Inside Barcelona’s most sweltering neighbourhood: El Raval

Barcelona experienced record-breaking temperatures in July as part of a wider European heatwave, with the city reaching 40.7 degrees Celsius. The broader Barcelona province documented roughly 205 deaths attributed to heat exposure during this period. Research published in Nature Medicine suggests that under worst-case climate scenarios, Barcelona could face more than 246,000 heat-related deaths between 2015 and 2099—a projection exceeding any other European city, largely attributable to its Mediterranean location and concentrated urban development.

Within the city, heat-related mortality risk is distributed unevenly across neighbourhoods. El Raval, situated in Barcelona's old town, has been identified as the most heat-vulnerable area, particularly during nighttime hours, according to the Climate Vulnerability Index (IVAC), a mapping tool developed in 2022 to identify areas facing the greatest heat exposure risks. The index was created in response to increasing heatwave episodes observed in preceding years.

El Raval faces multiple compounding risk factors that amplify its vulnerability. The neighbourhood ranks among Barcelona's 15 most densely populated areas and has the city's second-lowest median annual income at 15,050 euros. It also contains among the least green space of any Barcelona neighbourhood. Inside homes, residents find minimal relief, as a significant proportion of buildings lack thermal insulation and adequate cross-ventilation, conditions that intensify heat accumulation as outdoor temperatures rise.

The neighbourhood is also a major migrant hub, with 67 percent of residents born abroad, primarily from Pakistan, the Philippines, and India, making it home to the city's second-highest share of foreign-born residents. These demographic and infrastructural factors combine to create conditions where residents face disproportionate exposure to dangerous heat.