Territorial Gross Disposable Household Income. 2021

In 2021, El Barcelonès was once again the county with the highest gross disposable household income per inhabitant, at 20,293 euros and at 10.6% above the Catalan average (18,356 euros). It was followed by El Vallès Occidental (19,125 euros) and El Baix Llobregat (18,927 euros). In contrast, El Montsià (13,938 euros) and L’Alt Empordà (14,339 euros) were the counties with the lowest income.

Of the 465 municipalities studied (over 1,000 inhabitants), 133 were above the Catalan average. Matadepera (with 30,684 euros per inhabitant) was the municipality with the highest income level, followed by Sant Just Desvern (26,910 euros) and Fornells de la Selva (26,222 euros). At the other extreme, Lloret de Mar (€12,252) and Aitona (€12,257) were the municipalities with the lowest income per inhabitant.

The income per capita in 2021 rose by 4.6% in Catalonia compared to 2020, the year of the health crisis. All counties were up, led by El Solsonès (8.3%) followed by El Montsià (7.8%), while the counties with the lowest growth were La Ribera d’Ebre (1.8%) and Aran (0.8%). Over 93% of municipalities in Catalonia with more than 1,000 inhabitants recorded positive income per capita growth in 2021.

Compensation of employees accounted for 59% of the main sources of household income and was the main component of income in all the counties. El Gironès and El Vallès Occidental were the counties with the highest proportion of income from wages at 62.6% and 62.0%, respectively.

Social benefits accounted for 22% of the main sources of household income. El Berguedà was the county with the greatest weight of this component (31.6%), followed by La Terra Alta (29.0%).

Income from gross operating surplus represented 19% of household income. La Cerdanya was the county with the highest proportion of income from this component (31.8%), followed by El Pallars Sobirà (29.0%).

By municipalities, Guissona was the municipality with the highest percentage of income from compensation of employees (72.0%). In terms of gross operating surplus, La Vall de Boí (41.7%) was the municipality with the highest percentage with respect to its sources. Finally, in terms of social benefits, La Pobla de Lillet was the municipality where the weight of this component in total main income was highest (40.7%).