Commercial census 2024

Study of Commercial Activities in Barcelona 2024

Did you know that there are 61,875 establishments in Barcelona with an active economic activity on the ground floor? Of these, 21,167 are retail stores and 33,740 are dedicated to services, according to the latest study of commercial activities in Barcelona 2024, with data collected through periodic and systematic monitoring that has improved over the last 10 years.

The study provides a detailed view of the current state of commerce in the city, including emerging trends, the diversity of businesses, their geographical distribution, and their influence on the socioeconomic ecosystem.

The main commercial indicators

Barcelona has a high value in the commercial utilization index, an indicator that evaluates the proportion of occupied premises to the total number of registered premises. According to the census data, 90.96% of ground-floor premises dedicated to economic activity are active. This index has risen by more than 2 points compared to 2022, reflecting an improvement in the occupancy of commercial establishments.

Commercial utilization index 2024
Commercial supply has increased from 3.5 to 3.7 points, indicating a high commercial density, with almost four commercial premises for every 100 inhabitants. The abundance of supply is due to factors such as urban compactness and the large number of visitors the city receives each year. This density is key to the dynamism of commerce and its contribution to urban life.

Commercial supply index 2024
The hospitality indicator has consolidated and remained stable since 2022. Thus, in Barcelona, 16 out of every 100 available premises are dedicated to hospitality.

Hospitality index by neighborhood 2024
Occasional commerce (stores for household, personal, cultural, and leisure equipment) has experienced a slight increase since 2022, rising from 15.4 to 15.5, reflecting the attractiveness of the urban fabric.

Occasional commerce index by neighborhood 2024
The new Everyday Commerce Indicator, which describes the proportion of establishments for food supply, cleaning products, and financial institutions relative to the total number of premises, remains from 13.2 to 13.0, showing the specialization of the commercial fabric in the neighborhoods.

Everyday commerce index by neighborhood 2024

The conclusions

In general, the evolution of economic activity on the ground floor shows remarkable resilience between 2014 and 2024, growing from 56,840 to 61,827 premises, despite the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the lowest activity years due to the economic crisis and the pandemic crisis.
Commercial density is growing in Barcelona, with 3.7 establishments for every 100 inhabitants, attracting more visitors and boosting the economy.
The restaurant sector remains stable, with a rate of 16.0%, indicating a solid post-pandemic recovery.
The commercial utilization rate in Barcelona rises to 90.9%, reflecting greater efficiency in commercial premises.

Commerce in Barcelona self-regulates and adapts to maintain optimal supply, especially in 2024, when the population grows and commerce adjusts to supply and demand.