. By sex, the percentage was higher in women (43.5%) than in men (33.7%). The counties with the highest proportion of young people who were studying higher education were El Pallars Sobirà (44.8%), El Pla de l’Estany (41.7%) and El Baix Llobregat, La Terra Alta and El Vallès Occidental (40.9% each). The counties with the lowest percentages were El Baix Penedès (30.4%), and L’Alt Empordà and La Selva (32.0%).

Idescat is publishing the results of the Population Census 2022 relating to population studies (level of education attained and current studies). Data are provided for Catalonia, provinces, areas of the Territorial Plan, counties, municipalities, census tract groups and census tracts.