Barcelona City Council publishes the latest edition of “Barcelona in Figures 2023. Main economic indicators of the Barcelona area“, a report on Barcelona and its economic agenda seen through the lens of a wide range of economic, business, environmental and social benchmark indicators drawn up by the Department of Studies of the municipal Area of Economy and Economic Promotion.

The report, which is aimed at both the city’s international promotion and local players, sets out Barcelona’s economic assets – a diversified production structure, good accessibility, entrepreneurial dynamism and more – and its commitment to the transformation of the productive model driven by strategic sectors: The Manufacturing Industry and Industry 4.0, the ICT sector, the Green, Circular and Blue Economies, the Health and Bio sector, the Social Economy, Commerce, and Tourism and Congresses. The city is moving towards a knowledge economy with a key role in the fields of creativity, innovation and research, promoting local development based on the three pillars of competitiveness, sustainability and equity.

Barcelona is currently a city with international recognition that has become southern Europe’s main magnet for talent attraction and retention. It is the world’s 8th most attractive city for visitors and entrepreneurs, the 3rd most popular city in Europe for establishing a start-up and the city with the best foreign investment attraction strategy in Europe. In 2023, it became the first European Capital of Democracy and received the European Entrepreneurial Region Award 2023 from the European Committee of the Regions. This international presence will be reinforced in the next few years by hosting events such as the 2024 America’s Cup sailing competition, the city’s designation as the World Capital of Architecture and its organisation of the 2026 UIA World Congress.