According to the most recent data from the Population and Housing Census, corresponding to the year 2023, the presence of people of foreign origin has increased throughout the Catalan territory. The municipalities of Baix Montseny have 9,440 foreigners, which represents 10.94% of the population of the natural region, a figure lower than the average for Catalonia (17.24%).
An uptrend after a downtrend
The population of foreign origin has had a similar evolution both in the natural region and in Catalonia in the last twenty years, with significant increases at the beginning of the 2000s that were maintained for the first 4-5 years of the decade, reaching historical minimums of decrease between the years 2010-2015. The health crisis of 2020 also marked a turning point, and the data for 2022 and 2023 shows a recovery in the growth rates of the immigrant population of foreign origin.
Sant Celoni, the municipality with the largest foreign population
The municipality with the most foreigners is Sant Celoni, with 2,105 people (11.43%) of the total population. But the capital of Baix Montseny is not the one with the highest percentage, as it is surpassed by Arbúcies, with 1,493 people (22.87%), and by Sant Hilari Sacalm, with 1,164 people (19.75%).
Other municipalities with more than 10 percent of the foreign population
There are two more municipalities in Baix Montseny that exceed 10 percent of the foreign population, which are Hostalric, with 606 people (13.79%), and Breda, with 417 people (10.71%). In Santa Maria de Palautordera there are 943 people (9.57%) and in Vilalba Sasserra 72 people (9.56%). In Campins there are 51 people of foreign origin (8.61%) and in Llinars del Vallès the census is 893 people (8.52%), while in Vallgorguina there are 270 foreign people (8.42%).
The municipalities with the least foreign population
Below these percentages are Gualba, with 124 people (7.46%), Sant Esteve de Palautordera, with 212 people (6.98%), and Riells and Viabrea, with 306 people (6.91%). Also above 6 percent are Sant Pere de Vilamajor, with 300 people (6.18%), and Cànoves and Samalús, with 398 people (6.06%). The municipalities with the lowest percentage of foreign population are Sant Feliu de Buixalleu, with 51 people (5.92%), Fogars de Montclús, with 20 people (4.16%), and Montseny, with 15 people (3.96 %).