Catalonia breaks its ageing record and exceeds 136% in 2025

Catalonia reaches a new historic high in ageing in 2025. The index rises by 4.1% compared with 2024. The region remains far behind Asturias and Galicia. Discover the full ranking of autonomous communities.

In 2025, Catalonia has recorded its highest ageing index since records began: 136.9%, according to the INE. This means that for every 100 people under the age of 16, there are almost 137 people over 64.

The growth compared with 2024 is 4.1%, the biggest annual increase ever seen in the region. Far from slowing down, the trend continues to rise year after year.

The turning point came in 1997, when Catalonia exceeded 100% for the first time and came to be considered an ageing community. Between 2002 and 2012, immigration managed to slow the increase, but since then the figure has not stopped growing.

Despite this record, Catalonia does not lead the national ranking. Asturias heads the list with 265.3%, followed by Galicia (231.6%) and Castile and León (230.7%). Catalonia is in 12th place, behind communities such as Cantabria, the Basque Country and Extremadura.

The full list of the most ageing communities is completed, in order, by: Cantabria (197.6%), the Basque Country (183.8%), Extremadura (172.6%), Aragon (163.5%), La Rioja (159.3%), the Canary Islands (149.5%), the Valencian Community (142.9%), Navarre (139.3%), Catalonia (136.9%), Castile-La Mancha (136%), the Community of Madrid (131.4%), Andalusia (128.6%), the Balearic Islands (117.4%), Murcia (102.7%), Ceuta (74.5%) and Melilla (60.4%).