The Cartographic and Geological Institute of Catalonia (ICGC) has identified and mapped the region's most dispersed municipalities, according to a new publication. These areas, primarily found in rural inland Catalonia, are characterised by populations spread across isolated farmhouses, agricultural holdings, or small, distant settlements, rather than a compact urban centre. Often, the local council and other municipal services are located in an isolated spot, without busy squares or streets.
The ICGC's findings are detailed in its book, Municipèdia, which lists and maps these types of municipalities. Such areas are particularly common in inland regions like Solsonès and Berguedà.
Examples of Dispersed Municipalities
Capolat, in Berguedà, is one such example. Located just 14 kilometres from Berga, this municipality covers approximately 34 square kilometres but has fewer than 100 inhabitants. Capolat has no urban centre; instead, small groups of farmhouses are scattered across its territory. Its population density is 2.76 inhabitants per square kilometre. For comparison, Barcelona has a population density of 16,000 inhabitants per square kilometre.
Another case is Malla, in Osona, situated on the Vic plain. Although Malla is much smaller than Capolat in area and has three times its population, it also consists of farmhouses and farms. There is no significant population centre, and the local council building is in an isolated location near the C-17 motorway, which connects Barcelona and Ripoll.
Viver i Serrateix and Other Cases
Viver i Serrateix, also in Berguedà, presents a similar situation. This municipality spans 66 square kilometres but has only 178 inhabitants, resulting in a population density of about 2.66 inhabitants per square kilometre, a figure close to Capolat's. However, its residents are spread across three distinct urban nuclei: Viver (80 inhabitants), Serrateix (76 inhabitants), and Sant Joan de Montdarn (22 inhabitants).
Municipèdia includes a long list of other examples across Catalonia. These municipalities are typically a collection of small villages, none of which is significantly larger than the others. Such cases are very frequent in the Pyrenees and inland Catalonia, highlighting a unique aspect of the region's demographic geography.
