Catalonia’s Population Dynamics: Growth, Structure, and Distribution
Catalonia’s Population Dynamics
The dynamic dune population tells us how it evolves over time.
The structure of the population indicates its composition, i.e., age, sex, and social and cultural aspects.
The Population Dynamics of Catalonia
In 2008, Catalonia had approximately 7,364,078 inhabitants. The population increase in the twentieth century occurred due to the growth of immigration.
The Growing Importance of Migration
The first significant immigration wave occurred in the 1920s and 1930s, reaching half a million immigrants coming from Aragon to Catalonia. The second important event was between 1950 and 1975, reaching 1.5 million people who came from the Iberian Peninsula, especially from Extremadura and Galicia. And the last important fact is today’s immigration from Morocco and America.
Twentieth-century Spanish immigration was concentrated in coastal regions and the pre-coastal depression, from Tarragona to the Vallès Oriental. Current immigration is more distributed (the region of Barcelona, the southern coastal area, Girona).
A Weak Vegetative Growth
The poor vegetative growth refers to several factors:
- Low fertility rates since 1980.
- Aging population with increased life expectancy.
- Average age.
- High mortality caused by the aging population.
The Structure of the Population of Catalonia
An aging country: In 2001, it was the most aged country in the world after 15 years of population stagnation and low birth rates. The arrival of immigrants has reduced aging.
The Population Distribution in the Territory
The population density is calculated by dividing the number of inhabitants per km2.
Urban Population and Rural Population: Fuzzy Boundaries
If people are grouped in a single nucleus, it is called concentrated rural settlements. If the population lives in isolated houses or in several small towns, it is said to be a dispersed rural population. Peri-urban agricultural areas preserve the rural heritage and landscape, aimed at tourism activities.
Rururbà space is a space that was originally dedicated to rural uses but is closer to industrialization or urban areas. The space that forms the core of the urban area and city is engaged in tertiary sector activities.
Suburban areas have an urban lifestyle that predominates over holidays. Periurban areas concentrate great services such as shopping centers.
Different Types of Settlement in Catalonia
- Rural settlements concentrated, located in the Pyrenees and northern sectors of the country.
- Dispersed rural settlement located in northeastern Catalonia and north of the river Llobregat.
- Large population centers, located in Barcelona.
- Urban development located in important outskirts of cities.
- Rururban areas.
- A metropolitan area situated around Barcelona, Sabadell, and Terrassa.
The Hierarchy of Urban Catalan
The metropolitan region of Barcelona has a central administrative and economic role, including Maresme, Vallès Occidental and Oriental, and Barcelona.
LARES Metropolitan is formed by Barcelona, Badalona, Santa Coloma de Gramanet, and Sant Cugat.
The metropolitan ring surrounds metropolitan LARES and has strong industrialization, located in Mataró, Sabadell, Terrassa, and Martorell.
Cities of regional influence are cities that have economic and social influence that exceeds their own districts, such as:
- The conurbation.
- Reus-Tarragona-Tortosa.
- Lleida.
- Girona.
- Manresa.
Regional centers are service centers for the territory of its region, located in Figueres and Olot.
Subcomarcals centers, such as the subcomarcal center of Roses.
A Well-Integrated Network
LARES metropolitan areas form a big city and smaller surrounding cities that produce an exchange of people, goods, etc., e.g., Barcelona.
A conurbation is a large urban area with multi-core, e.g., Terrassa and Sabadell.
A Megalopolis is a set of metropolitan areas and conurbations that are developed and related to form an urban area.
The Planning Approach
The planning approach involves plans to organize the development of urban areas.
- Urban land: large buildings intended for trading.
- Building land: land where housing can be built.
- Land not for building: land for the protection of natural, agricultural, and landscape areas.