The main secessionist group "Junts pel Si" (Together for Yes) won 62 seats in the 135-strong assembly in Spain's wealthy northeastern region, while smaller leftist party CUP won another 10 seats, official results showed.
They jointly won 47.33% of the vote.
"Catalans have voted yes to independence," acting Catalan regional government head Artur Mas told supporters after 70.78% of the vote was counted.
Both secessionist parties have said that they will unilaterally declare independence within 18 months, somethin gthe central government in Madrid says it will block in court because the Spanish constitution does not allow it.
Separatist parties are expected to set the region on course for a unilateral declaration of independence from Spain, which the central government says is impossible.
The Spanish constitution does not allow any region to break away.
More than 5.5 million of Catalonia's 7.5 million inhabitants were eligible to vote, with nearly 2,700 polling stations across the region.
A pro-independence alliance led by regional president Artur Mas vowed to proceed towards a declaration of independence by 2017 if it secures a majority in the regional parliament, even if it manages to do so without a majority of votes.
Spain's central government brands secession illegal and has called for the country to stay united as the eurozone's fourth-biggest economy recovers from recession.
It says Catalonia would drop out of the European Union and eurozone if it broke away from Spain.
The Catalan president, Artur Mas said that democracy has won as he cast his vote.
Mr Mas said earlier today that if the Yes vote wins, they would have to negotiate with Catalonian authorities.
"If the Yes vote wins today, the attitude of the Catalan public institutions will be to sit down at the table, with the Spanish institutions, with the European Commission, with the European countries, and try to deal with this big issue in the most positive way for all of us, not only for Catalonia," he said.
Many of the 5.5 million voters said today they did not believe Catalonia would become independent.
Many said they had used their ballot as a way to press the Catalan and Spanish authorities to discuss a more favourable tax regime as well as laws that better protect language and culture.
The vote may also influence the course of the Spanish general election in December.
The main national parties, all seeking to capture more votes in Spain's second most populous region, have said they were ready to discuss with Catalonia a more favourable tax regime and increased infrastructure spending if they win.
Depending on who forms a government in Madrid, constitutional reform to recognise Catalonia as a nation within the Spanish state may even be on the cards.
Most analysts and politicians say that such talks may take time to organise.
Financial markets will also be watching the vote outcome.
While few investors believe independence is likely anytime soon, the gap between Spanish and Catalan five-year bond yields has been hovering near its widest point in two years.
Spain's banks, including some based in Barcelona, have warned that secession could cause financial turmoil, while the Bank of Spain has said Catalonia could risk exiting the euro.
Source: AFP/Reuters
rte.ie
28/9/15
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