View source for Catalonia

{{Short description|Nationality and autonomous community of Spain}}
{{hatnote group|1=
{{distinguish|Cataonia|Catatonia}}{{for-multi|the historic states|Principality of Catalonia|and|Catalan Republic||Catalonia (disambiguation)|and|Catalunya (disambiguation)|and|Cataluña (disambiguation)}}
}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Catalonia
| native_name = {{native name list |tag1=ca|name1=Catalunya |tag2=es|name2=Cataluña |tag3=oc|name3=Catalonha}}
| settlement_type = [[Autonomous community of Spain|Autonomous community]]
| image_flag = Flag of Catalonia.svg
| flag_size = 125px
| flag_alt = Flag of Catalonia (Senyera)
| flag_link = Flag of Catalonia
| image_shield = Seal of the Generalitat of Catalonia.svg
| shield_size = x85px
| shield_alt = Seal of the Generalitat de Catalunya
| shield_link = Emblem of the Government of Catalonia
| anthem = {{Native name|ca|[[Els Segadors]]}}<br /> ("The Reapers")<br /> <div style="display:inline-block;margin-top:0.4em;">[[File:Els Segadors.ogg|center]]</div>
| motto = 
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 5
| image_map = {{Switcher|[[File:Cataluna in Spain (plus Canarias).svg|250px]]|Location of Catalonia (red) in Spain|[[File:E.U-Catalonia.png|250px]]|Catalonia (dark green) in Spain and Europe|}}
| map_alt = 
| map_caption = 
| pushpin_map = 
| image_map1 = 
| coordinates = {{Coord|41|51|N|1|34|E|region:ES-CT_type:adm1st|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Spain}}
| seat_type = Capital<br/>{{nobold|(and largest city)}}
| seat = [[Barcelona]]
| seat1_type = Largest metro
| seat1 = 
| population_demonym = [[Catalan people|Catalan]] or Catalonian <br/> &nbsp;• ''català'', ''-ana'' ([[Catalan language|Cat.]])  <br/> &nbsp;• ''catalán'', ''-ana'' ([[Spanish language|Sp.]]) <br/> &nbsp;• ''catalan'', ''-a'' ([[Occitan language|Oc.]]){{Infobox
 | child=yes
 | rowclass1 = mergedrow
 | label1 = Official language(s)
 | data1 = {{hlist|[[Catalan language|Catalan]]|[[Spanish language|Spanish]]{{efn|name=e|As "the official language of the [[Spain|State]]", according with the [[Spanish Constitution]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The Spanish Constitution|url=https://www.boe.es/legislacion/documentos/ConstitucionINGLES.pdf|website=Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado|publisher=BOE|access-date=26 July 2016|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304214738/https://www.boe.es/legislacion/documentos/ConstitucionINGLES.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>}}|[[Occitan language|Occitan]] ([[Aranese dialect|Aranese]]){{efn|name=f|Catalan and Occitan (Aranese in Aran) are the languages of Catalonia and Aran (respectively) and official languages of the autonomous community of Catalonia according with its Statute of Autonomy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gencat.cat/generalitat/eng/estatut/titol_preliminar.htm|title=Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia|publisher=Gencat.cat|access-date=13 September 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528011550/http://www.gencat.cat/generalitat/eng/estatut/titol_preliminar.htm|archive-date=28 May 2008}}</ref>}} <br> (Also [[Catalan Sign language]]){{efn|name=g|LSC was officially recognized as one of Catalonia's official languages on 3 June 2010 when Law 17/2010 of the Catalan Sign Language (LSC) was approved by the government.<ref name="estatut_langs" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Llei de la llengua de signes catalana|url=https://www.parlament.cat/document/nom/TL118.pdf|website=blogs.iec.cat|language=ca|access-date=9 October 2022|archive-date=9 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221009070458/https://www.parlament.cat/document/nom/TL118.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>}}}} }}
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type = [[Devolution|Devolved government]] in a [[constitutional monarchy]]
| governing_body = [[Generalitat de Catalunya|Generalitat of Catalonia]]
| leader_title = President
| leader_name = [[Salvador Illa]] ([[Socialists' Party of Catalonia|PSC]])
| leader_title1 = Legislature
| leader_name1 = [[Parliament of Catalonia]]
| leader_title2 = Speaker
| leader_name2 = [[Josep Rull]] ([[Together for Catalonia (2020)|Junts]])
| parts_type = Province(s)
| parts_style = para
| parts = {{no bold|{{hlist|[[Province of Barcelona|Barcelona]]|[[Province of Girona|Girona]]|[[Province of Lleida|Lleida]]|[[Province of Tarragona|Tarragona]]}}}}
| established_title = Formation
| established_date = 801 ([[County of Barcelona]])<br /> 1137 ([[Crown of Aragon|Dynastic union with Aragon]]) <br /> 1173 ([[Principality of Catalonia|Legal definition of Catalonia]]) <br /> 1516 ([[Habsburg Spain|Dynastic union with Castile]]) <br /> 1716 (''[[Nueva Planta decrees|Nova Planta]]'')
| established_title1 = Statute(s) of Autonomy
| established_date1 = 1932 ([[Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia of 1932|First Statute]]) <br />  1979 ([[Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia of 1979|Second Statute]]) <br />  2006 ([[Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia|Third Statute]] – ''in force'')
| area_footnotes = <ref name="idescat-area">{{cite web|url=http://www.idescat.cat/pub/?id=inddt&n=396&lang=en|title=Indicadors geogràfics. Superfície, densitat i entitats de població: Catalunya|publisher=[[Statistical Institute of Catalonia]]|access-date=23 November 2015|archive-date=26 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200426061452/https://www.idescat.cat/pub/?id=inddt|url-status=live}}</ref>
| area_rank = [[List of Spanish autonomous communities by area|6th]]
| area_total_km2 = 32113.86
| area_land_km2 = 
| area_water_km2 = 
| area_water_percent = 
| area_note = 6.3% of Spain
| population_footnotes = <ref name=population2024>{{cite web |url=https://www.ine.es/jaxiT3/Datos.htm?t=67988 |title=Annual population census 2021–2024 |language=en |website=[[National Statistics Institute (Spain)]] |date=2024-12-19 |access-date=2025-01-29 }}</ref>
| population_rank = [[Ranked lists of Spanish autonomous communities#Population and geography|2nd]]
| population_as_of = 2025
| population_total = 8,124,126
| population_est = 
| pop_est_as_of = 
| population_density_km2 = 
| demographics_type1 = GDP
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web |  url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tgs00003/default/table?lang=en | title=EU regions by GDP, Eurostat|access-date=18 September 2023|website=www.ec.europa.eu}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1 = Total
| demographics1_info1 = €302.304 billion (2024)
| demographics1_title3 = Per capita
| demographics1_info3 = €37,477 (2024)
| demographics_type2 = [[Human Development Index|HDI]]
| demographics2_title1 = HDI {{no bold|(2022)}}
| demographics2_info1 = 0.918<ref name="GlobalDataLab">{{Cite web|url=https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/table/shdi/ESP/?levels=1+4&years=2022&interpolation=0&extrapolation=0|title=Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab|website=hdi.globaldatalab.org|language=en|access-date=2025-01-28}}</ref> ({{color|darkgreen|very high}} · [[List of Spanish autonomous communities by Human Development Index|5th]])
| postal_code_type = Postal code prefixes
| postal_code = {{hlist|08XXX ([[Province of Barcelona|B]])|17XXX ([[Province of Girona|GI]])|25XXX ([[Province of Lleida|L]])|43XXX ([[Province of Tarragona|T]])}}
| iso_code = [[ISO 3166-2:ES|ES-CT]]
| timezone_link = Time in Spain
| timezone1_location = 
| timezone1 = [[Central European Time|CET]] ([[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]]+1)
| utc_offset1 = 
| timezone1_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]] ([[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]]+2)
| utc_offset1_DST = 
| timezone2_location = 
| timezone2 = 
| utc_offset2 = 
| timezone2_DST = 
| utc_offset2_DST = 
| area_code_type = Telephone codes
| area_codes = [[Telephone numbers in Spain|+34 93 (Barcelona area) <br /> +34 97 (rest of Catalonia)]]
| blank1_name_sec1 = 
| blank1_info_sec1 = 
| blank2_name_sec1 = 
| blank2_info_sec1 = 
| blank_name_sec2 = Currency
| blank_info_sec2 = [[Euro]] ([[Euro sign|€]])
| blank1_name_sec2 = National day
| blank1_info_sec2 = [[National Day of Catalonia|11 September]]
| blank2_name_sec2 = Patron saint(s)
| blank2_info_sec2 = [[Saint George]] <br /> [[Virgin of Montserrat]]
| blank3_name_sec2 = 
| blank3_info_sec2 = 
| website = {{URL|1=gencat.cat}}
| footnotes = 
| module = 
}}
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'''Catalonia'''{{efn|{{IPAc-en|ˌ|k|æ|t|ə|ˈ|l|oʊ|n|i|ə}}; {{langx|ca|Catalunya}} {{IPA|ca|kətəˈluɲə||LL-Q7026 (cat)-Unjoanqualsevol-Catalunya.wav}}; {{langx|es|Cataluña}} {{IPA|es|kataˈluɲa||Pronunciation_of_Catalonia_in_Spanish.ogg}}; {{langx|oc|Catalonha}} {{IPA|oc|kataˈluɲa|}}<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.institutestudisaranesi.cat/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/33519-vocabulari-fonetic.pdf|title=Vocabulari fonetic basic der aranés|publisher=Institut D'Estudis Aranesi|date=2018|isbn=978-84-09-06340-6|page=8|access-date=5 January 2021|archive-date=5 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210705145917/http://www.institutestudisaranesi.cat/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/33519-vocabulari-fonetic.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>}} is an [[autonomous community of Spain]], designated as a ''[[nationalities and regions of Spain|nationality]]'' by its [[Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia of 2006|Statute of Autonomy]].{{efn|In addition to the legal definition as a nationality, Catalonia is also defined as a [[nation]] in the preamble of its 2006 Statute of Autonomy, although its effectiveness was challenged by the [[Constitutional Court of Spain]] in 2010, which declared this definition without legal force. However, the word was not modified nor suppressed, thus remaining in the text.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.expatica.com/es/news/country-news/Court-to-reject-nation-in-Catalonia-statute_167204.html|title=Court to reject 'nation' in Catalonia statute|date=22 November 2009|access-date=12 November 2015|archive-date=23 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223190919/http://www.expatica.com/es/news/country-news/Court-to-reject-nation-in-Catalonia-statute_167204.html|url-status=live}}</ref>}}<!-- i.e. by the [[Spanish Constitution]] and its [[Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia of 2006|Statute of Autonomy]] --><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gencat.cat/generalitat/eng/estatut/titol_preliminar.htm|title=Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia, article 1|quote=Catalonia, as a nationality, exercises its self-government constituted as an autonomous community, in accordance with the Constitution and with this Statute, which is its basic institutional law.|publisher=Gencat.cat|access-date=13 September 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528011550/http://www.gencat.cat/generalitat/eng/estatut/titol_preliminar.htm|archive-date=28 May 2008}}</ref> Its territory is situated on the northeast of the [[Iberian Peninsula]], to the south of the [[Pyrenees]] mountain range. Catalonia is administratively divided into four [[Provinces of Spain|provinces]] or eight [[Vegueria|''vegueries'']] (regions), which are in turn divided into 43 [[Comarques of Catalonia|''comarques'']]. The capital and largest city, [[Barcelona]], is the second-most populous [[Municipalities in Spain|municipality]] in Spain and the fifth-most populous [[List of metropolitan areas in Europe|urban area]] in the [[European Union]].<ref name="demographia">[http://www.demographia.com/db-worldua.pdf Demographia: World Urban Areas] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805030244/http://www.demographia.com/db-worldua.pdf|date=5 August 2011}} – Demographia, April 2018</ref>

Modern-day Catalonia comprises most of the medieval and early modern [[Principality of Catalonia]], with the remainder of the [[Northern Catalonia|northern area]] now part of France's [[Pyrénées-Orientales]]. It is bordered by [[France]] ([[Occitania (administrative region)|Occitanie]]) and [[Andorra]] to the north, the [[Mediterranean Sea]] to the east, and the Spanish autonomous communities of [[Aragon]] to the west and [[Valencian Community|Valencia]] to the south. In addition to its approximately 580&nbsp;km of coastline, Catalonia also has major high landforms such as the [[Pyrenees]] and the [[Pre-Pyrenees]], the Transversal Range (Serralada Transversal) or the Central Depression.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://exteriors.gencat.cat/en/ambits-dactuacio/afers_exteriors/delegacions_govern/welcome-to-catalonia/|title=Welcome to Catalonia|publisher=Ministry for Foreign Action and European Union|access-date=27 March 2024|archive-date=27 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240327072043/https://exteriors.gencat.cat/en/ambits-dactuacio/afers_exteriors/delegacions_govern/welcome-to-catalonia/|url-status=live}}</ref> The official languages are [[Catalan language|Catalan]], [[Spanish language|Spanish]], and the [[Aranese dialect]] of [[Occitan language|Occitan]].<ref name="estatut_langs">{{cite web|title=Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia (2006), Articles 6, 50 – BOPC 224 |url=http://www.parlament-cat.net/porteso/estatut/estatut_angles_100506.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826045656/http://www.parlament-cat.net/porteso/estatut/estatut_angles_100506.pdf|archive-date=26 August 2013|access-date=31 January 2014}}</ref>

In 1137, the [[County of Barcelona]]<ref>Salrach, Josep Mª. ''Catalunya a la fi del primer mil·leni''. Pagès Editors (Lleida, 2004), pp. 144–149.</ref> and the [[Kingdom of Aragon]] formed a [[dynastic union]], resulting in a [[composite monarchy]], the [[Crown of Aragon]]. Within the Crown, Barcelona and the other [[Catalan counties]] merged into a state,<ref name="ryder">{{cite book |author1=Ryder, Alan |title=The Wreck of Catalonia. Civil War in the Fifteenth Century |year=2007 |page=v |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-920736-7 |quote=This group of states comprised the kingdoms of Aragon, Valencia, and Majorca, the principality of Catalonia, and the counties of Roussillon and Cerdagne; further afield it embraced the kingdoms of Sicily and Sardinia. These states had no common institutions or bonds save allegiance to a common sovereign}}</ref> the [[Principality of Catalonia]], with its distinct institutional system, such as [[Catalan Courts|Courts]], [[Generalitat de Catalunya|Generalitat]], and [[Catalan constitutions|constitutions]], being the base and promoter for the Crown's Mediterranean trade and expansionism. [[Catalan literature]] flourished. In 1516, [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]] became monarch of the crowns of Aragon and [[Crown of Castile|Castile]], retaining both their previous distinct institutions and legislation. Growing tensions led to the [[Reapers' War|revolt of the Principality of Catalonia]] (1640–1652), briefly as a [[Catalan Republic (1640–1641)|republic]] under French protection. By the [[Treaty of the Pyrenees]] (1659), the [[Northern Catalonia|northern parts of Catalonia]] were ceded to France. During the [[War of the Spanish Succession]] (1701–1714), the states of the Crown of Aragon sided against the [[House of Bourbon|Bourbon]] [[Philip V of Spain|Philip V]], but following [[Siege of Barcelona (1713–1714)|Catalan capitulation]] ([[National Day of Catalonia|11 September 1714]]) he imposed a unifying administration across Spain via the [[Nueva Planta decrees]] which suppressed Catalonia's institutions and [[legal system]], thus ending its separate status. Catalan as a language of government and literature was eclipsed by Spanish.

In the 19th century, [[Napoleonic Wars|Napoleonic]] and [[Carlist Wars]] affected Catalonia, however, it experienced industrialisation, as well as a [[Renaixença|cultural renaissance]] coupled with incipient [[Catalan nationalism|nationalism]] and several [[workers' movement]]s. The [[Second Spanish Republic]] (1931–1939) granted [[Autonomous Region of Catalonia (1931–1939)|self-governance to Catalonia]], restoring the [[Generalitat de Catalunya|Generalitat]] as its government. After the [[Spanish Civil War]] (1936–1939), the [[Francoist Spain|Francoist]] dictatorship enacted repressive measures, abolishing self-government and banning again the official use of the Catalan language. After a harsh [[autarky]], from the late 1950s Catalonia saw [[Spanish miracle|rapid economic growth]], drawing many workers from across Spain and making it a major industrial and touristic hub. During the [[Spanish transition to democracy]] (1975–1982), the Generalitat and [[Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia of 1979|Catalonia's self-government]] were reestablished, remaining one of the most economically dynamic communities in Spain.

In the 2010s until the 2020s, there was growing support for [[Catalan independence movement|Catalan independence]]. On 27 October 2017, the Catalan Parliament unilaterally declared independence following a [[2017 Catalan independence referendum|referendum]] that was deemed unconstitutional. The Spanish State enforced direct rule by removing the Catalan government and calling [[2017 Catalan regional election|a snap regional election]]. The [[Spanish Supreme Court]] imprisoned seven former Catalan ministers on charges of rebellion and misuse of public funds, while several others—including then-President [[Carles Puigdemont]]—fled to other European countries. Those in prison{{Efn|Puigdemont is still wanted by the government in Madrid.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-05-24|title=EU court reinstates MEP immunity of Catalonia's Carles Puigdemont|url=https://www.euronews.com/2022/05/24/eu-court-reinstates-immunity-of-catalonia-s-ex-president-carles-puigdemont|access-date=2022-06-22|publisher=[[euronews]]|language=en|archive-date=22 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622190654/https://www.euronews.com/2022/05/24/eu-court-reinstates-immunity-of-catalonia-s-ex-president-carles-puigdemont|url-status=live}}</ref>}} were pardoned in 2021.

== Etymology and pronunciation ==
The name "Catalonia" ({{Langx|la-x-medieval|Cathalaunia}}), spelled ''Cathalonia'', began to be used for the homeland of the [[Catalans]] (''Cathalanenses'') in the late 11th century and was probably used before as a territorial reference to the group of counties that comprised part of the March of Gothia and the [[Marca Hispanica|March of Hispania]] under the control of the [[Count of Barcelona]] and his relatives.<ref>[http://www.enciclopedia.cat/fitxa_v2.jsp?NDCHEC=0016436 Enciclopèdia Catalana online: Catalunya ("Geral de Cataluign, Raimundi Catalan and Arnal Catalan appear in 1107/1112")] (in Catalan) {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206211826/http://www.enciclopedia.cat/fitxa_v2.jsp?NDCHEC=0016436|date=6 February 2012}}</ref> The origin of the name ''Catalunya'' is subject to diverse interpretations because of a lack of evidence.

One theory suggests that ''Catalunya'' derives from the name ''Gothia'' (or ''Gauthia'') ''Launia'' ("Land of the [[Goths]]"), since the origins of the Catalan counts, lords and people were found in the March of Gothia, known as ''Gothia'', whence ''Gothland'' > {{Lang|la-x-medieval|Gothlandia}} > {{Lang|la-x-medieval|Gothalania}} > {{Lang|la-x-medieval|Cathalaunia}} > ''Catalonia'' is theoretically derived.<ref name="Books.google.com"/><ref>{{cite book|author=Ulick Ralph Burke|title=A history of Spain from the earliest times to the death of Ferdinand the Catholic|url=https://archive.org/details/ahistoryspainfr02burkgoog|year=1900|publisher=Longmans, Green, and co.|page=[https://archive.org/details/ahistoryspainfr02burkgoog/page/n187 154]}}</ref> During the [[Middle Ages]], [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] chroniclers claimed that ''Catalania'' derives from the local medley of [[Goths]] with [[Alans]], initially constituting a ''Goth-Alania''.<ref>The Sarmatians: 600 BC-AD 450 (Men-at-Arms) by Richard Brzezinski and Gerry Embleton, 19 August 2002.</ref>

Other theories suggest:

*''Catalunya'' derives from the term "land of castles", having evolved from the term ''castlà'' or ''castlan'', the medieval term for a [[castellan]] (a ruler of a [[castle]]).<ref name="Books.google.com">{{cite book|author=Maximiano García Venero|title=Historia del nacionalismo catalán: 2a edición|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nUABAAAAMAAJ|access-date=25 April 2010|date=7 July 2006|publisher=Ed. Nacional|archive-date=11 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220311111242/https://books.google.com/books?id=nUABAAAAMAAJ|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gencat.cat/catalunya/eng/historia/historia2.htm|title=La formació de Catalunya|publisher=Gencat.cat|access-date=25 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091215151546/http://www.gencat.cat/catalunya/eng/historia/historia2.htm|archive-date=15 December 2009}}</ref> This theory therefore suggests that the names ''Catalunya'' and ''[[Castile (historical region)|Castile]]'' have a common root.
*The source is the Celtic ''[[catalauni]]'', meaning "chiefs of battle", similar to the Celtic given name [[wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Celtic/Katuwalos|*Katuwalos]];<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Bonfante|first=Giuliano|date=1948|title=Le nom de la "Catalogne"|url=https://www.persee.fr/doc/ecelt_0373-1928_1948_num_4_2_1196|journal=Études celtiques|volume=4|issue=2|pages=365–368|doi=10.3406/ecelt.1948.1196|access-date=6 June 2020|archive-date=6 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606104705/https://www.persee.fr/doc/ecelt_0373-1928_1948_num_4_2_1196|url-status=live|issn=0373-1928 }}</ref> although the area is not known to have been occupied by the [[Celtiberians]], a Celtic culture was present within the interior of the [[Iberian Peninsula]] in pre-Roman times.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Catalan&allowed_in_frame=0|title=Online Etymology Dictionary|publisher=Etymonline.com|access-date=31 January 2014|archive-date=3 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203040542/http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Catalan&allowed_in_frame=0|url-status=live}}</ref>
*The [[Lacetani]], an [[Iberians|Iberian tribe]] that lived in the area and whose name, due to the [[ancient Rome|Roman]] influence, could have evolved by [[Metathesis (linguistics)|metathesis]] to ''Katelans'' and then ''Catalans''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mediterranees.net/vagabondages/divers/catalogne.html|title=La Catalogne: son nom et ses limites historiques, Histoire de Roussillon|publisher=Mediterranees.net|date=22 March 2008|access-date=1 February 2014|archive-date=18 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218071954/http://mediterranees.net/vagabondages/divers/catalogne.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
*Miguel Vidal, finding serious shortcomings with earlier proposals (such as that an original -''t''- would have, by normal sound laws in the local Romance languages, developed into -''d''-), suggested an Arabic etymology: ''{{transliteration|ar|qattāl}}'' ({{wikt-lang|ar|قتال}}, {{abbr|pl.|plural}} ''{{transliteration|ar|qattālūn}}'' {{lang|ar|قتالون}}) – meaning "killer" – could have been applied by Muslims to groups of raiders and bandits on the southern border of the [[Marca Hispanica]].<ref>Badia i Margarit, Antoni, 1981,

Gramàtica històrica catalana, Barcelona; see also Miguel Vidal's "Etymology of català, Catalunya", available [https://www.academia.edu/3815281/Etymology_of_català_Catalunya here] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101182645/https://www.academia.edu/3815281/Etymology_of_catal%C3%A0_Catalunya|date=1 November 2020}}.</ref> The name, originally derogatory, could have been reappropriated by Christians as an autonym. This is comparable to attested development of the term [[Almogavars|Almogavar]] in nearby areas. In this model, the name ''Catalunya'' derives from the plural ''qattālūn'' while the adjective and language name ''català'' derives from the singular ''qattāl'', both with the addition of common Romance suffixes.<ref>Sabaté, Flocel (2015). ''Anàlisi històrica de la identitat catalana''. Barcelona, Institut d ́Estudis Catalans: p. 27; Publicacions de la Presidència (1).</ref>

In English, ''Catalonia'' is pronounced {{IPAc-en|k|æ|t|ə|ˈ|l|oʊ|n|i|ə}}. The native name, ''Catalunya'', is pronounced {{IPA|ca|kətəˈluɲə|}} in [[Central Catalan]], the most widely spoken variety, and {{IPA|ca|kataˈluɲa|}} in [[North-Western Catalan]]. The [[Spanish language|Spanish]] name is ''Cataluña'' ({{IPA|es|kataˈluɲa|}}), and the [[Aranese]] name is ''Catalonha'' ({{IPA|oc|kataˈluɲa|}}).

== History ==
{{Main|History of Catalonia}}

{{For timeline|Timeline of Catalan history}}

=== Prehistory ===
The first known human settlements in what is now Catalonia were at the beginning of the [[Middle Paleolithic]]. The oldest known trace of human occupation is a [[mandible]] found in [[Banyoles]], described as pre-[[Neanderthal]], that is, some 200,000 years old; other sources suggest it to be only about one third that old.<ref>{{citation|first1=R.|last1=Grun|title=ESR and U-series analyses of enamel and dentine fragments of the Banyoles mandible|journal=Journal of Human Evolution|year=2005|url=http://www.naturalsciences.be/mars/litterature/bibliography/bibtest/Grun2005|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120904090837/http://www.naturalsciences.be/mars/litterature/bibliography/bibtest/Grun2005|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 September 2012|access-date=31 October 2006|doi=10.1016/j.jhevol.2005.10.001|display-authors=etal|volume=50|issue=3|pages=347–58|pmid=16364406|url-access=subscription}}.</ref> There are important remains from the [[Epipalaeolithic]] or [[Mesolithic]], dated between 8000 and 5000{{spaces}}BC. The most important sites from these eras, all excavated in the region of [[Moianès]], are the Balma del Gai (Epipaleolithic) and the Balma de l'Espluga.<ref>Guilaine, Jean; Michel Barbaza, David Geddes, Jean-Louis Vernet, Miguel Llongueras & Maria Hopf (1982). "Prehistoric Human Adaptations in Catalonia (Spain)", ''Journal of Field Archaeology'', 9:4, 407–416.</ref> The [[Neolithic]] era began in Catalonia around 5000{{nbsp}}BC, although the population was slower to develop fixed settlements thanks to the abundance of woods, which allowed the continuation of a fundamentally [[hunter-gatherer]] culture, for example, La Draga at Banyoles, an "early Neolithic village which dates from the end of the 6th millennium{{nbsp}}BC".<ref>Tarrus, Josep. "La Draga (Banyoles, Catalonia), an Early Neolithic Lakeside Village in Mediterranean Europe". ''Catalan Historical Review'', vol. 1, 2008, pp. 17–33.</ref>

The [[Bronze Age]] occurred between 1800 and 700{{nbsp}}BC. There were some known settlements in the [[Segre (river)|low Segre]] zone. The Bronze Age coincided with the arrival of the [[proto-Indo-Europeans|Indo-Europeans]] through the [[Urnfield Culture]], whose successive waves of migration began around 1200{{nbsp}}BC, and they were responsible for the creation of the first proto-urban settlements.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.raco.cat/index.php/Pyrenae/article/viewFile/178964/242576|title=J. Maluquer de Motes: "Late Bronze and Early Iron in the valley of the Ebro" (''The Europea Community in Later Prehistory. Studies in honour of C. F. C. Hawkes''; Routledge & Kegan 1971, pp. 107–120) |access-date=24 January 2019|archive-date=2 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002115946/http://www.raco.cat/index.php/Pyrenae/article/viewFile/178964/242576|url-status=live}}</ref> Around the middle of the 7th century{{nbsp}}BC, the [[Iron Age]] arrived in Catalonia.

=== Pre-Roman and Roman period ===
[[File:PuentedelDiablo edited.jpg|thumb|[[Les Ferreres Aqueduct|Aqüeducte de les Ferreres]], [[Roman aqueduct]] in [[Tarragona]] ]]
In pre-Roman times, the area that is now Catalonia was populated by the [[Iberians]]. The Iberians tribes – the [[Ilergetes]], [[Indigetes]] and [[Lacetani]] (Cerretains) – also maintained relations with the peoples of the Mediterranean. Some urban agglomerations became relevant, including Ilerda ([[Lleida]]) inland, Hibera (perhaps [[Amposta]] or [[Tortosa]]) or Indika ([[Ullastret]]). Coastal trading colonies were established by the [[Ancient Greece|ancient Greeks]], who settled around the [[Gulf of Roses]], in Emporion ([[Empúries]]) and [[Roses, Girona|Roses]] in the [[Colonies in antiquity|8th century BC]].

After the Carthaginian defeat by the [[Roman Republic]], the north-east of Iberia became the first to come under Roman rule and became part of [[Hispania]], the westernmost part of the [[Roman Empire]]. [[Tarraco (Tarragona)|Tarraco]] (modern [[Tarragona]]) was one of the most important Roman cities in Hispania and the capital of the [[Roman province|province]] of [[Tarraconensis]]. Other important cities of the Roman period are Ilerda (Lleida), Dertosa (Tortosa), Gerunda (Girona) as well as the ports of Empuriæ (former Emporion) and Barcino ([[Barcelona]]). As for the rest of Hispania, [[Latin law]] was granted to all cities under the reign of [[Vespasian]] (69–79{{nbsp}}AD), while [[Roman citizenship]] was granted to all free men of the empire by the [[Edict of Caracalla]] in 212{{nbsp}}AD (Tarraco, the capital, was already a colony of [[Roman law]] since 45{{nbsp}}BC). It was a rich agricultural province (olive oil, wine, [[wheat]]), and the first centuries of the Empire saw the construction of roads (the most important being the [[Via Augusta]], parallel to Mediterranean coastline) and infrastructure like [[Aqueduct (water supply)|aqueducts]].

Conversion to [[Christianity]], attested in the 3rd{{nbsp}}century, was completed in urban areas in the 4th{{nbsp}}century. Although Hispania remained under Roman rule and did not fall under the rule of [[Vandals]], [[Suebi]] and [[Alans]] in the 5th{{nbsp}}century, the main cities suffered frequent sacking and some [[deurbanization]].

=== Middle Ages ===
After the fall of the [[Western Roman Empire]], the area was conquered by the [[Visigoths]] and was ruled as part of the [[Visigothic Kingdom]] for almost two and a half centuries. In 718, it came under [[Muslim]] control and became part of [[Al-Andalus]], a province of the [[Umayyad Caliphate]]. From the conquest of Roussillon in 760, to the [[Siege of Barcelona (801)|conquest]] of Barcelona in 801, the [[Frankish empire]] took control of the area between Septimania and the [[Llobregat]] river from the Muslims and created heavily militarised, self-governing [[county|counties]]. These counties formed part of the historiographically known as the [[Septimania|Gothic]] and [[Spanish March|Hispanic]] Marches, a [[buffer zone]] in the south of the Frankish Empire in the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula, to act as a defensive barrier against further invasions from Al-Andalus.<ref>Ramos, Luis G-G (2002). ''Las Invasiones Bárbaras en Hispania y la Creación del Reino Visigodo''. Barcelona: Ariel. pp. 3–30. {{ISBN|978-84-344-6668-5}}</ref> [[File:Genealogía Casa de Aragón.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona]] (left), [[Petronilla of Aragon]] (right) and their son Alfonso II of Aragon and I of Barcelona (bottom), dynastic union of the [[Crown of Aragon]]]] These counties came under the rule of the [[counts of Barcelona]], who were Frankish [[vassal]]s nominated by the emperor of the Franks, to whom they were [[feudatory|feudatories]] (801–988). At the end of the 9th{{nbsp}}century, the Count of Barcelona [[Wilfred the Hairy]] (878–897) made his titles hereditary and thus founded the dynasty of the [[House of Barcelona]], which reigned in Catalonia until 1410.

[[File:Hug IV Empuries Pero Maça Croada Mayurqa 1229.jpg|thumb|170px|Ponç Hug IV, Count of Empúries, and Pero Maça during the conquest of Mallorca (1229)]]
[[File:Cortes Catalanas.jpg|thumb|upright|A 15th-century miniature of the Catalan Courts]]
In 988 [[Borrell II]], Count of Barcelona, did not recognise the new French king [[Hugh Capet]] as his king, evidencing the loss of dependency from Frankish rule and confirming his successors (from [[Ramon Borrell, Count of Barcelona|Ramon Borrell I]] onwards) as independent of the Capetian crown.<ref>Salrach, Josep Mª. ''Catalunya a la fi del primer mil·leni''. Pagès Editors, (Lleida, 2004) pp. 144–49.</ref> At the beginning of eleventh century the Catalan counties experienced an important process of feudalisation, however, the efforts of church's sponsored [[Peace and Truce of God|Peace and Truce Assemblies]] and the intervention of [[Ramon Berenguer I]], count of Barcelona (1035–1076) in the negotiations with the rebel nobility resulted in the partial restoration of the comital authority under the new feudal order. To fulfill that purpose, Ramon Berenguer began the modification of the legislation in the written [[Usages of Barcelona]], being one of the first European compilations of feudal law. The earliest known use of the name "[[Principality of Catalonia|Catalonia]]" for these counties dates to 1117.

In 1137, [[Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona]] decided to accept [[Ramiro II of Aragon|King Ramiro II of Aragon]]'s proposal to receive the [[Kingdom of Aragon]] and to marry his daughter [[Petronilla of Aragon|Petronila]], establishing the dynastic union of the County of Barcelona with Aragon, creating a composite monarchy later known as the [[Crown of Aragon]] and making the Catalan counties that were vassalized or merged with the County of Barcelona into a [[principality]] of the Aragonese Crown. During the reign of his son [[Alfonso II of Aragon|Alphons]], in 1173, Catalonia was regarded as a legal entity for the first time, while the Usages of Barcelona were compiled in the process to turn them into the law and custom of Catalonia (''Consuetudinem Cathalonie''), being considered one of the "milestones of [[History of political Catalanism|Catalan political identity]]".<ref>Cingolani, Stefano Maria (2006). "Seguir les Vestígies dels Antecessors. Llinatge, Reialesa i Historiografia a Catalunya des de Ramon Berenguer IV a Pere II (1131–1285)", Anuario de Estudios Medievales, p 225.</ref> In 1258, by means of the [[Treaty of Corbeil (1258)|Treaty of Corbeil]] [[James I of Aragon]] renounced his family rights and dominions in [[Occitania]], while the king of France, [[Louis IX of France|Louis IX]], formally relinquished to any historical claim of feudal lordship he might have over the Catalan counties.<ref name="Petit-Dutaillis2013">{{cite book|author=C. Petit-Dutaillis|title=The Feudal Monarchy in France and England|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vXr5AQAAQBAJ&pg=PA324|date=5 November 2013|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-136-20350-3|page=324|access-date=6 February 2019|archive-date=11 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220311110534/https://books.google.com/books?id=vXr5AQAAQBAJ&pg=PA324|url-status=live}}</ref> This treaty confirmed, from French point of view, the independence of the Catalan counties already established the previous three centuries.

As a coastal land, Catalonia became the base of the Aragonese Crown's maritime forces, which spread the power of the Crown in the Mediterranean, turning Barcelona into a powerful and wealthy city. In the period of 1164–1410, new territories, the [[Kingdom of Valencia]], the [[Kingdom of Majorca]], the [[Kingdom of Sardinia (1324–1720)|Kingdom of Sardinia]], the [[Kingdom of Sicily]], and, briefly, the [[Duchy|Duchies]] of [[Duchy of Athens|Athens]] and [[Duchy of Neopatras|Neopatras]], were incorporated into the dynastic domains of the [[House of Barcelona|House of Aragon]]. The expansion was accompanied by a great development of the Catalan trade, creating an extensive trade network across the Mediterranean which competed with those of the maritime republics of [[Genoa Republic|Genoa]] and [[Republic of Venice|Venice]].

At the same time, the [[Principality of Catalonia]] developed a complex institutional and political system based on the concept of a pact between the [[estates of the realm]] and the king. The legislation had to be passed by the [[Catalan Courts]] (''Corts Catalanes''), one of the first parliamentary bodies of Europe that, after 1283, officially obtained the power to pass legislation with the monarch.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://usuarios.multimania.es/maarian/Catalunya/historiacataluna/las_cortes_catalanas_.htm|title=Las Cortes Catalanas y la primera Generalidad medieval (s. XIII–XIV)|access-date=21 January 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101019003946/http://usuarios.multimania.es/Maarian/Catalunya/historiacataluna/las_cortes_catalanas_.htm|archive-date=19 October 2010}}</ref> The Courts were composed of the three estates organized into "arms" (''braços''), were presided over by the monarch, and approved the [[Catalan constitutions]], which established a compilation of rights for the inhabitants of the Principality. In order to collect general taxes, the Catalan Courts of 1359 established a permanent representative body, known as the [[Generalitat of Catalonia|Generalitat]], which gained considerable political power over the next centuries.<ref>[https://web.gencat.cat/ca/generalitat/historia/la-diputacio-del-general/ History of the Generalitat] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200916163434/https://web.gencat.cat/ca/generalitat/historia/la-diputacio-del-general/|date=16 September 2020}} gencat.cat</ref>

[[File:Map of the Crown of Aragon.svg|thumb|right|upright=1.25|Diachronic map of the [[Crown of Aragon]]. The Principality of Catalonia appears in light green.]]
The domains of the Aragonese Crown were severely affected by the [[Black Death]] pandemic and by later outbreaks of the [[plague (disease)|plague]]. Between 1347 and 1497 Catalonia lost 37{{nbsp}}percent of its population.<ref>According to John Huxtable Elliott, "Between 1347 and 1497 the Principality [Catalonia] had lost 37% of its inhabitants, and was reduced to a population of something like 300,000." {{cite book|author=[[John Elliott (historian)|Elliott, John Huxtable]]|title=The revolt of the Catalans: a study in the decline of Spain (1598–1640) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X2Hf-crzPjUC&pg=PA26|year=1984|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|isbn=0-521-27890-2|page=26|access-date=9 November 2020|archive-date=11 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220311111240/https://books.google.com/books?id=X2Hf-crzPjUC&pg=PA26|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1410, the last reigning monarch of the House of Barcelona, King [[Martin of Aragon|Martin I]] died without surviving descendants. Under the [[Compromise of Caspe]] (1412), the representatives of the kingdoms of Aragon, Valencia and the Principality of Catalonia appointed [[Ferdinand I of Aragon|Ferdinand]] from the Castilian [[House of Trastámara]] as King of the Crown of Aragon.<ref name=Reilly>{{cite book|last=Reilly|first=Bernard|title=The Medieval Spain|year=1993|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|location=Cambridge|isbn=0-521-39436-8}}</ref> During the reign of his son, [[John II of Aragon and Navarre|John II]], the persistent economic crisis and social and political tensions in the Principality led to the [[Catalan Civil War]] (1462–1472) and the [[War of the Remences]] (1462–1486) that left Catalonia exhausted. The [[Sentencia Arbitral de Guadalupe]] (1486) liberated the [[Remensa|remença]] peasants from the feudal "[[evil customs]]".

In the later Middle Ages, [[Catalan literature]] flourished in Catalonia proper and in the kingdoms of Majorca and Valencia, with such remarkable authors as the philosopher [[Ramon Llull]], the Valencian poet [[Ausiàs March]], and [[Joanot Martorell]], author of the novel ''[[Tirant lo Blanch]]'', published in 1490.

=== Modern era ===
[[File:Cataloniae principatus 1608.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Principality of Catalonia]] (1608)]]
[[Ferdinand II of Aragon]], the son of John II, and queen [[Isabella I of Castile]] were married in 1469, later taking the title the [[Catholic Monarchs]]; subsequently, this event was traditionally seen as the first step towards a unified Spain. At this time, though united by marriage, the Crown of [[Crown of Castile|Castile]] and the states of the Crown of Aragon remained distinct polities, each keeping its own institutions, parliaments, laws, jurisdictions, and currency.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Imperial Spain 1469–1716 |last=Huxtable|first=Elliott, J. H. (John)|date=2002|publisher=Penguin|isbn=0141007036|location=London|oclc=49691947}}</ref> Castile commissioned expeditions to the [[Americas]] and benefited from the riches acquired in the [[Spanish colonization of the Americas]], but, in time, also carried the main burden of military expenses of the united Spanish kingdoms. After Isabella's death, Ferdinand II personally ruled both crowns. By virtue of descent from his maternal grandparents, Ferdinand and Isabella, in 1516 [[Charles I of Spain]] became the first king to rule the Crowns of Castile and Aragon simultaneously by his own right. Following the death of his paternal ([[House of Habsburg]]) grandfather, [[Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor]], he was also elected [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor]], in 1519.<ref>{{cite web|last=Encyclopædia Britannica online|title=Charles V|url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/107009/Charles-V|access-date=3 October 2012|archive-date=1 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001224341/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/107009/Charles-V|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Els segadors.jpg|thumb|''[[Corpus de Sang]]'' (7 June 1640), one of the main events of the Reaper's War. Painted in 1910]]
Over the next few centuries, the Principality of Catalonia was generally on the losing side of a series of wars that led steadily to an increased centralization of power in Spain. However, between the 16th and 18th centuries, the participation of the political community in the local and the general Catalan government grew (thus consolidating its constitutional system), while the kings remained absent, represented by a [[List of viceroys of Catalonia|viceroy]]. Tensions between Catalan institutions and the monarchy began to arise. The large and burdensome presence of the Spanish royal army in the Principality due to the [[Franco-Spanish War (1635–1659)|Franco-Spanish War]] led to an uprising of peasants, provoking the [[Reapers' War]] (1640–1652), which saw Catalonia rebel, briefly as a [[Catalan Republic (1640–1641)|republic]] led by the president of the Generalitat, [[Pau Claris]] with French help against the Spanish Crown for overstepping Catalonia's rights during the [[Thirty Years' War]].<ref>Gelderen, Martin van; Skinner, Quentin (2002). [https://books.google.com/books?id=H1ZgD7vlFLYC&pg=PA284 Republicanism: Volume 1, Republicanism and Constitutionalism in Early Modern Europe: A Shared European Heritage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016133313/https://books.google.com/books?id=H1ZgD7vlFLYC&lpg=PA284&hl=en&pg=PA284|date=16 October 2020}}. Cambridge University Press. p. 284. {{ISBN|9781139439619}}</ref> Within a brief period France took full control of Catalonia. Most of Catalonia was reconquered by the Spanish monarchy but Catalan rights were mostly recognized. [[Roussillon]] and half of Cerdanya was lost to France by the [[Treaty of the Pyrenees]] (1659).<ref name=pyrconditions>{{cite book|last=Maland|first=David|title=Europe in the Seventeenth Century|publisher=Macmillan|year=1991|edition=Second|pages=227|isbn=0-333-33574-0}}</ref>

The most significant conflict concerning the governing monarchy was the [[War of the Spanish Succession]] (1701–1715), which began when the childless [[Charles II of Spain]], the last Spanish Habsburg, died without an heir in 1700. Charles II had chosen [[Philip V of Spain]] from the French [[House of Bourbon]]. The Principality of Catalonia, like the other states of the Crown of Aragon, rose up in support of the Austrian Habsburg pretender [[Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor]], in his claim for the Spanish throne as Charles III of Spain. The fight between the houses of Bourbon and Habsburg for the Spanish Crown split Spain and Europe. After a series of advances and stalemates between the two sides, geopolitical changes in Europe led to peace. Philip V was internationally recognized as king of Spain by the [[Treaty of Utrecht]] (1713).

In July 1713 the Junta de Braços (parliamentary assembly) of Catalonia opted to unilaterally remain in the war to protect Catalan constitutions and lives from Bourbon punishment, beginning a separate conflict known as the [[War of the Catalans]] (1713–1714). The [[Siege of Barcelona (1713–1714)|siege and capitulation of Barcelona]] (11 September 1714) ended Catalan resistance. In retaliation for the betrayal, and inspired by the French model, Philip enacted the [[Nueva Planta decrees]] (1707, 1715 and 1716), forcibly incorporating the realms of the Crown of Aragon, including the Principality of Catalonia in 1716, as provinces of Castile, terminating their status as separate states along with their parliaments, institutions and [[public law]]s, within a French-style centralized and [[Absolute monarchy|absolutist]] kingdom of Spain.<ref>Mercader, J. (1968) ''Felip V i Catalunya''. Barcelona.</ref> After the War of the Spanish Succession, the assimilation of the Crown of Aragon in the Castilian Crown through the Nueva Planta Decrees was the first step in the creation of the Spanish [[nation state]].<ref>Simon, Antoni. [http://roderic.uv.es/handle/10550/34591 "Els orígens històrics de l’anticatalanisme".] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220605094401/https://roderic.uv.es/handle/10550/34591|date=5 June 2022}}, páginas 45–46, ''L'Espill'', nº 24, Universitat de València.</ref> These nationalist policies, sometimes aggressive,<ref>{{cite book|isbn=978-8429723632|last=Ferrer Gironès|publisher=Edicions 62|language=ca|first=Francesc|pages=320|title=La persecució política de la llengua catalana|year=1985}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|isbn=84-7826-620-8|last=Benet|date=1995|publisher=Publicacions de l'Abadia de Montserrat|language=ca|first=Josep|title=L'intent franquista de genocidi cultural contra Catalunya}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|isbn=9788418434983|last=Lluís|publisher=Base|language=ca|first=García Sevilla|pages=300|title=Recopilació d'accions genocides contra la nació catalana|year=2021}}</ref><ref name=":03">{{cite book|isbn=9788418849107|last=Llaudó Avila|date=2021|edition=7a|publisher=Parcir|location=Manresa|first=Eduard|title=Racisme i supremacisme polítics a l'Espanya contemporània}}</ref> and still in force,<ref>{{cite web|editor=Plataforma per la llengua|url=https://www.plataforma-llengua.cat/media/upload/pdf/novetats_legislatives_en_materia_linguistic02_1571310685.pdf|title=Novetats legislatives en matèria lingüística aprovades el 2018 que afecten els territoris de parla catalana |access-date=22 May 2022|archive-date=20 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020181407/https://www.plataforma-llengua.cat/media/upload/pdf/novetats_legislatives_en_materia_linguistic02_1571310685.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|editor=Plataforma per la llengua|url=https://plataforma-llengua.cat/media/upload/arxius/ambits-treball/Drets%20Ling%C3%BC%C3%ADstics/Novetats_legislatives_en_mat%C3%A8ria_ling%C3%BC%C3%ADstic-2019-ok.pdf|title=Novetats legislatives en matèria lingüística aprovades el 2019 que afecten els territoris de parla catalana |access-date=22 May 2022|archive-date=27 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220327162711/https://plataforma-llengua.cat/media/upload/arxius/ambits-treball/Drets%20Ling%C3%BC%C3%ADstics/Novetats_legislatives_en_mat%C3%A8ria_ling%C3%BC%C3%ADstic-2019-ok.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|editor=Plataforma per la llengua|url=https://www.plataforma-llengua.cat/media/upload/pdf/linguisticcossospolicials_1576579756.pdf|date=2019|title=Comportament lingüístic davant dels cossos policials espanyols|access-date=22 May 2022|archive-date=20 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020181419/https://www.plataforma-llengua.cat/media/upload/pdf/linguisticcossospolicials_1576579756.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> have been and are the seed of repeated territorial conflicts within the state, although, a survey of language usage in 1807, commissioned by [[Napoleon]], indicates that, except in the royal courts, Spanish was absent from everyday life.<ref>{{cite book |last=Merle |first=René |title=Visions de "l'idiome natal" à travers l'enquête impériale sur les patois 1807–1812 |date=2010 |publisher=Editorial Trabucaire |isbn=978-2849741078 |location=Perpinyà |pages=223 |language=French |trans-title=Visions of the "native idiom" through the imperial survey of patois 1807–1812}}</ref> In the second half of the 17th century and the 18th century (excluding the parentheses of the Succession War and the post-war instability) Catalonia carried out a successful process of economic growth and [[proto-industrialization]], reinforced in the late quarter of the century when Castile's trade monopoly with American colonies ended.

=== Late modern history ===
[[File:Cesar Alvarez Dumont - El Gran dia de Girona.jpg|thumb|[[Third siege of Girona]] (1809), [[Peninsular War]] against Napoleon]]

At the beginning of the nineteenth century, Catalonia was severely affected by the [[Napoleonic Wars]]. In 1808, it was occupied by French troops; the resistance against the occupation eventually developed into the [[Peninsular War]]. The rejection of French dominion was institutionalized with the creation of "juntas" (councils) who, remaining loyal to the Bourbons, exercised the sovereignty and representation of the territory due to the disappearance of the old institutions. In 1810, Napoleon took direct control of Catalonia, creating the Government of Catalonia under the rule of [[Charles-Pierre Augereau|Marshall Augereau]], and making Catalan briefly an official language again. Between 1812 and 1814, Catalonia was annexed to France.<ref>''{{cite web|url=http://www.histoire-empire.org/departements/france_modifications.htm|title=Les modifications intérieures de la France|access-date=24 January 2019|archive-date=19 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519002900/http://www.histoire-empire.org/departements/france_modifications.htm|url-status=live}}''</ref> The French troops evacuated Catalan territory at the end of 1814. After the Bourbon restoration in Spain and the death of the absolutist king [[Ferdinand VII]] (1833), [[Carlist Wars]] erupted against the newly established [[Liberalism|liberal state]] of [[Isabella II]]. Catalonia was divided, with the coastal and most industrialized areas supporting liberalism, while most of the countryside were in the hands of the [[Carlism|Carlist faction]]; the latter proposed to reestablish the institutional systems suppressed by the Nueva Planta decrees in the ancient realms of the Crown of Aragon. The consolidation of the liberal state saw a new provincial division of Spain, including Catalonia, which was divided into four provinces (Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Tarragona).

[[File:TragicWeekroundup.jpg|thumb|left|Suspects rounded up by the [[Civil Guard (Spain)|Civil Guard]] during the [[Tragic Week (Spain)|Tragic Week]], 1909]]
In the second third of the 19th{{nbsp}}century, Catalonia became an important industrial center, particularly focused on [[History of the cotton industry in Catalonia|textiles]]. This process was a consequence of the conditions of proto-industrialisation of textile production in the prior two centuries, growing capital from wine and brandy export,<ref>{{cite book|first=Francesc|last=Valls Junyent|year=2004|title=La Catalunya atlàntica: aiguardent i teixits a l'arrencada industrial catalana|trans-title=Atlantic Catalonia: brandy and textiles at the beginning of the catalan industrialisation|location=Vic| language=ca| publisher=Eumo|isbn=84-9766-044-7}}</ref>{{rp|page=27}}
and was later boosted by the government support for domestic manufacturing. In 1832, the [[Bonaplata Factory]] in Barcelona became the first factory in the country to make use of the [[steam engine]].
<ref>{{Cite book|first=J.K.J.|last=Thomson|title=A distinctive industrialisation. Cotton in Barcelona 1728–1832|year=1992|isbn=0-521-39482-1|language=en|publisher=Cambridge University Press|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FLfvq7-5_a8C|access-date=14 July 2022|archive-date=25 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240425120734/https://books.google.com/books?id=FLfvq7-5_a8C|url-status=live}}</ref>{{rp|page=308}}
The first railway on the Iberian Peninsula was built between Barcelona and [[Mataró]] in 1848.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}} A policy to encourage [[Company town#Industrial colonies in Catalonia|company towns]] also saw the textile industry flourish in the countryside in the 1860s and 1870s. Although the policy of Spanish governments oscillated between free trade and protectionism, {{ill|protectionist laws|es|Ley de Relaciones Comerciales con las Antillas}} become more common. To this day Catalonia remains one of the most industrialised areas of Spain.

During the 19th century, as well as other Spaniards, there were Catalan business involved in the [[Atlantic slave trade]] and in the owning and management of [[slave plantation]]s in Cuba and Puerto Rico.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pagès Blanch |first=Pelai |date=2004 |title=Els catalans en el tràfic d'esclaus |url=https://www.eltemps.cat/documents/el-temps_2004_03_1030_0068_0071.pdf}}</ref> Between 1817 and 1867, they were involved in the transportation of 550,000 to 700,000 slaves from West Africa to the Caribbean. The Spanish government turned a blind eye to illicit slave trading. When slavery was abolished in 1886, various other Spaniards, the "''[[indiano]]s''", as well as Catalans returned and invested their fortunes in constructing mansions in areas such as [[La Rambla, Barcelona|La Rambla]].<ref>{{cite web | last1=Burgen | first1=Stephen | title=Catalonia confronts past racism after slave trade documentary | work=The Guardian | date=13 March 2023 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/13/catalonia-confronts-past-racism-after-slave-trade-documentary }}</ref>

At the same time, Barcelona was the focus of industrial conflict and revolutionary uprisings known as "bullangues". In Catalonia, a [[republicanism|republican]] trend began to develop among the progressives, attracting many Catalans who favored the federalisation of Spain. Meanwhile, the Catalan language saw a [[Romanticism|Romantic]] cultural renaissance from the second third of the century onwards, the ''[[Renaixença]]'', among both the working class and the bourgeoisie. Right after the fall of the [[First Spanish Republic]] (1873–1874) and the subsequent restoration of the Bourbon dynasty (1874), Catalan nationalism began to be organized politically under the leadership of the republican federalist [[Valentí Almirall i Llozer|Valentí Almirall]].

[[File:Proclamació Segona República Francesc Macià. Amadeu Aragay. 14 abril 1931.jpg|thumb|[[Francesc Macià]] proclaiming the [[Catalan Republic (1931)|Catalan Republic]] on 14 April 1931 in Barcelona]]
The [[anarchist]] movement had been active throughout the last quarter of the 19th century and the early 20th century, founding the [[Confederación Nacional del Trabajo|CNT]] trade union in 1910 and achieving one of the first [[eight-hour day|eight-hour workdays]] in Europe in 1919.<ref>{{cite book|title=[[The Revolutionary Left in Spain, 1914–1923]]|last=Meaker|first=Gerald H.|date=1974|publisher=[[Stanford University Press]]|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=RM6rAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA158 159] ff|isbn=0-8047-0845-2}}</ref> Growing resentment of conscription and of the military culminated in the [[Tragic Week (Catalonia)|Tragic Week]] (Catalan: ''Setmana Tràgica'') in Barcelona in 1909. Under the hegemony of the [[Regionalist League of Catalonia|Regionalist League]], Catalonia gained a degree of administrative unity for the first time in the Modern era. In 1914, the four Catalan provinces were authorized to create a [[Commonwealth of Catalonia|commonwealth]] (Catalan: ''Mancomunitat''), lacking legislative power or political autonomy, which carried out an ambitious program of modernization, but it was disbanded in 1925 by the dictatorship of [[Miguel Primo de Rivera|Primo de Rivera]] (1923–1930). During the final stage of the Dictatorship, with Spain beginning to suffer an economic crisis, Barcelona hosted the [[1929 Barcelona International Exposition|1929 International Exposition]].<ref name="MonclúsFraga2006">{{cite book|author1=Monclús, Francisco Javier|author2=Francisco Javier Monclús Fraga|title=Exposiciones internacionales y urbanismo: el proyecto Expo Zaragoza 2008 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2d6KJ2VnfAkC&pg=PA48|year=2006|publisher=Univ. Politèc. de Catalunya|isbn=978-84-8301-893-4|page=48|access-date=24 January 2019|archive-date=19 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519024403/https://books.google.com/books?id=2d6KJ2VnfAkC&pg=PA48|url-status=live}}</ref>

After the end of the dictatorship and a brief proclamation of the [[Catalan Republic (1931)|Catalan Republic]], during the events of the proclamation of the [[Second Spanish Republic]] (14–17{{nbsp}}April{{nbsp}}1931),<ref>Roglan, Joaquim (2006). ''14 d'abril: la Catalunya republicana (1931–1939)''. Cossetània Edicions, p.13 {{ISBN|8497912039}}</ref> Catalonia received, in 1932, its [[Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia of 1932|first Statute of Autonomy]] from the Spanish Republic's Parliament, granting it a considerable degree of self-governance, establishing an autonomous body, the Generalitat of Catalonia, which included a [[Parliament of Catalonia|parliament]]. The left-wing pro-independence leader [[Francesc Macià]] was appointed its first president. Under the Statute, Catalan became an official language. The governments of the [[Autonomous Region of Catalonia (1931–1939)|Republican Generalitat]], led by the [[Republican Left of Catalonia]] (ERC) leaders Francesc Macià (1931–1933) and [[Lluís Companys]] (1933–1940), sought to implement a modernizing and progressive social agenda, despite the internal difficulties. This period was marked by political unrest, the effects of the economic crisis and their social repercussions. The Statute of Autonomy was suspended in 1934, due to the [[Events of 6 October]] in Barcelona, after the accession of right-wing Spanish nationalist party [[CEDA]] to the government of the Republic, considered close to [[fascism]].<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Finestres|first1=Jordi|last2=López|first2=Manel|title=Entre la revolució i l'estelada|journal=Sàpiens|year=2014|location=Barcelona|language=ca|issn=1695-2014|pages=31–32}}</ref> After the electoral victory of the left wing [[Popular Front (Spain)|Popular Front]] in February 1936, the Government of Catalonia was pardoned and the self-government was restored.

=== Spanish Civil War (1936–1939) and Franco's rule (1939–1975) ===
{{main|Revolutionary Catalonia|Francoist Catalonia}}

{{multiple image
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| footer = Left: Anarchist militia during the [[Spanish Revolution of 1936|Revolution of 1936]]. Right: [[Bombing of Barcelona]] (1938)
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The defeat of the [[July 1936 military uprising in Barcelona|military rebellion against the Republican government in Barcelona]] placed Catalonia firmly in the [[Republican faction (Spanish Civil War)|Republican side]] of the [[Spanish Civil War]]. During the war, there were two rival powers in Catalonia: the de jure power of the Generalitat and the de facto power of the armed popular militias.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Spanish Civil war: Revolution and counter-revolution.|last=Bolloten|first=Burnett|author-link=Burnett Bolloten|year=1991|publisher=[[University of North Carolina Press]]|pages=388–389}}</ref> Violent confrontations between the workers' parties ([[CNT-FAI]] and [[Workers Party of Marxist Unification|POUM]] against the [[Unified Socialist Party of Catalonia|PSUC]]) culminated in the defeat of the former in 1937. The situation resolved itself progressively in favor of the Generalitat, but at the same time the Generalitat lost most of its autonomous powers within Republican Spain. In 1938 Franco's troops broke the Republican territory in two, isolating Catalonia from the rest of the Republican territory. The defeat of the Republican army in the [[Battle of the Ebro]] led in 1938 and 1939 to the [[Catalonia Offensive|occupation of Catalonia]] by Franco's forces.

[[File:CNT-FAI Cooperative Barcelona.jpg|thumb|CNT-FAI worker [[cooperative]] in Barcelona producing wood and steel products]]
The defeat of the Spanish Republic in the [[Spanish Civil War]] brought to power the dictatorship of [[Francisco Franco]], whose first ten-year rule was particularly violent, autocratic, and repressive both in a political, cultural, social, and economical sense.<ref>[[Stanley G. Payne|Payne, Stanley]] (1999). ''Fascism in Spain, 1923–1977'', pp. 476–477. Univ. of Wisconsin Press.</ref> In Catalonia, any kind of public activities associated with [[Catalan nationalism]], [[republicanism]], [[anarchism]], [[socialism]], [[liberalism]], [[democracy]] or [[communism]], including the publication of books on those subjects or simply discussion of them in open meetings, was banned. Franco's regime banned the use of Catalan in government-run institutions and during public events, and the Catalan institutions of self-government were abolished. The president of Catalonia, [[Lluís Companys]], was taken to Spain from his exile in the German-occupied France and was tortured and executed in the [[Montjuïc Castle (Barcelona)|Montjuïc Castle]] of Barcelona for the crime of 'military rebellion'.<ref>[[Paul Preston|Preston, Paul]]. (2012). ''The Spanish Holocaust''. Harper Press. London p. 493.</ref>

During later stages of [[Francoist Spain]], certain folkloric and religious celebrations in Catalan resumed and were tolerated. Use of Catalan in the [[mass media]] had been forbidden but was permitted from the early 1950s<ref>{{cite book|author=Ross|title=Cultural Contestation in Ethnic Conflict|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Oe4popSDfW0C&pg=PA139|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-1-139-46307-2|page=139|date=3 May 2007|access-date=9 November 2020|archive-date=11 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220311112038/https://books.google.com/books?id=Oe4popSDfW0C&pg=PA139|url-status=live}}</ref> in the theatre. Despite the ban during the first years and the difficulties of the next period, publishing in Catalan continued throughout his rule.<ref>{{citation|title=The Resurgence of Catalan|first=Earl W.|last=Thomas|journal=Hispania|volume=45|issue=1|date=March 1962|pages=43–48|doi=10.2307/337523|jstor=337523}}</ref>

The years after the war were extremely hard. Catalonia, like many other parts of Spain, had been devastated by the war. Recovery from the war damage was slow and made more difficult by the international trade embargo and the [[Autarky|autarkic]] politics of Franco's regime. By the late 1950s, the region had recovered its pre-war economic levels and in the 1960s was the second-fastest growing economy in the world in what became known as the [[Spanish miracle]]. During this period there was a spectacular<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Albaladejo|first1=Isabel P.|last2=Gonzalez-Martinez|first2=Maria Isabel|last3=Martinez-Garcia|first3=Maria Pilar|title=A Double Life Cycle in Tourism Arrivals to Spain: Unit Root Tests with Gradual Change Analysis|year=2020|volume=18|article-number=100497|journal=Journal of Destination Marketing & Management|doi=10.1016/j.jdmm.2020.100497|pmc=7577662}}</ref> growth of industry and tourism in Catalonia that drew large numbers of workers to the region from across Spain and made the area around Barcelona one of Europe's largest industrial metropolitan areas.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

=== Transition and democratic period (1975–present) ===
[[File:Barcelona AUGUST 1992 the Olympic Games (Juegos Olímpicos de Barcelona 1992) - panoramio.jpg|thumb|200px|The Olympic flame in the [[Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys|Olympic Stadium Lluís Companys]] of [[Barcelona]] during the [[1992 Summer Olympics]]]]
After Franco's death in 1975, Catalonia voted for the adoption of a democratic Spanish Constitution in 1978, in which Catalonia recovered political and cultural autonomy, restoring the Generalitat (exiled since the end of the Civil War in 1939) in 1977 and adopting a [[Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia of 1979|new Statute of Autonomy]] in 1979, which defined Catalonia as a "nationality". The [[1980 Catalan regional election|first elections]] to the Parliament of Catalonia under this Statute gave the Catalan presidency to [[Jordi Pujol]], leader of [[Convergence and Unity|Convergència i Unió]] (CiU), a center-right Catalan nationalist electoral coalition, with Pujol re-elected until 2003. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the institutions of Catalan autonomy were deployed, among them an autonomous police force, the [[Mossos d'Esquadra]], in 1983,<ref>[https://mossos.gencat.cat/ca/els_mossos_desquadra/historia_de_la_pg-me/ History of the Mossos d'Esquadra] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929085556/https://mossos.gencat.cat/ca/els_mossos_desquadra/historia_de_la_pg-me/|date=29 September 2020}} mossos.gencat.cat</ref> and the broadcasting network [[Televisió de Catalunya]] and its first channel [[TV3 (Catalonia)|TV3]], created in 1983.<ref>[http://www.ccma.cat/corporatiu/en/historia/ History of Televisió de Catalunya] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923021301/https://www.ccma.cat/corporatiu/en/historia/|date=23 September 2020}} ccma.cat</ref> An extensive program of normalization of Catalan language was carried out. Today, Catalonia remains one of the most economically dynamic communities of Spain. The Catalan capital and largest city, Barcelona, is a major international cultural centre and a major tourist destination. In 1992, [[1992 Summer Olympics|Barcelona hosted]] the [[Summer Olympic Games]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://olympics.com/ioc/news/barcelona-1992-a-city-turning-towards-the-sea-and-winning-the-hearts-of-the-world|title=Barcelona 1992: a city turning towards the sea and winning the hearts of the world|publisher=[[International Olympic Committee|IOC]]|date=22 July 2022|access-date=18 February 2024|archive-date=2 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002102449/https://olympics.com/ioc/news/barcelona-1992-a-city-turning-towards-the-sea-and-winning-the-hearts-of-the-world|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Independence movement ====
{{Main|Catalan independence movement|2017–18 Spanish constitutional crisis}}

In November 2003, elections to the Parliament of Catalonia gave the government to a left-wing Catalanist coalition formed by the [[Socialists' Party of Catalonia]] (PSC-PSOE), [[Republican Left of Catalonia]] (ERC) and [[Initiative for Catalonia Greens]] (ICV), and the socialist [[Pasqual Maragall]] was appointed president. The new government prepared a bill for a [[Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia|new Statute of Autonomy]],  aiming to consolidate and to expand self-government.

The new Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia, approved after a referendum in 2006, was contested by important sectors of  Spanish society, especially by the conservative [[People's Party (Spain)|People's Party]], which sent the law to the [[Constitutional Court of Spain]]. In 2010, the Court ruled non-valid various articles establishing an autonomous Catalan system of Justice, improved financing, a new territorial division, the protected status of Catalan language, the recovering of [[Catalan constitutions|historical rights]] via Constitution's First Additional Provision or the symbolical declaration of Catalonia as a nation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.vilaweb.cat/noticia/3748884/20100629/sentencia-lestatut-obre-nova-era-politica-catalunya.html|title=Anàlisi de les retallades a l'estatut de Catalunya|last=associats|first=Partal, Maresma i|access-date=13 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913152842/http://www.vilaweb.cat/noticia/3748884/20100629/sentencia-lestatut-obre-nova-era-politica-catalunya.html|archive-date=13 September 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> This decision was severely contested by large sectors of Catalan society, which increased the demands of independence.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ara.cat/especials/gentada-centre-Barcelona-mitja-manifestacio_0_772122901.html|title=Un milió i mig de manifestants per la independència de Catalunya|access-date=13 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918025513/http://www.ara.cat/especials/gentada-centre-Barcelona-mitja-manifestacio_0_772122901.html|archive-date=18 September 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:President_Puigdemont,_"Ciutadans_de_Catalunya,_vénen_hores_en_què_a_tots_ens_pertocarà_de_mantenir_el_pols_del_nostre_país"_02.jpg|thumb|[[President of the Generalitat of Catalonia|Catalan president]], [[Carles Puigdemont]], addresses the crowd following the unilateral declaration of independence on 27 October.]]
A controversial [[2017 Catalan independence referendum|independence referendum]] was held in Catalonia on 1 October 2017, using a disputed voting process.<ref name="ElPais03102017">{{cite web|url=https://elpais.com/elpais/2017/10/01/inenglish/1506858911_482600.html|title=Did the referendum comply with basic voting regulations?|date=3 October 2017|work=[[El País]]|access-date=5 October 2017|archive-date=19 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219083639/https://elpais.com/elpais/2017/10/01/inenglish/1506858911_482600.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/happened-catalonias-vote-independence-whats-next|title=What happened with Catalonia's vote for independence – and what's next|last=Epatko|first=Larisa|date=4 October 2017|work=[[PBS NewsHour]]|access-date=4 October 2017|archive-date=18 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018212431/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/happened-catalonias-vote-independence-whats-next/|url-status=live}}</ref> It was declared illegal and suspended by the [[Constitutional Court of Spain]], because it breached the [[Spanish Constitution of 1978|1978 Constitution]].<ref name="boe2162017">{{cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2017/09/08/pdfs/BOE-A-2017-10287.pdf|title=Recurso de inconstitucionalidad n.º 4334-2017, contra la Ley del Parlamento de Cataluña 19/2017, de 6 de septiembre, del Referéndum de Autodeterminación. |publisher=Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado|date=6 September 2017|access-date=5 October 2017|language=es|archive-date=10 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510084254/https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2017/09/08/pdfs/BOE-A-2017-10287.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-10/catalan-separatists-plot-show-of-strength-in-battle-with-madrid|title=Catalan Separatists Plot Show of Force in Battle With Madrid|last=Duarte|first=Esteban|date=11 September 2017|publisher=Bloomberg|access-date=13 September 2017|language=en|archive-date=13 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913135534/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-10/catalan-separatists-plot-show-of-strength-in-battle-with-madrid|url-status=live}}</ref> Subsequent developments saw, on 27 October 2017, a symbolic [[Catalan declaration of independence|declaration of independence]] by the Parliament of Catalonia, the enforcement of [[Direct rule over Catalonia|direct rule]] by the Spanish government through the use of Article 155 of the Constitution,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2017/oct/22/protests-in-barcelona-against-suspension-of-catalan-autonomy-in-pictures|title=Protests in Barcelona against suspension of Catalan autonomy – in pictures|last=Fidler|first=Matt|date=22 October 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=2 August 2018|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=27 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727075818/https://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2017/oct/22/protests-in-barcelona-against-suspension-of-catalan-autonomy-in-pictures|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-41780116|title=Catalans declare independence from Spain|date=27 October 2017|work=BBC News|access-date=27 October 2017|language=en-GB|archive-date=22 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180122093014/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-41780116|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Jones|first1=Sam|last2=Burgen|first2=Stephen|last3=Graham-Harrison|first3=Emma|title=Spain dissolves Catalan parliament and calls fresh elections|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/27/spanish-pm-mariano-rajoy-asks-senate-powers-dismiss-catalonia-president|work=[[the Guardian]]|date=28 October 2017|language=en|access-date=28 February 2018|archive-date=26 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426010929/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/27/spanish-pm-mariano-rajoy-asks-senate-powers-dismiss-catalonia-president|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.es/2017/10/27/directo-el-senado-vota-la-aplicacion-del-155-y-el-parlament-catalan-su-respuesta-al-mismo_a_23257831/|title=Directo: El Senado aprueba la aplicación del 155|date=27 October 2017|access-date=20 November 2017|archive-date=29 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729205030/https://www.huffingtonpost.es/2017/10/27/directo-el-senado-vota-la-aplicacion-del-155-y-el-parlament-catalan-su-respuesta-al-mismo_a_23257831/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elmundo.es/cataluna/2017/10/27/59f2d55aca4741a0668b4646.html|title=En vivo – Rajoy disuelve el Parlament y convoca elecciones catalanas el 21 de diciembre|date=27 October 2017|access-date=20 November 2017|archive-date=30 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730004007/https://www.elmundo.es/cataluna/2017/10/27/59f2d55aca4741a0668b4646.html|url-status=live}}</ref> the dismissal of the [[Executive Council of Catalonia|Executive Council]] and the dissolution of the Parliament, with a [[2017 Catalan regional election|snap regional election]] called for 21 December 2017, which ended with a victory of pro-independence parties.<ref name="eldiario.es-27Oct17">{{cite news|last=Ponce de León|first=Rodrigo|date=27 October 2017|title=Rajoy cesa a Puigdemont y su Govern y convoca elecciones para el 21 de diciembre|url=http://www.eldiario.es/politica/Rajoy-cesa-Puigdemont-Govern_0_701680927.html|language=es|work=El Diario|access-date=27 October 2017|archive-date=27 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027232406/http://www.eldiario.es/politica/Rajoy-cesa-Puigdemont-Govern_0_701680927.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Former President [[Carles Puigdemont]] and five former cabinet ministers fled Spain and took refuge in other European countries (such as [[Belgium]], in Puigdemont's case), whereas nine other cabinet members, including vice-president [[Oriol Junqueras]], were sentenced to prison under various charges of rebellion, sedition, and misuse of public funds.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-41871476|title=Catalonia's longest week|date=4 November 2017|work=BBC News|access-date=7 November 2017|language=en-GB|archive-date=13 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813153635/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-41871476|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.theweek.co.uk/catalonia-independence/89469/catalonia-independence-nine-former-ministers-jailed|title=Catalonia Independence: nine former ministers jailed|date=3 November 2017|work=The Week|access-date=7 October 2018|archive-date=29 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729190415/https://www.theweek.co.uk/catalonia-independence/89469/catalonia-independence-nine-former-ministers-jailed|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Quim Torra]] became the [[List of Presidents of the Government of Catalonia|131st]] [[President of the Government of Catalonia]] on 17 May 2018,<ref name="GeneralitatdeCataluny17052018">{{cite web|title=Quim Torra pren possessió com a 131è president de la Generalitat|url=https://web.gencat.cat/ca/actualitat/detall/20180517_Quim-Torra-pren-possessio-com-131e-president-de-la-Generalitat|website=Generalitat de Catalunya|language=ca|date=17 May 2018|access-date=21 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180622032919/https://web.gencat.cat/ca/actualitat/detall/20180517_Quim-Torra-pren-possessio-com-131e-president-de-la-Generalitat|archive-date=22 June 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> after the Spanish courts blocked three other candidates.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/03/23/spanish-judge-jails-proposed-catalan-leader-hours-ahead-planned/|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/03/23/spanish-judge-jails-proposed-catalan-leader-hours-ahead-planned/|archive-date=10 January 2022|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|title=Spanish judge jails proposed Catalan leader hours ahead of planned inauguration|first=Hannah|last=Strange|date=23 March 2018|newspaper=The Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In 2018, the [[Assemblea Nacional Catalana]] joined the [[Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization]] (UNPO) on behalf of Catalonia.<ref>{{Cite web|title=UNPO: UNPO Welcomes the Assemblea Nacional Catalana as its Newest Member|work=unpo.org|access-date=31 January 2019|date=10 January 2019|url=https://unpo.org/article/21315|archive-date=28 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190728192535/https://unpo.org/article/21315|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 14 October 2019, the Spanish Supreme court [[Trial of Catalonia independence leaders|sentenced several Catalan political leaders]], involved in organizing a referendum on Catalonia's independence from Spain, and convicted them on charges ranging from [[sedition]] to [[Embezzlement|misuse of public funds]], with sentences ranging from 9 to 13 years in prison. This decision sparked demonstrations around Catalonia.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/spanish-supreme-court-sentences-catalan-separatists-to-jail/2019/10/14/a0590366-ee59-11e9-89eb-ec56cd414732_story.html|title=Spanish Supreme Court sentences Catalan separatists to prison, sparking protests|newspaper=The Washington Post|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014110950/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/spanish-supreme-court-sentences-catalan-separatists-to-jail/2019/10/14/a0590366-ee59-11e9-89eb-ec56cd414732_story.html|archive-date=14 October 2019|access-date=12 December 2019}}</ref> They were later pardoned by the Spanish government and left prison in June 2021.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Boira|first1=Paula|title=El Gobierno concede el indulto a los presos del 'procés'|url=https://www.newtral.es/indulto-presos-proces-gobierno/20210622/|work=Newtral|date=22 June 2021|language=es|access-date=28 May 2022|archive-date=31 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211231012411/https://www.newtral.es/indulto-presos-proces-gobierno/20210622/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=23 June 2021|title=Los presos del 'procés' abandonan la cárcel tras el indulto del Gobierno|language=es|url=https://cincodias.elpais.com/cincodias/2021/06/23/economia/1624443952_813940.html|access-date=28 May 2022|archive-date=23 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623111825/https://cincodias.elpais.com/cincodias/2021/06/23/economia/1624443952_813940.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the early-to-mid 2020s support for independence declined to 40% in favour, with support for dropping significantly,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Centre d'Estudis d'Opinió, Generalitat de Catalunya |title=Baròmetre d'Opinió Política. 2a oanada 2025 |url=https://upceo.ceo.gencat.cat/wsceop/9788/Dossier%20de%20premsa_1126.pdf |website=upceo.ceo.gencat.cat |access-date=20 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Centre d'Estudis d'Opinió, Generalitat de Catalunya |title=Baròmetre d'Opinió Política |url=https://upceo.ceo.gencat.cat/wsceop/9148/Dossier%20de%20premsa_1082.pdf |website=upceo.ceo.gencat.cat |access-date=23 July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Sam |title=Separatist parties set to lose power in Catalan regional election, polls show |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/12/catalonia-polls-vote-gauge-support-independence-spain |access-date=23 July 2024 |work=The Guardian |date=12 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Polls Show Support for Catalonia Independence Declining |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/polls-show-support-for-catalonia-independence-declining/6749031.html |access-date=23 July 2024 |work=Voice of America |date=15 September 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Heller |first1=Fernando |title=Support for Catalan independence falls to historic low, poll reveals |url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/support-for-catalan-independence-falls-to-historic-low-poll-reveals/ |work=www.euractiv.com |date=19 July 2024}}</ref> with the left-wing [[Spanish unionism|unionist]] [[Socialists' Party of Catalonia]] (PSC-PSOE) returning to office in the [[2024 Catalan regional election|May 2024 elections]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-05-12 |title=Spain Socialists win Catalan vote as separatists lose ground |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-69000823 |access-date=2025-11-23 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-10 |title=Salvador Illa sworn-in as new Catalonia president ending decades-long separatist government |url=http://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/08/10/salvador-illa-sworn-in-as-new-catalonia-president-ending-decades-long-separatist-governmen |access-date=2025-11-23 |website=euronews |language=en}}</ref>

== Geography ==

=== Climate ===
[[File:Mapa climàtic de Catalunya.png|thumb|Climates of Catalonia:
{{unbulleted list
|{{Legend|#00A86B|[[Oceanic climate]]}}
|{{Legend|#9966CC|[[Alpine climate]]}}
|{{Legend|#77B5FE|Mediterranean climate of alpine influence}}
|{{Legend|#FFE5B4|Inland Mediterranean climate}}
|{{Legend|#FF7F00|[[Mediterranean climate|Coastal Mediterranean climate]]}}
|{{Legend|#FF9271|Mediterranean climate of [[Continental climate|continental influence]]}}
}}]]
The climate of Catalonia is diverse. The populated areas lying by the coast in Tarragona, Barcelona and Girona provinces feature a [[Hot-summer Mediterranean climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Csa''). The inland part (including the Lleida province and the inner part of Barcelona province) show a mostly [[Mediterranean climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Csa''). The Pyrenean peaks have a [[continental climate|continental]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''D'') or even [[Alpine climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''ET'') at the highest summits, while the valleys have a maritime or [[oceanic climate]] sub-type ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Cfb''). A [[semi-arid climate|cold semi-arid climate]] (Köppen ''BSk'') is also present in parts of the provinces of Tarragona and Lleida.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Evolucion de los climas de Koppen en España: 1951–2020 |url=https://www.aemet.es/documentos/es/conocermas/recursos_en_linea/publicaciones_y_estudios/publicaciones/NT_37_AEMET/NT_37_AEMET.pdf |access-date=2024-03-02 |website=[[Agencia Estatal de Meteorologia]]}}</ref>

In the Mediterranean area, summers are dry and hot with sea breezes, and the maximum temperature is around {{convert|26|-|31|°C}}. Winter is cool or slightly cold depending on the location. It snows frequently in the Pyrenees, and it occasionally snows at lower altitudes, even by the coastline. Spring and autumn are typically the rainiest seasons, except for the Pyrenean valleys, where summer is typically stormy.

The inland part of Catalonia is hotter and drier in summer. Temperature may reach {{convert|35|°C}}, some days even {{convert|40|°C}}. Nights are cooler there than at the coast, with the temperature of around {{convert|14|-|17|°C}}. Fog is not uncommon in valleys and plains; it can be especially persistent, with [[freezing drizzle]] episodes and subzero temperatures during winter, mainly along the [[Ebro]] and [[Segre River|Segre]] valleys and in the [[Plain of Vic]].
On February 2, 1956, {{cvt|-32|C|F}} was recorded at Lake Gento in the province of Lleida, which is the lowest temperature ever recorded in Spain.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.infobae.com/espana/2025/01/18/cual-es-la-temperatura-mas-baja-registrada-en-espana-el-record-oficial-de-1956-polemico-en-su-momento-sigue-vigente/|title=What is the lowest temperature recorded in Spain? The official record from 1956, controversial at the time, still stands.|date=18 January 2025 |language=es|publisher=infobae.es|access-date=13 August 2025}}</ref>
{{Weather box
| location = Catalonia (1991–2020), extremes (1924–present)
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| Jan record high C = 28.1
| Feb record high C = 27.2
| Mar record high C = 32.5
| Apr record high C = 34.0
| May record high C = 38.0
| Jun record high C = 43.9
| Jul record high C = 45.4
| Aug record high C = 43.9
| Sep record high C = 41.4
| Oct record high C = 36.0
| Nov record high C = 30.0
| Dec record high C = 27.0
| year record high C = 
| Jan high C = 10.1
| Feb high C = 12.0
| Mar high C = 15.3
| Apr high C = 17.6
| May high C = 21.7
| Jun high C = 26.3
| Jul high C = 29.4
| Aug high C = 29.2
| Sep high C = 24.6
| Oct high C = 19.8
| Nov high C = 13.9
| Dec high C = 10.4
| year high C = 
| Jan mean C = 5.3
| Feb mean C = 6.4
| Mar mean C = 9.3
| Apr mean C = 11.6
| May mean C = 15.4
| Jun mean C = 19.7
| Jul mean C = 22.6
| Aug mean C = 22.6
| Sep mean C = 18.5
| Oct mean C = 14.4
| Nov mean C = 9.0
| Dec mean C = 5.8
| year mean C = 
| Jan low C = 0.5
| Feb low C = 0.8
| Mar low C = 3.3
| Apr low C = 5.6
| May low C = 9.2
| Jun low C = 13.2
| Jul low C = 15.8
| Aug low C = 16.0
| Sep low C = 12.4
| Oct low C = 8.9
| Nov low C = 4.1
| Dec low C = 1.3
| year low C = 
| Jan record low C = -26.0
| Feb record low C = -32.0
| Mar record low C = -20.0
| Apr record low C = -15.8
| May record low C = -10.5
| Jun record low C = -4.4
| Jul record low C = -2.3
| Aug record low C = -5.5
| Sep record low C = -7.8
| Oct record low C = -11.0
| Nov record low C = -16.0
| Dec record low C = -20.0
| year record low C = 
| precipitation color = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 45.4
| Feb precipitation mm = 31.0
| Mar precipitation mm = 48.1
| Apr precipitation mm = 65.2
| May precipitation mm = 67.7
| Jun precipitation mm = 49.7
| Jul precipitation mm = 34.5
| Aug precipitation mm = 47.5
| Sep precipitation mm = 68.3
| Oct precipitation mm = 77.9
| Nov precipitation mm = 63.2
| Dec precipitation mm = 45.6
| year precipitation mm = 
| source 1 = [[Agencia Estatal de Meteorologia]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aemet.es/es/datos_abiertos/estadisticas/vigilancia_clima|title=Climate normals 1991–2020|publisher=AEMET|language=es|access-date=10 August 2025}}</ref>
| date = 
| source = 
}}

=== Topography ===
{{See also|List of mountains in Catalonia}}
[[File:Catmorfo.png|thumb|[[Geomorphologic]] map of Catalonia:
{{unbulleted list
|{{legend2|#ff3f3f|[[Pyrenees]]}}
|{{legend2|#ffa545|[[Pre-Pyrenees]]}}
|{{legend2|#fff915|[[Catalan Central Depression]]}}
|{{legend2|#d8c03d|Smaller mountain ranges of<br /> the Central Depression}}
|{{legend2|#917654|[[Catalan Transversal Range]]}}
|{{legend2|#487048|[[Catalan Pre-Coastal Range]]}}
|{{legend2|#679772|[[Catalan Coastal Range]]}}
|{{legend2|#a0d486|[[Catalan Coastal Depression]]<br /> and other coastal and pre-coastal plains}}
}}]]
[[File:Beciberri.JPG|thumb|left|[[Besiberri]] in Catalan [[Pyrenees]] ]]
Catalonia has a marked geographical diversity, considering the relatively small size of its territory. The [[geography]] is conditioned by the Mediterranean coast, with {{convert|580|km|mi|abbr=off}} of coastline, and the towering Pyrenees along the long northern border. Catalonia is divided into three main geomorphological units:<ref>{{cite web|title=Geological map of Catalonia|url=http://www.icgc.cat/en/Public-Administration-and-Enterprises/Downloads/Geological-and-geothematic-cartography/Geological-mapping/Geological-map-of-Catalonia-1-50.000|publisher=Institut Cartogràfic i Geològic de Catalunya|access-date=11 October 2017|date=2016|archive-date=12 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012044144/http://www.icgc.cat/en/Public-Administration-and-Enterprises/Downloads/Geological-and-geothematic-cartography/Geological-mapping/Geological-map-of-Catalonia-1-50.000|url-status=live}}</ref>

*The Pyrenees: mountainous formation that connects the Iberian Peninsula with the [[Continental Europe|European continental territory]] (see passage above);
*The Catalan Coastal mountain ranges or the Catalan Mediterranean System: an alternating elevations and planes parallel to the Mediterranean coast;
*The [[Catalan Central Depression]]: structural unit which forms the eastern sector of the Valley of the Ebro.

[[File:2012 Montserrat.jpg|thumb|left|Mountain of [[Montserrat (mountain)|Montserrat]] and the [[Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey|monastery]]]]
The Catalan Pyrenees represent almost half the length of the Pyrenees, as they extend more than {{convert|200|km|abbr=off}}. They are traditionally differentiated into two parts, the Axial Pyrenees (the main part) and the [[Pre-Pyrenees]] (southern from the Axial) which are mountainous formations parallel to the main mountain ranges but with lower altitudes, less steep and a different geological formation. The highest mountain of Catalonia, located north of the comarca of Pallars Sobirà, is the Pica d'Estats (3,143{{spaces}}m), followed by the Puigpedrós (2,914{{spaces}}m). The [[Serra del Cadí]] comprises the highest peaks in the Pre-Pyrenees and forms the southern boundary of the [[Cerdanya]] valley.

The Central Catalan Depression is a plain located between the Pyrenees and Pre-Coastal Mountains. Elevation ranges from {{convert|200|to|600|m|ft|abbr=off}}. The plains and the water that descend from the Pyrenees have made it fertile territory for [[agriculture]] and numerous irrigation canals have been built. Another major plain is the [[Empordà]], located in the northeast.

The Catalan Mediterranean system is based on two ranges running roughly parallel to the coast (southwest–northeast), called the Coastal and the Pre-Coastal Ranges. The Coastal Range is both the shorter and the lower of the two, while the Pre-Coastal is greater in both length and elevation. Areas within the Pre-Coastal Range include [[Montserrat (mountain)|Montserrat]], [[Montseny Massif|Montseny]] and the [[Ports de Tortosa-Beseit]]. Lowlands alternate with the Coastal and Pre-Coastal Ranges. The Coastal Lowland is located to the East of the Coastal Range between it and the coast, while the Pre-Coastal Lowlands are located inland, between the Coastal and Pre-Coastal Ranges, and includes the [[Vallès]] and [[Penedès]] plains.

=== Flora and fauna ===
[[File:BennyTrapp Montseny-Gebirgsmolch Calotriton arnoldi Montseny-Gebirge Spanien.jpg|thumb|Montseny brook newt (''[[Calotriton arnoldi]]''), [[endemic]] to the [[Montseny Massif]]]]
Catalonia is a showcase of European [[landscapes]] on a small scale. Just over {{convert|30000|km2|sqmi|abbr=off}} hosting a variety of substrates, soils, climates, directions, altitudes and distances to the sea. The area is of great ecological diversity and a remarkable wealth of landscapes, habitats and species.

The fauna of Catalonia comprises a minority of animals endemic to the region and a majority of non-endemic animals. Much of Catalonia enjoys a Mediterranean climate (except mountain areas), which makes many of the animals that live there adapted to Mediterranean ecosystems. Of mammals, there are plentiful [[wild boar]], red foxes, as well as [[roe deer]] and in the Pyrenees, the [[Pyrenean chamois]]. Other large species such as the [[bear]] have been recently reintroduced.

The waters of the [[Balearic Sea]] are rich in biodiversity, and even the [[megafauna]]s of the oceans; various types of whales (such as [[fin whale|fin]], [[sperm whale|sperm]], and [[long-finned pilot whale|pilot]]) and [[dolphin]]s can be found in the area.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.edmaktub.org/en/home-2/|title=EDMAKTUB I Estudio de cetáceos|website=www.edmaktub.org|access-date=22 March 2017|archive-date=25 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325202832/http://www.edmaktub.org/en/home-2/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>Casinos, A.; Vericad, R. J. (2009). [https://www.degruyter.com/view/j/mamm.1976.40.issue-2/mamm.1976.40.2.267/mamm.1976.40.2.267.xml "The Cetaceans of the Spanish Coasts: A Survey".] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525195641/https://www.degruyter.com/view/j/mamm.1976.40.issue-2/mamm.1976.40.2.267/mamm.1976.40.2.267.xml|date=25 May 2017}}. ''Mammalia''. Volume 40. Issue 2, pp. 267–90. {{ISSN|1864-1547}}. {{ISSN|0025-1461}}. {{doi|10.1515/mamm.1976.40.2.267}}</ref>

=== Hydrography ===
{{See also|List of rivers of Catalonia}}
[[File:Aerea estany de banyoles.png|thumb|[[Lake of Banyoles]] ]]
[[File:Tossa de Mar Buchten 1.JPG|thumb|[[Tossa de Mar]], Costa Brava]]
Most of Catalonia belongs to the [[Mediterranean Basin]]. The Catalan hydrographic network consists of two important basins, that of the [[Ebro]] and the one that comprises the internal basins of Catalonia (respectively covering 46.84% and 51.43% of the territory), all of them flow to the [[Mediterranean]]. Furthermore, there is the [[Garona]] river basin that flows to the [[Atlantic Ocean]], but it only covers 1.73% of the Catalan territory.

The hydrographic network can be divided in two sectors, an occidental slope or Ebro river slope and one oriental slope constituted by minor rivers that flow to the Mediterranean along the Catalan coast. The first slope provides an average of {{convert|18700|hm3|cumi|lk=on|abbr=off}} per year, while the second only provides an average of {{convert|2020|hm3|cumi|abbr=on}}/year. The difference is due to the big contribution of the Ebro river, from which the [[Segre (river)|Segre]] is an important tributary. Moreover, in Catalonia there is a relative wealth of groundwaters, although there is inequality between ''[[comarca|comarques]]'', given the complex geological structure of the territory.<ref name="GEC clima">{{cite web|url=http://www.enciclopedia.cat/enciclop%C3%A8dies/gran-enciclop%C3%A8dia-catalana/EC-GEC-0016439.xml|title=Catalunya: El clima i la hidrografia|language=ca|work=l'Enciclopèdia|location=Barcelona|editor=Gran Enciclopedia Catalana}}{{dead link|date=January 2014}}</ref> In the Pyrenees there are many small lakes, remnants of the [[Quaternary glaciation|ice age]]. The biggest are the [[lake of Banyoles]] and the recently recovered [[lake of Ivars]].

The Catalan coast is almost rectilinear, with a length of {{convert|580|km}} and few [[landform]]s—the most relevant are the [[Cap de Creus]] and the [[Gulf of Roses]] to the north and the [[Ebro Delta]] to the south. The [[Catalan Coastal Range]] hugs the coastline, and it is split into two segments, one between [[L'Estartit]] and the town of [[Blanes]] (the [[Costa Brava]]), and the other at the south, at the Costes del [[Garraf]].

The principal [[List of rivers of Catalonia|rivers in Catalonia]] are the [[Ter (river)|Ter]], [[Llobregat]], and the [[Ebro]] (Catalan: {{lang|ca|Ebre}}), all of which run into the [[Mediterranean]].

=== Anthropic pressure and protection of nature ===
The majority of Catalan population is concentrated in 30% of the territory, mainly in the coastal plains. Intensive agriculture, livestock farming and industrial activities have been accompanied by a massive [[Mass tourism|tourist]] influx (more than 20{{spaces}}million annual visitors), a rate of urbanization and even of major metropolisation which has led to a strong urban sprawl: two thirds of Catalans live in the urban area of Barcelona, while the proportion of urban land increased from 4.2% in 1993 to 6.2% in 2009, a growth of 48.6% in sixteen years, complemented with a dense network of transport infrastructure. This is accompanied by a certain agricultural abandonment (decrease of 15% of all areas cultivated in Catalonia between 1993 and 2009) and a global threat to the [[natural environment]]. Human activities have also put some animal species at risk, or even led to their disappearance from the territory, like the [[gray wolf]] and probably the [[brown bear]] of the Pyrenees. The pressure created by this model of life means that the country's [[ecological footprint]] exceeds its administrative area.<ref>{{in lang|ca}} [http://www.gencat.cat/mediamb/publicacions/monografies/bd_conservacio/bd_catalunya_ca_basic.pdf ''Biodiversitat a Catalunya'', Generalitat de Catalunya] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924082817/http://www.gencat.cat/mediamb/publicacions/monografies/bd_conservacio/bd_catalunya_ca_basic.pdf|date=24 September 2015}} Retrieved 29 July 2017.</ref>

Faced with these problems, Catalan authorities initiated several measures whose purpose is to protect natural ecosystems. Thus, in 1990, the Catalan government created the Nature Conservation Council (Catalan: {{lang|ca|Consell de Protecció de la Natura}}), an advisory body with the aim to study, protect and manage the natural environments and landscapes of Catalonia. In addition, the Generalitat has carried out the Plan of Spaces of Natural Interest ({{lang|ca|Pla d'Espais d'Interès Natural}} or PEIN) in 1992 while eighteen Natural Spaces of Special Protection ({{lang|ca|Espais Naturals de Protecció Especial}} or ENPE) have been instituted.

There is a [[National Park]], [[Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park|Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici]]; fourteen [[Natural park (Spain)|Natural Parks]], [[Alt Pirineu Natural Park|Alt Pirineu]], Aiguamolls de l'Empordà, [[Cadí-Moixeró Natural Park|Cadí-Moixeró]], [[Cap de Creus]], Sources of Ter and Freser, [[Collserola]], [[Ebro Delta]], [[Ports de Tortosa-Beseit|Ports]], [[Montgrí, Medes Islands and Lower Ter Natural Park|Montgrí, Medes Islands and Lower Ter]], [[Montseny Massif|Montseny]], [[Montserrat (mountain)|Montserrat]], Sant Llorenç del Munt and l'Obac, [[Serra de Montsant]], and the [[Zona Volcànica de la Garrotxa Natural Park|Garrotxa Volcanic Zone]]; as well as three Natural Places of National Interest ({{lang|ca|Paratge Natural d'Interes Nacional}} or PNIN), the [[Pedraforca]], the [[Poblet Monastery|Poblet]] Forest and the [[Albères]].

== Politics ==
{{Politics of Catalonia}}
{{Main|Politics of Catalonia|Politics of Spain|Catalan independence}}

[[File:Lluís Companys i Jover.jpg|upright=0.65|thumb|left|[[Lluís Companys]], second president of the Generalitat of Catalonia between 1933 and 1940, executed by Franco's regime]]

After Franco's death in 1975 and the adoption of a democratic constitution in Spain in 1978, Catalonia recovered and extended the powers that it had gained in the [[Statute of Autonomy]] of 1932<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gencat.net/generalitat/eng/guia/antecedents/antecedents15.htm|title=Beginnings of the autonomous regime, 1918–1932 |publisher=Gencat.net|access-date=25 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113202504/http://www.gencat.net/generalitat/eng/guia/antecedents/antecedents15.htm|archive-date=13 January 2009}}</ref> but lost with the fall of the [[Second Spanish Republic]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gencat.net/generalitat/eng/guia/antecedents/antecedents16.htm|title=The republican Government of Catalonia, 1931–1939 |publisher=Gencat.net|access-date=25 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113202509/http://www.gencat.net/generalitat/eng/guia/antecedents/antecedents16.htm|archive-date=13 January 2009}}</ref> at the end of the [[Spanish Civil War]] in 1939.

This autonomous community has gradually achieved more [[Self-governance|autonomy]] since the approval of the [[Spanish Constitution of 1978]]. The Generalitat holds exclusive jurisdiction in education, health, culture, environment, communications, transportation, commerce, public safety and local government, and only shares jurisdiction with the Spanish government in justice.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gencat.cat/generalitat/eng/estatut/titol_4.htm|title=Title IV. Powers (articles 110–173) of the 2006 Statute |publisher=Gencat.cat|access-date=25 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100303223008/http://www.gencat.cat/generalitat/eng/estatut/titol_4.htm|archive-date=3 March 2010}}</ref> In all, some analysts argue that formally the current system grants Catalonia with "more self-government than almost any other corner in Europe".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://economist.com/news/leaders/21567088-even-though-spectre-secession-unwelcome-distraction-spain-still-needs|title=Centrifugal Spain: Umbrage in Catalonia|newspaper=The Economist|date=24 November 2012|access-date=13 September 2013|archive-date=25 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925172404/http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21567088-even-though-spectre-secession-unwelcome-distraction-spain-still-needs|url-status=live}}</ref>

The support for Catalan nationalism ranges from a demand for further autonomy and the [[federalisation]] of Spain to the desire for independence from the rest of Spain, expressed by Catalan independentists.<ref name="CEO poll">{{cite web|url=http://premsa.gencat.cat/pres_fsvp/docs/2012/06/27/10/36/60220d32-3dde-4bbe-bd32-e66085959a29.pdf|title=CEO Public Opinion Poll covering, among others, nationalist opinions|publisher=ceo.gencat.cat|access-date=12 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913102322/http://premsa.gencat.cat/pres_fsvp/docs/2012/06/27/10/36/60220d32-3dde-4bbe-bd32-e66085959a29.pdf|archive-date=13 September 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> The first survey following the Constitutional Court ruling that cut back elements of the 2006 Statute of Autonomy, published by ''[[La Vanguardia]]'' on 18{{nbsp}}July{{nbsp}}2010, found that 46% of the voters would support independence in a referendum.<ref name="La Vanguardia poll">{{Cite web|url=http://www.lavanguardia.es/politica/noticias/20100718/53967434806/el-fallo-del-tc-catapulta-el-respaldo-a-la-independencia-que-roza-el-50.html|title=La Vanguardia poll|access-date=20 July 2010|archive-date=21 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100721040410/http://www.lavanguardia.es/politica/noticias/20100718/53967434806/el-fallo-del-tc-catapulta-el-respaldo-a-la-independencia-que-roza-el-50.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In February of the same year, a poll by the [[Open University of Catalonia]] gave more or less the same results.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uoc.edu/portal/_resources/CA/documents/sala_premsa/noticies/Dossier_premsa_Diagnxstic_Catalunya-_Espanya.pdf|title=Diagnóstic de Percepcions Catalunya – Espanya|publisher=Universitat Oberta de Catalunya|access-date=21 February 2018|archive-date=4 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004201004/http://www.uoc.edu/portal/_resources/CA/documents/sala_premsa/noticies/Dossier_premsa_Diagnxstic_Catalunya-_Espanya.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Other polls have shown lower support for independence, ranging from 40 to 49%.<ref name="Cadenaser.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.cadenaser.com/espana/articulo/42-catalanes-dice-quiere-cataluna-sea-independiente/csrcsrpor/20101115csrcsrnac_3/Tes|title=El 42% de los catalanes dice que quiere que Cataluña sea independiente|date=15 November 2010|publisher=Cadenaser.com|access-date=31 January 2014|archive-date=29 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429162514/http://www.cadenaser.com/espana/articulo/42-catalanes-dice-quiere-cataluna-sea-independiente/csrcsrpor/20101115csrcsrnac_3/Tes|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="auto">[http://www.racalacarta.com/audio/audio_rac1/Racometre28setembre.pdf Racalacarta.com]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118151355/http://www.racalacarta.com/audio/audio_rac1/Racometre28setembre.pdf|date=18 January 2012}}</ref><ref name="Lavanguardia.es">{{cite web|url=http://www.lavanguardia.es/politica/noticias/20100907/53996153467/el-apoyo-a-la-independencia-remite-y-cae-al-40-tribunal-constitucional-partido-popular-instituto-nox.html|title=El apoyo a la independencia remite y cae al 40%|publisher=Lavanguardia.es|access-date=31 January 2014|archive-date=10 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100910084250/http://www.lavanguardia.es/politica/noticias/20100907/53996153467/el-apoyo-a-la-independencia-remite-y-cae-al-40-tribunal-constitucional-partido-popular-instituto-nox.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Although it is established in the whole of the territory, support for independence is significantly higher in the hinterland and the northeast, away from the more populous coastal areas such as Barcelona.<ref name="eldiario.es">{{Cite web|url=https://www.eldiario.es/catalunya/mapa-distribuye-voto-independentista-catalunya_1_2460004.html|title=MAPA &#124; ¿Cómo se distribuye el voto independentista en Catalunya?|first=Belén Picazo, David Ruiz|last=López|date=28 September 2015|website=ElDiario.es|access-date=24 July 2021|archive-date=24 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724170437/https://www.eldiario.es/catalunya/mapa-distribuye-voto-independentista-catalunya_1_2460004.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Since 2011 when the question started to be regularly surveyed by the governmental Center for Public Opinion Studies (CEO), support for Catalan independence has been on the rise.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.einesceo.cat/evolutius/referendum-per-la-independencia-de-catalunya-/39|title=Referèndum per la independència de Catalunya – Centre d'Estudis d'Opinió|publisher=Einesceo.cat|access-date=15 October 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014181236/http://www.einesceo.cat/evolutius/referendum-per-la-independencia-de-catalunya-/39|archive-date=14 October 2013}}</ref> According to the CEO opinion poll from July{{nbsp}}2016, 47.7% of Catalans would vote for independence and 42.4% against it while, about the question of preferences, according to the CEO opinion poll from March 2016, a 57.2 claim to be "absolutely" or "fairly" in favour of independence.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://premsa.gencat.cat/pres_fsvp/docs/2016/07/22/11/04/749debaa-7941-47fa-861a-e4f4cebe1233.pdf|title=Baròmetre d'Opinió|publisher=Center for Public Opinion Studies|access-date=9 September 2016|language=ca|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911191341/http://premsa.gencat.cat/pres_fsvp/docs/2016/07/22/11/04/749debaa-7941-47fa-861a-e4f4cebe1233.pdf|archive-date=11 September 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ceo.gencat.cat/ceop/AppJava/pages/estudis/categories/fitxaEstudi.html?colId=3;5728&lastTitle=Bar%F2metre+d%27Opini%F3+Pol%EDtica%3BBar%F2metre+d%27Opini%F3+Pol%EDtica.+1a+onada+2016|title=Baròmetre d'Opinió|publisher=Center for Public Opinion Studies|access-date=15 April 2016|language=ca}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Other polls have shown lower support for independence, ranging from 40 to 49%.<ref name="Cadenaser.com"/><ref name="auto"/><ref name="Lavanguardia.es"/> Other polls show more variable results, according with the Spanish CIS, as of December{{nbsp}}2016, 47% of Catalans rejected independence and 45% supported it.<ref name="antena3.com">{{cite web|title=El "no" a la independencia gana más apoyos, según el CIS catalán|url=https://www.antena3.com/noticias/espana/el-cis_20161229586516fb0cf2187c0d319a7d.html|website=Antena 3 Noticias|language=es|date=12 November 2017|access-date=20 October 2019|archive-date=20 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191020174708/https://www.antena3.com/noticias/espana/el-cis_20161229586516fb0cf2187c0d319a7d.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In hundreds of non-binding local referendums on independence, organised across Catalonia from 13{{nbsp}}September{{nbsp}}2009, a large majority voted for independence, although critics argued that the polls were mostly held in pro-independence areas. In December{{nbsp}}2009, 94% of those voting backed independence from Spain, on a turn-out of 25%.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8410730.stm|title=Spain's Catalonia region in symbolic independence vote|work=BBC News|date=14 December 2009|access-date=25 April 2010|archive-date=31 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101031062306/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8410730.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> The final local referendum was held in Barcelona, in April{{nbsp}}2011. On 11{{nbsp}}September{{nbsp}}2012, a pro-independence march pulled in a crowd of between 600,000 (according to the [[Spanish Government]]), 1.5{{spaces}}million (according to the [[Guàrdia Urbana de Barcelona]]), and 2{{spaces}}million (according to its promoters);<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20120914/54349577571/manifestacion-independentista-600-000-personas.html|title="Unas 600.000 personas en la manifestación independentista". La Vanguardia de Catalunya|publisher=Lavanguardia.com|date=14 September 2012|access-date=1 February 2014|archive-date=29 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429163448/http://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20120914/54349577571/manifestacion-independentista-600-000-personas.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Pi|first=Jaume|title=Masiva manifestación por la independencia de Catalunya|url=http://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20120911/54349943522/diada-manifestacion-independencia-catalunya.html|access-date=15 October 2013|newspaper=[[La Vanguardia]]|date=11 September 2012|language=es|archive-date=17 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017082445/http://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20120911/54349943522/diada-manifestacion-independencia-catalunya.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> whereas poll results revealed that half the population of Catalonia supported secession from Spain.

{{multiple image
| align             = right
| header            = Prominent Catalan politicians in [[Spain]].
| header_align      = center
| image1            = Prim madrazo.jpeg
| width1            = 150
| alt1              = 
| caption1          = [[Juan Prim, 1st Marquis of los Castillejos|Juan Prim]] ([[Prime minister of Spain|Spanish prime minister]] under regent [[Francisco Serrano, 1st Duke of la Torre|don Francisco Serrano]])
| image2            = Estanislao Figueras y Moragas.jpg
| width2            = 140
| alt2              = 
| caption2          = [[Estanislao Figueras]] (president of the [[First Spanish Republic]])
| image3            = Pi y margall.jpg
| width3            = 159
| alt3              = 
| caption3          = [[Francesc Pi i Margall]]{{br}}(president of the [[First Spanish Republic]])
}}

Two major factors were [[Constitutional Court of Spain|Spain's Constitutional Court's]] 2010 decision to declare part of the 2006 Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia unconstitutional, as well as the fact that Catalonia contributes 19.49% of the central government's tax revenue, but only receives 14.03% of central government's spending.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Abend|first=Lisa|title=Spain Barcelona Warns Madrid: Pay Up, or Catalonia Leaves Spain|url=https://world.time.com/2012/09/11/barcelona-warns-madrid-pay-up-or-catalonia-leaves-spain/?xid=newsletter-weekly|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=17 September 2012|date=11 September 2012|archive-date=20 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920215317/http://world.time.com/2012/09/11/barcelona-warns-madrid-pay-up-or-catalonia-leaves-spain/?xid=newsletter-weekly|url-status=live}}</ref>

Parties that consider themselves either Catalan nationalist or [[Catalan independence|independentist]] have been present in all Catalan governments since 1980. The largest Catalan nationalist party, [[Convergence and Union]], ruled Catalonia from 1980 to 2003,<ref>{{Cite news |title=Convergence and Union {{!}} Spanish Politics, Coalition Government {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Convergence-and-Union |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251102172637/https://www.britannica.com/topic/Convergence-and-Union |archive-date=2 November 2025 |access-date=2026-04-08 |work=Encyclopedia Britannica |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref> and returned to power in the [[2010 Catalan regional election|2010 election]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Convergence and Union {{!}} Spanish Politics, Coalition Government {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Convergence-and-Union |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251102172637/https://www.britannica.com/topic/Convergence-and-Union |archive-date=2 November 2025 |access-date=2026-04-08 |work=Encyclopedia Britannica |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref> Between 2003 and 2010, a leftist coalition, composed by the [[Partit dels Socialistes de Catalunya|Catalan Socialists' Party]], the pro-independence<ref>{{Cite web |title=Convergence and Union — Encyclopædia Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Convergence-and-Union}}</ref> [[Republican Left of Catalonia]] and the leftist-environmentalist [[Iniciativa per Catalunya Verds|Initiative for Catalonia-Greens]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Catalonia - Political Parties |url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/europe/cat-parties.htm |access-date=2026-04-08 |website=www.globalsecurity.org}}</ref> implemented policies that widened Catalan autonomy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Catalonia — Encyclopædia Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Catalonia}}</ref>

In the [[2012 Catalonian parliamentary election|25 November 2012 Catalan parliamentary election]], sovereigntist parties supporting a secession referendum gathered 59.01% of the votes and held 87 of the 135{{nbsp}}seats in the Catalan Parliament. Parties supporting independence from the rest of Spain obtained 49.12% of the votes and a majority of 74{{nbsp}}seats.

[[Artur Mas]], then the president of Catalonia, organised early elections that took place on 27{{nbsp}}September{{nbsp}}2015. In these elections, Convergència and Esquerra Republicana decided to join, and they presented themselves under the coalition named [[Junts pel Sí]] (in [[Catalan language|Catalan]], Together for Yes). Junts pel Sí won 62{{nbsp}}seats and was the most voted party, and CUP ([[Candidatura d'Unitat Popular]], a far-left and independentist party) won another 10, so the sum of all the independentist forces/parties was 72{{nbsp}}seats, reaching an absolute majority, but not in number of individual votes, comprising 47,74% of the total.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://resultats.parlament2015.cat/09AU/DAU09999CM_L4.htm|title=Resultats provisionals 27S|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|website=gencat.cat|publisher=Generalitat de Catalunya|access-date=29 September 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930003326/http://resultats.parlament2015.cat/09AU/DAU09999CM_L4.htm|archive-date=30 September 2015}}</ref>

=== Statute of Autonomy ===
{{Main|Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia}}

{{See also|Autonomous communities of Spain|Nationalities and regions of Spain}}
[[File:Estatuto de Nuria.jpg|thumb|upright|The first [[Statute of Catalonia]], 1932]]
The [[Statute of Autonomy]] of Catalonia is the fundamental organic law, second only to the Spanish Constitution from which the Statute originates.

In the [[Spanish Constitution of 1978]] Catalonia, along with the [[Basque Country (autonomous community)|Basque Country]] and [[Galicia (Spain)|Galicia]], was defined as a "[[nationalities and regions of Spain|nationality]]".{{dubious|date=November 2021}} The same constitution gave Catalonia the automatic right to autonomy, which resulted in the [[Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia of 1979]].{{explain|date=November 2021}}

Both the 1979 Statute of Autonomy and the current one, approved in 2006, state that "Catalonia, as a nationality, exercises its self-government constituted as an Autonomous Community in accordance with the Constitution and with the Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia, which is its basic institutional law, always under the law in Spain".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gencat.net/generalitat/eng/estatut/titol_preliminar.htm#a1|title=First article of the Statute of Autonomy of Catalunya|publisher=Gencat.net|access-date=25 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113100832/http://www.gencat.net/generalitat/eng/estatut/titol_preliminar.htm#a1|archive-date=13 January 2009}}</ref>

The Preamble of the 2006 Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia states that the [[Parliament of Catalonia]] has defined Catalonia as a [[nation]], but that "the Spanish Constitution recognizes Catalonia's national reality as a nationality".<ref>[http://www.constitucion.es/constitucion/castellano/titulo_preliminar.html Constitución Española, Titulo Preliminar]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013022212/http://www.constitucion.es/constitucion/castellano/titulo_preliminar.html|date=13 October 2007}}</ref> While the Statute was approved by and sanctioned by both the Catalan and Spanish parliaments, and later by referendum in Catalonia, it has been subject to a legal challenge by the surrounding autonomous communities of [[Aragon]], [[Balearic Islands]] and [[Valencian Community|Valencia]],<ref>{{cite web|author=Europa Press/Madrid|url=http://www.hoy.es/prensa/20061115/nacional/admitidos-recursos-aragon-valencia_20061115.html|title=Admitidos los recursos de Aragón, Valencia y Baleares contra el Estatuto catalán.|publisher=Hoy.es|date=1 December 1997|access-date=25 April 2010|archive-date=4 August 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120804013947/http://www.hoy.es/prensa/20061115/nacional/admitidos-recursos-aragon-valencia_20061115.html|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref> as well as by the conservative [[People's Party (Spain)|People's Party]]. The objections are based on various issues such as disputed [[cultural heritage]] but, especially, on the Statute's alleged breaches of the principle of "solidarity between regions" in fiscal and educational matters enshrined by the [[Spanish Constitution of 1978|Constitution]].<ref>{{cite news|author=El País|url=http://www.elpais.com/articulo/espana/anos/encarnizada/batalla/politica/elpepuesp/20100416elpepunac_26/Tes|title=Cuatro años de encarnizada batalla política.|newspaper=El País|date=29 June 2010|access-date=29 June 2010|archive-date=3 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703023004/https://elpais.com/elpais/2010/04/16/actualidad/1271405842_850215.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Spain's [[Constitutional Court of Spain|Constitutional Court]] assessed the disputed articles and on 28 June 2010, issued its judgment on the principal allegation of unconstitutionality presented by the People's Party in 2006. The judgment granted clear passage to 182 articles of the 223 that make up the fundamental text. The court approved 73 of the 114 articles that the People's Party had contested, while declaring 14 articles unconstitutional in whole or in part and imposing a restrictive interpretation on 27 others.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.elpais.com/articulo/espana/retoque/74/articulos/recurridos/elpepunac/20100629elpepinac_4/Tes|title=Ni un retoque en 74 artículos recurridos|newspaper=El País|access-date=29 June 2010|archive-date=3 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703023004/https://elpais.com/diario/2010/06/29/espana/1277762404_850215.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The court accepted the specific provision that described Catalonia as a "nation", however ruled that it was a historical and cultural term with no legal weight, and that Spain remained the only nation recognised by the constitution.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.scotsman.com/news/Catalonia-39is-not-a-nation39.6412380.jp|title=Catalonia 'is not a nation' 10 July 2010 |publisher=News.scotsman.com|date=10 July 2010|access-date=6 January 2011|location=Edinburgh|archive-date=29 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629141155/http://news.scotsman.com/news/Catalonia-39is-not-a-nation39.6412380.jp|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.matthewbennett.es/60/is-catalonia-a-nation-or-a-nationality-or-is-spain-the-only-nation-in-spain/|title=Is Catalonia a nation or a nationality, or is Spain the only nation in Spain?|publisher=Matthewbennett.es|access-date=6 January 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110908023751/http://www.matthewbennett.es/60/is-catalonia-a-nation-or-a-nationality-or-is-spain-the-only-nation-in-spain/|archive-date=8 September 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Fiona Govan|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/7861118/Catalonia-can-call-itself-a-nation-rules-Spains-top-court.html|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/7861118/Catalonia-can-call-itself-a-nation-rules-Spains-top-court.html|archive-date=10 January 2022|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|title=Catalonia can call itself a 'nation', rules Spain's top court 29 Jun 2010 |work=Telegraph|date=29 June 2010|access-date=6 January 2011|location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/europe/2010/07/01/a-nationality-not-a-nation|title=A nationality, not a nation Jul 1st 2010 |newspaper=The Economist|date=1 July 2010|access-date=6 January 2011|archive-date=25 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225082016/http://www.economist.com/node/16490065|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Government and law ===
{{Main|Generalitat of Catalonia}}

{{multiple image
| align             = right
| direction         = vertical
| caption_align     = center
| image1            = Parliament of Catalunya edited.JPG
| caption1          = [[Palace of the Parliament of Catalonia]], located in [[Ciutadella park]], Barcelona
| image2            = Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya 1.jpg
| caption2          = [[Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya]], Barcelona, headquarters of the President and the Government of Catalonia
}}

The Catalan Statute of Autonomy establishes that Catalonia, as an autonomous community, is organised politically through the [[Generalitat of Catalonia]] (Catalan: {{lang|ca|Generalitat de Catalunya}}), confirmed by the [[Parliament of Catalonia|Parliament]], the Presidency of the Generalitat, the [[Government of Catalonia|Government]] or Executive Council and the other institutions established by the Parliament, among them the Ombudsman ({{lang|ca|[[Síndic de Greuges (Catalonia)|Síndic de Greuges]]}}), the Office of Auditors ({{lang|ca|Sindicatura de Comptes}}) the Council for Statutory Guarantees ({{lang|ca|Consell de Garanties Estatutàries}}) or the Audiovisual Council of Catalonia ({{lang|ca|Consell de l'Audiovisual de Catalunya}}).
[[File:Salvador Illa 2024 (cropped).jpg|upright=0.65|thumb|left|[[Salvador Illa]], [[President of the Government of Catalonia|President of the Generalitat of Catalonia]] (2024–)]]

The [[Parliament of Catalonia]] (Catalan: {{lang|ca|Parlament de Catalunya}}) is the unicameral legislative body of the Generalitat and represents the people of Catalonia. Its 135{{nbsp}}members (''diputats'') are elected by [[universal suffrage]] to serve for a four-year period. According to the Statute of Autonomy, it has powers to legislate over devolved matters such as education, health, culture, internal institutional and territorial organization, nominate the President of the Generalitat, and control the Government, budget and other affairs. The last Catalan election [[2024 Catalan regional election|was held on 12 May 2024]], and the current speaker (president) of the parliament is [[Josep Rull]], incumbent since 10{{nbsp}}June{{nbsp}}2024.

The [[President of the Generalitat of Catalonia]] (Catalan: {{lang|ca|president de la Generalitat de Catalunya}}) is the highest representative of Catalonia, and is also responsible for leading the government's action, presiding over the Executive Council. Since the restoration of the Generalitat on the return of democracy in Spain, the [[List of Presidents of the Generalitat de Catalunya|Presidents of Catalonia]] have been [[Josep Tarradellas]] (1977–1980, president in exile since 1954), [[Jordi Pujol]] (1980–2003), [[Pasqual Maragall]] (2003–2006), [[José Montilla]] (2006–2010), [[Artur Mas]] (2010–2016), [[Carles Puigdemont]] (2016–2017) and, after the imposition of direct rule from Madrid, [[Quim Torra]] (2018–2020), [[Pere Aragonès]] (2021–2024) and Salvador Illa (2024–).

The [[Executive Council of Catalonia|Executive Council]] (Catalan: {{lang|ca|Consell Executiu}}) or Government ({{lang|ca|Govern}}), is the body responsible of the government of the Generalitat. It holds executive and regulatory power, being accountable to the Catalan Parliament. The Executive Council comprises the President of the Generalitat, the [[List of First Ministers of Catalonia|First Minister]] ({{lang|ca|conseller primer}}) or the [[List of Vice Presidents of Catalonia|Vice President]], and the ministers ({{lang|ca|consellers}}) appointed by the president. Its seat is the [[Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya|Palau de la Generalitat]], Barcelona. In 2025 the government composed of solely one party, the [[Socialists' Party of Catalonia]] (PSC-PSOE) and is made up of 16 ministers, including the vice President, alongside the president and a secretary of government.

=== Security forces and Justice ===
{{Main|Mossos d'Esquadra}}

Catalonia has its own police force, the {{lang|ca|[[Mossos d'Esquadra]]}} (officially called {{lang|ca|Mossos d'Esquadra-Policia de la Generalitat de Catalunya}}), whose origins date back to the 18th{{nbsp}}century. Since 1980 they have been under the command of the Generalitat, and since 1994 they have expanded in number in order to replace the national [[Civil Guard (Spain)|Civil Guard]] and [[National Police Corps]], which report directly to the Homeland Department of Spain. The national bodies retain personnel within Catalonia to exercise functions of national scope such as overseeing ports, airports, coasts, international borders, custom offices, the identification of documents and arms control, immigration control, terrorism prevention, arms trafficking prevention, amongst others.

Most of the justice system is administered by national judicial institutions, the highest body and last judicial instance in the Catalan jurisdiction, integrating the Spanish judiciary, is the [[High Court of Justice of Catalonia]]. The [[criminal justice]] system is uniform throughout Spain, while [[civil law (legal system)|civil law]] is administered separately within Catalonia. The civil laws that are subject to autonomous legislation have been codified in the [[Civil Code of Catalonia]] ({{lang|ca|Codi civil de Catalunya}}) since 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://civil.udg.es/normacivil/catalunya.htm|title=Legislació civil catalana|publisher=Civil.udg.es|date=20 July 2006|access-date=25 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706215412/http://civil.udg.es/normacivil/catalunya.htm|archive-date=6 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Catalonia, together with [[Navarre]] and the [[Basque Country (autonomous community)|Basque Country]], are the Spanish communities with the highest degree of autonomy in terms of [[law enforcement agency|law enforcement]].

=== Administrative divisions ===
[[File:CatMCVPtoponims.svg|thumb|upright=1.35|Provinces, regions and counties of Catalonia (until 2015)]]{{Main|Subdivisions of Catalonia}}

{{See also|Political divisions of Spain|Local government in Spain}}
Catalonia is organised territorially into [[Provinces of Spain|provinces]] or [[Vegueries of Catalonia|regions]], further subdivided into [[comarca|comarques]] and [[municipality|municipalities]]. The [[Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia of 2006|2006{{nbsp}}Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia]] establishes the administrative organisation of the later three.

==== Provinces ====
{{Further|Provinces of Spain}}
Much like the rest of Spain, Catalonia is divided administratively into four provinces, the governing body of which is the [[Provincial deputation (Spain)|Provincial Deputation]] ({{langx|ca|Diputació Provincial|links=no}}, {{langx|oc|Deputacion Provinciau|links=no}}, {{langx|es|Diputación Provincial|links=no}}). As of 2010, the four provinces and their populations were:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.idescat.cat/territ/BasicTerr?TC=5&V0=5&V1=08&V3=863&V4=435&ALLINFO=TRUE&PARENT=1&GERMANS=TRUE&CTX=B|title=Padró municipal d'habitants. Xifres Oficials. Recomptes. Any 2010 |publisher=idescat|access-date=20 July 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091113212952/http://www.idescat.cat/territ/BasicTerr?TC=5&V0=5&V1=08&V3=863&V4=435&ALLINFO=TRUE&PARENT=1&GERMANS=TRUE&CTX=B|archive-date=13 November 2009}}</ref>

*[[Province of Barcelona]]: 5,701,708 population
*[[Province of Girona]]: 777,258 population
*[[Province of Lleida]]: 437,939 population
*[[Province of Tarragona]]: 830,804 population
Unlike vegueries, provinces do not follow the limitations of the subdivisional counties, notably [[Cerdanya (comarca)|Baixa Cerdanya]], which is split in half between the demarcations of Lleida and Girona. This situation has led some isolated municipalities to request province changes from the Spanish government.<ref>{{Cite web|last=324cat|date=2023-11-28|title=El cas singular de Gósol, que vol deixar de dependre de quatre administracions: "Cal un debat"|url=https://www.ccma.cat/324/el-cas-singular-de-gosol-que-vol-deixar-de-dependre-de-quatre-administracions-cal-un-debat/noticia/3263567/|access-date=2024-02-04|website=CCMA|language=ca|archive-date=4 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204193735/https://www.ccma.cat/324/el-cas-singular-de-gosol-que-vol-deixar-de-dependre-de-quatre-administracions-cal-un-debat/noticia/3263567/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Vegueries ====
{{Main|Vegueries of Catalonia}}

Besides provinces, Catalonia is internally divided into eight regions or vegueries, based on the feudal administrative territorial jurisdiction of the [[Principality of Catalonia]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=vegueria {{!}} enciclopedia.cat|url=https://www.enciclopedia.cat/gran-enciclopedia-catalana/vegueria-1|access-date=2024-02-04|website=www.enciclopedia.cat|archive-date=30 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630102826/https://www.enciclopedia.cat/gran-enciclopedia-catalana/vegueria-1|url-status=live}}</ref> Established in 2006, vegueries are used by the [[Generalitat de Catalunya]] with the aim to more effectively divide Catalonia administratively. In addition, vegueries are intended to become Catalonia's first-level administrative division and a full replacement for the four deputations of the Catalan provinces, creating a council for each vegueria,<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=palau|first=òscar|title=Traient l'entrellat a les vegueries – 12 març 2010 |url=https://www.elpuntavui.cat/article/146574-traient-lentrellat-a-les-vegueries.html|access-date=2023-06-29|website=El Punt Avui|language=ca|archive-date=29 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629220933/https://www.elpuntavui.cat/article/146574-traient-lentrellat-a-les-vegueries.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=femVallès|date=2020-04-28|title=La Catalunya de 9 vegueries (en 4 províncies) – femVallès|url=https://www.femvalles.cat/la-catalunya-de-9-vegueries-en-4-provincies/|access-date=2023-06-29|language=ca|archive-date=8 December 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208083647/https://www.femvalles.cat/la-catalunya-de-9-vegueries-en-4-provincies/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Se impide crear veguerías alterando los límites provinciales {{!}} Barcelona {{!}} elmundo.es|url=https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2010/07/09/barcelona/1278690407.html|access-date=2023-06-29|website=www.elmundo.es|archive-date=15 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230615115731/https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2010/07/09/barcelona/1278690407.html|url-status=live}}</ref> but this has not been realised as changes to the statewide provinces system are unconstitutional without a constitutional amendment.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=324cat|date=2010-07-09|title=El Constitucional només admet les vegueries si es conserven les províncies|url=https://www.ccma.cat/324/el-constitucional-nomes-admet-les-vegueries-si-es-conserven-les-provincies/noticia/761666/|access-date=2023-06-29|website=CCMA|language=ca|archive-date=29 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629220939/https://www.ccma.cat/324/el-constitucional-nomes-admet-les-vegueries-si-es-conserven-les-provincies/noticia/761666/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The territorial plan of Catalonia ({{lang|ca|Pla territorial general de Catalunya}}) provided six general functional areas,<ref>{{cite web|title=Pla territorial general de Catalunya|url=http://www10.gencat.net/ptop/AppJava/cat/plans/general/ptgeneral.jsp|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100704031039/http://www10.gencat.net/ptop/AppJava/cat/plans/general/ptgeneral.jsp|archive-date=4 July 2010|access-date=20 July 2010|publisher=Generalitat de Catalunya}}</ref> but was amended by Law{{nbsp}}24/2001, of 31{{nbsp}}December, recognizing ''Alt Pirineu and Aran'' as a new functional area differentiated of Ponent.<ref>[http://www10.gencat.net/ptop/AppJava/cat/plans/parcials/ptapa/aprovacio_definitiva.jsp Aprovació del Pla territorial parcial de l'Alt Pirineu i Aran]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513132200/http://www10.gencat.net/ptop/AppJava/cat/plans/parcials/ptapa/aprovacio_definitiva.jsp|date=13 May 2008}}</ref> After some opposition from some territories, it was made possible for the Aran Valley to retain its government (the vegueria is renamed to ''Alt Pirineu'', although the name ''Alt Pirineu and Aran'' is still used by the regional plan)<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-04-21|title=Mapa de Vegueries a Catalunya (2021): On és el teu municipi? |url=https://beteve.cat/mobilitat/mapa-vegueries-catalunya/|access-date=2023-06-29|website=beteve.cat|language=ca|archive-date=29 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629220932/https://beteve.cat/mobilitat/mapa-vegueries-catalunya/|url-status=live}}</ref> and in 2016, the Catalan Parliament approved the eighth vegueria, Penedès, split from the Barcelona region.<ref name=":4">{{cite web|date=8 February 2017|title=Catalunya ja té vuit vegueries: El Parlament aprova la creació de la vegueria del Penedès|url=https://www.ara.cat/societat/catalunya-vegueries-parlament-vegueria-penedes_1_1410475.html|access-date=4 February 2024|archive-date=6 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240306141747/https://www.ara.cat/societat/catalunya-vegueries-parlament-vegueria-penedes_1_1410475.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

As of 2022, the eight regions and their populations were:

* [[Alt Pirineu i Aran|Alt Pirineu]] (capital [[La Seu d'Urgell]]): 63,892 population
* [[Àmbit metropolità de Barcelona|Barcelona]] (capital [[Barcelona]]): 4,916,847 population
* [[Camp de Tarragona]] (capital [[Tarragona]]): 536,453 population
* [[Catalunya Central|Central Catalonia]] (capital [[Manresa]]): 413,349 population
* [[Comarques Gironines|Girona]] (capital [[Girona]]): 761,690 population
* [[Ponent]] (capital [[Lleida]]): 365,289 population
* [[Penedès (division)|Penedès]] (capital [[Vilanova i la Geltrú]]): 497,764 population
* [[Terres de l'Ebre]] (capital [[Tortosa]]): 182,231 population
* [[Val d'Aran|Aran Valley]] (capital [[Vielha e Mijaran]]): 10,194 population (The autonomous Aran Valley, considered a "unique territorial entity", is not part of any vegueria.)

==== Comarques ====
{{Main|Comarques of Catalonia}}

Comarques (often known as ''counties'' in English, but different from the historical [[Catalan counties]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Idescat. Statistical Yearbook of Catalonia. County councils. Councillors. Counties.|url=https://www.idescat.cat/indicadors/?id=aec&n=15897&lang=en|access-date=2023-11-27|website=www.idescat.cat|archive-date=4 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204193734/https://www.idescat.cat/indicadors/?id=aec&n=15897&lang=en|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2023-05-06|title=Festivals in southern Terres de l'Ebre counties form new group to increase visibility|url=https://www.catalannews.com/culture/item/festivals-in-southern-terres-de-lebre-counties-unite-in-new-group-to-increase-visibility|access-date=2023-11-27|website=www.catalannews.com|language=en|archive-date=4 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204193735/https://www.catalannews.com/culture/item/festivals-in-southern-terres-de-lebre-counties-unite-in-new-group-to-increase-visibility|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Coronavirus: Spain puts 200,000 people in Catalonia back into lockdown as cases rise|url=https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-spain-puts-200-000-people-in-catalonia-back-into-lockdown-as-cases-rise-12020938|access-date=2023-11-27|website=Sky News|language=en|archive-date=4 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240204193734/https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-spain-puts-200-000-people-in-catalonia-back-into-lockdown-as-cases-rise-12020938|url-status=live}}</ref>) are entities composed of municipalities to internally manage their responsibilities and services. The current regional division has its roots in a decree of the Generalitat de Catalunya of 1936, in effect until 1939, when it was suppressed by Franco. In 1987 the Catalan Government reestablished the comarcal division and in 1988 three new comarques were added ([[Alta Ribagorça]], [[Pla d'Urgell]] and [[Pla de l'Estany]]). Some further revisions have been realised since then, such as the additions of [[Moianès]] and [[Lluçanès]] counties, in 2015 and 2023 respectively. Except for [[Barcelonès]], every comarca is administered by a [[comarcal council]] ({{lang|ca|consell comarcal}}).

As of 2024, Catalonia is divided into 42 counties plus the [[Val d'Aran|Aran Valley]]. The latter, although previously (and still informally) considered a comarca, obtained in 1990 a particular status within Catalonia due to its differences in culture and language, being administered by a body known as the {{lang|oc|[[Conselh Generau d'Aran]]}} (General Council of Aran), and in 2015 it was defined as a "unique territorial entity" instead of a county.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://noticias.juridicas.com/base_datos/CCAA/ca-l16-1990.html#|title=Ley 16/1990, de 13 de julio, sobre el régimen especial del Valle de Arán. |publisher=Noticias Jurídicas|access-date=20 July 2010|archive-date=8 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608204441/http://noticias.juridicas.com/base_datos/CCAA/ca-l16-1990.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Municipalities ====
{{Further|Municipalities of Catalonia}}
There are at present 947{{nbsp}}municipalities ({{lang|ca|municipis}}) in Catalonia. Each municipality is run by a council ({{lang|ca|ajuntament}}) elected every four years by the residents in local elections. The council consists of a number of members ({{lang|ca|regidors}}) depending on population, who elect the [[mayor]] ({{lang|ca|alcalde}} or {{lang|ca|batlle}}). Its seat is the [[town hall]] ({{lang|ca|ajuntament}}, {{lang|ca|casa de la ciutat}} or {{lang|ca|casa de la vila}}).

<gallery mode="packed" widths="140px" heights="140px" caption="Catalan regional capitals">

Aerial view of Barcelona, Spain (51227309370).jpg|An aerial view of [[Barcelona]]
La Seu d'Urgell (Torre Solsona).JPG|[[La Seu d'Urgell]] from the Solsona tower
E5320-Vista-de-Tarragona.jpg|The city of [[Tarragona]]
Manresa des del mirador de la Balconada.jpg|The city of [[Manresa]] from the Balconada viewpoint
Girona des de l aire edited.jpg|The city of [[Girona]]
Lleida (40262867523).jpg|The city of [[Lleida]] by the Segre river
Vilanova i la Geltru.jpg|[[Vilanova i la Geltrú]] from the city's port
Tortosa - La Suda.jpg|The city of [[Tortosa]]
VIELHA - VAL D'ARAN - IB-399.JPG|[[Vielha e Mijaran]] from the Vielha viewpoint
</gallery>

== Economy ==
{{Main|Economy of Spain}}

[[File:Camps de Presseguers a Aitona, Segrià.jpg|thumb|right|Peach fields in [[Aitona]]]]
{{multiple image
| total_width       = 400
| image1            = Vinos DO de Cataluña.svg
| image2            = DO Cava Cataluña locator map.svg
| footer            = Wines and ''{{lang|ca|[[Cava (Spanish wine)|caves]]}}'' with [[Denominación de origen|denomination of origin]]
}}

[[File:Aceites DOP Cataluña.svg|thumb|right|[[Denominación de origen|Protected denominations of origin]] of  [[olive oil]]|200px]]
[[File:Strand Santa Cristina.JPG|thumb|[[Costa Brava]] beach. [[Tourism in Spain|Tourism]] plays an important role in the Catalan economy.]]
A highly industrialized region, the nominal [[Gross domestic product|GDP]] of Catalonia in 2018 was €228{{spaces}}billion (second after the [[community of Madrid]], €230{{spaces}}billion) and the per capita{{nbsp}}GDP was €30,426 ($32,888), behind [[Community of Madrid|Madrid]] (€35,041), the Basque Country (€33,223), and [[Navarre]] (€31,389).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Comparar Comunidades Autónomas Madrid vs Cataluña 2020 |url=https://datosmacro.expansion.com/ccaa/comparar/madrid/cataluna|website=datosmacro.com|language=es|access-date=15 May 2020|archive-date=29 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529020337/https://datosmacro.expansion.com/ccaa/comparar/madrid/cataluna|url-status=live}}</ref> That year, the GDP growth was 2.3%.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Catalunya mantiene el papel de locomotora de España en el 2018 |url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/economia/20190429/461934212168/cataluna-madrid-pib-crecimiento-economia.html|date=29 April 2019|website=[[La Vanguardia]]|language=es|access-date=15 May 2020|archive-date=19 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519094559/https://www.lavanguardia.com/economia/20190429/461934212168/cataluna-madrid-pib-crecimiento-economia.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Catalonia's long-term credit rating is BB{{nbsp}}(Non-Investment Grade) according to [[Standard & Poor's]], Ba2{{nbsp}}(Non-Investment Grade) according to [[Moody's]], and BBB-{{nbsp}}(Low Investment Grade) according to [[Fitch Ratings]].<ref>{{cite news|title=S&P mantiene la deuda de Cataluña en "bono basura"|url=http://www.expansion.com/catalunya/2015/04/17/5531492622601d6b098b456e.html|access-date=13 August 2015|work=Expansión|publisher=Unidad Editorial|date=17 April 2015|archive-date=20 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150820021919/http://www.expansion.com/catalunya/2015/04/17/5531492622601d6b098b456e.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Standard & Poor's degrada la calificación de Catalunya a 'bono basura'|url=http://www.lavanguardia.com/economia/20120831/54344088562/standard-poor-s-catalunya-bono-basura.html|access-date=13 August 2015|work=[[La Vanguardia|La Vanguardia Economía]]|agency=La Vanguardia|publisher=Javier Godó|date=31 August 2012|archive-date=3 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903215156/http://www.lavanguardia.com/economia/20120831/54344088562/standard-poor-s-catalunya-bono-basura.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="agency-ratings">{{cite news|title=Rating: Calificación de la deuda de las Comunidades Autónomas|url=http://www.datosmacro.com/ratings/espana-comunidades-autonomas|access-date=14 August 2015|archive-date=21 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150821043546/http://www.datosmacro.com/ratings/espana-comunidades-autonomas|url-status=live}}</ref> Catalonia's rating is tied for worst with between 1 and 5 other autonomous communities of Spain, depending on the rating agency.<ref name="agency-ratings"/>

According to a 2020 study by Eu-Starts-Up, the Catalan capital is one of the European bases of "reference for start-ups" and the fifth city in the world to establish one of these companies, behind London, Berlin, Paris and Amsterdam. Barcelona is behind London, New York, Paris, Moscow, Tokyo, Dubai and Singapore and ahead of Los Angeles and Madrid.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021|title=Barcelona, considerada la octava mejor ciudad del mundo {{!}} Barcelona International Welcome {{!}} Barcelona|url=https://www.barcelona.cat/internationalwelcome/es/noticia/barcelona-considerada-la-octava-mejor-ciudad-del-mundo_1013838|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116180530/https://www.barcelona.cat/internationalwelcome/es/noticia/barcelona-considerada-la-octava-mejor-ciudad-del-mundo_1013838|archive-date=16 January 2021|access-date=27 February 2022|website=barcelona.cat}}</ref>

In the context of the [[2008 financial crisis]], Catalonia was expected to suffer a [[recession]] amounting to almost a 2% contraction of its regional GDP in 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.elpais.com/articulo/economia/BBVA/descarta/economia/catalana/caiga/elpepuespcat/20090114elpepueco_7/Tes|title=BBVA no descarta que la economía catalana caiga un 2%|newspaper=[[El País]]|date=14 January 2009|publisher=Elpais.com|access-date=25 April 2010|archive-date=3 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703023014/https://elpais.com/economia/2009/01/14/actualidad/1231921979_850215.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Catalonia's debt in 2012 was the highest of all Spain's autonomous communities,<ref>[https://www.cnbc.com/2012/07/25/spanish-region-of-catalonia-using-debt-to-get-rich.html "Spanish Region of Catalonia: Using Debt to Get Rich".]  [[CNBC]] News. Retrieved 14 October 2013.</ref> reaching €13,476{{spaces}}million, i.e. 38% of the total debt of the 17{{nbsp}}autonomous communities,<ref>{{cite news|author=Financial Crisis|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financialcrisis/9290206/Catalonia-calls-for-help-from-central-government-to-pay-debts.html|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financialcrisis/9290206/Catalonia-calls-for-help-from-central-government-to-pay-debts.html|archive-date=10 January 2022|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|title="Catalonia calls for help from central government to pay debts".|work=Telegraph|access-date=1 February 2014|location=London|date=25 May 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> but in recent years its economy recovered a positive evolution and the GDP grew a 3.3% in 2015.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ara.cat/economia/creixement-catalunya-PIB-2015-airef_0_1514848604.html|title=Catalunya va créixer un 3,3% el 2015, una dècima més que Espanya |newspaper=Ara.cat|access-date=13 September 2016|author1=Ara|archive-date=5 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005114645/http://www.ara.cat/economia/creixement-catalunya-PIB-2015-airef_0_1514848604.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Polígon Industrial Aquiberia - panoramio.jpg|thumb|left|Industrial park in [[Castellbisbal]]]]
[[File:Tarragona Poligon Nord.png|thumb|left|Factories, [[La Pobla de Mafumet]], Tarragona]]
Catalonia is amongst the [[List of country subdivisions by GDP over 100 billion US dollars]] and is a member of the [[Four Motors for Europe]] organisation.

The distribution of sectors is as follows:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/atlas/spain/factsheets/pdf/fact_es51_en.pdf|title=Structural Funds programmes in Catalonia – (2000–2006) |access-date=25 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325180143/http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/atlas/spain/factsheets/pdf/fact_es51_en.pdf|archive-date=25 March 2009}}</ref>

*[[Primary sector of industry|Primary sector]]: 3%. The amount of land devoted to agricultural use is 33%.
*[[Secondary sector of industry|Secondary sector]]: 37% (compared to Spain's 29%)
*[[Tertiary sector of industry|Tertiary sector]]: 60% (compared to Spain's 67%)

The main tourist destinations in Catalonia are the city of Barcelona, the beaches of the Costa Brava in [[Girona]], the beaches of the [[Costa del Maresme]] and [[Costa del Garraf]] from [[Malgrat de Mar]] to [[Vilanova i la Geltrú]] and the [[Costa Daurada]] in Tarragona. In the High Pyrenees there are several ski resorts, near [[Lleida]]. On 1{{nbsp}}November{{nbsp}}2012, Catalonia started charging a tourist tax.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://costabravatouristguide.com/152-catalonia-tourist-tax-fees|title=Catalonia Tourist Tax|publisher=Costa Brava Tourist Guide|access-date=24 June 2015|archive-date=26 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626144939/http://costabravatouristguide.com/152-catalonia-tourist-tax-fees|url-status=live}}</ref> The revenue is used to promote tourism, and to maintain and upgrade tourism-related infrastructure.

[[File:Sabadell - Eix Macià.jpg|thumb|Eix Macià, [[Sabadell]] ]]
Many of Spain's leading [[savings bank]]s were based in Catalonia before the [[2017 Catalan independence referendum|independence referendum of 2017]]. However, in the aftermath of the referendum, many of them moved their registered office to other parts of Spain. That includes the two biggest Catalan banks at that moment, [[La Caixa]], which moved its office to [[Palma de Mallorca]], and [[Banc Sabadell]], ranked fourth among all Spanish private banks and which moved its office to [[Alicante]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=CaixaBank traslada su sede a Valencia y La Fundación Bancaria La Caixa y Criteria a Palma|url=https://www.expansion.com/economia/politica/2017/10/05/59d66b8d46163f200d8b458a.html|date=5 October 2017|website=Expansión.com|language=es|access-date=15 May 2020|archive-date=19 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519034451/https://www.expansion.com/economia/politica/2017/10/05/59d66b8d46163f200d8b458a.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Banco Sabadell traslada su domicilio social a Alicante|url=https://www.europapress.es/economia/finanzas-00340/noticia-sabadell-traslada-domicilio-social-alicante-20171005180329.html|date=5 October 2017|publisher=Europa Press|access-date=15 May 2020|archive-date=19 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519050300/https://www.europapress.es/economia/finanzas-00340/noticia-sabadell-traslada-domicilio-social-alicante-20171005180329.html|url-status=live}}</ref> That happened after the Spanish government passed a law allowing companies to move their registered office without requiring the approval of the company's general meeting of shareholders.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-10-06|title=El Govern espanyol aprova un decret per facilitar la fugida d'empreses de Catalunya|url=https://beteve.cat/economia/decret-govern-espanyol-trasllat-empreses-catalunya/|access-date=2023-04-10|website=beteve.cat|language=ca|archive-date=10 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410134636/https://beteve.cat/economia/decret-govern-espanyol-trasllat-empreses-catalunya/|url-status=live}}</ref> Overall, there was a negative net relocation rate of companies based in Catalonia moving to other autonomous communities of Spain. From the 2017 independence referendum until the end of 2018, for example, Catalonia lost 5454{{nbsp}}companies to other parts of Spain (mainly Madrid), 2359 only in 2018, gaining 467 new ones from the rest of the country during 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Más de 5.400 empresas trasladaron su sede desde Catalunya tras la consulta del 1-O|url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/economia/20191012/mas-de-5400-empresas-trasladaron-su-sede-desde-catalunya-desde-la-consulta-del-1-o-7678362|last=Efe|date=12 October 2019|website=elperiodico|language=es|access-date=15 May 2020|archive-date=19 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519052907/https://www.elperiodico.com/es/economia/20191012/mas-de-5400-empresas-trasladaron-su-sede-desde-catalunya-desde-la-consulta-del-1-o-7678362|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Más de 5.600 empresas han huido de Cataluña en dos años|url=https://www.libremercado.com/2019-10-14/empresas-huido-cataluna-referendun-1276646261/|date=14 October 2019|website=Libre Mercado|language=es-ES|access-date=15 May 2020|archive-date=19 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200519052907/https://www.libremercado.com/2019-10-14/empresas-huido-cataluna-referendun-1276646261/|url-status=live}}</ref> It has been reported that the Spanish government and the Spanish King [[Felipe VI]] pressured some of the big Catalan companies to move their headquarters outside of the region.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Manté|first=Albert Martín / àlex Font|date=2018-10-05|title=L'Estat va treure milers de milions de dipòsits dels bancs catalans el 2-O|url=https://www.ara.cat/economia/treure-milers-milions-diposits-catalans_1_1196067.html|access-date=2023-04-10|website=Ara.cat|language=ca|archive-date=10 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410134634/https://www.ara.cat/economia/treure-milers-milions-diposits-catalans_1_1196067.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Martín|first=Àlex Font Manté, Natàlia Vila, Albert|date=2018-10-06|title=Així va fer l'Estat la guerra econòmica contra Catalunya|url=https://emprenem.ara.cat/empreses/aixi-guerra-economica-contra-catalunya_1_1033187.html|access-date=2023-04-10|website=Ara.cat|language=ca|archive-date=10 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410134635/https://emprenem.ara.cat/empreses/aixi-guerra-economica-contra-catalunya_1_1033187.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The stock market of Barcelona, which in 2016 had a volume of around €152{{spaces}}billion, is the second largest of Spain after Madrid, and [[Fira de Barcelona]] organizes international exhibitions and congresses to do with different sectors of the economy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.borsabcn.es/docs/BBarna/docsSubidos/DatosBasicos/factb2016.pdf|title=Fact Sheet 2016 |publisher=Barcelona Stock Exchange|access-date=21 February 2018|archive-date=7 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107055735/http://www.borsabcn.es/docs/BBarna/docsSubidos/DatosBasicos/factb2016.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

The main economic cost for Catalan families is the purchase of a home. According to data from the Society of Appraisal on 31{{nbsp}}December{{nbsp}}2005 Catalonia is, after Madrid, the second most expensive region in Spain for housing: 3,397{{spaces}}€/m<sup>2</sup> on average{{citation needed|date=December 2022}} (see [[Spanish property bubble]]).

=== Unemployment ===
The unemployment rate stood at 8.4% in 2025 and was lower than the national average.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tgs00010/default/table?lang=en|title=Regional Unemployment by NUTS2 Region|website=Eurostat|access-date=1 October 2025}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Unemployment rate (Yearly data) (%)
|-
!2013
!2014
!2015
!2016
!2017
!2018
!2019
!2020
!2021
!2022
!2023
!2024
!2025
|-
|align="right"|23.1%
|align="right"|20.3%
|align="right"|18.6%
|align="right"|15.7%
|align="right"|13.4%
|align="right"|11.5%
|align="right"|11.0%
|align="right"|12.6%
|align="right"|11.7%
|align="right"|10.0%
|align="right"|9.3%
|8.9%
|8.4%
|}

=== Transport ===

==== Airports ====
[[File:17-12-04-Aeropuerto de Barcelona-El Prat-RalfR-DSCF0722.jpg|thumb|right|[[Barcelona El Prat Airport|Barcelona Airport]] tower]]
{{See also|List of airports in Catalonia}}
Airports in Catalonia are owned and operated by [[Aena]] (a [[Government of Spain|Spanish Government]] entity) except two airports in Lleida which are operated by [[Aeroports de Catalunya]] (an entity belonging to the [[Government of Catalonia]]).

*[[Barcelona El Prat Airport]] (Aena)
*[[Girona-Costa Brava Airport]] (Aena)
*[[Reus Airport]] (Aena)
*[[Lleida-Alguaire Airport]] (Aeroports de Catalunya)
*[[Sabadell Airport]] (Aena)
*[[La Seu d'Urgell Airport]] (Aeroports de Catalunya)

==== Ports ====
{{See also|List of ports in Spain}}
[[File:Aerial view of Zona Franca and the Port of Barcelona, Spain (51227005889).jpg|thumb|Aerial view of Zona Franca and the Port of Barcelona]]
Since the Middle Ages, Catalonia has been well integrated into international maritime networks. The [[port of Barcelona]] (owned and operated by {{lang|es|[[Puertos del Estado]]}}, a Spanish Government entity) is an industrial, commercial and tourist port of worldwide importance. With 1,950,000{{nbsp}}[[Twenty-foot equivalent unit|TEUs]] in 2015, it is the first container port in Catalonia, the third in Spain after Valencia and [[Algeciras]] in Andalusia, the 9th{{nbsp}}in the Mediterranean Sea, the 14th{{nbsp}}in Europe and the 68th{{nbsp}}in the world. It is the sixth largest cruise port in the world, and the largest in Europe and the Mediterranean with 2,364,292{{nbsp}}passengers in 2014. The ports of [[Tarragona]] (owned and operated by Puertos del Estado) in the southwest and [[Palamós]] near Girona to the northeast are smaller. The port of Palamós and the other ports in Catalonia{{nbsp}}(26) are operated and administered by {{lang|ca|{{ill|Ports de la Generalitat|ca}}}}, a Catalan Government entity.

The development of these infrastructures, resulting from the topography and history of the Catalan territory, responds strongly to the administrative and political organization of this autonomous community.

==== Roads ====
{{See also|List of primary highways in Catalonia}}
[[File:Autopista C-16.jpg|thumb|right|[[Autovía C-16|Autovia C-16]] ({{lang|ca|Eix del Llobregat}})]]

There are {{convert|12000|km}} of roads throughout Catalonia.

The principal highways are <span style="background: #009; color: white">'''{{spaces}}AP-7{{spaces}}'''</span> ({{lang|ca|Autopista de la Mediterrània}}) and <span style="background: #009; color: white">'''{{spaces}}A-7{{spaces}}'''</span> ({{lang|ca|Autovia de la Mediterrània}}). They follow the coast from the [[France|French border]] to [[Valencian Community|Valencia]], [[Region of Murcia|Murcia]] and [[Andalusia]]. The main roads generally radiate from Barcelona. The <span style="background: #009; color: white">'''{{spaces}}AP-2{{spaces}}'''</span> [[File:Spain traffic signal r200.svg|16px]] ({{lang|ca|Autopista del Nord-est}}) and <span style="background: #009; color: white">'''{{spaces}}A-2{{spaces}}'''</span> ({{lang|ca|Autovia del Nord-est}}) connect inland and onward to Madrid.

Other major roads are:
{| class="wikitable"
! ID !! Itinerary
|-
| {{Identificador carretera española|id = N-II|colorbg = #f00}}|| Lleida-[[La Jonquera]]
|-
| {{Identificador carretera española|id = C-12|colorbg = #f00}}|| [[Amposta]]-[[Àger]]
|-
| {{Identificador carretera española|id = C-16|colorbg = #f00}}|| Barcelona-[[Puigcerdà]]
|-
| {{Identificador carretera española|id = C-17|colorbg = #f00}} [[File:Spain traffic signal r200.svg|16px]]|| Barcelona-[[Ripoll]]
|-
| {{Identificador carretera española|id = C-25|colorbg = #f00}}|| [[Cervera]]-Girona
|-
| {{Identificador carretera española|id = A-26|colorbg = #039}}|| [[Llançà]]-[[Olot]]
|-
| {{Identificador carretera española|id = C-32|colorbg = #f00}} [[File:Spain traffic signal r200.svg|16px]]|| [[El Vendrell]]-[[Tordera]]
|-
| {{Identificador carretera española|id = C-60|colorbg = #f00}} [[File:Spain traffic signal r200.svg|16px]]|| [[Argentona]]-[[La Roca del Vallès]]
|}

Public-own roads in Catalonia are either managed by the autonomous government of Catalonia (e.g., <span style="background: red; color: white">'''{{spaces}}C-{{spaces}}'''</span> roads) or the [[Spanish government]] (e.g., <span style="background: #009; color: white">'''{{spaces}}AP-{{spaces}}'''</span>, <span style="background: #009; color: white">'''{{spaces}}A-{{spaces}}'''</span>, <span style="background: red; color: white">'''{{spaces}}N-{{spaces}}'''</span> roads).

==== Railways ====
{{See also|Rail transport in Catalonia}}
[[File:RN103007TarJPVL.JPG|thumb|right|[[AVE|High-speed train (AVE)]] at [[Camp de Tarragona]] ]]
Catalonia saw the first railway construction in the [[Iberian Peninsula]] in 1848, linking Barcelona with [[Mataró]]. Given the topography, most lines radiate from Barcelona. The city has both suburban and inter-city services. The main east coast line runs through the province connecting with the [[SNCF]] (French Railways) at [[Portbou]] on the coast.

There are two publicly owned railway companies operating in Catalonia: the Catalan [[Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya|FGC]] that operates commuter and regional services, and the Spanish national [[Renfe]] that operates long-distance and high-speed rail services (AVE and Avant) and the main commuter and regional service {{lang|ca|[[Rodalies de Catalunya]]}}, administered by the Catalan government since 2010.

[[High-speed rail]] ([[AVE]]) services from [[Madrid]] currently reach Barcelona, via Lleida and Tarragona. The official opening between Barcelona and Madrid took place 20{{nbsp}}February{{nbsp}}2008. The journey between Barcelona and Madrid now takes about two-and-a-half hours. A connection to the [[High-speed rail in France#Network|French high-speed TGV network]] has been completed (called the [[Perpignan–Barcelona high-speed rail line]]) and the Spanish AVE service began commercial services on the line 9{{nbsp}}January{{nbsp}}2013, later offering services to [[Marseille]] on their high speed network.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/europe/spain-opens-iberias-high-speed-rail-link-to-europe.html|title=Spain completes Iberia's high-speed link to Europe|last=Barrow|first=Keith|access-date=24 July 2018|language=en-gb|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924085255/http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/europe/spain-opens-iberias-high-speed-rail-link-to-europe.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/high-speed/single-view/view/high-speed-launched-between-france-and-spain.html|title=High speed services between France and Spain launched|last=Ltd|first=DVV Media International|work=[[Railway Gazette International]]|access-date=25 July 2018|language=en|archive-date=31 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140331214433/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/high-speed/single-view/view/high-speed-launched-between-france-and-spain.html|url-status=live}}</ref> This was shortly followed by the commencement of commercial service by the French TGV on 17{{nbsp}}January{{nbsp}}2013, leading to an average travel time on the [[List of TGV services#International|Paris-Barcelona TGV]] route of 7h{{nbsp}}42m.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetrainline.com/en/train-times/barcelona-to-paris|title=Barcelona to Paris from €35 in 6h29m {{!}} Times, Tickets & Info|website=[[Trainline]]|language=en|access-date=25 July 2018|archive-date=25 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725033306/https://www.thetrainline.com/en/train-times/barcelona-to-paris|url-status=live}}</ref> This new line passes through [[Girona]] and [[Figueres]] with a [[Perthus Tunnel|tunnel]] through the Pyrenees.

{{clear}}

== Demographics ==
{{Main|Catalan people}}

{{Largest cities
| country = Catalonia
| kind = municipalities
| stat_ref = [http://idescat.cat ''Institut d'Estadística de Catalunya''] (2020)
| list_by_pop = Municipalities of Catalonia
| div_name = Comarca
| div_link =
| city_1 = Barcelona
| div_1 = Barcelonès
| pop_1 = 1,664,182
| city_2 = L'Hospitalet de Llobregat
| div_2 = Barcelonès
| pop_2 = 269,382
| city_3 = Terrassa
| div_3 = Vallès Occidental
| pop_3 = 223,627
| city_4 = Badalona| div_4 = Barcelonès| pop_4 = 223,166
| city_5 = Sabadell| div_5 = Vallès Occidental| pop_5 = 216,590
| city_6 = Lleida| div_6 = Segrià| pop_6 = 140,403
| city_7 = Tarragona| div_7 = Tarragonès| pop_7 = 136,496
| city_8 = Mataró| div_8 = Maresme| pop_8 = 129,661
| city_9 = Santa Coloma de Gramenet| div_9 = Barcelonès|pop_9 = 120,443
| city_10 = Reus| div_10 = Baix Camp| pop_10 = 106,168
| city_11 = Girona| div_11 = Gironès| pop_11 = 103,369
| city_12 = Sant Cugat del Vallès| div_12 = Vallès Occidental| pop_12 = 92,977
| city_13 = Cornellà de Llobregat| div_13 = Baix Llobregat| pop_13 = 89,936
| city_14 = Sant Boi de Llobregat| div_14 = Baix Llobregat| pop_14 = 84,500
| city_15 = Rubí, Barcelona| div_15 = Vallès Occidental| pop_15 = 78,591
| city_16 = Manresa|div_16 = Bages| pop_16 = 78,246
| city_17 = Vilanova i la Geltrú| div_17 = Garraf| pop_17 = 67,733
| city_18 = Castelldefels| div_18 = Baix Llobregat| pop_18 = 67,460
| city_19 = Viladecans| div_19 = Baix Llobregat| pop_19 = 67,197
| city_20 = El Prat de Llobregat| div_20 = Baix Llobregat| pop_20 = 65,385

}}
{{Historical populations|1842|1048936|1857|1652291|1877|1764132|1887|1836139|1900|1984115|1910|2099218|1920|2355908|1930|2731627|1940|2915757|1950|3218596|1960|3888485|1970|5107606|1981|5956414|1991|6059494|2001|6343110|2011|7519843|2021|7749896|source=[[National Statistics Institute (Spain)|INE]]<ref>{{cite web|title=INEbase. Alterations to the municipalities in the Population Censuses since 1842|url=https://www.ine.es/intercensal/inicio.do|publisher=[[National Institute of Statistics (Spain)|National Statistics Institute]]|language=es}}</ref>}}As of 2024, the official population of Catalonia was 8,067,454.<ref name="popcat">{{cite web |title=Idescat. Anuari estadístic de Catalunya. Població. Províncies |url=https://www.idescat.cat/novetats/?id=5041&lang=es#:~:text=La%20poblaci%C3%B3n%20de%20Catalu%C3%B1a%20a,del%20a%C3%B1o%2C%20seg%C3%BAn%20datos%20provisionales. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124074828/http://www.idescat.cat/pub/?id=aec&n=245&lang=es=Confirmar |archive-date=24 November 2015 |access-date=16 October 2015 |work=idescat.cat}}</ref> 1,194,947{{nbsp}}residents did not have Spanish citizenship, accounting for about 16% of the population.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.idescat.cat/pub/?id=aec&n=272&lang=es|title=Extranjeros con certificado de registro o tarjeta de residencia en vigor. Por país de nacionalidad.|publisher=idescat.cat|access-date=26 March 2019|archive-date=27 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327090932/https://www.idescat.cat/pub/?id=aec&n=272&lang=es|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Urban Region of Barcelona]] includes 5,217,864{{nbsp}}people and covers an area of {{convert|2268|km2|abbr=on}}. The metropolitan area of the Urban Region includes cities such as [[L'Hospitalet de Llobregat]], [[Sabadell]], [[Terrassa]], [[Badalona]], [[Santa Coloma de Gramenet]] and [[Cornellà de Llobregat]].

In 1900, the population of Catalonia was 1,966,382{{nbsp}}people and in 1970 it was 5,122,567.<ref name="popcat" /> The sizeable increase of the population was due to the demographic boom in Spain during the 1960s and early 1970s<ref>[[Catherine Wihtol de Wenden|Wihtol de Wenden, Catherine]]. ''Atlas des migrations dans le monde, Réfugiés ou migrants volontaires, Alternatives Economiques'', éd. Autrement, Paris, 2009.</ref> as well as in consequence of large-scale internal migration from the rural economically weak regions to its more prospering industrial cities. In Catalonia, that wave of internal migration arrived from several regions of Spain, especially from [[Andalusia]], [[Region of Murcia|Murcia]]<ref name="REUTCATPOP">[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-spain-catalonia-immigration-idUSKBN19711U "Catalans woo immigrants in quest to split from Spain"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170617195614/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-spain-catalonia-immigration-idUSKBN19711U|date=17 June 2017}} Reuters, 16 June 2017</ref> and [[Extremadura]].<ref>Climent-Ferrando, Vicent. "Immigration in Catalonia: In Search of a Public Philosophy". ''Project ALIAS—Autonomy, Labour and Integration in South Tyrol (Bozen: European Academy of Bolzen/Bolzano)'' (2012).</ref> As of 1999, it was estimated that over 60% of Catalans descended from 20th{{nbsp}}century migrations from other parts of Spain.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Costa Pau|first=Marta|date=1 October 1999|title=Más del 60% de la población de Cataluña es fruto de los flujos inmigratorios de este siglo|language=es|work=El País|url=https://elpais.com/diario/1999/10/02/catalunya/938826452_850215.html|access-date=22 November 2021|issn=1134-6582|archive-date=21 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221112337/https://elpais.com/diario/1999/10/02/catalunya/938826452_850215.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Immigrants from other countries settled in Catalonia since the 1990s;<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Jeram|first=Sanjay|date=2017|title=Despite the crisis: The resilience of intercultural nationalism in Catalonia|doi=10.1111/imig.12323|journal=International Migration|volume=55|issue=2|pages=53–67|s2cid=151628467}}</ref> a large percentage comes from [[Africa]], [[Latin America]] and [[Eastern Europe]], and smaller numbers from [[Asia]] and [[Southern Europe]], often settling in urban centers such as Barcelona and industrial areas.<ref>Kleiner-Liebau, D. "Migration and the Construction of National Identity in Spain (Frankfurt: Vervuert)". (2009).</ref> In 2017, Catalonia had 940,497{{nbsp}}foreign residents (11.9%{{nbsp}}of the total population) with non-Spanish ID cards, without including those who acquired Spanish citizenship.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.idescat.cat/pub/?id=aec&n=272&lang=es|title=Idescat. Anuario estadístico de Cataluña. Extranjeros con tarjeta de residencia. Por país de nacionalidad. Provincias|website=www.idescat.cat|access-date=26 March 2019|archive-date=27 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327090932/https://www.idescat.cat/pub/?id=aec&n=272&lang=es|url-status=live}}</ref>
{|class="table collapsible collapsed" style="float:left;"
|+'''Foreign{{spaces}}population{{spaces}}by{{spaces}}country{{spaces}}of{{spaces}}citizenship'''{{spaces}}(2018)<ref name=ineextranjeros>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ine.es/jaxi/Tabla.htm?path=/t20/e245/p08/l0/&file=02005.px&L=0|publisher=[[Instituto Nacional de Estadística (Spain)|Instituto Nacional de Estadística]]|access-date=5 April 2019|title=Población extranjera por Nacionalidad, comunidades, Sexo y Año.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426032350/http://www.ine.es/jaxi/Tabla.htm?path=%2Ft20%2Fe245%2Fp08%2Fl0%2F&file=02005.px&L=0|archive-date=26 April 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>
! Nationality|| Population
|-
|{{flagu|Romania}}|| align="right"| 119,177
|-
|{{flagu|Morocco}}|| align="right"| 111,192
|-
|{{flagu|China}}|| align = "right"| 59,380
|-
|{{flagu|Italy}}|| align = "right"| 55,823
|-
|{{flagu|Pakistan}}|| align = "right"| 45,125
|-
|{{flagu|Honduras}}|| align = "right"| 33,728
|-
|{{flagu|France}}|| align = "right"| 33,184
|-
|{{flagu|Bolivia}}|| align = "right"| 30,095
|-
|{{flagu|Colombia}}|| align = "right"| 29,853
|-
|{{flagu|Ecuador}}|| align = "right"| 25,749
|-
|{{flagu|Russia}}|| align = "right"| 24,224
|-
|{{flagu|India}}|| align = "right"| 23,103
|-
|{{flagu|Ukraine}}|| align = "right"| 22,305
|-
|{{flagu|Senegal}}|| align = "right"| 20,828
|-
|{{flagu|Peru}}|| align = "right"| 20,127
|-
|{{flagu|United Kingdom}}|| align = "right"| 19,445
|-
|{{flagu|Argentina}}|| align = "right"| 19,192
|-
|{{flagu|Brazil}}|| align = "right"| 18,917
|-
|{{flagu|Dominican Republic}}|| align = "right"| 18,620
|-
|{{flagu|Germany}}|| align = "right"| 18,002
|-
|{{flagu|Venezuela}}|| align = "right"| 16,933
|-
|{{flagu|Gambia}}|| align = "right"| 14,209
|-
|{{flagu|Paraguay}}|| align = "right"| 13,847
|-
|{{flagu|Portugal}}|| align = "right"| 12,491
|-
|{{flagu|Bulgaria}}|| align = "right"| 11,288
|-
|{{flagu|Algeria}}|| align = "right"| 11,273
|-
|{{flagu|Philippines}}|| align = "right"| 11,061
|-
|}
{{clear}}

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Foreign population by nationality in 2022<ref>{{Cite web|title=Población extranjera por Nacionalidad, comunidades, Sexo y Año.|url=https://www.ine.es/jaxi/Datos.htm?path=/t20/e245/p08/l0/&file=02005.px|access-date=2023-07-14|website=INE|language=es-ES|archive-date=21 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221082714/https://www.ine.es/jaxi/Datos.htm?path=%2Ft20%2Fe245%2Fp08%2Fl0%2F&file=02005.px|url-status=live}}</ref>
! Region
! Number
! %
|-
| '''Total foreigners'''
| '''1,271,810'''
| '''100.0%'''
|-
| Europe
| 401,605
| 31.6%
|-
| European Union
| 295,896
| 23.0%
|-
| Other Europe
| 105,709
| 8.3%
|-
| Africa
| 324,260
| 25.5%
|-
| South America
| 247,821
| 19.5%
|-
| Central America
| 368,461
| 29.0%
|-
| North America
| 18,332
| 1.4%
|-
| Asia
| 184,846
| 14.5%
|-
| Oceania
| 1,015
| 0.1%
|}
{{clear}}
=== Religion ===
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Religion in Catalonia (2020):<ref name="Barometer2020"/>
|label1 = [[Roman Catholicism]]
|value1 = 53.0
|color1 = DarkOrchid
|label2 = [[Protestantism]]
|value2 = 7.0
|color2 = DodgerBlue
|label3 = [[Eastern Orthodoxy]]
|value3 = 1.3
|color3 = Orchid
|label4 = [[Jehovah's Witnesses]]
|value4 = 1.0
|color4 = Turquoise
|label5 = [[Atheism]]
|value5 = 18.6
|color5 = DarkGrey
|label6 = [[Agnosticism]]
|value6 = 8.8
|color6 = Honeydew
|label7 = [[Islam]]
|value7 = 4.3
|color7 = Green
|label8 = Other Religions
|value8 = 3.4
|color8 = Red
|label9 = No answer/do not know
|value9 = 2.6
|color9 = Black
}}
{{Main|Religion in Catalonia}}
Historically, all the Catalan population was [[Christianity|Christian]], specifically [[Catholic Church in Spain|Catholic]], but since the 1980s there has been a trend of decline of Christianity. Nevertheless, according to the most recent study sponsored by the [[Generalitat de Catalunya|Government of Catalonia]], as of 2020, 62.3% of the Catalans identify as Christians (up from 61.9% in 2016<ref name="Barometer2016">{{cite web|url=http://premsa.gencat.cat/pres_fsvp/docs/2017/07/03/10/56/eee690bf-45d9-4db2-b84f-2c31bfab72ff.pdf|title=Baròmetre sobre la religiositat i sobre la gestió de la seva diversitat 2016 |date=2016|publisher=Institut Opiniòmetre, Generalitat de Catalunya|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020120353/http://premsa.gencat.cat/pres_fsvp/docs/2017/07/03/10/56/eee690bf-45d9-4db2-b84f-2c31bfab72ff.pdf|archive-date=20 October 2018}} p. 30. [http://es.opinometre.com/2016/11/03/barometre-religiositat-2016/ Quick data from the 2016 barometer of Catalonia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020182104/http://es.opinometre.com/2016/11/03/barometre-religiositat-2016/|date=20 October 2018}}.</ref> and 56.5% in 2014<ref name="Barometer20142">{{cite web|url=http://governacio.gencat.cat/web/.content/afers_religiosos/documents/Mapa_2014/Barometre2014_resultats.pdf|title=Baròmetre sobre la religiositat i sobre la gestió de la seva diversitat|date=2014|publisher=Institut Opiniòmetre, Generalitat de Catalunya|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926184822/http://governacio.gencat.cat/web/.content/afers_religiosos/documents/Mapa_2014/Barometre2014_resultats.pdf|archive-date=26 September 2017}} p. 30. [http://web.gencat.cat/es/actualitat/detall/Barometre-sobre-la-religiositat-i-Mapa-religios-de-Catalunya Quick data from the 2014 barometer of Catalonia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170927155818/http://web.gencat.cat/es/actualitat/detall/Barometre-sobre-la-religiositat-i-Mapa-religios-de-Catalunya|date=27 September 2017}}</ref>) of whom 53.0%{{nbsp}}Catholics, 7.0%{{nbsp}}[[Protestantism|Protestants]] and [[Evangelicalism|Evangelicals]], 1.3%{{nbsp}}[[Orthodoxy#Christianity|Orthodox Christian]]s and 1.0%{{nbsp}}[[Jehovah's Witnesses]]. At the same time, 18.6% of the population identify as [[Atheism|atheists]], 8.8%{{nbsp}}as [[Agnosticism|agnostics]], 4.3%{{nbsp}}as [[Muslims]], and a further 3.4% as being of other religions.<ref name="Barometer2020">{{Cite web|url=http://justicia.gencat.cat/web/.content/afers-religiosos/05_estudis/barometre/Informe-de-resultats.pdf|title=Baròmetre sobre la religiositat i sobre la gestió de la seva diversitat 2020 |publisher=Institut Opiniòmetre, Generalitat de Catalunya|language=ca|access-date=19 May 2021|archive-date=19 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519141322/http://justicia.gencat.cat/web/.content/afers-religiosos/05_estudis/barometre/Informe-de-resultats.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{clear}}
=== Languages ===
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right;"
|+ First habitual language, 2018 Demographic Survey<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.idescat.cat/indicadors/?id=anuals&n=10364|title=Idescat. Demographic Survey. Població de 15 anys i més segons llengua inicial, d'identificació i habitual. Catalunya|website=www.idescat.cat|language=en|access-date=2021-02-21|archive-date=6 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240406183820/http://www.idescat.cat/indicadors/?id=anuals&n=10364|url-status=live}}</ref>
! colspan="2"| Language
! Identification language
! Habitual language
|-
| colspan="2"|[[Spanish language|Spanish]]
|2,978,000 (46.6%)
|3,104,000 (48.6%)
|-
| colspan="2"|[[Catalan language|Catalan]]
|2,320,000 (36.3%)
|2,305,000 (36.1%)
|-
| colspan="2"|Both languages
|440,000 (6.9%)
|474,000 (7.4%)
|-
| colspan="2"|Other languages
|651,000 (10.2%)
|504,000 (7.9%)
|-
|
|Arabic
|114,000 (1.8%)
|61,000 (0.9%)
|-
|
|Romanian
|58,000 (0.9%)
|24,000 (0.4%)
|-
|
|English
|29,000 (0.5%)
|26,000 (0.4%)
|-
|
|French
|26,000 (0.4%)
|16,000 (0.2%)
|-
|
|Berber
|25,000 (0.4%)
|20,000 (0.3%)
|-
|
|Chinese
|20,000 (0.3%)
|18,000 (0.3%)
|-
|
|Other languages
|281,000 (4.4%)
|153,000 (2.4%)
|-
|
|Other combinations
|96,000 (1.5%)
|193,000 (3.0%)
|-
| colspan="2"|Total population 15 years old and over
|6,386,000 (100.0%)
|6,386,000 (100.0%)
|}
{{See also|Catalan language|Spanish language|Aranese dialect|Catalan Sign Language}}
{{Main|Languages of Catalonia}}
[[File:Paisos catalans.svg|thumb|[[Catalan language|Catalan]]-speaking lands of Europe (grey), often known as the [[Catalan Countries]]]]
Originating in the historic territory of Catalonia, [[Catalan language|Catalan]] is the official language of the Autonomous Community and has enjoyed special status since the approval of the [[Statute of Autonomy of 1979]] which declares it to be "Catalonia's own language",<ref name="article 6">{{cite web |title=Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia (Article 6) |url=http://www.gencat.cat/generalitat/eng/estatut/titol_preliminar.htm#a6 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528011550/http://www.gencat.cat/generalitat/eng/estatut/titol_preliminar.htm#a6 |archive-date=28 May 2008 |access-date=25 April 2010 |publisher=Gencat.cat}}</ref> a term which signifies a language given special legal status within a Spanish territory, or which is historically spoken within a given region. The other languages considered official in Catalonia are Spanish, which has official status throughout Spain, and Aranese Occitan, considered the "own language" of the [[Val d'Aran]] territory. Given this, the sole official language for [[toponymy]] throughout Catalonia is Catalan, except in the Val d'Aran where Occitan fulfils this role.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nomenclàtor oficial de toponímia major de Catalunya (2009–2015) {{!}} icgc |url=http://www.icgc.cat/ca/Llibres-en-PDF/Toponimia/Nomenclator-oficial-de-toponimia-major-de-Catalunya-2009-2015 |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=www.icgc.cat |language=ca}}</ref>

According to the linguistic census held by the Government of Catalonia in 2013, Spanish is the most spoken language in Catalonia (46.53%{{nbsp}}claim Spanish as "their own language"), followed by [[Catalan language|Catalan]] (37.26%{{nbsp}}claim Catalan as "their own language"). In everyday use, 11.95%{{nbsp}}of the population claim to use both languages equally, whereas 45.92%{{nbsp}}mainly use Spanish and 35.54%{{nbsp}}mainly use Catalan. There is a significant difference between the [[Barcelona metropolitan area]] (and, to a lesser extent, the [[Camp de Tarragona|Tarragona area]]), where Spanish is more spoken than Catalan, and the more rural and small town areas, where Catalan clearly prevails over Spanish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.idescat.cat/dequavi/?TC=444&V0=15&V1=2|title=Idescat. Dades demogràfiques i de qualitat de vida|publisher=Idescat.cat|access-date=25 April 2010|archive-date=4 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100104072959/http://www.idescat.cat/dequavi/?TC=444&V0=15&V1=2|url-status=live}}</ref>

Since the [[Statute of Autonomy of 1979]], [[Aranese]] (a [[Gascon dialect|Gascon]] dialect of [[Occitan language|Occitan]]) has also been official and subject to special protection in [[Val d'Aran]]. This small area of 7,000{{nbsp}}inhabitants was the only place where a dialect of Occitan had received full official status. Then, on 9{{nbsp}}August{{nbsp}}2006, when the new Statute came into force, Occitan became official throughout Catalonia. Occitan is the mother tongue of 22.4% of the population of Val d'Aran, which has attracted heavy immigration from other Spanish regions to work in the service industry.<ref>[http://www20.gencat.cat/docs/Llengcat/Documents/Dades_territori_poblacio/Altres/Arxius/EULP2008.pdf Enquesta d'usos lingüístics de la població 2008] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709132415/http://www20.gencat.cat/docs/Llengcat/Documents/Dades_territori_poblacio/Altres/Arxius/EULP2008.pdf|date=9 July 2011}}, cap. 8. ''La Val d'Aran''.</ref> [[Catalan Sign Language]] is also officially recognised.<ref name="estatut_langs" />

Although not considered an "official language" in the same way as Catalan, Spanish, and Occitan, the [[Catalan Sign Language]], with about 18,000 users in Catalonia,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=csc|title=Catalan Sign Language|publisher=Ethnologue.com|date=19 February 1999|access-date=1 July 2014|archive-date=3 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003051354/http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=csc|url-status=live}}</ref> is granted official recognition and support: "The public authorities shall guarantee the use of Catalan sign language and conditions of equality for deaf people who choose to use this language, which shall be the subject of education, protection and respect."<ref name="estatut_langs"/>

As was the case since the ascent of the Bourbon dynasty to the throne of Spain after the [[War of the Spanish Succession]], and with the exception of the short period of the [[Second Spanish Republic]], under [[Francoist Spain]] Catalan was banned from schools and all other official use, so that for example families were not allowed to officially register children with Catalan names.<ref>{{cite book|author=Joan Miralles i Montserrat|author2=Josep Massot i Muntaner|title=Entorn de la histáoria de la llengua|year=2001|publisher=L'Abadia de Montserrat|isbn=978-84-8415-309-2|page=72}}</ref> During the Francoist period especially, the Spanish Government actively suppressed the Catalan language, criminalizing its public usage,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Verificat |first=Newtral |date=2022-01-18 |title=Nos preguntáis por una multa por hablar catalán por teléfono en San Sebastián en 1937 |url=https://www.newtral.es/multa-hablar-catalan-1937-san-sebastian-documento/20220118/ |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=Newtral |language=es}}</ref> promoting both [[diglossia]] and [[Language shift|linguistic substitution]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-28 |title="Si eres español, habla español" |url=https://www.elnacional.cat/ca/cultura/marc-pons-eres-espanol-habla-espanol_407617_102.html |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=ElNacional.cat |language=ca}}</ref> Although never completely banned, Catalan language publishing was severely restricted during the early 1940s, with only religious texts and small-run self-published texts being released. Some books were published clandestinely or circumvented the restrictions by showing publishing dates prior to 1936.<ref>{{cite book|author=Pelai Pagès i Blanch|title=Franquisme i repressió: la repressió franquista als països catalans 1939–1975 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OWDyyyaL7dMC&pg=PA182|access-date=6 January 2011|year=2004|publisher=Universitat de València|isbn=978-84-370-5924-2|archive-date=8 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408064809/https://books.google.com/books?id=OWDyyyaL7dMC&pg=PA182|url-status=live}}</ref> This policy was changed in 1946, when restricted publishing in Catalan resumed.<ref>{{cite book|author=Pelai Pagès i Blanch|title=Franquisme i repressió: la repressió franquista als països catalans (1939–1975) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OWDyyyaL7dMC&pg=PA182|year=2004|publisher=Universitat de València|isbn=978-84-370-5924-2|access-date=9 November 2020|archive-date=8 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408064809/https://books.google.com/books?id=OWDyyyaL7dMC&pg=PA182|url-status=live}}</ref>

Rural–urban migration originating in other parts of Spain also reduced the social use of Catalan in urban areas and increased the use of Spanish. Lately, a similar [[sociolinguistic]] phenomenon has occurred with foreign immigration. Catalan cultural activity increased in the 1960s and the teaching of Catalan began thanks to the initiative of associations such as [[Òmnium Cultural]].

After the end of Francoist Spain, the newly established self-governing democratic institutions in Catalonia embarked on a long-term [[language policy]] to recover the use of Catalan<ref>{{cite book|author=Turell, M. Teresa|title=Multilingualism in Spain: Sociolinguistic and Psycholinguistic Aspects of Linguistic Minority Groups|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=li0Fmtfxd6kC&pg=PA64|access-date=25 April 2010|year=2001|publisher=Multilingual Matters|isbn=978-1-85359-491-5|archive-date=7 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407161209/https://books.google.com/books?id=li0Fmtfxd6kC&pg=PA64|url-status=live}}</ref> and has, since 1983, enforced laws which attempt to protect and extend the use of Catalan. This policy, known as the "linguistic normalisation" ({{lang|ca|normalització lingüística}} in Catalan, {{lang|es|normalización lingüística}} in Spanish) has been supported by the vast majority of Catalan political parties through the last thirty years. Some groups consider these efforts a way to discourage the use of Spanish,<ref>{{cite web|author=Parra, Belen|url=http://medios.mugak.eu/noticias/noticia/150764|title=Diario El Mundo, Spanish Only|publisher=Medios.mugak.eu|date=5 June 2008|access-date=25 April 2010|archive-date=20 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720165815/http://medios.mugak.eu/noticias/noticia/150764|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elimparcial.es/contenido/19605.html|title=Diario El Imparcial, Spanish Only|publisher=Elimparcial.es|date=26 July 2008|access-date=25 April 2010|archive-date=20 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090720031837/http://www.elimparcial.es/contenido/19605.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.periodistadigital.com/ultimahora.php/2006/06/17/llaman_lputo_inmigrante_espanolr_al_padr|title=Diario Periodista Digital, Spanish Only|publisher=Blogs.periodistadigital.com|access-date=25 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090717065158/http://blogs.periodistadigital.com/ultimahora.php/2006/06/17/llaman_lputo_inmigrante_espanolr_al_padr|archive-date=17 July 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.periodistadigital.com/ultimahora.php/2006/02/02/la_justicia_obliga_a_una_escuela_de_bada|title=Diario Periodista Digital, Spanish Only|publisher=Blogs.periodistadigital.com|access-date=25 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090717060618/http://blogs.periodistadigital.com/ultimahora.php/2006/02/02/la_justicia_obliga_a_una_escuela_de_bada|archive-date=17 July 2009}}</ref> whereas some others, including the Catalan government<ref>[http://www.parlament.cat/activitat/dspcp/transcripcions/09_Inter_hora_castella.pdf p. 13: Catalan Deputy of Education Ernest Maragall declares respect from the Catalan Government to Spanish language and to everyone's rights] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080909190343/http://www.parlament.cat/activitat/dspcp/transcripcions/09_Inter_hora_castella.pdf|date=9 September 2008}} (in Calatan)</ref> and the European Union<ref>{{cite web|last1=Spongenberg|first1=Helena|title=Catalan, Basque and Galician get EU language boost|url=https://euobserver.com/political/22007|publisher=[[EUobserver]]|access-date=11 October 2017|language=en|date=4 July 2006|archive-date=12 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012095005/https://euobserver.com/political/22007|url-status=live}}</ref> consider the policies respectful,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-11-23 |title=Montilla tiende la mano a CiU en su investidura porque quiere ser «el presidente de todos» |url=https://www.abc.es/espana/abci-montilla-tiende-mano-investidura-porque-quiere-presidente-todos-200611230300-153116223549_noticia.html |access-date=2025-11-04 |website=Diario ABC |language=es}}</ref> or even as an example which "should be disseminated throughout the Union".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/education_culture/publ/pdf/language/highreport_en.pdf|title=High Level Group on Multilingualism – Final Report: from the Commission of the European Communities in which Catalan immersion is taken as an example which "should be disseminated throughout the Union" (p. 18).|access-date=25 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325180133/http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/education_culture/publ/pdf/language/highreport_en.pdf|archive-date=25 March 2009}}</ref>

[[File:Greuges de Guitard Isarn.jpg|thumb|left|Fragment of the {{lang|ca|Greuges de Guirard Isarn}} ({{circa|1080}}–1095), one of the earliest texts written almost completely in Catalan,<ref>{{cite book|last=Veny|first=Joan|title=Homenatge a Arthur Terry|year=1997|publisher=Publicacions de l'Abadia de Montserrat|location=Barcelona|isbn=84-7826-894-4|pages=9–18|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OMaXD1caTiEC&q=greuges+guitard+isarn&pg=PA17|chapter=greuges de Guitard isarn, Senyor de Caboet (1080–1095)|access-date=26 July 2022|archive-date=25 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240425121102/https://books.google.com/books?id=OMaXD1caTiEC&q=greuges+guitard+isarn&pg=PA17#v=snippet&q=greuges%20guitard%20isarn&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Moran|first=Josep|title=Estudis d'història de la llengua catalana|year=2004|publisher=Publicacions de l'Abadia de Montserrat|location=Barcelona|isbn=84-8415-672-9|pages=37–38|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RXqT88QcKjUC|language=ca|access-date=26 July 2022|archive-date=25 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240425121043/https://books.google.com/books?id=RXqT88QcKjUC|url-status=live}}</ref> predating the famous {{lang|ca|[[Homilies d'Organyà]]}} by a century]]

Today, Catalan is the main language of the Catalan autonomous government and the other public institutions that fall under its jurisdiction. Basic public education is given mainly in Catalan, but also there are some hours per week of Spanish language instruction. Although the law requiring businesses to display all information (e.g. menus, posters) at least in Catalan not being systematically enforced, the majority of the [[linguistic landscape]] in Catalonia is monolingually in Catalan. There is no obligation to display this information in either Occitan or Spanish, although there is no restriction on doing so in these or other languages and sometimes private businesses will display their information in Spanish or English as well. The use of fines was introduced in a 1997 linguistic law<ref>{{cite web|url=http://llengua.gencat.cat/permalink/78000b57-5382-11e4-8f3f-000c29cdf219|title=Catalonia's linguistic law|publisher=gencat.cat|access-date=16 August 2017|archive-date=20 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160720133246/http://llengua.gencat.cat/permalink/78000b57-5382-11e4-8f3f-000c29cdf219|url-status=live}}</ref> that aims to increase the public use of Catalan and defend the rights of Catalan speakers. On the other hand, the Spanish Constitution does not recognize equal language rights for linguistic minorities since it enshrined Spanish as the only official language of the state, the knowledge of which being compulsory. Numerous laws regarding for instance the labelling of pharmaceutical products, make in effect Spanish the only language of compulsory use.

The law ensures that both Catalan and Spanish – being official languages – can be used by the citizens without prejudice in all public and private activities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://llengua.gencat.cat/permalink/78000b57-5382-11e4-8f3f-000c29cdf219|title=Second article of Catalonia's linguistic law|publisher=gencat.cat|access-date=16 August 2017|archive-date=20 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160720133246/http://llengua.gencat.cat/permalink/78000b57-5382-11e4-8f3f-000c29cdf219|url-status=live}}</ref> The Generalitat uses Catalan in its communications and notifications addressed to the general population, but citizens can also receive information from the Generalitat in Spanish if they so wish.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://llengua.gencat.cat/permalink/78000b57-5382-11e4-8f3f-000c29cdf219|title=Ninth article of Catalonia's Linguistic Law|publisher=gencat.cat|access-date=16 August 2017|archive-date=20 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160720133246/http://llengua.gencat.cat/permalink/78000b57-5382-11e4-8f3f-000c29cdf219|url-status=live}}</ref> Debates in the Catalan Parliament take place almost exclusively in Catalan and the [[TV3 (Catalonia)|Catalan public television]] broadcasts programs in Catalan.

Due to the [[Immigration to Spain|intense immigration]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fluxos migratoris |url=http://economia.gencat.cat/ca/ambits-actuacio/economia-catalana/trets/demografia-capital-huma-benestar/fluxos-migratoris/index.html |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=Departament d'Economia i Finances |language=ca-ES}}</ref> which Spain in general and Catalonia in particular experienced in the first decade of the 21st century, many foreign languages are spoken in various cultural communities in Catalonia, of which [[Riff language|Rif]]-[[Berber language|Berber]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ub.edu/cusc/revista/lsc/hemeroteca/numero8/articles/comellas.pdf|title=Descobrir Les Llengües de La Immigració|publisher=University of Barcelona|access-date=6 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121225024155/http://www.ub.edu/cusc/revista/lsc/hemeroteca/numero8/articles/comellas.pdf|archive-date=25 December 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Moroccan Arabic]], [[Romanian language|Romanian]]<ref>[http://www.idescat.cat/dequavi/?TC=444&V0=15&V1=2&VA=2008&VOK=Confirmar ''Usos lingüístics. Llengua inicial, d'identificació i habitual''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606142227/http://www.idescat.cat/dequavi/?TC=444&V0=15&V1=2&VA=2008&VOK=Confirmar|date=6 June 2012}}. ''Institut d'Estadística de Catalunya''. Idescat.cat</ref> and [[Urdu]] are the most common ones.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.europapress.es/cultura/noticia-catalunya-arabe-urdu-aparecen-lenguas-habituales-catalunya-creando-peligro-guetos-20090629150020.html|title=Árabe y urdu aparecen entre las lenguas habituales de Catalunya, creando peligro de guetos.|publisher=Europapress.es|date=29 June 2009|access-date=25 April 2010|archive-date=18 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120118070643/http://www.europapress.es/cultura/noticia-catalunya-arabe-urdu-aparecen-lenguas-habituales-catalunya-creando-peligro-guetos-20090629150020.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In Catalonia, there is a high social and political consensus on the language policies favoring Catalan, also among Spanish speakers and speakers of other languages.<ref name="presencia.cat">{{cite web|url=http://www.presencia.cat/noticia/article/2-societat/5-societat/349929-els-nous-catalanoparlants-a-favor-de-la-immersio-lingueistica.html|title=Presència|publisher=Presencia.cat|date=26 January 2014|access-date=31 January 2014|archive-date=6 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706215518/http://www.presencia.cat/noticia/article/2-societat/5-societat/349929-els-nous-catalanoparlants-a-favor-de-la-immersio-lingueistica.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.asabadell.cat/ca/notices/2010/04/els_nous_catalanoparlants_defensen_la_llengua_catalana_8694.php|title=El Blog de Antonio Sabadell – Blog Personal|website=www.asabadell.cat|access-date=13 September 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706214434/http://www.asabadell.cat/ca/notices/2010/04/els_nous_catalanoparlants_defensen_la_llengua_catalana_8694.php|archive-date=6 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.normalitzacio.cat/noticia/index.php?sec=noticia&n=17756|title=normalitzacio.cat|publisher=normalitzacio.cat|access-date=31 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108191848/http://www.normalitzacio.cat/noticia/index.php?sec=noticia&n=17756|archive-date=8 January 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|editor=Joan Albert Argenter|title=Debat sobre la normalització lingüística: Ple de l'Institut d'Estudis Catalans (18 d'abril de 1990) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HFGjJKrayXQC&pg=PA24|year=1991|publisher=Institut d'Estudis Catalans|isbn=978-84-7283-168-1|page=24|access-date=9 November 2020|archive-date=8 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408060707/https://books.google.com/books?id=HFGjJKrayXQC&pg=PA24|url-status=live}}</ref>{{update inline|date=September 2019}} However, some of these policies have been criticised for trying to promote Catalan by imposing fines on businesses. For example, following the passage of the law on Catalan cinema in March 2010, which established that half of the movies shown in Catalan cinemas had to be in Catalan, a general strike of 75% of the cinemas took place.<ref>{{cite web|author=Louis @|url=http://www.cafebabel.co.uk/article/32923/catalan-cinema-dubbing-protest-law.html|title=Cinema law: rude case to not dub and subtitle all films in Catalan|publisher=Cafebabel.co.uk|date=25 March 2010|access-date=25 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327093159/http://www.cafebabel.co.uk/article/32923/catalan-cinema-dubbing-protest-law.html|archive-date=27 March 2010|url-status=usurped}}</ref> The Catalan government gave in and dropped the clause that forced 50% of the movies to be dubbed or subtitled in Catalan before the law came to effect.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.vilaweb.cat/noticia/4204962/20140723/nova-llei-cinema-elimina-quotes-doblatge-catala.html|title=La nova llei del cinema elimina les quotes de doblatge en català|date=23 July 2014|work=VilaWeb|access-date=10 February 2019|language=ca|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212011620/https://www.vilaweb.cat/noticia/4204962/20140723/nova-llei-cinema-elimina-quotes-doblatge-catala.html|archive-date=12 February 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> On the other hand, organisations such as [[Plataforma per la Llengua]] reported different violations of the linguistic rights of the Catalan speakers in Catalonia and the other Catalan-speaking territories in Spain, most of them caused by the institutions of the Spanish government in these territories.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.plataforma-llengua.cat/que-fem/noticies/2252/la-plataforma-per-la-llengua-denuncia-en-un-informe-40-casos-greus-de-discriminacio-linguistica-a-les-administracions-publiques-ocorreguts-els-darrers-anys|title=La Plataforma per la Llengua denuncia en un informe 40 casos greus de discriminació lingüística a les administracions públiques ocorreguts els darrers anys|date=12 June 2013|access-date=12 June 2013|archive-date=15 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015213911/https://www.plataforma-llengua.cat/que-fem/noticies/2252/la-plataforma-per-la-llengua-denuncia-en-un-informe-40-casos-greus-de-discriminacio-linguistica-a-les-administracions-publiques-ocorreguts-els-darrers-anys|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Catalan language policy has been challenged by some political parties in the Catalan Parliament. [[Citizens - Party of the Citizenry|Citizens]], a now extra-parliamentary party, is credited with breaking the consensus around language policy in the late 2000 through the 2010s. Nowadays, the [[Far-right politics|far-right]] [[Spanish nationalism|ultra Spanish nationalist]] party [[Vox (political party)|Vox]] is the main supporter of a linguistic policy that favours Spanish in Catalonia.<ref>{{Cite web |last=ARA |date=2024-05-03 |title=Vox reuneix els Països Catalans per defensar el castellà com a llengua comuna |url=https://www.ara.cat/politica/vox-reuneix-paisos-catalans-defensar-castella-llengua-comuna_1_5017543.html |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=Ara.cat |language=ca}}</ref> The Catalan branch of the [[People's Party (Spain)|People's Party]] has a more ambiguous position on the issue: on one hand, it demands a bilingual Catalan–Spanish education and a more balanced language policy that would defend Catalan without favoring it over Spanish,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y3yT9t_IDA|title=Alicia Sánchez-Camacho responde en 'Tengo una pregunta para usted'|publisher=YouTube|date=11 November 2010|access-date=31 January 2014|archive-date=10 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310054402/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y3yT9t_IDA&feature=youtu.be|url-status=live}}</ref> whereas on the other hand, a few local PP politicians have supported in their municipalities measures privileging Catalan over Spanish<ref>{{cite web|author=Regió7|url=http://www.regio7.cat/arreu-catalunya-espanya-mon/2010/10/28/ppc-votar-favor-dun-reglament-sobre-catala/110435.html|title=El PPC va votar a favor d'un reglament sobre el català – Regió7. El Diari de la Catalunya Central|date=28 October 2010|publisher=Regio7.cat|access-date=31 January 2014|archive-date=8 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108192201/http://www.regio7.cat/arreu-catalunya-espanya-mon/2010/10/28/ppc-votar-favor-dun-reglament-sobre-catala/110435.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and it has defended some aspects of the official language policies, sometimes against the positions of its colleagues from other parts of Spain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.3cat24.cat/noticia/889146/barcelones/Sanchez-Camacho-rebutja-la-postura-inicial-de-Bauza-de-derogar-la-llei-de-Normalitzacio-Linguistica-a-les-Illes-Balears|title=Sánchez-Camacho rebutja la postura inicial de Bauzá de derogar la llei de Normalització Lingüística a les Illes Balears|date=9 October 2010|publisher=3cat24.cat|access-date=31 January 2014}}</ref> It must be stated, however, that historically none of these three parties have held significant offices in either regional or local government, never having governed the Generalitat, presided any [[Provincial deputation (Spain)|Diputació]] or [[Consell comarcal|Consell Comarcal]] and as of 2025 having 4 mayors out of 947.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-08 |title=Uno de los cinco alcaldes del PP en Cataluña se da de baja del partido por "el colaboracionismo" de Feijóo con "el opresor" |url=https://www.elmundo.es/cataluna/2023/11/08/654b82bffc6c8395268b458a.html |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=ELMUNDO |language=es}}</ref>

== Culture ==

=== Art and architecture ===
{{Main|Art of Catalonia}}

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| footer            = Left: [[Joan Miró]]. Right: [[Antoni Gaudí]]
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Many important artists are from Catalonia. [[Salvador Dalí]], [[Joan Miró]] and [[Antoni Tàpies]] are some of the most famous Catalan painters. Closely linked with the Catalan pictorial atmosphere, [[Pablo Picasso]] lived in Barcelona during his youth, training them as an artist and creating the movement of [[cubism]]. Other important artists include [[Claudi Lorenzale]], for the medieval [[Romanticism]] that marked the artistic Renaixença; [[Marià Fortuny]], for the Romanticism and Catalan Orientalism of the nineteenth century; [[Ramon Casas]] or [[Santiago Rusiñol]], main representatives of the pictorial current of Catalan modernism from the end of the nineteenth century to the beginning of the twentieth century; [[Josep Maria Sert]], for early 20th-century [[Noucentisme]]; or [[Josep Maria Subirachs]], for expressionist or abstract sculpture and painting of the late twentieth century.

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| footer            = Left: {{Lang|ca|[[Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya]]|italic=no}}, [[Barcelona]]. Right: [[Dalí]] Museum, [[Figueres]]
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The most important painting museums of Catalonia are the [[Teatre-Museu Dalí]] in Figueres, the [[National Art Museum of Catalonia]] (MNAC), [[Picasso Museum, Barcelona|Picasso Museum]], [[Fundació Antoni Tàpies]], [[Joan Miró Foundation]], the [[Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art]] (MACBA), the [[Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona|Centre of Contemporary Culture of Barcelona]] (CCCB), and the [[CaixaForum Barcelona|CaixaForum]].
[[File:Rosassa de la catedral de Solsona.jpg|thumb|180px|[[Rose window]] ([[Solsona Cathedral]])]]
In the field of architecture were developed and adapted to Catalonia different artistic styles prevalent in Europe, leaving footprints in many churches, monasteries and cathedrals, of [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]]<ref>Antoni Pladevall i Font: ''El Romànic català''. A ''El llibre d'or de l'art català''.</ref> (the best examples of which are located in the northern half of the territory) and [[Gothic style]]s. The Gothic developed in Barcelona and its area of influence is known as [[Catalan Gothic]], with some particular characteristics. The church of [[Santa Maria del Mar, Barcelona|Santa Maria del Mar]] is an example of this kind of style. During the Middle Ages, many fortified castles were built by feudal nobles to mark their powers.

There are some examples of [[Renaissance architecture|Renaissance]] (such as the Palau de la Generalitat), [[Baroque]] and [[Neoclassical architecture]]s. In the late nineteenth century [[Modernisme|Modernism]] ([[Art Nouveau]]) appeared as the national art. The world-renowned Catalan architects of this style are [[Antoni Gaudí]], [[Lluís Domènech i Montaner]] and [[Josep Puig i Cadafalch]]. Thanks to the urban expansion of Barcelona during the last decades of the century and the first ones of the next, many buildings of the [[Eixample]] are in the modernist style. In the field of [[architectural rationalism]], which turned especially relevant in Catalonia during the Republican era (1931–1939) highlighting [[Josep Lluís Sert]] and Josep Torres i Clavé, members of the [[GATCPAC]] and, in contemporary architecture, [[Ricardo Bofill]] and [[Enric Miralles]].

==== Monuments and World Heritage Sites ====
[[File:Sant-climent-exterior-boi04.jpg|thumb|The medieval church of [[Sant Climent de Taüll]], located in the foothills of the Pyrenees, in the province of Lleida]]
[[File:Σαγράδα Φαμίλια 2941.jpg|thumb|[[Sagrada Família]], Barcelona]]

There are several [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Sites]] in Catalonia:

*Archaeological Ensemble of [[Tarraco]], Tarragona
*[[Catalan Romanesque Churches of the Vall de Boí]], Lleida province
*[[Poblet Monastery]], [[Poblet]], Tarragona province
*Works of [[Lluís Domènech i Montaner]]:
**[[Palau de la Música Catalana]], Barcelona
**[[Hospital de Sant Pau]], Barcelona
*[[Works of Antoni Gaudí]]:
**[[Sagrada Família]], Barcelona
**[[Park Guell|Parc Güell]], Barcelona
**[[Palau Güell]], Barcelona
**[[Casa Milà]] (La Pedrera), Barcelona
**[[Casa Vicens]], Barcelona
**[[Casa Batlló]], Barcelona
**The [[Church of Colònia Güell]], [[Santa Coloma de Cervelló]], Barcelona province

=== Literature ===
{{Main|Literature of Catalonia}}

The oldest surviving literary use of the Catalan language is considered to be the religious text known as [[Homilies d'Organyà]], written either in the late 11th or early 12th{{nbsp}}century.

There are two historical moments of splendor of Catalan literature.{{citation needed|date=December 2025}} The first begins with the historiographic chronicles of the 13th{{nbsp}}century (chronicles written between the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries narrating the deeds of the monarchs and leading figures of the Crown of Aragon) and the subsequent Golden Age of the 14th and 15th{{nbsp}}centuries. After that period, between the 16th and 19th{{nbsp}}centuries the Romantic [[historiography]] defined this era as the {{lang|ca|[[Decadència]]}}, considered as the "decadent" period in Catalan literature because of a general falling into disuse of the vernacular language in cultural contexts and lack of patronage among the nobility.

[[File:Rodoreda.jpg|upright=0.65|thumb|left|[[Mercè Rodoreda]] ]]
The second moment of splendor began in the 19th{{nbsp}}century with the cultural and political {{lang|ca|[[Renaixença]]}} (Renaissance) represented by writers and poets such as [[Jacint Verdaguer]], [[Víctor Català]] (pseudonym of [[Caterina Albert i Paradís]]), [[Narcís Oller]], [[Joan Maragall]] and [[Àngel Guimerà]]. During the 20th{{nbsp}}century, avant-garde movements developed, initiated by the Generation of '14 (called [[Noucentisme]] in Catalonia), represented by [[Eugenio d'Ors]], [[Joan Salvat-Papasseit]], [[Josep Carner]], [[Carles Riba]], [[Josep Vicenç Foix i Mas|J.V. Foix]] and others. During the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera, the Civil War ([[Generation of '36]]) and the Francoist period, Catalan literature was maintained despite the repression against the Catalan language, being often produced in exile.

[[File:Ana María Matute.jpg|upright=0.65|thumb|[[Ana María Matute]] ]]
The most outstanding authors of this period are [[Salvador Espriu]], [[Josep Pla]], [[Josep Maria de Sagarra]] (who are considered mainly responsible for the renewal of Catalan prose), [[Mercè Rodoreda]], Joan Oliver Sallarès or "[[Pere Quart]]", [[Pere Calders]], [[Gabriel Ferrater]], [[Manuel de Pedrolo]], [[Agustí Bartra]] or [[Miquel Martí i Pol]]. In addition, several foreign writers who fought in the [[International Brigades]], or other military units, have since recounted their experiences of fighting in their works, historical or fictional, with, for example, [[George Orwell]], in ''[[Homage to Catalonia]]'' (1938) or [[Claude Simon]]'s ''Le Palace'' (1962) and ''Les Géorgiques'' (1981).{{clarification needed|date=December 2025}}

After the transition to democracy (1975–1978) and the restoration of the Generalitat (1977), literary life and the editorial market have returned to normality and literary production in Catalan is being bolstered with a number of language policies intended to protect Catalan culture. Besides the aforementioned authors, other relevant 20th-century writers of the Francoist and democracy periods include [[Joan Brossa]], [[Agustí Bartra]], [[Manuel de Pedrolo]], [[Pere Calders]] or [[Quim Monzó]].

[[Ana María Matute]], [[Jaime Gil de Biedma]], [[Manuel Vázquez Montalbán]] and [[Juan Goytisolo]] are among the most prominent Catalan writers in the Spanish language since the democratic restoration in Spain.

=== Festivals and public holidays ===
{{Main|Traditions of Catalonia}}

[[File:4 de 9 amb folre i pilar.jpg|thumb|Castell 4 de 9 amb folre i pilar by Colla Vella de Valls]]
[[File:BIG 325222912040411.jpg|thumb|A rose and a book, the two iconic elements of Saint George's Day in Catalonia]]
[[Castell]]s are one of the main manifestations of Catalan popular culture. The activity consists in constructing human towers by competing {{lang|ca|colles castelleres}} (teams). This practice originated in [[Valls]], in the region of the Camp de Tarragona,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tarragona, City of Human Towers – Tarragona Turisme|url=https://www.tarragonaturisme.cat/en/tarragona-city-human-towers|access-date=2023-03-29|website=www.tarragonaturisme.cat|archive-date=29 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329184858/https://www.tarragonaturisme.cat/en/tarragona-city-human-towers|url-status=live}}</ref> during the 18th century, and later it was extended to the rest of the territory, especially in the late 20th century. The tradition of [[Castell|els Castells i els Castellers]] was declared Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by [[UNESCO]] in 2010.

In main celebrations, other elements of the Catalan popular culture<ref>-Joan Prat i Jesús Contreras. Conèixer Catalunya. Les Festes Populars. Editorial Dopesa 2. 1979. 159 pp. Idioma català. {{ISBN|84-7235-438-5}}.</ref> are also usually present: parades with {{lang|ca|[[Gegants i capgrossos|gegants]]}} (giants), bigheads, stick-dancers and musicians, and the {{lang|ca|[[correfoc]]}}, where devils and monsters dance and spray showers of sparks using firecrackers. Another traditional celebration in Catalonia is {{lang|ca|[[Patum de Berga|La Patum de Berga]]}}, declared a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by the [[UNESCO]] on 25 November 2005.<ref>[http://www.bergueda.com/lapatum/festa.asp Patum de Berga]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227050231/http://www.bergueda.com/lapatum/festa.asp|date=27 February 2009}}</ref>
[[File:Festa major de la Seu d'Urgell.JPG|thumb|left|{{lang|ca|[[Gigantes y cabezudos|Gegants i capgrossos]]}} during the festa major of [[La Seu d'Urgell]] ]]

[[Saint George's Day in Catalonia|St. George's Day]] ({{lang|ca|Diada de Sant Jordi}}) is a widely celebrated festival in all Catalan towns on 23 April dedicated to the [[patron saint]] of Catalonia in a tradition established in the Middle Ages, which nowadays includes an exchange of books and roses between sweethearts and loved ones,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Amades |first=Joan |title=Costumari Català. El curs de l'any |publisher=Salvat Edicions |year=1952 |edition=2nd |location=Barcelona |pages=285–307 |language=Catalan}}</ref> therefore, serving to the same romantic purpose that of [[Valentine's Day|Saint Valentine's Day]] in Anglophone countries. Despite being a working day, it is regarded as one of Catalan national holidays due to its popularity.

[[Christmas]] in Catalonia lasts two days, plus [[Christmas Eve]]. On the 25th, Christmas is celebrated, followed by a similar feast on the 26, called Sant Esteve (Saint Steve's Day). This allows families to visit and dine with different sectors of the extended family or get together with friends on the second day.

One of the most deeply rooted [[Christmas traditions]] is the popular figure of the {{lang|ca|[[Tió de Nadal]]}}, consisting of an (often hollow) log with a face painted on it and often two little front legs appended, usually wearing a Catalan hat and scarf. The word has nothing to do with the Spanish word ''tío'', meaning uncle. ''Tió'' means log in Catalan. The log is sometimes "found in the woods" (in an event staged for children) and then adopted and taken home, where it is fed and cared for during a month or so. On [[Christmas Day]] or on [[Christmas Eve]], a game is played where children march around the house singing a song requesting the log to poop, then they hit the log with a stick, to make it poop, and lo and behold, as if through magic, it poops candy, and sometimes other small gifts. Usually, the larger or main gifts are brought by the Three Kings on 6 January, and the tió only brings small things.
[[File:Tió de Nadal.jpg|thumb|A tió exhibited at Plaça Sant Jaume in Barcelona in the 2010–2011 Christmas season]]

In addition to traditional local Catalan culture, traditions from other parts of Spain can be found as a result of migration from other regions, for instance the celebration of the Andalusian {{lang|es|[[Seville Fair|Feria de Abril]]}} in Catalonia.

On 28 July 2010, second only after the [[Canary Islands]], [[Ban on bullfighting in Catalonia|Catalonia became another Spanish territory to forbid bullfighting]]. The ban, which went into effect on 1 January 2012, had originated in a popular petition supported by over 180,000 signatures.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Tremlett|first1=Giles|title=Catalonia votes to ban bullfighting|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jul/28/bullfighting-ban-spain-catalonia|access-date=11 October 2017|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=28 July 2010|archive-date=12 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012045159/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jul/28/bullfighting-ban-spain-catalonia|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Music and dance ===
{{Main|Music of Catalonia}}

[[File:Sardanes.jpg|thumb|[[Sardana]]]]

The [[sardana]] is considered to be the most characteristic Catalan folk dance, interpreted to the rhythm of [[Tambori|tamborí]], [[tible]] and [[tenora]] (from the oboe family), [[trumpet]], trombó ([[trombone]]), fiscorn (family of bugles) and contrabaix with three strings played by a [[cobla]], and are danced in a circle dance. Other tunes and dances of the traditional music are the contrapàs (obsolete today), [[ball de bastons]] (the "dance of sticks"), the moixiganga, the goigs (popular songs), the [[galop]]s or the [[Jota (music)|jota]] in the southern part. The {{lang|ca|[[Habanera (music)|havaneres]]}} are characteristic in some marine localities of the Costa Brava, especially during the summer months when these songs are sung outdoors accompanied by a {{lang|ca|cremat}} of burned rum.

Art music was first developed, as in much of Europe, in a liturgical setting, particularly marked by the Escolania de Montserrat. The main Western musical trends have marked these productions, medieval monodies or polyphonies, with the work of [[Abbot Oliba]] in the eleventh century or the compilation [[Llibre Vermell de Montserrat]] ("Red Book of Montserrat") from the fourteenth century. Through the Renaissance there were authors such as [[Pere Albert Vila]], [[Joan Brudieu]] or the two [[Mateu Fletxa]] ("The Old" and "The Young"). Baroque had composers like [[Joan Cererols]]. Romantic music was represented by composers such as [[Fernando Sor]], [[Josep Anselm Clavé]] (the father of the choir movement in Catalonia and responsible for the revival of folk music) or [[Felip Pedrell]].

Modernisme also expressed in musical terms from the end of the 19th century onwards, mixing folkloric and post-romantic influences, through the works of [[Isaac Albéniz]] and [[Enric Granados]]. The avant-garde spirit initiated by the modernists is prolonged throughout the twentieth century, thanks to the activities of the [[Orfeó Català]], a choral society founded in 1891, with its monumental concert hall, the [[Palau de la Música Catalana]] in Catalan, built by Lluís Domènech i Montaner from 1905 to 1908, the [[Barcelona Symphony Orchestra]] created in 1944 and composers, conductors and musicians engaged against the Francoism like [[Robert Gerhard]], [[Eduard Toldrà]] and [[Pau Casals]].

Performances of [[opera]], mostly imported from Italy, began in the 18th century, but some native operas were written as well, including the ones by [[Domènec Terradellas]], [[Carles Baguer]], [[Ramon Carles]], Isaac Albéniz and Enric Granados. The Barcelona main opera house, [[Gran Teatre del Liceu]] (opened in 1847), remains one of the most important in Spain, hosting one of the most prestigious music schools in Barcelona, the [[Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu]]. Several lyrical artists trained by this institution gained international renown during the 20th century, such as [[Victoria de los Ángeles]], [[Montserrat Caballé]], [[Giacomo Aragall]] and [[Josep Carreras]].

Cellist [[Pau Casals]] is admired as an outstanding player. Other popular musical styles were born in the second half of the 20th century such as [[Nova Cançó]] from the 1960s with [[Lluís Llach]] and the group [[Els Setze Jutges]], the [[Catalan rumba]] in the 1960s with [[Peret]], [[Catalan Rock]] from the late 1970s with [[La Banda Trapera del Río]] and [[Decibelios]] for Punk Rock, [[Sau (band)|Sau]], [[Els Pets]], [[Sopa de Cabra]] or [[Lax'n'Busto]] for [[pop rock]] or [[Sangtraït]] for hard rock, electropop since the 1990s with [[OBK]] and [[indie pop]] from the 1990s.

=== Media and cinema ===
{{Main|Cinema of Catalonia}}

[[File:TVC.svg|thumb|Logo of Televisió de Catalunya]]
Catalonia is the autonomous community, along with Madrid, that has the most media (TV, magazines, newspapers etc.). In Catalonia there is a wide variety of local and comarcal media. With the restoration of democracy, many newspapers and magazines, until then in the hands of the Franco government, were recovered in order to convert them into free and democratic media, while local radio and television began broadcasting.

[[Televisió de Catalunya]], which broadcasts entirely in the Catalan language, is the main Catalan public network. It has five channels: [[TV3 (Catalonia)|TV3]], [[El 33]], [[Super3]], [[3/24]], [[Esport3]] and [[TV3CAT]]. In 2018, TV3 became the first television channel to be the most viewed for nine consecutive years in Catalonia.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ccma.cat/tv3/any-de-records-a-tv3-lider-daudiencia-per-nove-any-consecutiu-i-millor-resultat-dels-ultims-6-anys/noticia/2895171/|title=TV3 lidera l'audiència per 9è any consecutiu i té el millor resultat dels últims 6 anys|date=1 January 2019|work=CCMA|access-date=1 January 2019|language=ca|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190102002110/https://www.ccma.cat/tv3/any-de-records-a-tv3-lider-daudiencia-per-nove-any-consecutiu-i-millor-resultat-dels-ultims-6-anys/noticia/2895171/|archive-date=2 January 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ara.cat/media/TV3-estableix-nou-liderat-consecutius_0_2153784649.html|title=TV3 estableix un nou rècord: nou anys de liderat consecutius|last=Gutiérrez|first=Àlex|date=31 December 2018|work=Diari Ara|access-date=1 January 2019|language=ca|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190101002826/https://www.ara.cat/media/TV3-estableix-nou-liderat-consecutius_0_2153784649.html|archive-date=1 January 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> State television channels which broadcast in Catalonia in the Spanish language include {{Lang|es|[[Televisión Española]]|italic=no}} (with few emissions in Catalan), [[Antena 3 (Spain)|Antena 3]], [[Cuatro (TV channel)|Cuatro]], [[Telecinco]], and [[La Sexta]]. Other smaller Catalan television channels include local television channels, notably [[betevé]], owned by the [[City Council of Barcelona]], and broadcast in Catalan.

The two main Catalan newspapers of general information are ''[[El Periódico de Catalunya]]'' and ''[[La Vanguardia]]'', both with editions in Catalan and Spanish. Newspapers which only publish in Catalan include ''[[Ara (newspaper)|Ara]]'' and ''[[El Punt Avui]]'' (from the fusion of ''[[El Punt]]'' and ''[[Avui]]'' in 2011), as well as most of the local press. The Spanish newspapers, such as ''[[El País]]'', ''[[El Mundo (Spain)|El Mundo]]'' or ''[[La Razón (Madrid)|La Razón]]'', also have Catalan editions.

Catalonia has a long tradition of use of radio, the first regular radio broadcast in the country was from Ràdio Barcelona in 1924.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/madrid/abc/1974/04/24/049.html|title=ABC (Madrid) – 24/04/1974, p. 49 – ABC.es Hemeroteca |access-date=22 October 2018|website=hemeroteca.abc.es|language=es|archive-date=30 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180630025203/http://hemeroteca.abc.es/nav/Navigate.exe/hemeroteca/madrid/abc/1974/04/24/049.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Today, the public [[Catalunya Ràdio]] (owned by [[Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals|Catalan Media Corporation]]) and the private [[RAC 1]] (belonging to Grup Godó) are the two main radio stations of Catalonia, both in Catalan.

[[File:Festival Internacional de Cinema de Catalunya 2009.JPG|thumb|[[Sitges Film Festival]] of 2009]]
Regarding the cinema, after the democratic transition, three styles have dominated since then. First, auteur cinema, in the continuity of the [[Barcelona School of Film|Barcelona School]], emphasizes experimentation and form, while focusing on developing social and political themes. Done first by [[Josep Maria Forn]] or [[Bigas Luna]], then by [[Marc Recha]], [[Jaime Rosales]] and [[Albert Serra]], this genre has achieved some international recognition. Then, the [[documentary]] became another genre particularly representative of contemporary Catalan cinema, boosted by [[Joaquim Jordà i Català]] and [[José Luis Guerín]]. Later, horror films and thrillers have also emerged as a specialty of the Catalan film industry, thanks in particular to the vitality of the [[Sitges Film Festival]], created in 1968. Several directors have gained worldwide renown thanks to this genre, starting with Jaume Balagueró and his series ''[[REC (film)|REC]]'' (co-directed with Valencian Paco Plaza), [[Juan Antonio Bayona]] and ''[[El orfanato|El Orfanato]]'' or [[Jaume Collet-Serra]] with ''[[Orphan (2009 film)|Orphan]]'', ''[[Unknown (2011 film)|Unknown]]'' and ''[[Non-Stop (film)|Non-Stop]]''.

Catalan actors have shot for Spanish and international productions, such as [[Sergi López (actor)|Sergi López]].

The [[Museum of Cinema - Tomàs Mallol Collection]] (Museu del Cinema – Col.lecció Tomàs Mallol in Catalan) of Girona is home of important permanent exhibitions of cinema and pre-cinema objects. Other important institutions for the promotion of cinema are the [[Gaudí Awards]] (Premis Gaudí in Catalan, which replaced from 2009 Barcelona Film Awards themselves created in 2002), serving as equivalent for Catalonia to the Spanish [[Goya Awards|Goya]] or French [[César Award|César]].

=== National symbols ===
{{Main|National symbols of Catalonia}}

[[File:The Senyera overlooks Barcelona.jpg|thumb|The flag of Catalonia flying on the [[Montjuïc Castle]], Barcelona]]

Catalonia has its own representative and distinctive national symbols, some of them officially recognized, such as:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gencat.net/generalitat/eng/estatut/titol_preliminar.htm#a8|title=Statute of Catalonia (Article 8)|publisher=Gencat.net|access-date=25 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113100832/http://www.gencat.net/generalitat/eng/estatut/titol_preliminar.htm#a8|archive-date=13 January 2009}}</ref>

*The flag of Catalonia, popularly known as the {{lang|ca|[[Senyera]]}}, is a [[Glossary of vexillology#Flag identification symbols|vexillological symbol]] based on the [[coat of arms]] of the Crown of Aragon, which consists of four red stripes on a golden background. It has been an official symbol since 25 May 1933.
*The [[National Day of Catalonia]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://noticias.juridicas.com/base_datos/CCAA/ca-l1-1980.html|title=Law 1/1980 where the Parlamient of Catalonia declares that 11th of September is the National Day of Catalonia |publisher=Noticias.juridicas.com|access-date=25 April 2010|archive-date=9 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609013847/http://noticias.juridicas.com/base_datos/CCAA/ca-l1-1980.html|url-status=live}}</ref> is on 11 September, and it is commonly called the {{lang|ca|Diada}}. It commemorates the 1714 [[Siege of Barcelona (1713–1714)|siege of Barcelona]] resistance and [[Capitulation (treaty)|capitulation]] at the end of the [[War of the Spanish Succession]].
*The national anthem of Catalonia is {{lang|ca|[[Els Segadors]]}} and was written in its present form by Emili Guanyavents in 1899. The song is official by law from 25 February 1993.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://noticias.juridicas.com/base_datos/CCAA/ca-l1-1993.html|title=Law 1/1993 National Anthem of Catalonia |publisher=Noticias.juridicas.com|access-date=25 April 2010|archive-date=9 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609014232/http://noticias.juridicas.com/base_datos/CCAA/ca-l1-1993.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[http://search.boe.es/datos/imagenes/BOE/1993/074/A09308.tif Law 1/1993 in the BOE] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926005145/http://search.boe.es/datos/imagenes/BOE/1993/074/A09308.tif|date=26 September 2007}}</ref> It is based on the events of 1640 during the [[Reapers' War]].

[[File:Massif de genêts (Spartieum junceum).jpg|thumb|Weaver's broom, the national flower of Catalonia]]
In addition, various celebrations, objects, images, people or cultural icons maintain recognition at national or international level as Catalan national symbols. Certain former institutions from the Principality of Catalonia, like the Catalan constitutions and [[Usages of Barcelona|Usatges]], the [[Consell de Cent]] and the Catalan Courts are valued as historical Catalan forms of government. Places like the Poblet Monastery where the ancient monarchs lie buried are especially revered.<ref>Joan Bassegoda i Nonell, Història de la restauració de Poblet: destrucció i reconstrucció de Poblet, Poblet, Abadia de Poblet, 1983</ref> Many of these symbols come from Catalan folklore, like the sardana dance, the castells, gegants i capgrossos, correfoc, Saint George's Day, as well as the [[wyvern]].

The yellow [[weaver's broom]] (''Spartium junceum'') has often been regarded as the national flower in literature, specially in combination with red poppies.<ref>{{in lang|ca}} [http://www.festes.org/arxius/ginestaflornacional.pdf La ginesta, flor nacional de Catalunya] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928153756/http://www.festes.org/arxius/ginestaflornacional.pdf |date=28 September 2011 }} festes.org</ref> The "ruc català" ([[Catalan donkey]]) is a relatively recent creation, in order to produce something Catalan to oppose to the [[Osborne bull]], widely perceived as a Spanish nationalist symbol. Iconic mountains like the [[Canigó]], Montserrat and the striking double-peaked [[Pedraforca]], are seen as local ancestral symbols.

=== Philosophy ===
{{See also|Seny}}
{{lang|ca|Seny}} is a form of ancestral Catalan wisdom or sensibleness. It involves well-pondered perception of situations, level-headedness, awareness, integrity, and right action. Many Catalans consider seny something unique to their culture, as it is based on a set of ancestral local customs stemming from the scale of values and social norms of their society.

=== Sport ===
{{Main|Sport in Catalonia}}

Sport has had a distinct importance in Catalan life and culture since the beginning of the 20th century; consequently, the region has a well-developed sports infrastructure. The main sports are [[association football|football]], [[basketball]], [[handball]], [[rink hockey]], [[tennis]] and [[motorsport]].

While the most popular sports are represented at international level by the Spanish national teams, Catalonia plays as itself in some minor ones, such as [[korfball]], [[futsal]] or [[rugby league]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.seleccions.cat/index.php/seleccions-reconegudes/esports-reconeguts|title=Esports reconeguts|website=www.seleccions.cat|access-date=13 September 2016|archive-date=4 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104200454/http://seleccions.cat/index.php/seleccions-reconegudes/esports-reconeguts|url-status=live}}</ref> Various Catalan Sports Federations have a long tradition and some of them participated in the foundation of international sports federations, as the [[Catalonia national rugby union team|Catalan Federation of Rugby]], that was one of the founder members of the [[FIRA – Association of European Rugby|Fédération Internationale de Rugby Amateur]] (FIRA) in 1934.<ref name="fira-aer-rugby.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/article_detail.php?article=33|title=FIRA-AER website – History|access-date=19 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090216142416/http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/article_detail.php?article=33|archive-date=16 February 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> The majority of Catalan sport federations are part of the [[Sports Federation Union of Catalonia]] (Catalan: {{lang|ca|Unió de Federacions Esportives de Catalunya}}), founded in 1933. The presence of separate Catalan teams has caused disputes with Spanish sports institutions, as happened to [[Catalonia men's national roller hockey team|roller hockey]] in the controversial [[Fresno Case]] (2004).<ref>{{cite web |title=Sentence Arbitrale rendue par le Tribunal Arbitral du Sport |url=http://www.tas-cas.org/fr/pdf/catalans.PDF |website=www.tas-cas.org |access-date=10 September 2024 |archive-date=19 October 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051019233616/http://www.tas-cas.org/fr/pdf/catalans.PDF |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[Catalan Football Federation]] also periodically fields a [[Catalonia national football team|national team]] against international opposition, organizing friendly matches. In recent years they have played with Bulgaria, Argentina, Brazil, Basque Country, Colombia, Nigeria, Cape Verde and Tunisia. The biggest football clubs are [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] (also known as ''Barça''), who have won five European Cups ([[UEFA Champions League]]), and [[RCD Espanyol|Espanyol]], who have twice been runner-up of the [[UEFA Cup]] (now UEFA Europa League). As of December 2024, Barça, Espanyol and [[Girona FC]] play in the top Spanish League ([[La Liga]]).

The Catalan [[waterpolo]] is one of the main powers of the Iberian Peninsula. The Catalans won triumphs in waterpolo competitions at European and world level by club (the Barcelona was champion of Europe in 1981/82 and the Catalonia in 1994/95) and national team (one gold and one silver in Olympic Games and World Championships). It also has many international [[synchronized swimming]] champions.

Motorsport has a long tradition in Catalonia, involving many people, with some Catalonian world champions and several competitions organized since the beginning of the 20th century. The [[Circuit de Catalunya]], built in 1991, is one of the main motorsport venues, holding the Catalan motorcycle Grand Prix, the Spanish F1 Grand Prix, a DTM race, and several other races.

Catalonia hosted many relevant international sport events, such as the [[1992 Summer Olympics]] in Barcelona, as well as the [[1955 Mediterranean Games]], the [[2013 World Aquatics Championships]] or the [[2018 Mediterranean Games]]. It held annually the fourth-oldest still-existing [[cycling stage race]] in the world, the [[Volta a Catalunya]] (Tour of Catalonia).<ref>{{cite web|title=100 Anys d'Historia|url=http://www.voltacatalunya.cat/ca/història/|website=voltacatalunya.cat|access-date=10 December 2015|language=ca|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525185019/http://www.voltacatalunya.cat/ca/hist%C3%B2ria/|archive-date=25 May 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed" widths="180px" heights="180px">

BCN-EstadiOlimpic-4860.jpg|[[Anella Olímpica|Olympic Park]] of [[Montjuïc]], Barcelona. At the centre, the [[Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys|Olympic Stadium Lluís Companys]]
Camp Nou - Interior (2005).jpg|[[Camp Nou]], home of [[FC Barcelona]]
F1 Circuit de Catalunya - Tribuna.jpg|[[Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya]]
Pep Guardiola 2.1.jpg|[[Pep Guardiola]], one of the most successful football managers of all time, pictured while managing [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]]
</gallery>

=== Cuisine ===
{{Main|Catalan cuisine}}

[[File:Pa amb tomàquet - 001.jpg|thumb|{{lang|ca|[[Pa amb tomàquet]]}} (bread with tomato)]]

Catalan gastronomy has a long culinary tradition. Various local food recipes have been described in documents dating from the fifteenth century. As with all the cuisines of the Mediterranean, Catalonian dishes make abundant use of [[Fish as food|fish]], seafood, [[olive oil]], [[bread]] and [[vegetables]]. Regional specialties include {{lang|ca|[[pa amb tomàquet]]}} (bread with tomato), which consists of bread (sometimes toasted), and [[tomato]] seasoned with olive oil and salt. Often the dish is accompanied with any number of sausages (cured [[Botifarra|botifarres]], [[fuet]], iberic ham, and others), ham or cheeses. Other dishes include {{lang|ca|[[calçotada]]}}, {{lang|ca|[[escudella i carn d'olla]]}}, {{lang|ca|suquet de peix}} (fish stew), and a [[dessert]], [[Catalan cream]].

Catalan vineyards also have several {{lang|ca|[[Denominación de origen|Denominacions d'Origen]]}} wines, such as [[Priorat (DOQ)|Priorat]], [[Montsant DO|Montsant]], [[Penedès (DO)|Penedès]] and [[Empordà (DO)|Empordà]]. There is also a sparkling wine, the [[Cava (Spanish wine)|cava]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cava-and-co.com/|title=Cava & Co !|date=24 October 2011|website=Cava & Co !|access-date=24 July 2021|archive-date=24 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724170448/https://cava-and-co.com/|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

Catalonia is internationally recognized for its fine dining. Three of [[the World's 50 Best Restaurants]] are in Catalonia,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2009-04-21/news/27654601_1_chef-restaurant-magazine-signature-dishes|title=Spain's El Bulli named best restaurant in world|date=21 April 2009|work=[[The Economic Times]]|location=India|access-date=30 April 2012|archive-date=8 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208131151/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2009-04-21/news/27654601_1_chef-restaurant-magazine-signature-dishes|url-status=dead}}</ref> and four restaurants have three [[Michelin Guide|Michelin]] stars, including restaurants like [[El Bulli]] or [[El Celler de Can Roca]], both of which regularly dominate international rankings of restaurants.<ref>[http://www.marianne.net/Meilleur-restaurant-du-monde-grand-prix-de-la-tourista-internationale_a228545.html « Meilleur restaurant du monde » grand prix de la tourista internationale] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716172102/http://www.marianne.net/Meilleur-restaurant-du-monde-grand-prix-de-la-tourista-internationale_a228545.html|date=16 July 2014}}, [[Périco Légasse]], marianne.net, 30 avpil 2013</ref> The region has been awarded the [[European Region of Gastronomy]] title for the year 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.europeanregionofgastronomy.org/platform/catalonia-2016/|title=Catalonia 2016 |author=<!--Not stated-->|website=europeanregionofgastronomy.org|publisher=International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism|access-date=10 June 2021|quote=|archive-date=10 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610133552/https://www.europeanregionofgastronomy.org/platform/catalonia-2016/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Twinning and covenants ==
*{{Flagicon|Mexico}}[[Nuevo León]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.info7.com.mx/a/noticia/56275|title=Firman acuerdo de colaboración gobierno de NL y Cataluña, España &#124; Info7 &#124; Nuevo León|publisher=Info7|access-date=13 September 2013|archive-date=8 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408182625/http://www.info7.com.mx/a/noticia/56275|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://info7.mx/a/noticia/56329|title=Firman NL y Cataluña intercambio estratégico &#124; Info7 &#124; Nuevo León|publisher=Info7.mx|access-date=13 September 2013|archive-date=22 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022033111/http://info7.mx/a/noticia/56329|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=José Lebeña Acebo|url=http://www.publimetro.com.mx/noticias/video-nuevo-leon-y-cataluna-tierras-hermanas/mler!BroAapUDlwndo/|title=VIDEO: Nuevo León y Cataluña, ¿tierras hermanas? – Publimetro|publisher=Publimetro.com.mx|access-date=13 September 2013|archive-date=26 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131026093843/http://www.publimetro.com.mx/noticias/video-nuevo-leon-y-cataluna-tierras-hermanas/mler!BroAapUDlwndo/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|California}} [[California]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://soir.senate.ca.gov/scr71|title=Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 71 {{!}} Senate Office of International Relations|website=soir.senate.ca.gov|access-date=13 September 2016|archive-date=17 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161017145954/http://soir.senate.ca.gov/scr71|url-status=live}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|Quebec}} [[Quebec]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mrif.gouv.qc.ca/en/relations-du-quebec/europe/espagne/catalogne#introduction|title=Catalonia|website=MRIF – Ministère des Relations internationales et de la Francophonie|access-date=21 September 2018|archive-date=21 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180921153231/http://www.mrif.gouv.qc.ca/en/relations-du-quebec/europe/espagne/catalogne#introduction|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{Portal|Spain|European Union}}
<!-- *[[Index of Catalonia-related articles]] -->
*[[Catalan Company]]
*[[Catalan Countries]]
*[[Date and time notation in Catalonia]]
*[[List of European regions by GDP]]
*[[List of people from Catalonia]]
*[[Northern Catalonia]]
*[[Outline of Catalonia]]
*[[History of political Catalanism]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{EB1911|wstitle=Catalonia}}

== External links ==
{{Sister project links|voy=Catalonia}}
*[https://web.gencat.cat/ca/inici Generalitat de Catalunya (Government of Catalonia)]
*[https://web.gencat.cat/ca/generalitat/estatut/ Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia]

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