Cartagena is the second-most important city in the region of Murcia, in the southwest of Spain.

With a great archaeological value, Cartagena has encountered various cultures and civilizations during its tri-millennial history. The service sector (tourism), industry (chemical and naval) and agriculture are its main sources of employment today.

According to the data of the Municipal Population Register, the town counted 218.528 inhabitants in January 2014, of which 29.372 were of foreign origin, representing a 13.4 % of the total population.

The city council of Cartagena is working on interculturality and diversity management since 1992. It started a joint action with all entities and NGOs in the area, considering that public power needs to undertake actions that foster an adequate coexistence, guarantee attention to new situations and accept competences under the Foreigner Law. The work that was realized by the Cartagena city hall was principally based on promoting measures aimed at integration processes, stabilizing coexistence, intercultural dialogue, social cohesion and development.

The Cartagena government adhered and commemorated the European Year against Racism (1997) and the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue (2008) and is working jointly with coordinators at the grass-root level, associations as well as integration and immigrant collectives. It established this work model as one of its principles for intercultural policies.

In 2007 the Immigration and Cooperation program was incorporated in the municipal structure to increase dynamism of diversity management in different municipal areas.

Cartagena: Results of the Intercultural Cities Index