Catalonia’s entrepreneurial activity reached an all-time high in 2025, with the region’s Total Early-Stage Entrepreneurial Activity rate climbing to 9.7 percent, according to data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor report. The figure marks a 1.1 percentage point increase year-on-year and represents the highest value recorded since the data series began in 2004.
Catalonia Outpaces National Average While Closing Gender Gap
The 9.7 percent rate measures the percentage of the adult population involved in starting businesses up to three and a half years old, pushing the total number of entrepreneurs in Catalonia past 492,000 individuals. That performance places the region well above Spain’s overall average of 7.8 percent, bringing it nearly on par with high-income European economies, which sit at 9.8 percent.
Only the Community of Madrid surpasses the Catalan rate, registering a slightly higher 9.8 percent of its population engaged in early-stage business creation. However, Barcelona and its demarcation outperform the Spanish capital directly, recording a 10.7 percent proportion of entrepreneurs.
Alongside territorial growth, the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor report notes that the gender gap in early-stage business creation has nearly closed across Catalonia. The early-stage entrepreneurial rate among Catalan women stands at 9.6 percent, almost matching the general average. In Barcelona, female entrepreneurial activity reaches 10.4 percent, sitting far above the Spanish average of 7.2 percent and outstripping the 7.9 percent rate found across high-income European economies.
Persistent Barriers in Established Businesses
Despite parity in initial startups, the report warns that structural differences remain when tracking long-term business survival. Although male and female participation is virtually balanced in the early stages, male presence remains higher among established businesses. The monitor attributes this disparity to lingering market barriers that continue to condition the growth and permanence of projects led by women.
The data also shows that more people are starting businesses to pursue opportunities rather than out of necessity, as the latter decline. Business associations point out that the central challenge for the region is no longer simply increasing the number of new startups, but enhancing their capacity to scale, innovate, internationalize, and generate high value-added output.
Priorities for Economic Consolidation
To support this next phase of development, the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor study calls for targeted improvements to the regional business ecosystem. Key priorities include expanding access to specialized funding and skilled talent, streamlining administrative procedures, and strengthening digitalization and innovation processes. The ultimate goal remains the consolidation of projects capable of delivering sustainable competitive advantages and high-quality employment.
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